Thread by @jseldin

"There is a grinding war of attrition" in the #Donbas,
per @thejointstaff's Gen Mark Milley

"It's not lost yet" he says, adding #Ukraine is making the #Russia|ns pay for every inch of ground

"We have known... our partner and allies have known that [#Putin] has greater ambitions" than the #Donbas,
per @SecDef

Says comments earlier by #Russia FM Sergey Lavrov just confirm that

US provided #HIMARS "have not been eliminated by the #Russia|ns" per @thejointstaff's Gen Mark Milley

Says #Ukraine using them & other long-range systems effectively

US looking "at the next month or two or three" as far as #Ukraine's long-range fire needs, per @thejointstaff's Milley

#Iran support to #Russia - "We would advise Iran to not do that. We think it's a really really bad idea" per @SecDef "And I'll leave it at that"

"There's a lot more to be done. The #HIMARS alone will not win or lose a fight" per @SecDef on US aid to #Ukraine

Declines to comment on possible US training of Ukrainian pilots but says #Ukraine does have an air force capability & is using it

"I don't think it's a good idea that #Iran is providing UAVs [drones] or other weapon systems that are being commented on by the media" to the #Russia|ns, per @thejointstaff's Gen Milley

Declines to say more on why

#Ukraine forces using #HIMARS & "are creating effects that will pay dividends" per @SecDef

Defends decision to just provide Ukraine total of 16 so far, & that US "providing them capability as needed," adding getting Ukrainian forces training, ensuring integration key

"The security assistance we are rushing to #Ukraine is making a real difference in real time" per @SecDef at the start of his news conference, following the 4th mtg of the Ukraine Contact Group

"#Russia has tried & failed to break the morale of the #Ukrainian armed forces" per @SecDef

"#Ukraine's leadership also stands unbowed & unflinching"

"#Ukraine's defenders are pushing hard to halt #Russia's advances in the #Donbas" per @SecDef,

Adds coastal defense capabilities recently given to Ukraine "that directly contributed to Ukraine's victory on #SnakeIsland & has helped prevent a #Russia|n landing in #Odesa"

"#Ukraine needs the firepower & the ammunition" to withstand current #Russia|n artillery barrage, per @SecDef "We understand the urgency"

Points to multiple contributions from allies & upcoming pkg from the US to be announced later this week

US "ensuring #Ukraine can sustain the fight" per @SecDef

"We're also looking ahead to providing #Ukraine w/the capabilities it will need for deterrence & self-defense over the longer term"

"We're going to support #Ukraine's self-defense for the long haul" per @SecDef "We're going to defend the rules based int'l order that protects us all"

#Russia - "They have failed to achieve their strategic & operational objectives" per @thejointstaff's Gen Milley

#Ukraine's ppl "are more determined now than ever to preserve their democracy"

"We will continue to provide the #Ukrainians w/the weapons they need to defend their homeland & resist #Russia|n aggression" per @thejointstaff's Gen Milley

#Ukraine #HIMARS strikes "steadily degrading the Russian ability to supply their troops, command& control their forces"

200 #Ukraine troops trained on #HIMARS and more in the pipeline, per @thejointstaff's Gen Milley

#Russia war in #Ukraine-"This phase, the current phase of the war continues to be a battle of attrition executed thru sustainment & long-range fires" per @thejointstaff's Gen Milley

Predicts Russia will continue to use heavy bombardment "to achieve their limited gains"