US Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, has said he hopes Russia’s loss in Ukraine will deter its leadership from repeating its actions.
While he praised the efforts of Ukraine’s military, Mr. Austin disclosed that Ukraine can still win the war if given the right support. The Defence Secretary told President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, that “We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine”.
The 68-year old announced that the US will allocate an additional $713m (£559m) in military aid to the Ukrainian Government and 15 other allied European Governments fearful of Russian aggression. This brings the total US security assistance provided to Ukraine since the invasion began to more than $3.7bn (£2.9bn).
Accompanied by US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, the visit marked the highest-level trip to Ukraine by US Officials since the invasion began over two months ago. The meeting between the US and Ukrainian parties, which lasted for over three hours, came to light as Russia intensified its military campaign in the Southern and Eastern parts of Ukraine. At a News Conference in Poland after the Kyiv visit, the US Defence Secretary told reporters that US Officials still believe Ukraine can win the conflict “if they have the right equipment” and the “right support”.
Diplomatic Activities in Ukraine
US Secretary of State, Mr. Blinken, on the other hand, announced that some US Diplomatic Staff will return to Ukraine next week. They are expected to be based in Lviv in Western Ukraine initially, with a longer-term plan to re-open the US Embassy in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.
The decision was arrived at after the White House announced that President Joe Biden intends to nominate Bridget Brink, a Career Diplomat, as US Ambassador to Ukraine, a position that has remained vacant for more than two years. Mr. Blinken also defended America’s diplomatic approach, telling reporters that it has put pressure on Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin’s regime.
“The strategy that we’ve put in place, massive support for Ukraine, massive pressure against Russia, solidarity with more than 30 countries engaged in these efforts, is having real results. And we’re seeing that when it comes to Russia’s war aims, Russia is failing, Ukraine is succeeding.”
US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken
Mr. Blinken also added that “A sovereign, independent Ukraine will be around a lot longer than Vladimir Putin’s on the scene”.
Earlier Calls for Support
Mr. Zelenskyy, speaking after the meeting, intimated that his government appreciated “the unprecedented assistance” from the US and added that he “would like to thank President Biden personally and on behalf of the entire Ukrainian people for his leadership in supporting Ukraine”.
Mr. Zelenskyy has been pleading with Western leaders to increase the flow of military equipment for weeks, vowing that his forces will overcome Russia’s military if they are provided with fighter jets and other vehicles. Last week, the US confirmed that it supplied Ukrainian troops with Howitzer artillery canons and anti-artillery radars for the first time. But Russia’s Ambassador in Washington disclosed that Moscow sent a diplomatic note warning an end to the US supply of weapons to Ukraine.
A Re-direction of Attacks
In recent days, Russia has refocussed its attacks on Ukraine’s Eastern Donbas region and US sources believe Moscow has committed over 76 battalion tactical groups inside Ukraine.
On Monday, April 25, 2022, the UK’s Ministry of Defence said in an update that Moscow made minor advances in the region but is “yet to achieve a breakthrough” due to logistical issues. The update claimed that “Ukraine’s defence of Mariupol has also exhausted many Russian units and reduced their combat effectiveness”.
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