“Has it occurred to you that Russia has not overtaken Ukraine because of what we have done? And our allies have done it? Have you ever thought about it?” Austin asked MP Matt Gaetz rhetorically during the House hearing. Armed. Services Committee. Austin and other U.S. officials say U.S. support for Ukraine’s forces, along with Ukraine’s strong will to fight, has thwarted Russia’s plans for a quick victory in a six-week campaign. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testify before a House Armed Services Committee hearing on “Department of Defense Budget Requests for FY2023” at the US Capitol , April 5, 2022. REUTERS / Tom Brenner General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the conflict in Ukraine could last for years. “I think this is a very protracted conflict and I think it can be measured at least in years,” Milley told lawmakers at the same hearing. He added that “NATO, the United States, Ukraine and all allies and partners who support Ukraine will be involved in this for a long time.” Russian-backed separatists have been fighting in eastern Ukraine since 2014, a conflict that has killed some 15,000 people. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali. curated by Grant McCool Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
