US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated that "what we’ve seen over the course of the last two years is a reconstitution of the Russian military with a rapidity and a determination that, frankly, surprises us."

Campbell attributed Moscow's rapid "reconstitution" to its ties with China, claiming that the US State Department has underestimated how close the partnership between the two countries has become and compared it to how previous generations of American diplomats underestimated the depth of the Sino-Soviet split.

Regarding the Russian-Chinese relationship, the US Deputy Secretary of State argued that it is "probably the most formidable and important bilateral engagement globally today that we have to take note of and respond to."

Campbell even acknowledged that this Sino-Russian relationship, alongside its manifestation through the rapid military reconstitution, "has been a topic of real anxiety" for the West.

On Ukraine and ending the war: 'Stakes are high'

When asked if the US has been overly cautious in supplying military support to Kiev, Campbell highlighted that Washington is “by far and away the largest provider of assistance to Ukraine” and emphasized that most aid was delivered “on a timely basis.”

Nonetheless, Campbell also noted that there is a growing acknowledgment in the West that addressing the Ukraine conflict will necessitate diplomatic engagement with Russia “in the not-too-distant future,” while reiterating that Washington has established certain red lines.

"The stakes for us are high, we cannot afford to accept outcomes that are suboptimal to the extent that either Russia or China would come away from this thinking that this kind of experience should be replicated elsewhere," the deputy secretary said.

In parallel, Moscow's declared objectives in the conflict include transforming Ukraine into a neutral state with limits on its military capabilities, reversing discriminatory policies against ethnic Russians implemented by Kiev, and removing radical Ukrainian nationalists from positions of power.

Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the US to present his alleged "victory plan", which US officials reportedly view with skepticism. Kiev aims to achieve military victory over Russia with assistance from the West.

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