Austin was speaking in Brussels alongside Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov as officials from dozens of countries gathered to discuss further Western support for Kyiv's war effort against Russia, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
"The United States will not let Ukraine fail," Austin said at the start of the meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. "This coalition will not let Ukraine fail, and the free world will not let Ukraine fail."
He was leading the monthly meeting known as the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), which brings together about 50 allies that have been supporting Ukraine militarily.
Austin sought to convince European allies that the US administration was still committed to supporting Ukraine despite a stalemate in Congress over foreign aid, the Reuters news agency reported.
Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to call a vote on a bill that would provide USD 60 billion more in US security assistance to Ukraine, according to Reuters.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.
Tuesday is day 755 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, VOA