US says Russia is 'weakened militarily' & has become 'geopolitical pariah' amid war

More than a month after its unjustified invasion of Ukraine, Russian military is w a weakened one and has become a pariah from a geopolitical standpoint, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday.

Ukraine maintains its sovereignty and its ability to protect its country, defend itself. It maintains its government. Russia is weakened militarily. And Russia, from a geopolitical standpoint, is a pariah. Countries will t volunteer to align mselves with Russia, Austin told members of Senate Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing.

General Mark Milley, Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff said Russian Air Force has t even established air superiority, let alone air supremacy, which is one of reasons why y're having great difficulty on ground.

So, air superiority mission is t being achieved. Why is that? It's because of survival of air defence systems, both MANPS that we've been providing Stingers and like from or NATO countries, plus longer-range Sams that have been provided that y alrey h. So that system has denied effective use of air to Russian military, he said.

w that's t to say Russian air does t get through. y do on occasion but for most part y're t very effective -- Russian air force. And that's reason," he said.

US has provided 60,000 anti-tank weapons and about 25,000 anti-aircraft weapon systems that have been sent by United States and its allies.

Those are two weapon systems that have proven most effective. one for air, in particular, best way to deny Russians air is through air defence systems, and that's what y're using, Milley said.

According to him, Russians have been struggling with ir logistical resupply, fuel, ammunition and food.

y've been having a very, very difficult time. Part of that is because lines of communications that y have, ground lines of communications, are at risk to dismounted and mounted Ukrainian forces that are conducting ambushes along those lines of communication, he said.

Senator Reed said Russia has unleashed its illegal and unprovoked and indeed a barbaric attack on Ukraine, upending peace and stability in Europe.

Putin's invasion has inflicted horrific suffering upon incent civilians in Ukraine, threatened European security and caused serious consequences for global ecomy. Ukrainian military has performed heroically in face of this overwhelming violence and Ukrainian people have shown world what true cour looks like, he said.

If Putin thought his actions would drive a wedge between NATO and members and within international community, he was bly mistaken. conflict in Ukraine has reinvigorated NATO alliance and exposed brutal nature of Putin's regime, Reed said.

Since start of conflict, international community has implemented a severe and far-reaching series of ecomic and energy sanctions against Russia, increased military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and reinforced NATO's military presence along eastern flank, he said.

Reed said international community has united in a way t seen in deces and its potential versaries from around world are taking te.

With that in mind, this budget request appropriately recognizes China and Russia as key strategic competitors for our military. Concurrent with release of budget, Defence Department submitted to Congress classified versions of National Defence Strategy, National Nuclear Posture Review, and Missile Defense Review, said Senator.