U.S. not preventing Ukraine from developing its own long-range strike capabilities - Pentagon

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated this at a press conference in Washington on Tuesday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

“Is the U.S. working to prevent Ukraine from developing its own long-range strike capability?  The short answer is no, we’re absolutely not doing that,” he said, answering reporters’ questions.

He stressed that the United States has already spent over $19 billion in providing security assistance to Ukraine.

In addition, according to Lloyd Austin, the U.S. engaged allies and partners routinely to get them to provide security assistance as well.

In this context, he recalled the work of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the so-called Ramstein format, which meets every month.

“And when I meet with the – with our colleagues there, I am encouraged by the level of commitment and by their resolve,” he said.

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