The United States, along with allies, will assist Ukraine in building forces capable of deterring Russian aggression in the coming years. This statement was made by the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during a speech at the National Defense University on December 11.
"Together with our allies and partners, we are determined to help Ukraine consolidate and extend its battlefield gains, and to build a future force that can ward off russian aggression in the years ahead", - Austin noted.
He also added that the russian army had been significantly weakened, and putin, in trying to demoralize the Ukrainian people, instead demoralized the russian army.
The head of the Pentagon emphasized that if the kremlin's aggression is not confronted today, and potential aggressors are not restrained, it will lead to more aggression, more bloodshed, and more chaos.
"America will be more secure if we stand up to putin's increasingly aggressive russia. America will be more secure if we stand up for our bedrock values. And America will be more secure if we make it clear to would-be aggressors worldwide that they do not get to decide which countries live or which countries die", - Austin stressed.
The U.S. Secretary of Defense also stated that Putin is mistaken in his belief that Ukraine and the U.S. can be outlasted.
"Mister President, ladies and gentlemen, America's commitments must be honored. America's security must be defended. And America's word must be kept", - emphasized Lloyd Austin.
As reported earlier, Zelensky met with the head of the Pentagon and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during his visit to the United States.