US President Joe Biden has said Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Ukrainian city of Kherson shows its military has “some real problems”.
Mr Biden said he had been anticipating the move “for some time” and that it would give both sides a chance to “reset their positions” over the winter.
Kherson is the only major city in Ukraine occupied by Russian forces.
But earlier on Wednesday, Russia’s commander in Ukraine said it was no longer possible to supply the city.
Gen. Sergei Sarvokin, who took command a few weeks ago, made the announcement on Russian state TV alongside senior military officers. He confirmed that Russian troops will completely withdraw from the western bank of the Dnipro River.
It is a significant blow to Russia’s military ambitions as it faces retaliation from Ukraine.
Mr. Biden was speaking at the White House after the midterm elections in which his Democratic Party appeared likely to lose control of the House of Representatives to the opposition Republican Party.
The president’s political rivals have previously vowed to review US military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and Mr Biden observed that it was “interesting” that Moscow “waited until after the election” to announce the withdrawal. .
But he said he hoped a “bilateral approach to countering Russian aggression in Ukraine” would continue.
