The Russian army has made advancements on the front this year, but at a high cost. The losses in killed and wounded since the beginning of the war amount to 500,000.
This was stated by the new NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, during his first press conference.
"Undoubtedly, Ukraine is fighting this war in self-defense. I am absolutely impressed by how much Ukraine is doing. They have shown their courage, their creativity, and they are pushing back Russian forces," he said.
According to him, the current situation on the battlefield is certainly not easy; it's complex. On one hand, the Ukrainian army has taken part of the Kursk region in Russia, while the Russians have made some progress on the battlefield this year.
"But at a very high cost. We have the numbers. Russian losses are 1,000 soldiers killed or wounded per day. This means that approximately 500,000 have been killed or wounded. This is critically important for the continuation of Russia's war," Rutte added.
The NATO Secretary General also reported an increase in aid to Ukraine "in the billions," and in October, country leaders will meet in "Ramstein" to discuss these needs and coordinate further support.
