Austin: US arms policy slows Russia’s Ukraine advance | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Moscow’s military advance has slowed since Ukraine got permission to strike inside Russia with American arms.

Austin spoke at a news conference on Thursday after attending a meeting in Belgium to discuss support for Ukraine.

Last month, the US began allowing Ukraine to use arms it provided in border areas inside Russia. The step was taken to help defend the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv.

The defense secretary said, “What I see is a slowing of the Russians’ advance and a stabilizing of that particular piece of the front.”

Austin didn’t say whether Ukrainian forces actually used US weapons inside Russian territory.

Austin stressed that the US will keep supporting Ukrainians. He said that Ukraine’s partners around the world continue to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression.