Reference News Network reported on January 24 According to a report by the Russian Satellite News Agency in Washington on January 23, US Defense Secretary Austin participated in a video conference for the first time after being discharged from the hospital and spoke at a meeting of the Western Countries’ Contact Group on Assistance to Ukraine. The United States was unable to send messages to Kiev In the context of providing a new round of military assistance, he called on other Western countries not to waver on the issue of assistance.
According to reports, Austin said at the group meeting: "If we lose self-control, if we retreat, we cannot stop those who would be the aggressors, and we will cause more bloodshed and chaos."
The US Department of Defense said The event was broadcast.
Austin said Western support for Ukraine makes all alliance countries safer. Austin also called on contact group members to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems and interceptors. The
report mentioned that Austin has been hospitalized since January 1 and caused controversy because he tried to conceal his prostate cancer condition from the White House.
Austin was discharged from the hospital on January 15, and the U.S. Department of Defense stated that Austin will work from home for a period of time.
In the video footage on the 23rd, Austin was sitting in an office with a military department logo on the wall.
reported that the United States is currently unable to provide new aid to Kyiv because the government has spent all the funds approved by Congress for this purpose. Congress is considering a new White House request for military aid to Ukraine, but there has been no progress on the issue. At the same time, U.S. leaders acknowledged that without Washington's support, Western countries would "likely" refuse to provide support.
