五角大楼看到“少量”俄罗斯军队重新部署到基辅北部但并不像俄罗斯描述的那样称之为撤军。相反，它认为部队可能会被用于乌克兰其他地方的进攻，可能会进入乌克兰东部的顿巴斯地区。
在土耳其与乌克兰谈判代表举行会谈后，俄罗斯国防部表示，将从基辅和切尔尼戈夫周围撤军，作为谈判中的“善意”措施。然而，此举恰逢俄罗斯军方在这两个北部城市的行动缺乏成功。
“我们现在看到一小部分人似乎正在离开基辅，”五角大楼首席发言人约翰·柯比周二告诉记者。“这在同一天俄罗斯人说他们正在撤退，但我们不准备称之为撤退，甚至撤退。他们可能想到的是重新定位，优先考虑其他地方。"
“这肯定不是俄罗斯针对基辅部署的多营战术小组的重要组成部分，”柯比说。“这与他们在乌克兰首都周围布置的大部分相差甚远”。
他指出，俄罗斯人最近几天表示，他们已经把顿巴斯地区作为优先考虑的地区。
“我们认为，它更有可能被重新定位，用于乌克兰的其他地方。具体在哪里我们不知道，”他说。“我们都应该做好准备，警惕针对乌克兰其他地区的大规模进攻。这并不意味着对基辅的威胁已经结束。”
包括乔·拜登总统在内的拜登政府其他高级官员对俄罗斯的声明表示了类似的怀疑。
“我们不会轻信他们所说的任何话，”柯比说。“我们不准备接受俄罗斯关于撤军的说法。同样，我们的评估是，他们的意图是重新部署部队，并加强他们在其他地方的努力。”
尽管柯比表示，俄罗斯军队在乌克兰的军事目标一再失败，特别是在夺取基辅方面，但他拒绝将俄罗斯的行动描述为失败。
“我不认为我们现在准备在这件事上贴一个保险杠贴纸，”柯比说。“我的意思是，仍然有人在死去。仍然有炸弹落下。仍然有导弹在飞。在战场上他们仍然有来有往。所以我认为我们还没有准备好以这样或那样的方式来称呼它。”
周二早些时候，美国驻欧洲最高军事指挥官托德·沃尔特斯(Tod Wolters)将军告诉参议院军事委员会，俄罗斯的入侵是“欧洲具有世代影响的关键时刻”，加强了北约联盟。
沃尔特斯说，由于入侵，美国在欧洲的军队人数已经从6万增加到10万，并表示可能需要更多的军队。
“我怀疑我们仍然需要更多，”沃尔特斯说。“很明显，常任理事国和轮换理事国的要求之间总是存在矛盾，两者各有利弊。我们将不得不继续审视欧洲的贡献，以便就未来的发展方向做出明智的决定。”
在周二的新闻发布会上，柯比宣布，最近参加了北约在挪威举行的寒冷反应演习的一些海军陆战队将被重新部署到立陶宛和东欧。海军陆战队包括一个指挥和控制单位，与10架FA-18战斗机和几架C-130运输机一起被派往立陶宛。
沃尔特斯称赞乌克兰军队及其在全国范围内阻止俄罗斯军事行动的能力，特别是通过美国军方提供的武器系统。
“我认为我们可以，我们将继续保持对乌克兰武装力量的支持，”沃尔特斯说。"...我们在信息共享和情报共享方面取得了巨大进步。”
这种支持包括美国制造的标枪反坦克武器和毒刺防空导弹的关键交付，这些武器帮助乌克兰军方在乌克兰全境阻止了俄罗斯军队的进展。
沃尔特斯说，乌克兰人的武器补给线是成功的，没有受到攻击。“他们一直在正确的时间把正确的东西送到正确的地方，”沃尔特说。
Pentagon dubious of Russian 'withdrawal' north of Kyiv, expects troops will move to eastern Ukraine
The Pentagon is seeing "small numbers" of Russian troops repositioning to thenorth of Kyivbut is not labeling it a withdrawal as Russia has characterized it. Instead, it believes the troops might be used in an offensive elsewhere in Ukraine, possibly into the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
After holding talks with Ukrainian negotiators in Turkey, Russia's defense ministry said it was withdrawing forces from around Kyiv and Chernihiv as "a good faith" measure in the talks. However, the move coincided with the Russian military's lack of success in its moves on the two northern cities.
"We're seeing a small number now that appears to be moving away from Kyiv," John Kirby, the Pentagon's top spokesman, told reporters Tuesday. "This on the same day that theRussians saythey're withdrawing, but we're not prepared to call this a retreat, or even a withdrawal. What they probably have in mind is a repositioning to prioritize elsewhere."
"It's certainly not a significant chunk of the multiple battalion tactical groups that Russia has arrayed against Kyiv," Kirby said. "It's not anywhere near a majority of what they have arrayed" around Ukraine's capital.
He noted the Russians have said in recent days that it has made the Donbas area a priority.
"We believe that it is likely more repositioning to be used elsewhere in Ukraine. Where exactly we don't know," he said. "We all should be prepared to watch for a major offensive against other areas of Ukraine. It does not mean that the threat to Kyiv is over. "
Kirby expressed similar skepticism about the Russian announcement from other top Biden administration officials, including President Joe Biden.
"We're not taking anything they say at face value," Kirby said. "We're not we're not prepared to buy the Russian argument that it's a withdrawal. Again, our assessment is that their intention is to reposition forces and bolster their efforts elsewhere."
Though Kirby said Russian troops had repeatedly failed in their military objectives in Ukraine, particularly in taking Kyiv, he declined to characterize the Russian move as a defeat.
"I don't think we're prepared to slap a bumper sticker on this thing right now," Kirby said. "I mean, there are still people dying. There's still bombs falling. There's still missiles flying. And they're still give and take on the battlefield. So I don't think we're ready to call it one way or another here."
Earlier on Tuesday, Gen. Tod Wolters, the top U.S. military commander in Europe, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia's invasion was "a pivotal moment in Europe with generational implications" that had strengthened the NATO alliance.
Wolters said American troop levels in Europe had risen from 60,000 to 100,000 due to the invasion and said more troops might be needed.
"My suspicion is we're going to still need more," Wolters said. "And obviously, there's always a mix between the requirement of permanent versus rotational and there are pluses and minuses of each one. We'll have to continue to examine the European contributions to make a smart decision about where to go in the future."
During his press conference Tuesday, Kirby announced some Marine forces that had recently participated in NATO's Cold Response exercise in Norway would be redirected to Lithuania and Eastern Europe. The Marine units included a command and control unit being sent to Lithuania along with 10 FA-18 fighters and several C-130 transport planes.
Wolters praised Ukraine's military and its ability to stall Russian military operations throughout the country, especially through the weapons systems being provided by the U.S. military.
"I think we can, and we will continue to maintain our support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Wolters said. "... We've made dramatic improvements in our information and sharing and intelligence sharing."
That support has included the key delivery of American-made Javelin anti-tank weapons and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles that have helped the Ukrainian military stall the progress of Russian troops throughout Ukraine.
Wolters said the supply line of weapons to the Ukrainians had been successful and had not come under attack. "They've been delivering right to the right location at the right time," Wolters said.
