Lloyd Austin warns against isolationism and insists Ukraine absolutely can win war against Russia

EXCLUSIVE: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin defended U.S. restrictions connected long-range missiles successful Ukraine and insisted nan war-ravaged federation "absolutely" tin conclusion Russia moreover without specified capabilities successful an question and reply pinch Fox News. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited nan U.S. earlier this period to coming his "victory plan" – a cardinal proviso of which was lifting restrictions connected ATACMS and different U.S.-provided long-range missiles to onslaught subject targets wrong Russia. 

Ukraine claimed the long-range missiles could thwart Russia’s deadly glide bombs – and galore U.S. lawmakers turned up nan unit connected President Joe Biden to unleash nan long-range rocket capability. 

"Isn't this conscionable extending nan warfare by not giving them those permissions?" Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin asked Austin. 

Austin said that Russia had already moved nan craft it uses for glide bombs retired of ATACM scope – 300 kilometers from nan Ukrainian border. 

"I deliberation they person nan expertise to proceed to behaviour agelong scope strikes, and they will," Austin reasoned, "Ukraine has a batch of capacity that we provided successful position of drones."

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin defended U.S. restrictions connected long-range missiles successful Ukraine and insisted nan war-ravaged federation "absolutely" tin conclusion Russia moreover without specified capabilities successful an question and reply pinch Fox News. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

"They besides person nan expertise to nutrient their ain drones correct now. They're highly effective. As a matter of fact, we've seen them behaviour attacks aliases operations that are immoderate 400 kilometers beyond, beyond nan separator and moreover further."

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Austin insisted he and his subject counterparts are moving to create a scheme of action to instrumentality Zelenskyy’s "victory plan." 

"You know, we've said each on that Ukraine will beryllium a portion of NATO astatine immoderate constituent successful nan early … We're really processing an action scheme … to support President Zelenskyy's strategical plan." 

In nan wide-ranging interview, Austin admitted that he is "of course" concerned astir nan increasing inclination of isolationism successful nan U.S. 

"We are a world power. We person interests each astir nan globe, and we're going to request to proceed to do what's basal to protect those interests," said Austin. 

"There's nary mobility successful my mind that if Putin is successful, he will proceed to do what he's done. And, of course, each of nan Baltic states are very concerned about, astir that they rightfully consciousness that they would beryllium adjacent connected nan menu."

And arsenic nan conflict barrels toward nan three-year people successful February, Austin said he believes Ukraine tin triumph – and offered his meaning of victory. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited nan U.S. earlier this period to coming his ‘victory plan’ - a cardinal proviso of which was lifting restrictions connected ATACMS and different U.S.-provided long-range missiles to onslaught subject targets wrong Russia. (REUTERS/Alex Babenko)

"Ukraine perfectly tin win," said Austin.  "And we specify winning arsenic Ukraine being a sovereign authorities that tin take sides its territory and deter aggression successful nan future." (REUTERS/Yevhen Titov)

"Ukraine perfectly tin win," said Austin.  "And we specify winning arsenic Ukraine being a sovereign authorities that tin take sides its territory and deter aggression successful nan future."

The defense caput did not specify whether that meant Ukrainian territory should beryllium defined by its pre-2022 borders, whether it should see nan Crimea region Russia annexed successful 2014 aliases whether Ukraine would springiness up territory Russia has captured successful speech for peace. 

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As immoderate Republicans grumble astir nan $100 cardinal worthy of resources nan U.S. has offered Ukraine, Austin insisted assistance to Ukraine has not affected U.S. readiness – and provides jobs successful nan U.S. 

"Every grenade that we return retired of our inventory, that's sewage to beryllium replaced by thing else. Either that type of munition aliases thing better. Now, each clip that we tie capacity of our inventory and we switch it pinch something, and those munitions, those weapons are made successful nan United States of America. And that intends bully jobs for people, successful a number of states successful this country. And I deliberation this is an finance that we really use from.

"We do not nonstop rate complete to Ukraine. We tie down equipment, whether it beryllium vehicles aliases weapons aliases munitions, and switch those weapons aliases munitions pinch thing that's astir apt a small spot much modern and much effective."

Austin's comments travel arsenic Ukraine's defense main Kyrylo Budanov announced that immoderate 11,000 North Korean troops are successful Russia and will beryllium fresh to conflict Ukraine by November 1. 

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"Our intelligence analysts are really looking difficult astatine this," said Austin. "If this is true, this is very concerning, and if it is true, it speaks to nan constituent that Putin must beryllium weakened to a greater grade than astir group think."

South Korea’s spy agency said past week it had confirmed that North Korea sent 1,500 typical cognition forces to Russia this month. Both North Korea and Russia person denied nan movements. 

Austin besides responded to concerns that European NATO members are not paying their adjacent stock of assistance to Ukraine. 

"They're contributing a batch … I convene a group each month. It consists of 50 countries from astir nan world … And that group has together contributed immoderate $51 cardinal of nonstop information assistance to Ukraine. Germany has committed $31 cardinal worthy of information assistance. And I deliberation that's remarkable. And location are immoderate smaller countries arsenic a percent of GDP that person contributed much than nan United States."