SecDef Austin ‘very concerned’ about Russian aggression toward Ukraine

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is “very concerned” about the potential for a Russian incursion into sovereign Ukrainian territory….

“They’ve invaded before, and as we look at the numbers of forces that are in the border region, as we look at some of the things that are occurring in the information space, as we look at what’s going on in the cyber domain, it really raises our concern,” Austin said during the Reagan National Defense Forum on Saturday.

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Austin’s comments follow concerns raised by Army Chief of Staff James McConville, who spoke at the forum earlier on Saturday. “I’m not quite sure what they’re going to do,” McConville said of Russia. “But to me, that is a terrible impact on the ability and security of our European friends.”

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Later in the day, former defense secretaries Leon Panetta (2011-2013) and Mark Esper (2019-2020) weighed in on the Ukraine situation.

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“I think the Biden administration has to make very clear to Mr. Putin what the price will be if he does” take military action, Panetta said. “[Say] to Mr. Putin ‘if you do this, this is what we’re going to do to you.’ And lay it out, particularly in regards to cyber and the capability of cyber. I think we have to lay out that he has to pay a price.”

…Esper called for sending more arms to Ukraine, including Javelin missiles and logistical support. More importantly, Esper said, the US needs to get other countries in Europe involved.

“…We should lead, but we should look at all our NATO allies and get their participation as well,” Esper said. “We have to stand up to Putin. We cannot allow him to pull this off. If he does, it will not sate his appetite.”