Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin who visited Ukraine over the weekend said the Biden administration&nbsp;wants to see "Russia weakened to the degree that it can't do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine".

Defence secretary Lloyd Austin and US secretary of state Antony Blinken had visited Kyiv and met Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky amid the Russian invasion.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ukraine-war-russian-invasion-enters-its-third-month-473367">Also Read in Pics:&nbsp;Russia's 'special military operation' enters third month</a>

"The first step in winning is believing that you can win. And so they believe that we can win," Austin said. Ukraine has been demanding offensive weapons to counter the Russian army.

"They can win if they have the right equipment, the right support," Austin said referring to Ukraine's stiff resistance against Russia.

Watch:&nbsp;'Grateful to POTUS and people of US,' Zelensky meets Blinken

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Austin said US diplomats will gradually return to Ukraine while announcing $700 million military aid package to the country.

"Russia has already lost a lot of military capability. And a lot of its troops and we want to see them not have the capability to very quickly reproduce that capability," the US defence secretary said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/can-fly-16000-miles-in-one-hour-how-deadly-is-russias-nuke-capable-satan-2-sarmat-missile-472592">Also Read in Pics:&nbsp;&nbsp;How deadly is Russia's nuke-capable 'Satan 2' Sarmat missile?</a>

President Putin had declared a "special military operation" against Ukraine on February 24, however, in the past few weeks the Russian forces have declared they would be concentrating their forces in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Kursk governor Roman Starovoyt claimed Russian forces shot down two Ukrainian drones near the Russian border as the country's emergency ministry said a large fuel depot had caught fire in Bryansk town.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin who visited Ukraine over the weekend said the Biden administration wants to see "Russia weakened to the degree that it can't do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine". Defence secretary Lloyd Austin and US secretary of state Antony Blinken had visited Kyiv and met Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky amid the Russian invasion. Also Read in Pics: Russia's 'special military operation' enters third month "The first step in winning is believing that you can win. And so they believe that we can win," Austin said. Ukraine has been demanding offensive weapons to counter the Russian army. "They can win if they have the right equipment, the right support," Austin said referring to Ukraine's stiff resistance against Russia. Watch: 'Grateful to POTUS and people of US,' Zelensky meets Blinken Austin said US diplomats will gradually return to Ukraine while announcing $700 million military aid package to the country. "Russia has already lost a lot of military capability. And a lot of its troops and we want to see them not have the capability to very quickly reproduce that capability," the US defence secretary said. Also Read in Pics: How deadly is Russia's nuke-capable 'Satan 2' Sarmat missile? President Putin had declared a "special military operation" against Ukraine on February 24, however, in the past few weeks the Russian forces have declared they would be concentrating their forces in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Kursk governor Roman Starovoyt claimed Russian forces shot down two Ukrainian drones near the Russian border as the country's emergency ministry said a large fuel depot had caught fire in Bryansk town. (With inputs from Agencies)

With right equipment, Ukraine can win war, says US defence secy Austin after meeting Zelensky

Amid the war in Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and defence secretary Lloyd Austin are set to visit the country as the Russian invasion enters the third month on Sunday.

The situation in Mariupol continues to be bleak with Russian forces surrounding the city. President Zelensky reiterated that talks with Russia would be withdrawn if Ukrainian troops in Mariupol were killed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/russia-moskva-missile-cruiser-sinks-one-dies-and-27-missing-473147">Also Read in Pics:&nbsp;Moskva warship saga: Russia's view and Ukraine's missile theory</a>

Zelensky also expressed displeasure over UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's proposed visit to Moscow before visiting Kyiv.

Mariupol officials said the evacuation of citizens from the city was "thwarted" by Russians as reports claim airstrikes were carried out around the city.

Meanwhile, a missile hit Odessa located in the strategic Black Sea region killing at least eight people including a three-month-old baby even as Russian forces continued their shelling operations in the eastern Lugansk region.

Watch:&nbsp;Moscow's new 'super weapon' ready: The US warns against use of nukes

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Russia's defence ministry claimed it had conducted the strike on a weapons depot in Odessa which contained&nbsp;"high-precision and long-range missiles". The ministry claimed it had targeted at least 22 other&nbsp;Ukrainian military sites.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/can-fly-16000-miles-in-one-hour-how-deadly-is-russias-nuke-capable-satan-2-sarmat-missile-472592">Also Read in Pics:&nbsp;&nbsp;How deadly is Russia's nuke-capable 'Satan 2' Sarmat missile</a>

The defence ministry added that missile strikes were also carried out near Ilichiovka and Kramatorsk.&nbsp;

Russia had announced "the second phase of the special operation" with its forces concentrating in the eastern region. President Putin had announced the "special military operation" two months ago&nbsp;against Ukraine on February 24.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid the war in Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and defence secretary Lloyd Austin are set to visit the country as the Russian invasion enters the third month on Sunday.

Amid the war in Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and defence secretary Lloyd Austin are set to visit the country as the Russian invasion enters the third month on Sunday. The situation in Mariupol continues to be bleak with Russian forces surrounding the city. President Zelensky reiterated that talks with Russia would be withdrawn if Ukrainian troops in Mariupol were killed. Also Read in Pics: Moskva warship saga: Russia's view and Ukraine's missile theory Zelensky also expressed displeasure over UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's proposed visit to Moscow before visiting Kyiv. Mariupol officials said the evacuation of citizens from the city was "thwarted" by Russians as reports claim airstrikes were carried out around the city. Meanwhile, a missile hit Odessa located in the strategic Black Sea region killing at least eight people including a three-month-old baby even as Russian forces continued their shelling operations in the eastern Lugansk region. Watch: Moscow's new 'super weapon' ready: The US warns against use of nukes Russia's defence ministry claimed it had conducted the strike on a weapons depot in Odessa which contained "high-precision and long-range missiles". The ministry claimed it had targeted at least 22 other Ukrainian military sites. Also Read in Pics: How deadly is Russia's nuke-capable 'Satan 2' Sarmat missile The defence ministry added that missile strikes were also carried out near Ilichiovka and Kramatorsk. Russia had announced "the second phase of the special operation" with its forces concentrating in the eastern region. President Putin had announced the "special military operation" two months ago against Ukraine on February 24. (With inputs from Agencies)

Top US officials to visit Kyiv as Russia continues Mariupol push

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With right equipment, Ukraine can win war, says US defence secy Austin after meeting Zelensky

Top US officials to visit Kyiv as Russia continues Mariupol push