U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, made an ironclad commitment to support Ukraine "indefinitely" against Russian aggression.

Jimmie Johnson Reporter

US doubles down its support of Ukraine for ‘the long haul’

Oct 12, 2022

Jimmie Johnson Reporter

By Jimmie Johnson (Reporter), Stacey Chamberlain (Producer)

The U.S. is doubling down its support of Ukraine for the “long haul.” The commitment came down today from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, to support Ukraine’s defenders “indefinitely” through “all seasons.”

Austin spoke at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contract Group in Belgium. He said the group, which includes participants from more than 50 nations, NATO and the EU, would continue to boost Ukraine’s defensive capabilities. Austin also stated that the support doesn’t hinge on the outcome of any particular battle.

Austin’s comments come after Russia’s latest round of missile strikes against Ukraine. Those strikes wounded and killed innocent civilians.

The secretary of defense condemned Russia for targeting non-military sites, saying “The whole world has just seen yet again the malice and cruelty of Putin’s war of choice rooted in aggression and waged with deep contempt of the rules of war.”

Today, G-7 Leaders also promised to back Ukraine against Russian aggression for “as long as it takes.”

Reuters contributed to this report.

Tags: European Union, Lloyd Austin, NATO, Russia, Ukraine

LLOYD AUSTIN | SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: “our resolve to support Ukraine’s defenders extends through all seasons.“

JIMMIE JOHNSON: AN IRONCLAD COMMITMENT FROM DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN
TO SUPPORT UKRAINE “INDEFINITELY”.

WHILE OVERSEAS IN BELGIUM, AUSTIN SPOKE AT A MEETING OF THE UKRAINE DEFENSE CONTACT GROUP. HE SAID THE GROUP, WHICH INCLUDES PARTICIPANTS FROM MORE THAN 50 NATIONS, NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION, WOULD CONTINUE TO BOOST UKRAINE’S DEFENSIVE CAPABILITIES. THAT DOESN’T HINGE ON THE OUTCOME OF ANY PARTICULAR BATTLE.
AUSTIN’S COMMENTS COME AFTER RUSSIA’S LATEST ROUND OF MISSILE STRIKES AGAINST UKRAINE THAT WOUNDED AND KILLED INNOCENT CIVILIANS.

LLOYD J. AUSTIN III | SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: “The whole world has just seen yet again the malice and cruelty of Putin’s war of choice rooted in aggression and waged with deep contempt of the rules of war.“}

JOHNSON: G-7 LEADERS ALSO PROMISED TO BACK UKRAINE AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION FOR “AS LONG AS IT TAKES”.