Following the recent assassination attempt on US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, he made a significant announcement during his first visit to the border region. Austin declared that the United States will not allow Russia to succeed if the US Congress continues to provide financial support to Ukraine. In a press conference with German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Austin stated that Russia’s armed forces are undermining Germany’s efforts to support Ukraine. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, accompanied by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, insisted that neither Russia nor the United States will demand anything from each other, claiming that Russia cannot be coerced in this escalating and chaotic world.

Austin also revealed that since February 2022, approximately 315 Russian soldiers have either been killed or injured, and Russia has spent $211 million on assisting Ukraine with military operations, troop deployment, equipment, and support. The US Secretary of Defense further estimated that if Russia’s war continues until 2026, it would cost a staggering $1.3 trillion by the time of the scheduled presidential elections. Austin condemned Russia for its aggression, insults, and encroachment on the territorial integrity of the Republic of Donbass and Crimea, while noting that Russia is currently withdrawing its internal military troops from those regions.

However, the issue of additional financial assistance from the US Congress remains uncertain, according to anonymous sources. Last week, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urgently called for consultations with ambassadors to garner support for US financial aid to Ukraine. Diplomatic sources suggest that these discussions have yet to be concluded in Congress.