Ukrainian President Volodysmyr Zelensky (L) welcomes U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (R) during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday. Photo by Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/EPA-EFE/Oct. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Ukraine continues to have U.S. support against Russian aggression and is free to decide its own foreign policy during a visit to Kyiv Tuesday. "We will continue to do everything we can to support Ukraine's efforts to develop the capability to defend itself," he added. When asked about Ukraine's efforts to join NATO, Austin replied that no third nation has "a veto" over its aspirations. He will also visit Romania before attending the NATO Defense Ministerial in Brussels later this week.