(14 Jun 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brussels, Belgium - 14 June 2024
1. US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin arriving at podium
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defence:
++PART COVERED BY SHOT 1++
"You know (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has occupied, illegally occupied, sovereign Ukrainian territory. He is not in any position to dictate to Ukraine what they must do to bring about a peace. I think, you know, that's exactly the kind of behaviour that we don't want to see. We don't want to see a leader of one country wake up one day and decide that he wants to erase borders and annex the territory of his neighbour. That's not the world that any of us want to live in. And so I think, you know, he is not, in my view - not in a position to dictate to Ukraine what it must do to pursue peace. Putin can end this war today."
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
United States Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday after the Russian leader promised Friday to "immediately" order a cease-fire in Ukraine and begin negotiations if Kyiv started withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join NATO.
Speaking in Brussels, Austin accused Putin of having "occupied, illegally occupied, sovereign Ukrainian territory."
"He is not in any position to dictate to Ukraine what they must do to bring about a peace," he said, adding, "he is not, in my view - not in a position to dictate to Ukraine what it must do to pursue peace. Putin can end this war today."
It came as he reaffirmed the total support of the U.S. and NATO to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, as the alliance approved on Friday a plan to provide reliable long-term security aid and military training.
The plan comes as delays in Western deliveries of funds, arms and ammunition helped invading Russian forces to seize the initiative on the battlefield.
NATO also discussed nuclear deterrence to make sure that all NATO countries are united on that topic.
"The NATO Nuclear Planning Group met today to discuss some key nuclear policy issues. It was a productive meeting and we remain unified on this critical subject," said Austin at a news conference following the two-day meeting.
AP video shot by Mark Carlson
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