Pentagon’s chief: five reasons to support Ukraine

Lloyd Austin, the United States Secretary of Defense, named five reasons why Ukraine’s fight against Russia is important. The American official announced the list during a speech at the Ramstein-format meeting on October 11 in Brussels.

“Everyone here understands the stakes … and why Ukraine’s defense struggle matters. Ukraine matters because Putin’s war of choice is a great and acute threat to European security,” Austin said.

The defense of Ukraine is important because Russia clearly threatens America’s NATO allies. Third, Russian atrocities against the civilian population destroy common values and threaten the rule of law.

Support for Kyiv is critical because Russia deliberately causes hunger and suffering of innocent people worldwide by attacking Ukrainian grain.

And finally, protecting Ukraine is important because Russia’s actions show that great powers can invade their peaceful and democratic neighbors with impunity. It would destroy the rules-based order that has made the world so much safer since the end of World War II.

“This is what brought us together again. And, as I have said before, I continue to firmly believe that our support for the forces of freedom in Ukraine will be strong in any season or any storm,” the Pentagon’s head concluded.