Over One Lakh Russian Military Personnel Killed In Ukraine: US Official

America's top general estimated that Russia's military had lost more than 100,000 soldiers in Ukraine and that Kyiv's armed forces had “probably” suffered a similar level of casualties.

However, Milley’s claim represents the most recent US estimate of casualties in the nearly nine-month-old conflict and comes as Ukraine and Russia face a potential winter lull in fighting that experts say could provide an opportunity for some negotiation.

When asked about the prospects for diplomacy in Ukraine, Milley pointed out that the refusal to negotiate early in World War One exacerbated human suffering and resulted in millions more casualties.

“So, when there's an opportunity to negotiate when peace is possible...seize the moment,” Milley told the Economic Club of New York.

Earlier on Wednesday, Russia announced the withdrawal of its troops from the west bank of the Dnipro River near the strategic southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, a significant setback for Moscow and a potential turning point in the war.

Some experts believe Moscow's latest setback will allow Ukraine to negotiate from a position of strength. In contrast, others believe Russia will use negotiations to buy time before launching a new spring offensive.

Milley said that preliminary indications suggested Russia was withdrawing from Kherson. However, he cautioned that it could take some time to complete.

“It won't take them a day or two, it will take them days, if not weeks, to pull those forces south of that river,” Milley said, estimating that Russia had 20,000 to 30,000 troops in the area north of the Dnipro.

Despite the high casualty toll, US officials say Moscow has been unable to achieve its goals in Ukraine, raising concerns about how long Russia can sustain an invasion that has also decimated much of its mechanised ground forces and depleted artillery stockpiles.