US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on Tuesday that Russia would achieve victory in the Ukraine War unless Washington continued its support for Kyiv.
This statement comes close on the heels of Kyiv military officials confirming on Monday that Russia had increased its forces surrounding the damaged city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and shifted its troops from defensive to offensive positions.
Austin, Blinken Support Ukraine Funding at Aid Hearing
Austin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken talked before the Senate Appropriations Committee about President Joe Biden’s proposal for $106 billion to fund goals for Ukraine, Israel, and border security in the US.
“I can guarantee that without our support, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will be successful,” Austin stated at the hearing. “If we pull the rug out from under them now, Putin will only get stronger and he will be successful in doing what he wants to do,” he added.
Austin claimed that nearly 20 months into Putin’s annexation attempt, the Russian military has been severely weakened. “Ukraine’s brave forces have taken back more than half of the territory seized by Russian invaders since February 2022,” he added, saying that this “was made possible by bipartisan and principled US leadership — and our coalition of some 50 allies and partners.”
The Defence Secretary went on, “[Putin] feels that the West will get tired of supporting Ukraine, and he will soon have his way. If that’s the case, if we don’t support Ukraine, then Putin wins.”
Biden requested $61.4 billion for Ukraine, stating that assisting US partners is critical to national security. Roughly half of that amount would be utilised to restock American weaponry depleted by earlier support.
Austin and Blinken push Senate to approve aid to Israel and Ukraine
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 1, 2023
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Meanwhile, Blinken denounced Putin’s attempt to undermine Western support for Ukraine by using the Israel-Hamas war.
“Putin is very much trying to take advantage of the Hamas attack on Israel in the hopes that it will distract us... and that it will result in the US pulling back its resources” from Ukraine, Blinken said in a Senate committee hearing.
Reports suggest that since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Congress has already allocated $113 billion for Ukraine.
Recently, the White House stated that it does not have sufficient funds to continue supplying weaponry from US stockpiles to Ukrainian forces fighting Russia.
Wars in Israel, Ukraine Affect US National Security: Austin
“We are requesting $10.6 billion to help Israel defend itself,” Austin said. “The supplemental [funding] also requests $44.4 billion to help Ukraine continue to defend itself against Russia’s ongoing aggression.”
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made the case for funding aid to two countries struggling to survive: Israel and Ukraine.
— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) November 1, 2023
The two testified yesterday before the Senate Appropriations Committee seeking $68.3 billion in additional… pic.twitter.com/kU69qFRIrY
Austin stated that Americans must recognise that what occurs in Ukraine and Israel is important to the US. “It affects our national security, as well,” he continued.
“We also have to remind ourselves that these countries are in a fight. They’re fighting every day, and there are people dying every day. In Ukraine, Putin continues to attack civilians and commit war crimes [that are] despicable.”
The Defence Secretary added, “In both Israel and Ukraine, democracies are fighting ruthless foes who are out to annihilate them. We will not let Hamas or Putin win.”
He concluded by saying, “Only firm American leadership can ensure that tyrants, thugs and terrorists worldwide are not emboldened to commit more aggression and more atrocities.”