Sullivan says Putin's moves show Russia is "struggling badly" in Ukraine

Washington — White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent call-up of reservists into the military and referenda being carried out in occupied regions of Ukraine do not signal growing strength, but rather that the Russians are "struggling badly" in their ongoing war.

"What Putin has done is not exactly a sign of strength or confidence, frankly, it's a sign that they're struggling badly on the Russian side," Sullivan said in an interview with "Face the Nation." "And we're going to help the Ukrainians be able to take advantage of the gains they've made, and to continue to push back against the Russian forces that are brutally occupying portions of their country."