US Joint Chiefs Chairman: "Ukraine War Will Prolong"

Attendance at Senate Armed Services Committee on the 7th "Don't Even Know How It Will End"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] As Russia's invasion of Ukraine surpasses 40 days, concerns about the war dragging on are emerging everywhere. The West has decided to provide additional medium-range weapons to Ukraine.

On the 7th (local time), Mark Milley, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and stated that the war in Ukraine will be prolonged and that it is still unknown how it will end.

On the same day, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that Russian forces have completely withdrawn from Ukraine's capital Kyiv (Kiev) and Chernihiv. However, it is expected that Russian troops will redeploy mainly in the eastern Donbas region and continue airstrikes against Ukraine.

Regarding this, Chairman Milley said, "Ukraine has repelled Russia's attack on Kyiv, but fierce battles lie ahead in the southeastern region," adding, "The second phase of the war that will follow is expected to be prolonged." He also said, "How the war in Ukraine will end remains an open question."

Earlier, Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also said the war in Ukraine could continue for years. Ahead of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting the previous day, Secretary General Stoltenberg said, "There is no sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin has abandoned his ambition to take control of the entire Ukraine," and added, "We must realize that the war may continue for a long time, for months, or even years."

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, requested more weapons support for Ukraine at the NATO foreign ministers' meeting. He said, "The agenda I propose is very simple," adding, "There are three items on the agenda: weapons, weapons, and weapons."

Secretary General Stoltenberg announced that NATO member countries have agreed to provide Ukraine with additional upgraded medium-range weapons in preparation for Russia's offensive in eastern Ukraine.

Chairman Milley also emphasized that efforts will focus on enabling Ukraine to acquire and use the necessary weapons as quickly as possible. Milley explained that the U.S. and its allies have supplied 25,000 air defense missiles and 60,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, which helped defend Kyiv.

Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense, also emphasized weapons supply to Ukraine during the Senate hearing, stating that the main reason Russian President Vladimir Putin abandoned the advance toward Kyiv was due to Ukraine's resistance.

Some U.S. senators expressed concerns at the hearing that weapons were not being delivered to Ukraine quickly enough. In response, Secretary Austin announced the weapons support plan and explained that weapons were supplied to Ukraine on average within 4 to 5 days, describing the support as being provided at an unprecedentedly fast pace.