Pentagon chief’s Russia remarks show shift in US’s declared aims in Ukraine

Defense secretary Lloyd Austin said he wants to see Russia weakened' - a sign Washington now defines its goals differently

The US defense secretary's declaration that Washington wanted to see Russia weakened militarily and unable to recover quickly, marks a shift in Washington's declared aims underlying its military support for Ukraine.

At a press conference in Poland after a surprise visit to Kyiv, Lloyd Austin was asked if he would now define US goals differently from those set out soon after the Russian invasion. In response, he started out with the established administration line about helping Ukraine retain its sovereignty and defend its territory.