The Coordinator of Strategic Communications in the National Security Council of the White House John Kirby said that the Russian forces have achieved “gradual progress” under Bakhmut and in Soledar, but claims that this does not change the strategic situation.
“I will say, as I said before, that they have reached gradual progress in both of these areas,” he said at a briefing.
At the same time, Kirby added that the United States continues to consider “these cities controversial”, and that supposedly progress was achieved by “extraordinary price.”
“But even if they achieve success in Bakhmut and Soledar, this will not change the strategic dynamics on the battlefield, this will not lead to the fact that Ukrainians will lose,” Kirby said.