Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Tuesday vowed that the U.S. would not let Ukraine fail in its goal to drive out Russian invaders, despite the standoff in Congress over approving critical new funding for military weapons and ammunition for Kyiv.
Speaking ahead of the 20th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contract Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Mr. Austin said Ukraine’s troops have battled against often overwhelming odds “with defiance and skill” for more than two years. At a time when military analysts say Moscow has taken the initiative on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, he said Russia has paid a staggering cost for President Vladimir Putin’s “imperial dreams.”
“At least 315,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since Putin’s all-out invasion in February 2022. Russia has squandered up to $211 billion to equip, deploy, maintain and sustain its imperial aggression against Ukraine,” he said.
Despite not having a naval fleet, Ukraine has been able to sink, destroy or damage some 20 medium-to-large Russian naval vessels and continue to down Russian warplanes, Mr. Austin said.
President Putin’s “war of choice” will ultimately cost his country $1.3 trillion in previously anticipated economic growth through 2026, the Pentagon chief said.
This week’s trip to Europe is Mr. Austin’s first time abroad since his prostate cancer procedure in December, although he participated in at least two contact groups virtually since then. Mr. Austin’s failure to immediately disclose his health problems led to a major political headache for both the Pentagon and the White House, but President Biden said he still has confidence in his defense secretary.
Last week, the Pentagon announced a $300 million security assistance package for Ukraine made possible by “some unanticipated contract savings” that will be used for its air defense, artillery, and anti-tank needs. But a $60 billion-plus package of military aid for Kyiv remains hung up in Congress as Ukrainian front-line troops complain about weapons and equipment shortages.
“We remain determined to provide Ukraine with the resources that it needs to resist the Kremlin’s aggression,” Mr. Austin said. “The United States will not let Ukraine fail. This coalition will not let Ukraine fail. And the free world will not let Ukraine fail.”
A senior Defense Department official acknowledged last month that Ukraine won’t be able to defend itself against Russian aggression unless Congress passes the department’s supplemental funding request.
“If Ukraine fails because we failed to provide them with security assistance, the costs are high for Europe, for the United States, and for the world — higher than the cost of security assistance today,” the official said.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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