00:00 Ukraine is making progress against Russia, albeit slowly.
00:04 That's according to NATO's top official.
00:06 At a joint committee meeting at the European Parliament,
00:09 Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said,
00:11 "The Ukrainians decided to launch the offensive because they are going to liberate the land,
00:16 and they are making progress, not perhaps as much as we hoped for,
00:19 but they are gaining ground gradually, some less than 330 feet per day."
00:24 That slow but steady progress, a part of the highly anticipated counter-offensive
00:29 that began in early June, with Website Insider reporting
00:32 officials and experts in Western countries have been critical.
00:35 Ukraine's top diplomat reportedly telling critics to shut up
00:39 and try liberating territories themselves.
00:41 The biggest struggle for Ukraine?
00:42 Russian forces have dug in with their defenses while Ukraine waited for more weapons.
00:47 In what's become known as the Surovikon line,
00:49 a layer of three obstacles protected by minefields, a ditch, and spikes.
00:54 That NATO official saying,
00:56 "We have to remember that no one ever said that this was going to be easy, the offensive.
01:00 It was clearly stated this is going to be a bloody, difficult, and hard offensive."
01:05 Adding,
01:06 "When the Ukrainians are gaining ground, the Russians are losing ground."
