US Defense Secretary believes Ukraine can win without permission for long-range strikes

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin has supported the US restrictions on Ukraineʼs long-range strikes with Western weapons and insisted that it can defeat Russia even without such a capability. 

The US Secretary of Defence noted that Russia had already moved the aircraft it uses to launch guided aerial bomb strikes out of ATACMS range.

"I think they [the Ukrainians] have the ability to continue to conduct long range strikes, and they will," Austin reasoned, "Ukraine has a lot of capability that we provided in terms of drones," Austin said in an interview with Fox News.

The Pentagon chief also emphasised that Ukrainians can produce their own drones. 

"They're highly effective. As a matter of fact, we've seen them conduct attacks or operations that are some 400 kilometers beyond … the border and even further," Austin added. 

The US official also assured that he believed in Ukraine's victory and offered his definition of victory.

"Ukraine absolutely can win. And we define winning as Ukraine being a sovereign state that can defend its territory and deter aggression in the future," he added. 

The US Secretary of Defence did not specify whether this means that Ukrainian territory should be determined by the borders that existed before 2022 or whether Ukraine will have to give up the territories seized by Russia in exchange for peace. 

On Monday, Austin arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit. During his visit, he announced a new US$400 million military aid package for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that during his meeting with Austin, they discussed defence priorities, preparations for winter and the expansion of long-range weapons.