By Servet Gunerigok
WASHINGTON (AA) - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged more support for Ukraine Tuesday during his first public appearance, albeit virtually, since his controversial medical treatment.
"I urge this group to dig deep to provide Ukraine with more life-saving ground-based air-defense systems and interceptors," Austin said at the 18th Ukraine Defense Contact Group, as he spoke from home.
"Ukraine has answered Putin's cruelty with courage and defiance. After almost two years of war, Ukraine's people and troops stand strong against Russian aggression and occupation," he added.
Austin's secretive hospital stay for prostate cancer caused controversy earlier this month. He was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland on Dec. 22 for treatment.
Then on Jan. 1, he was taken back to the hospital due to complications, but the information about his stay was not disclosed until four days later. Even, the defense chief did not inform President Joe Biden about his hospitalization, prompting criticism from lawmakers.
Austin, 70, did not address his health during his remarks but said Russia's military has been badly weakened and Ukraine has taken back more than half of the sovereign territory grabbed by Russia since its unprovoked invasion.
"So, let's be clear. Our support for Ukraine's struggle against tyranny makes all of our countries more secure. If we lose our nerve, if we flinch, if we fail to deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite even more bloodshed and chaos," he said.