Contesting Russia Requires Renewed US Engagement In Central Asia by Mideastsoccer published on 2022-04-29T03:39:51Z When US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III declared that Washington wanted to see Russia so “weakened" that it would no longer be able to invade a neighbouring state, he lifted the veil on US goals in Ukraine. He also held out the prospect of a long-term US-Russian contest for power and influence. Genre News & Politics