General Mark Milley said 100,000 Russian soldiers were killed and wounded in Ukraine

Milley, speaking at an event hosted by the Economic Club of New York, said about 40,000 civilians have been killed or injured in the war. “There has been a tremendous amount of human suffering,” he added. The Washington Post could not independently verify the numbers.

Milli’s number represents a sharp increase from Pentagon estimate for August From 70,000 to 80,000 Russian casualties. For comparison, the Soviet Union said in 1988 that it lost More than 13,000 soldiersAnd that more than 35 thousand were wounded, in Afghanistan during the war fought there.

It’s about extension The Biden administration encouraged Ukraine Being more open to talks with Russia amid growing concern in the West about the cost of a protracted conflict that has skyrocketed energy and food prices.

The United States in particular asks Ukraine to show that it is open to negotiating with Russia

Kyiv officials say they are open to negotiating with Russia But it did set preconditions, including the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory, an agreement on compensation from Russia for war damage and security guarantees from other countries.

as such The Post reportedThe Biden administration’s outreach to Ukraine over peace talks has included asking officials there to drop their public refusal to negotiate with the Russian leader, President Vladimir Putin.

As indicated by the Kremlin open to conversationsbut its preconditions seem to conflict with those of Ukraine: after Russia illegally annexed four regions Ukraine, Putin said The “only way to peace” is for the West and Ukraine to realize that the people of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia “became our citizens forever.”

Despite the differences in demands between the two sides, Milley said the winter could create opportunities for peace negotiations, as Russia orders its forces Withdrawal from the strategic southern city of Kherson Wednesday. But first, he said, both sides had to realize that a complete military victory “may not be achievable” in this conflict, “and therefore you need to resort to other means.”

What do you know about Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson?

Ukrainian officials have suggested it Russia can only pretend Withdrawing from Kherson in an attempt to draw Ukrainian forces into a fight for control of the city. Mikhailo Podolak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, warned on Wednesday that Ukraine does not see “indications” of a unilateral withdrawal.

US officials have also indicated that they are cautious about reports of a Russian withdrawal. Cal, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, “there are some indications that the Russians intend to withdraw to the eastern bank of the Dnieper” He said Tuesday. “We’ll have to see how that happens.”

But Milley said on Wednesday of the withdrawal: “The initial indications are that they are in fact doing it. They have made the public announcement that they are doing so.”

He said it could take weeks for Russia to withdraw its forces – 20,000 to 30,000 in Kherson – and noted that the withdrawal could be a strategic move “to preserve their strength to re-establish defensive lines in southern Iraq.” [Dnieper] River, but that is not yet clear.”

In the meantime, Mielle said, there is a “window of opportunity for negotiation”.

White House says ‘lines of communication’ with Russia remain open

“When peace can be achieved, seize it,” he said He said. “Hold on to the moment.”