NATO Estimates Steep Russian Losses in Ukraine as Biden Heads to Europe
NATO estimates Russia may have lost as much as one-fifth of its combat forces in about a month of fighting in Ukraine as President Biden and alliance leaders gather in Brussels for a summit to discuss providing further support to Kyiv to repel the Russian invasion.
Up to 40,000 Russian troops have been killed, wounded, taken prisoner or are missing in Ukraine, said a senior military official from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Russia may also have lost 10% of its equipment, impairing Moscow’s ability to maintain its pace of operations, said another NATO official.
The casualty count would underscore how much Russia’s attack on Ukraine that began Feb. 24 has become bogged down after what defense analysts have said have been a series of operational missteps. Ukrainian defensive operations have emerged as far-tougher and enduring than was expected.
NATO officials on Thursday are expected to further ratchet up the pressure on Russia when alliance leaders meet in Brussels. “We are determined to do all we can to support Ukraine,” NATO Secretary-General
Jens Stoltenberg
said Wednesday. “I expect allies will agree to provide additional support, including cybersecurity assistance, as well as equipment to help Ukraine protect against chemical, biological and radiological and nuclear threats.”
Mr. Biden is set to arrive in Brussels on Wednesday. As he left Washington, he warned that the potential for chemical warfare in the conflict in Ukraine represented “a real threat.”
Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky
is betting that the NATO summit, to be followed by a meeting of the Group of Seven and then European Union leaders, will yield help for his country and sanctions on Russia. “Three important summits this week: the G-7, NATO and the EU. New sanctions packages, new aid,” Mr. Zelensky said overnight. He is scheduled to join each of the meetings virtually.
Mr. Zelensky also aims to hold talks with Chinese leader
Xi Jinping,
Ukraine’s presidential spokesman
Andriy Yermak
said. “Kyiv is hopeful Beijing will play a more prominent role in bringing this war to an end,” he tweeted.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman
Wang Wenbin
said Beijing is maintaining communication with relevant parties on the Ukrainian situation. “China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the easing of…
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