US Secretary of Defense Lloyd says Russia's advance in Kharkiv has slowed

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO Defense Ministers Meeting in Brussels, Lloyd said he received information about the latest situation on the ground from his Ukrainian counterpart during the NATO-Ukraine Contact Group meeting held in the morning.

Lloyd said, "Ukrainian forces are holding the line against Russia's offensive near Kharkiv."

Noting that US President Joe Biden signed a new $225 million aid package for Ukraine last week, Lloyd added, "Our allies are also committing to long-term military aid packages.

More and more countries are fulfilling these commitments and long-term bilateral agreements with Ukraine," he said.

Lloyd announced that his country would sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine today.

"WE EXPECT UKRAINE TO MAKE PROGRESS FROM NOW ON"

US Secretary Lloyd responded to a question about whether there had been any change on the ground after his country and some other allies granted permission for the weapons provided to Ukraine to be used against Russian targets.

"What I see is that the Russian advance has slowed and stability has been achieved in a certain part of the (Kharkiv) front," Lloyd said, adding that he expects Ukraine to make progress from now on.

Lloyd stated that a few weeks ago, Russia was expected to make a breakthrough in Kharkiv that would change the course of the war, but that this is no longer the case.

Following the UK and France, the US and Germany also granted Ukraine permission at the end of last month to use their weapons against targets within Russian territory.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in a statement upon arriving at the Defense Ministers Meeting, responded to a question regarding whether the F-16s to be provided to Ukraine would be allowed to be used on Russian soil by saying, "Under international law, Ukraine has the right to self-defense, and the right to self-defense includes striking legitimate military targets on the territory of the aggressor, Russia."

News Source: AA