The Pentagon believes that the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, is now “engaged in Ukraine almost all combat troops” gathered in recent months on the Russian-Ukrainian border, more than 150,000 troops according to American estimates.

But despite the advances in southern Ukraine, Russian troops “hasn’t made any significant progress in recent days”Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington.

According to the American defense, Moscow is stepping up its bombardment, missile and air strikes to make up for the lack of progress on the ground. ” We think “ that the Russian army “had problems with morale, supplies, fuel and food”convinced John Kirby, once again resurrected “strong Ukrainian resistance”.

With the intensification of Russian operations, civilians are increasingly being affected, and Moscow is now seeking to “recruit” foreign fighters, including Syrians, the US Department of Defense said.

He noted that the intensification of the bombing of several cities had “an increasingly significant impact on human casualties for civilians” by destroying homes, churches, hospitals and schools. “The result is more civilians killed and injured”he complained.

“Mr Putin still has the option to stop the escalation [et de] find a diplomatic way out of the crisis and end the invasion”he insisted.

Current concerns are particularly concerned with the fate of Odessa, a strategic port city on the Black Sea, which Russia is preparing for bombardment, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“We think Russia wants to take Odessa”, said a senior Pentagon official, without ruling out the possibility of an amphibious attack supported by ground forces. But Washington doesn’t have “at this stage there is no indication of possible movement” on that front, he added.