Ukraine can win without long-range weapons and with current resources: Pentagon chief Austin
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in a recent interview for Fox News expressed his support for the current position of the United States on limiting the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine. He emphasized that Ukraine “absolutely” can win over Russia even without these opportunities. According to him, the Russian military has already moved its aircraft beyond the range of ATACMS missiles, moving them 300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, which reduces the need for long-range strikes.
Austin noted that the Ukrainians have a significant arsenal of capabilities, particularly in the field of unmanned technologies, many of which were provided by the United States. He also emphasized Ukraine’s ability to produce its own drones, which are effectively used to conduct operations at a distance of up to 400 kilometers outside the border.
The US Defense Minister also assured that his team is actively working to support the strategic plan of Volodymyr Zelenskyi, in particular, to develop an action plan to achieve the victory of Ukraine. He emphasized that victory is defined as Ukraine’s ability to be a sovereign state that can defend its territory and deter aggression in the future.
Austin also dismissed concerns about the impact of military aid to Ukraine on US defense capabilities. He noted that every item of weapons or ammunition transferred to Ukraine is replaced by new models, often more modern and efficient, which also contributes to the creation of new jobs in the United States.
“We do not send cash to Ukraine. We’re removing equipment, whether it’s vehicles or weapons or ammunition, and we’re replacing those weapons or ammunition with something that’s probably a little bit more modern and more effective“, – stressed Austin.
