Russian withdrawal from Kherson will be another victory for Ukraine - Stoltenberg

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this at a briefing in Rome on Thursday after meeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukrinform reports, citing Reuters.

"What is clear is that Russia is coming under heavy pressure and if they leave Kherson it would be another victory for Ukraine," he said.

Stoltenberg noted that NATO would be watching in the coming days to see if the Russians did indeed pull back from the west bank of the Dnipro River.

He added that NATO would support Ukraine "for as long as it takes."

"The unprecedented support that NATO allies, including Italy, has provided is making a difference on the battleground every day and remains vital for the Ukrainian progress," Stoltenberg said.

Meloni, who took office last month, said her government remained committed to defending "the territorial integrity, sovereignty and freedom of Ukraine."

Sergei Surovikin, the commander of the Russian group of occupation forces, in his report to Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the withdrawal of Russian troops from around Kherson to the east bank of the Dnipro River. Shoigu supported the decision.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he considered allegations by Russia about the transfer of its troops and evacuation from Kherson and the entire region to be an information operation, since all most trained Russian soldiers remain in place.