It’s up to Ukraine alone to determine its own foreign policy, particularly its relationship with NATO, Lloyd Austin, the United States Secretary of Defense, asserted during his brief visit to Kyiv on Oct. 19.
The Pentagon chief was commenting on the statement by Russian presidential spokesman Dmitriy Peskov on Oct. 18. He had called Ukraine’s potential membership in the Alliance “the worst-case scenario crossing the red lines of Russia’s national interests” that might force Russia into “taking action to ensure its security.”
“No third country has the right to veto NATO membership,” Austin said following a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Taran at Ukraine’s Defense Ministry office.
“Ukraine… has the right to decide its future foreign policy without external interference. I will say that our support for Ukrainian sovereignty is unshakable and we will continue to work together in order to ensure that we are in the right place, and Ukraine can defend itself.”
Austin also reiterated the American readiness to continue supporting partners in the Black Sea region, including Ukraine, to deter Russian aggression.
The two officials, both being retired high-ranking military generals, also paid respects to nearly 4,000 Ukrainian combatants killed in action in Russia’s war in Donbas, which continues since 2014.
My visit to the Fallen Warriors Memorial in Kyiv today was a moving experience and a poignant reminder of all those who have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice on the front lines of the war Russia fuels in eastern Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/cGucOoDkRK
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) October 19, 2021
Since the war began, the U.S. has provided Kyiv with defense aid, including lethal weaponry, to a total value of over $2 billion. As recently as Oct. 18, Ukraine received the latest shipment of military hardware as part of a $60 million extra package, in addition to $250 million approved for the year 2021.
The day before his arrival in Kyiv, Secretary Austin also visited Georgia, where he and his Georgian counterpart Juansher Burchuladze signed an agreement to extend a U.S.-led military training program for the country, 20% of which is occupied by Russia.
Next, the U.S. official will visit Romania and then join the NATO Defense Ministerial in Brussels.
