Pentagon chief says NATO will fight Russia if Ukraine loses: Zakharova responds with hysteria

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that if Ukraine loses the war with Russia, the entire NATO will have to fight the aggressor country. Moscow has already reacted to these words – Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman and propagandist Maria Zakharova threw another tantrum online.

At a hearing of the US House Armed Services Committee on February 29, the Pentagon chief emphasized that Ukraine needs Washington's military assistance. Austin emphasized that a situation in the world where one country can afford to redraw the borders of neighboring countries and seize their territories cannot be allowed.

The head of the US Defense Department said that if Russian dictator Putin succeeds, he will not stop his aggression and will spread it to other countries.

"He will continue to be even more aggressive in the region. And other leaders around the world, other autocrats will look at this and they will be encouraged by the fact that this happened and we failed to support a democratic state," he added.

Austin clarified that if Ukraine loses, the Baltic states could be at risk.

"And, frankly, if Ukraine falls, I believe that NATO will fight Russia," the official said.

In response to these words, Zakharova's propagandist claimed that Austin was allegedly "threatening Russia." She wrote on her social media page that the aggressor is not Russia, which has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine for two years, but Washington.

"Is this a direct threat to Russia or an attempt to come up with an excuse for Zelenskyi? Both are crazy. Instead, now everyone can see who the aggressor is – Washington," the Kremlin's mouthpiece said.

As OBOZ.UA reported earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Russia could attack NATO countries in a few years. That is why European countries cannot allow Russia to win an aggressive war against Ukraine because the security of Europe is at stake.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!