Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III reaffirmed the U.S. and NATO’s commitment to a free and sovereign Ukraine during a press conference in Brussels. This commitment was emphasized following a defense ministerial meeting that addressed Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia. Austin highlighted the support of NATO allies in standing up for Ukraine’s sovereignty and self-defense, stating that the United States and its partners are determined to stand by Ukraine for the long term.
Austin outlined two key objectives in providing assistance to Ukraine to counter Russian aggression. The first objective involves focusing on providing Ukraine with the necessary resources to be successful on the battlefield in defending its sovereign territory. He commended Ukraine for successfully defending its territory against the largest military in Europe for two and a half years, with Kyiv still standing and Russian President Vladimir Putin failing to achieve his strategic objectives. The second objective is to supply Ukraine with the resources needed to deter and defend against future aggression, with capability coalitions established to provide support.
The capability coalitions mentioned by Austin include an air force coalition that brought F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, an artillery coalition providing long-term artillery and ammunition support, and an information technology coalition ensuring Ukraine has what it needs in the information domain. These coalitions are designed to ensure Ukraine has the resources necessary to deter aggression and defend itself going forward. Austin praised the work of allies and partners leading these coalitions and providing support to Ukraine.
When asked about his support for the victory plan introduced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Austin emphasized that the U.S. and its allies have been providing significant security assistance to Ukraine for over two and a half years and will continue to do so. He stated that while it’s not his place to evaluate or endorse such a plan publicly, the U.S. and allies will continue to provide the security necessary to support Zelenskyy in achieving his objectives. Austin also reiterated NATO’s commitment to Article Five, which states the organization’s commitment to come to the defense of all member countries, emphasizing the solidarity that makes NATO the greatest defensive alliance in history.
