US Minister: If Ukraine loses, NATO will have to fight Russia 0
(Dan Tri) – US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that if Russia wins in Ukraine, the next scenario is likely to be a direct conflict between Russia and NATO.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (Photo: Newsweek).
Speaking at a hearing before the US House Armed Services Committee on February 29, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that Russia will not stop if it wins the current conflict in Ukraine.
`We know that if Mr. Putin wins in Ukraine, he will not stop there. Russia will expand its actions in the region,` Mr. Austin said.
He warned that if Ukraine loses, the Baltic countries may become the next target.
`If you are a country in the Baltic region, you will really worry whether you will be next (in conflict with Russia). I believe, if Ukraine loses, NATO will be dragged into a war with Russia.`
According to him, the Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are especially vulnerable.
Secretary Austin emphasized that to prevent the scenario of Russia winning in Ukraine, the US Congress needs to quickly approve an additional aid package for Ukraine.
US aid to Ukraine has been stalled since late last year as the country’s parliament continued to disagree on a new aid package for Kiev.
On February 23, US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said: `Everyone we met, from (Ukrainian) President Volodymyr Zelensky down, made their point of view clear: If Ukraine receives aid,
President Zelensky also warned that Ukraine is a security buffer zone between Russia and NATO. If this buffer zone is lost, European security will be threatened.
In another related development, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on February 29 called on NATO leaders to consider all possible options to help Ukraine and prevent Russia from winning.
`That is also the signal we send to Russia that we do not rule out anything. We all understand that we must do everything to help Ukraine win, Russia fail,` Ms. Kallas
The Estonian leader said: `We should not be afraid of our own strength and should not overestimate Russia’s power. Fear of escalation makes us smaller. That is a mistake.`
