Washington, 18 July 2023 (dpa/MIA) - The United States believes Ukraine is making progress in its counteroffensive against its Russian attackers, but it will take time as Russian-laid mines are slowing Ukraine from moving faster, top US military leaders said on Tuesday.

"Despite the enormous costs, Ukrainians are advancing steadily and deliberately, braving brutal and bloody battles to reclaim their homeland," Joint Chief of Staff General Mark Milley told reporters after a video meeting with the International Ukraine Contact Group to coordinate military assistance.

He acknowledged that the fight is slow-going but said the much-needed work of clearing Russian-laid mines is taking time.

"It is far from a failure," he said, emphasizing that the "there's a lot of fighting left to go."

The war, he said "is gonna be long, it's gonna be hard, it's gonna be bloody."

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin asserted that Kiev's allies would not let up in their support for Ukraine. "Our work continues, and we will do everything we can to make sure the Ukrainians can succeed."

Photo: MIA archive