Lloyd Austin: Putin’s war is not result of NATO enlargement, it is cause of NATO enlargement

Speaking after a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Vladimir Putin made a "series of grave miscalculations when he invaded Ukraine more than a year ago", Report informs referring to Sky News.

“He thought that Ukraine wouldn't fight back, but Ukraine is standing strong with the help of its partners. Putin thought our unity would fracture, but Russia's cruel war of choice has only brought us close together. I note that Finland, which has long taken part in this contact group is here today as a new NATO ally - I suspect that Sweden will soon follow,” Austin noted.

“That makes something crystal clear – Putin’s war of choice is not the result of NATO enlargement, it is the cause of NATO enlargement.”