Speaking from an aircraft carrier in Poland, Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin said: 'We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can't do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine.'
BBC: Ukraine war: US wants to see a weakened Russia
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has said he hopes Russian losses in Ukraine will deter its leadership from repeating its actions elsewhere. Ukraine can still win the war if given the right support, he added.
He also announced the US would allocate an extra $713m (£559m) of military aid to Ukraine and other European nations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the West of attempting to "split Russian society and destroy Russia from within".
Mr Austin, a retired four-star general, was speaking after meeting Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
Also involving Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the visit marked the highest-level trip to Ukraine by US officials since the invasion began over two months ago.
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WNU Editor: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is signaling Washington's priorities right now, and it looks like finding a peaceful solution to the crisis is secondary to weakening Russia. Needless to say these remarks are being widely broadcast in Russia, and the response has been overwhelming anger.
In all of my years I have never seen Russian society this angry. I also suspect President Putin is now under intense pressure to respond against the US and its allies.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Said He Hopes Russian Military Loses In Ukraine Will Make It Too Weak To Fight Another War
U.S. Aims to Weaken Russia in Ukraine, Austin Says in Kyiv Visit -- Bloomberg
Austin says US wants to see Russia’s military capabilities weakened -- CNN
US seeks to ‘weaken’ Russia as it pledges more military help for Ukraine -- Politico
Pentagon chief’s Russia remarks show shift in US’s declared aims in Ukraine -- The Guardian
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