U.S. does not expect significant Russian breakthrough in Ukraine's Kharkiv region

The U.S. does not expect Russia to mount a significant breakthrough in its offensive against the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine, the Pentagon said Thursday. 

"A couple of weeks ago, there was concern that would see a significant breakthrough on the part of the Russians," said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. "I don't think we'll see that going forward. I don't see a large exploitation force that could take advantage of a breakthrough." 

Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown told reporters following a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels that the situation in Kharkiv has been stabilizing in recent weeks.