UPDATE - US says 'utterly convinced' Ukraine will prevail against Russia

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS

By Rabia Iclal Turan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The top US diplomat said on Monday that he was "utterly convinced" Ukraine will win in its war against Russia.

"I'm utterly convinced that Ukraine will prevail," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a press conference alongside Lithuanian Foreign Minister Garbrielius Landsbergis in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.

"Even if and as Russia might win a battle in Ukraine, that doesn't mean it's winning the war," said Blinken.

"Even as Russia might take a city in Ukraine, that doesn't mean that it's taking the hearts and minds of the Ukrainian people. It can't. It won't," he added.

"Whether it's a week, whether it's a month, whether it's longer, I'm utterly convinced that Ukraine will prevail, finally," he stressed.

Blinken added that Moscow has a "hugely disproportionate force" compared to Ukraine's and claimed Russian forces were attacking Ukrainian civilians.

"We want this to come to a stop as quickly as possible, which is why we will continue to increase pressure on Russia, continue to support Ukraine."

Blinken also said that they have "repositioned forces already in Europe to strengthen NATO's eastern flank", including the extension of the 3-66 armor battalion, which was deployed in Lithuania last July, and the deployment of F-35 strike fighters in the region.

"And additional 400 personnel from the first Armored Brigade Combat Team will be arriving in Lithuania in the days to come," he said.

"At the same time, we're continuously reviewing within NATO our defense posture, including looking at questions of extending the deployment of forces, looking at questions of more permanent deployments. All of that is under regular review," he added.