US Defense Secretary in Kyiv: Kremlin has no right to block Ukraine's NATO accession, and US will help Ukraine meet criteria for membership

Austin also called Russia the instigator of the war in Donbas and urged the occupiers to halt military operations.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin paid an official visit to Ukraine to meet with his counterparts at the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During a press conference, Austin once again expressed commitment to Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations, pledged to help Ukraine meet the necessary criteria for NATO membership, and set out a clear and consistent position on the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.

Austin's visit

In a message on Twitter about his arrival in Kyiv, the Pentagon chief opened by stating US support for Ukraine's sovereignty.  

Lloyd Austin
US Secretary of Defense

Landed in Kyiv. I am here to affirm our unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and to express our commitment to developing Ukraine's ability to deter further Russian aggression.

During the visit, Austin met with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Taran and President Volodymyr Zelensky. They discussed bilateral and regional security cooperation and defense reform.

Austin also took part in a ceremony honoring the memory of fallen Ukrainian defenders at the Memorial Hall and at the Memorial Bell to Ukraine's defenders.

Remarks at the briefing

At a joint briefing after the meeting, Lloyd said the US will support defense reform in Ukraine until it meets the criteria for NATO membership.

Lloyd Austin
US Secretary of Defense

Since 2014, the US has allocated more than $2.5 billion to Ukraine's armed forces to ensure territorial integrity and protect its land and territorial waters. After the NATO summit in June 2014, NATO allies affirmed their support for Ukraine's intention to become a full member of NATO. We remain steadfast in supporting Ukraine's defense reform, which will help it meet the criteria for full NATO membership.

Responding to a journalist's question about Russia's extremely harsh reaction to Ukraine's intention to join NATO, Austin noted that "no third country has a veto over NATO membership."

Lloyd Austin

No third country has a veto over NATO membership. Ukraine, as I have already noted, has the right to determine its future foreign policy without outside interference. I will say that our support for Ukraine's sovereignty is unwavering, and we will continue to work together to ensure that we are in the right place and that Ukraine can defend itself.

The Pentagon chief also noted that the US condemns the occupation of Crimea and calls on Russia to end the war in Donbas, stop destabilizing actions in the Black Sea and along Ukraine's borders, and stop cyberattacks against the US and its allies and partners.

Lloyd Austin

Let us be clear that Russia started this war. Russia is the stumbling block to a peaceful settlement. They began violating Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. For our part, we will do everything possible to support Ukraine and develop its capabilities to defend its territorial integrity and inviolability.

Austin and Taran discussed strengthening partnership in the Black Sea region to counter Russia's actions.

Austin also added that the US will continue to provide Ukraine with the necessary support in its conflict with Russia and strengthen the strategic partnership.

In particular, this involves strengthening partnership in the Black Sea region to "counter Russia's destabilizing actions."