US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, speaking at the meeting of the contact group on the defense of Ukraine, which is underway in Brussels, reaffirmed the commitment of NATO allies to the idea of an independent and sovereign Ukraine.
"More than a year ago, Putin believed that within days his troops would capture Kyiv and overthrow the democratic government of Ukraine. He thought the international community would just put up with it," said Lloyd Austin.
"Putin's invasion was a long-term test for the whole world," added Austin, "but Ukraine's friends did not give up, and as a result, they won the battles for Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson."
"NATO allies have already provided Ukraine with $50 billion in aid," he said, stressing that there is still a lot to be done.
