The official made the remarks during his visit to Kyiv on Sept. 3.
“When you see North Korea sending troops to support Putin on his front line, when you see China supplying technology and vital components, it tells me that Putin is begging for help,” Healey said at a press conference.
“It tells me that Putin loves to show he’s strong, but he is weaker than ever.”
He added that Russia’s military has suffered heavy losses and failed to achieve its strategic goals.
“He has lost more than 1 million troops; he’s lost over 10,000 tanks and armored vehicles; his Black Sea Fleet was humiliated by a country without a navy,” Healey continued.
“He hasn’t met any of his strategic goals. It was a war he expected to win in three days, and he’s still at it three-and-a-half years later thanks to the courage of Ukrainians.”
The secretary arrived in Kyiv meet with Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and coordinate preparations for the upcoming Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in London.
He also visited the British Council building in Kyiv, which was damaged in the Aug. 28 Russian air strike on the Ukrainian capital.