Top US general says it will be ‘very difficult’ to expel Russian troops from all of Ukraine this year

Comments come as Germany drags feet on decision to send tanks

It will be very difficult to force every Russian fighter from Ukrainian territory by the end of the year, the US’s top military commander has predicted.

Gen Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said even with the billions or dollars of aid and military equipment being provided from nations such as the US, UK and Poland, removing each Russian fighter from every patch of Ukrainian territory would be a major challenge.

“President Biden, President Zelensky, and most of the leaders of Europe have said this war is likely to end in a negotiation. From a military standpoint, this is a very, very difficult fight,” he said, speaking at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, alongside Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.