Austin’s remarks came after he and Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the capital of Kyiv on Sunday and announced several new U.S. actions, including an expanded diplomatic presence in the country and more military financing.
On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby — speaking from Germany — elaborated on Austin’s latest assessment of the conflict, telling CNN that a victory for Ukraine “is certainly in the cards.”
“I think winning is very clearly defined by a Ukraine whose sovereignty is fully respected, whose territorial integrity is not violated by Russia or any other country for that matter,” Kirby said. “And they can win, as the secretary said. And they certainly believe that they can do it.”
The 40 nations participating in Austin’s consultative group on Tuesday “also believe” Ukraine can triumph over Russia, Kirby said.
“It’s not just the West. … It’s not just NATO,” Kirby continued. “There are countries from all around the world, including the Indo-Pacific region, who are dedicated to trying to help Ukraine win this war.”
Ultimately, that victory is “going to be defined by” Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people, Kirby said.
Zelenskyy has previously expressed confidence that Ukraine will achieve victory and repel Russia’s invasion, which has dragged on for 62 days. “Yes, of course, and [we] will,” he told CNN this month.
But Zelenskyy also has insisted that Ukraine is not willing to cede territory in the eastern part of the country in order to bring an end to the conflict.
After retreating from around Kyiv in northern Ukraine this month, Russian forces last week launched their anticipated assault in the southeastern Donbas region.
The Donbas is home to two breakaway areas largely held by Moscow-backed separatists: the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic. A Russian commander reportedly said last Friday that Russia plans to take full control of the region and southern Ukraine.
Asked on Tuesday whether Ukraine is currently winning the war against Russia, Kirby said Ukrainian forces have thus far “certainly defeated” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “strategic objectives.”
“It’s hard to look at this fight and [conclude] that Russia has won, that Mr. Putin achieved his objectives,” Kirby said. “He has not. The Ukrainians have beaten him back at almost every turn.”
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