JOHN YANG: While USA to Ukraine has gotten caught up in Capitol Hill politics.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says he intends to support Ukraine as best he can.

Austin talked about that when he sat down with Nick Schifrin in Brussels this weekend.

Tonight, part two of that exclusive one on one interview.

NICK SCHIFRIN: I spent a week in what Ukrainians themselves defined as most critical frontline down toward Crimea in the direction of Melitopol.

And they've made a bit of progress there.

But they have not achieved what they describe as their own minimal objectives.

So what is your verdict at this point on the counter offensive?

LLOYD AUSTIN: This is going to be a tough fight.

They're going against a Russian adversary that was had the time to prepare positions dig in, positions in depth use extensive minefields.

And so as they work their way through that complex challenge, it's been a tough slog, it probably is not going as quickly as many people would like to see it go.

But I think they are very determined to continue to make progress and take their sovereign territory back from the Russians.

And we are determined to provide them support as long as they are committed to doing that.

NICK SCHIFRIN: There are some officials, I'll be honest, two are concerned that Ukraine will not make much progress if at all over the next few weeks or even months.

Do you share that concern?

LLOYD AUSTIN: Well, I think Ukraine will continue to make progress.

I think from talking to their leaders, I see determination, I see commitment.

You may know that every month I assemble some 50 countries, the Minister of Defense of 50 countries.

And as I continue to assemble that group, I see resolve, I see commitment, I see a willingness to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

So that energy is still there, that that commitment still there.

And that's got to be reassuring for the Ukrainians.

NICK SCHIFRIN: If I could bring it to the operational level just for one question.

Ukrainians have split their forces between the east and the south, about give or take 50-50.

And that means that only a portion of the Ukrainian soldiers fighting the counter offensive are on that critical frontline that I described in the southwest, toward Crimea, toward Melitopol.

You may not want to judge them.

But is that a problem?

Is that a mistake?

LLOYD AUSTIN: You're right, I don't want to judge them.

And I won't.

It's my intent to support them as best we can.

And I think they're putting that support to get use.

And they're learning as I go along.

So it has evolved, it will continue to evolve.

But I have to come in the bravery, the commitment of the Ukrainian soldiers, and all those who are supporting them, they are really, really resilient.

NICK SCHIFRIN: You've got about $5.2 billion that you can use to send Ukraine weapons drawn down from U.S. stocks and about 1.6 billion of funds to replenish those stocks.

How long can that last?

LLOYD AUSTIN: In terms of how long it can last.

It just depends on what weapons systems and capabilities we go after.

But we're going to, again, I would remind you that it's not just us.

It's the other countries as well, in this case that are providing support to Ukraine.

NICK SCHIFRIN: You've obviously got European allied support, but you're struggling to the administration, the struggling to get the latest package through Congress.

Is there a plan B if you can't get money through Congress for Ukraine?

LLOYD AUSTIN: I won't speculate on a plan B. I will say as I engage members of Congress in both houses, I see strong support for Ukraine.

And I would, as I as I look at the polls, you know, across the country, there is still strong support for Ukraine.

Ukraine matters.

It matters not just for Ukraine, that offense of Ukraine, it matters for the world because this is about the rules based international order.

This is about a dictator in one country, choosing to invade his neighbor.

And we can't allow that to happen.

The international community does not want that for our future.

So Ukraine matters to the world.

NICK SCHIFRIN: It's also about freedom.

It's also about the kind of country that Ukraine wants to be not under the yoke of Russia, of course, you say there's, you know, when I'm talking about plan B, but there are still political problems within Congress, even if, even if the majority of lawmakers and Americans still want to support Ukraine.

Ukraine has a level of fire right now.

That is very, very high 90,000, 100,000 artillery shells a month.

Does Ukraine need to reconsider how it fight if the U.S. cannot sustain the support at the levels it has?

LLOYD AUSTIN: You know, countries and organizations will adapt to make best use of whatever materials and in weapons systems they have available.

And we've watched this fight, you know, trends -- transform over time.

Ukraine has become very capable and using things that they weren't using when we started this fight.

I think they will adapt going forward.

I think we were seeing that as we speak.

And, you know, that's to be expected.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And finally, sort of last question is Ukraine's future NATO?

LLOYD AUSTIN: You've heard the Sec-Gen say that it was.

You've heard a number of countries, all of the countries are in NATO say that they think so.

And so they are the ones that will determine that, but clearly, I see strong support for Ukraine right now.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But does the U.S. believe that Ukraine futures in NATO?

LLOYD AUSTIN: We've said that.

Yes.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Mr. Secretary, thank you very much.

LLOYD AUSTIN: Thank you.