<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine's counter-offensive "has failed" as he hosted Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, his close ally, for talks in St Petersburg on Sunday.</p>.<p>"There is no counter-offensive," Russian news agencies quoted Lukashenko as saying.</p>.<p>Putin replied: "It exists, but it has failed."</p>.<p>Ukraine began its long-anticipated counter-offensive last month but has so far made only small gains against well-entrenched Russian forces who control more than a sixth of its territory after nearly 17 months of war.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/pro-war-putin-critic-and-nationalist-girkin-detained-in-moscow-1239379.html">Pro-war Putin critic and nationalist Girkin detained in Moscow</a></strong></p>.<p>US General Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Tuesday the Ukrainian drive was "far from a failure" but would be long, hard and bloody.</p>.<p>A Telegram channel linked to Lukashenko quoted him as saying in a jocular tone that fighters of Russia's Wagner mercenary group who are now training Belarus's army were keen to push across the border into NATO member Poland.</p>.<p>"The Wagner guys have started to stress us - they want to go west. 'Let's go on a trip to Warsaw and Rzeszow'," he was quoted as saying. There was no indication that Lukashenko was seriously entertaining that idea.</p>.<p>Poland is moving extra troops towards the border with Belarus in response to the arrival of Wagner forces who relocated there after a short-lived mutiny in Russia last month.</p>
<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine's counter-offensive "has failed" as he hosted Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, his close ally, for talks in St Petersburg on Sunday.</p>.<p>"There is no counter-offensive," Russian news agencies quoted Lukashenko as saying.</p>.<p>Putin replied: "It exists, but it has failed."</p>.<p>Ukraine began its long-anticipated counter-offensive last month but has so far made only small gains against well-entrenched Russian forces who control more than a sixth of its territory after nearly 17 months of war.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/pro-war-putin-critic-and-nationalist-girkin-detained-in-moscow-1239379.html">Pro-war Putin critic and nationalist Girkin detained in Moscow</a></strong></p>.<p>US General Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Tuesday the Ukrainian drive was "far from a failure" but would be long, hard and bloody.</p>.<p>A Telegram channel linked to Lukashenko quoted him as saying in a jocular tone that fighters of Russia's Wagner mercenary group who are now training Belarus's army were keen to push across the border into NATO member Poland.</p>.<p>"The Wagner guys have started to stress us - they want to go west. 'Let's go on a trip to Warsaw and Rzeszow'," he was quoted as saying. There was no indication that Lukashenko was seriously entertaining that idea.</p>.<p>Poland is moving extra troops towards the border with Belarus in response to the arrival of Wagner forces who relocated there after a short-lived mutiny in Russia last month.</p>