Russia is obstacle to peace in east Ukraine - U.S. Defence Secretary

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian Defence Minister Andriy Taran visit a pantheon commemorating fallen defenders of Ukraine prior to their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine October 19, 2021. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

KYIV (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary Of Defence Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday Russia was the obstacle to peace in eastern Ukraine and had no right to veto Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO.

During a visit to Kyiv, at a time when Russia's relations with the West are at post-Cold War lows, Austin said Ukraine must be able to decide its own foreign policy and warned Moscow to halt cyberattacks against the United States and its allies.