Washington, 21 August 2024 (dpa/MIA) — Moscow is having a tough time responding to Kiev's counteroffensive into the western Russian region of Kursk, according to the US Defense Department.

While there are signs that Russia is moving "a small number of forces" into that region, the Pentagon believes that "Russia has really struggled to respond, and you continue to see some Ukrainian advances in that regard," department spokesman Pat Ryder said in Washington on Tuesday.

Ryder said Ukraine "has certainly demonstrated the creativity and the battlefield prowess."

With the counter-offensive launched around a fortnight ago, Ukraine has shifted the war to its opponent's territory for the first time. Russia continues to occupy large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine.

When asked whether Washington was publicly in favour of the Ukrainian advance, Ryder did not answer directly, but referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The spokesman noted that Zelensky has said the goal is to create a buffer zone.

Talks with Kiev were continuing in order to find out more about the exact objectives. But Ryder, like a Pentagon spokeswoman from Monday, stressed that Ukraine's counteroffensive has not changed Washington's support for Kiev.

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