Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday appeared to take a swipe at former President Trump, criticizing “some who say that both sides are to blame” in the war that began when Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022.
“There are some who don’t understand — or say they don’t understand — what is at stake between the free world and an aggressive tyrant like Putin. And I say: Let them come to Kyiv,” said Austin, who was speaking at the Kyiv Diplomatic Academy after making a surprise visit to Ukraine.
“There are some who say that both sides are to blame for Putin’s war of aggression. Let them come to Kyiv,” he continued. “Let us never forget how this war began.”
Austin did not name Trump or far-right Republicans who have opposed sending more aid to Ukraine and have been critical of defending the country.
Trump has repeatedly said he will end the war before he takes office in January, should he win the election, and has played up his relationship with Putin.
Last week, in an interview with “PBD Podcast,” Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is “one of the greatest salesman I’ve ever seen,” a comment he has frequently made at rallies because the Ukrainian leader has gotten billions in U.S. aid. Trump also talked about the destruction of Ukraine in the war and appeared to blame Zelensky for it.
“He should never have let that war start,” Trump said, referring to Zelensky. “That war’s a loser. Ukraine, remember, is not Ukraine anymore.”
Trump met Zelensky during the Ukrainian leader’s visit to Washington last month, and he again pledged that he was “going to get it resolved very quickly,” referring to the war, and talked up his relationship with Putin.
Austin met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Zelensky while in Kyiv. The Defense secretary announced a $400 million security package for Ukraine during the visit.
Zelensky said in a post on the social platform X that the leaders “discussed critical defense priorities, including Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, preparations for the winter period, and the expansion of long-range weapon use against Russian military targets.”
Zelensky also said he talked about his victory plan, which he first presented to President Biden in September but was not officially revealed until last week.
The victory plan has not been endorsed by the U.S. or other European allies. It includes an invitation for Ukraine into NATO, a nonnuclear strategic deterrence, lifting of restrictions on using Western weapons to strike deep into Russia, and other priorities to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses and economy.
In his speech, Austin said the U.S.’s commitment to Ukraine remains unwavering, adding that Washington has sent more than $58 billion in security assistance to Kyiv.
“That is a very real financial commitment. But for anyone who thinks that American leadership is expensive,” he said, “consider the price of American retreat. In the face of aggression, the price of principle is always dwarfed by the cost of capitulation.”