1 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:05,490 afternoon everybody a couple of things 2 00:00:05,490 --> 00:00:06,660 here at the top . 3 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:15,580 Earlier today , Secretary Austin had a 4 00:00:15,580 --> 00:00:17,358 chance to speak with the polish 5 00:00:17,358 --> 00:00:19,524 Minister of Defense marios blast shock 6 00:00:19,940 --> 00:00:22,190 to discuss impacts of Russia's 7 00:00:22,190 --> 00:00:24,130 unprovoked and unjust war against 8 00:00:24,130 --> 00:00:26,900 Ukraine . Secretary praised Poland's 9 00:00:26,900 --> 00:00:28,900 strong commitment to supporting the 10 00:00:28,900 --> 00:00:31,122 defense needs of Ukraine's forces . And 11 00:00:31,130 --> 00:00:33,830 certainly he expressed our appreciation 12 00:00:33,830 --> 00:00:37,330 for Poland's hosting of U . S . Forces 13 00:00:37,330 --> 00:00:40,890 and additional U . S . Forces . The two 14 00:00:40,890 --> 00:00:43,280 leaders exchanged ideas on further 15 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,113 enhancing deterrence and defense 16 00:00:45,113 --> 00:00:47,169 efforts along NATO's eastern flank . 17 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,930 Now also of note , Alaskan command 18 00:00:50,940 --> 00:00:53,140 under North Northern U . S . Northern 19 00:00:53,140 --> 00:00:55,251 Command is currently hosting exercise 20 00:00:55,251 --> 00:00:58,100 Arctic Edge 22 in Alaska held every two 21 00:00:58,100 --> 00:01:00,590 years . This exercise consists of 22 00:01:00,590 --> 00:01:02,780 approximately 1000 us military 23 00:01:02,780 --> 00:01:05,200 personnel and they're made up of units 24 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,367 from the Army , Navy Air Force , Coast 25 00:01:07,367 --> 00:01:09,533 Guard and Special Operations Command . 26 00:01:09,533 --> 00:01:11,533 Also included are elements from the 27 00:01:11,533 --> 00:01:13,644 world Royal Canadian Navy , the Royal 28 00:01:13,644 --> 00:01:15,870 Canadian Air Force and the Canadian 29 00:01:15,870 --> 00:01:18,500 army . The goal of the exercise is to 30 00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:20,278 provide realistic and effective 31 00:01:20,278 --> 00:01:22,278 training for participants using the 32 00:01:22,278 --> 00:01:24,278 premier training locations that are 33 00:01:24,278 --> 00:01:26,500 available throughout Alaska Arctic Edge 34 00:01:26,500 --> 00:01:28,667 22 is linked to other service specific 35 00:01:28,667 --> 00:01:30,690 exercises , including the National 36 00:01:30,690 --> 00:01:33,870 Guard's Arctic Eagle Patriot . Uh The 37 00:01:33,870 --> 00:01:36,260 Army's joint pacific multinational 38 00:01:36,260 --> 00:01:38,620 readiness capability exercise and the 39 00:01:38,620 --> 00:01:41,680 Navy's SX uh and those occur 40 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,600 concurrently or consecutively during 41 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:46,600 the months of february and March of 42 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:48,433 this year ? Where that will take 43 00:01:48,433 --> 00:01:50,630 questions , john , can you give us a 44 00:01:50,630 --> 00:01:54,320 little bit more detail on the hotline 45 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,542 deconfliction line , whatever you wanna 46 00:01:56,542 --> 00:01:58,764 call it with Russia . Do you know if it 47 00:01:58,764 --> 00:02:00,860 has been used at all , was it used 48 00:02:00,870 --> 00:02:03,350 specifically during the attack on the 49 00:02:03,350 --> 00:02:06,290 nuclear facility . When one might think 50 00:02:06,290 --> 00:02:08,512 there might be some cause for concern . 51 00:02:08,940 --> 00:02:11,320 Um And is it would it be general 52 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,960 Walters ? Who would be sort of in 53 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,127 charge on the other end of the phone ? 54 00:02:16,340 --> 00:02:19,370 Can you give us a sense of who what 55 00:02:19,370 --> 00:02:21,980 this link is and then just put the 56 00:02:21,980 --> 00:02:24,147 phone number two ? Yeah . If you could 57 00:02:24,147 --> 00:02:26,930 actually put the phone here um and then 58 00:02:26,940 --> 00:02:29,750 just any anything new on Odessa 59 00:02:30,940 --> 00:02:33,580 um on the deconfliction , I I don't 60 00:02:33,590 --> 00:02:35,830 have any information about whether it's 61 00:02:35,830 --> 00:02:39,570 been used . It's only been in place for 62 00:02:39,580 --> 00:02:41,691 a couple of days . I think it's early 63 00:02:41,691 --> 00:02:44,940 this week . Um It is basically 64 00:02:44,940 --> 00:02:47,900 a phone line , a phone connection to 65 00:02:47,900 --> 00:02:50,170 the Russian Ministry of Defense . It is 66 00:02:50,170 --> 00:02:52,114 being administered out of european 67 00:02:52,114 --> 00:02:56,060 command headquarters . Um And as as I 68 00:02:56,060 --> 00:02:59,020 understand it it's it's it's basically 69 00:02:59,020 --> 00:03:02,710 staffed by uh you know staff level 70 00:03:02,710 --> 00:03:04,940 officers there at european command . Um 71 00:03:04,950 --> 00:03:08,260 I I have no expectation that um 72 00:03:08,940 --> 00:03:11,420 unless he really desires that general 73 00:03:11,420 --> 00:03:13,642 Walters would would be the one managing 74 00:03:13,642 --> 00:03:15,864 that . It's not at that level , it's at 75 00:03:15,864 --> 00:03:18,060 it's at a lower operational level . Um 76 00:03:18,060 --> 00:03:20,970 And it's being um administered as a 77 00:03:20,970 --> 00:03:23,580 bilateral US to Russia deconfliction 78 00:03:23,580 --> 00:03:26,010 channel . So it's that's why it's uh 79 00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:28,751 being handled out of U . S . European 80 00:03:28,751 --> 00:03:30,807 command headquarters and not general 81 00:03:30,807 --> 00:03:32,973 Walters under his NATO had . But again 82 00:03:32,973 --> 00:03:35,030 I referring to you calm to talk 83 00:03:35,030 --> 00:03:37,480 specifically about the weather and how 84 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:39,890 it's it's been put in place , we know 85 00:03:39,890 --> 00:03:42,450 it we know it works because we did 86 00:03:42,460 --> 00:03:44,460 establish it and set it up with the 87 00:03:44,460 --> 00:03:46,630 Russians and when we tested it , uh , 88 00:03:46,850 --> 00:03:48,961 you know , they did pick up the other 89 00:03:48,961 --> 00:03:51,270 end and acknowledge that that they got 90 00:03:51,270 --> 00:03:53,381 the call . So , so we know it works . 91 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,880 We think again that this is as we've 92 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,840 done before , like in Syria , we think 93 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:01,690 it's valuable to have a direct 94 00:04:01,690 --> 00:04:04,790 communication vehicle at that level , 95 00:04:04,790 --> 00:04:06,990 at an operational level uh , to to 96 00:04:06,990 --> 00:04:10,220 reduce the risks of miscalculation . Um , 97 00:04:10,220 --> 00:04:12,730 and to be able to communicate in real 98 00:04:12,730 --> 00:04:14,980 time if if need be particularly because 99 00:04:14,980 --> 00:04:17,540 now the airspace over Ukraine is 100 00:04:17,540 --> 00:04:21,380 contested uh , by by both Russian and 101 00:04:21,380 --> 00:04:24,220 uh , and Ukrainian aircraft . Um , so 102 00:04:24,220 --> 00:04:26,290 that that contested airspace now 103 00:04:26,290 --> 00:04:28,800 buttresses right up against NATO . The 104 00:04:28,810 --> 00:04:31,510 smart thing to do . Um , and uh , and 105 00:04:31,510 --> 00:04:33,621 we're glad it's in place . We're glad 106 00:04:33,621 --> 00:04:35,621 that the Russians have acknowledged 107 00:04:35,621 --> 00:04:37,621 that they will use it on Odessa . I 108 00:04:37,621 --> 00:04:40,880 don't have an update for you . We 109 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,850 haven't seen . And again , I have to 110 00:04:43,850 --> 00:04:46,420 caveat this by making clear our our 111 00:04:46,420 --> 00:04:48,350 visibility and our our detailed 112 00:04:48,350 --> 00:04:50,572 knowledge of , of things that are going 113 00:04:50,572 --> 00:04:53,550 on on the ground is is has limits . But 114 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,782 as of this morning , we hadn't seen any 115 00:04:55,782 --> 00:04:58,004 significant naval activity in the Black 116 00:04:58,004 --> 00:05:00,004 Sea . That would lead us to believe 117 00:05:00,004 --> 00:05:02,171 that an assault on Odesa is imminent . 118 00:05:02,171 --> 00:05:02,150 That doesn't mean that that won't 119 00:05:02,150 --> 00:05:04,150 change . Overcoming hours . It very 120 00:05:04,150 --> 00:05:06,830 well could . Um , as you've seen for 121 00:05:06,830 --> 00:05:09,370 yourselves , the Russian ground forces 122 00:05:09,370 --> 00:05:12,040 coming out of Crimea ? Our king off to 123 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,280 the northwest through Kherson are now 124 00:05:15,290 --> 00:05:17,410 beginning an assault on a town called 125 00:05:17,410 --> 00:05:20,870 Nikolaev . That town is not far from 126 00:05:20,870 --> 00:05:23,092 Odessa , just up the coast a little bit 127 00:05:23,092 --> 00:05:25,850 to the northeast of Odessa . Uh so uh 128 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:28,551 we don't know exactly what to make of 129 00:05:28,551 --> 00:05:30,607 that . We can't assert for sure that 130 00:05:30,607 --> 00:05:32,662 the Russians are going to use a land 131 00:05:32,662 --> 00:05:34,607 route to assault Odessa or even if 132 00:05:34,607 --> 00:05:36,829 they're going to move on Odessa . We're 133 00:05:36,829 --> 00:05:39,051 just we're kind of watching this day by 134 00:05:39,051 --> 00:05:41,273 day as you guys are just a quick follow 135 00:05:41,273 --> 00:05:43,051 up on that . So since this is a 136 00:05:43,051 --> 00:05:45,490 bilateral sort of US , Russia line 137 00:05:45,620 --> 00:05:48,010 would then an instance like the nuclear 138 00:05:48,010 --> 00:05:51,360 power plant not being appropriate use 139 00:05:51,370 --> 00:05:54,760 of very well very well . Could be 140 00:05:56,740 --> 00:05:58,629 actually I'm following up on that 141 00:05:58,629 --> 00:06:01,250 question . The nuclear line , Are you 142 00:06:01,250 --> 00:06:03,139 saying that it was a nuclear like 143 00:06:03,139 --> 00:06:05,194 excuse me . The deconfliction line . 144 00:06:05,194 --> 00:06:07,417 Are you saying it wasn't I'm not saying 145 00:06:07,417 --> 00:06:09,528 it wasn't used , I don't I don't have 146 00:06:09,528 --> 00:06:11,750 anything for you on on its physical use 147 00:06:11,750 --> 00:06:13,806 in the last couple of days . What is 148 00:06:13,806 --> 00:06:16,170 the most senior U . S . Defense 149 00:06:16,170 --> 00:06:18,003 official who has spoken to their 150 00:06:18,003 --> 00:06:20,350 Russian counterparts since this 151 00:06:20,420 --> 00:06:24,060 invasion has occurred ? Uh No no 152 00:06:24,070 --> 00:06:26,237 no leaders here at the Pentagon . Have 153 00:06:26,237 --> 00:06:28,440 the General Milley has not spoken to 154 00:06:28,450 --> 00:06:30,660 General Gerasimov since the invasion . 155 00:06:30,670 --> 00:06:33,260 Uh Secretary Austin has not spoken to 156 00:06:33,270 --> 00:06:35,500 Minister Shoigu , his counterpart uh 157 00:06:35,510 --> 00:06:37,700 since the invasion . I'm not aware of 158 00:06:37,710 --> 00:06:39,766 any other senior leaders here at the 159 00:06:39,766 --> 00:06:41,877 Department of Defense . Now , I can't 160 00:06:41,877 --> 00:06:44,099 speak for NATO . That's a good question 161 00:06:44,099 --> 00:06:47,130 for for the alliance . But but I'm not 162 00:06:47,130 --> 00:06:49,520 aware of any senior U . S . Military 163 00:06:49,530 --> 00:06:51,750 connections separately on the bridge 164 00:06:51,750 --> 00:06:55,670 that was blown up near that convoy . Uh 165 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,340 we're US weapons used to blow up that 166 00:06:58,350 --> 00:07:00,920 bridge . And what impact has it had on 167 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,240 the convoy ? I do not know what 168 00:07:03,250 --> 00:07:06,970 specific munitions were used to uh to 169 00:07:06,970 --> 00:07:10,800 thwart the convoy's advance . We do 170 00:07:10,810 --> 00:07:13,590 have reports that a bridge was was was 171 00:07:13,590 --> 00:07:15,701 blown up , that we believe was in the 172 00:07:15,701 --> 00:07:18,000 path there . We also have indications 173 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,000 that the Ukrainians have struck the 174 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,140 convoy elsewhere and on their own uh on 175 00:07:23,150 --> 00:07:25,050 on vehicles . But what munitions 176 00:07:25,050 --> 00:07:26,939 they're using , jen I just simply 177 00:07:26,939 --> 00:07:28,717 couldn't speak to that level of 178 00:07:28,717 --> 00:07:31,600 specificity . We do believe that that 179 00:07:31,610 --> 00:07:33,930 the actions by the Ukrainians have in 180 00:07:33,930 --> 00:07:36,590 fact stalled that convoy and certainly 181 00:07:36,590 --> 00:07:38,740 slowed it down , stopped it in some 182 00:07:38,740 --> 00:07:42,170 places . But we also think that , you 183 00:07:42,170 --> 00:07:44,880 know that it's also of a piece of 184 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:46,880 Russian challenges that they've had 185 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:48,880 just in terms of their own physical 186 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,213 ground movement , sustainment logistics . 187 00:07:51,213 --> 00:07:53,324 They're running out of fuel , that we 188 00:07:53,324 --> 00:07:55,158 still believe that in some cases 189 00:07:55,158 --> 00:07:54,670 they're running out of food for their 190 00:07:54,670 --> 00:07:56,892 soldiers . So they've also been plagued 191 00:07:56,892 --> 00:07:58,948 by their own missteps and stumbles , 192 00:07:58,948 --> 00:08:01,840 body couple of questions and the 193 00:08:01,850 --> 00:08:05,150 deconfliction mechanism as you said , 194 00:08:05,740 --> 00:08:07,962 I mean , it's it's helpful , especially 195 00:08:07,962 --> 00:08:10,480 now with the NATO airspace as close to 196 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,591 the great inter space . So why was it 197 00:08:12,591 --> 00:08:14,730 bilateral between the US and Russia 198 00:08:14,740 --> 00:08:18,440 between Russia and NATO ? I'm not going 199 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:20,900 to speak for the alliance fatty . Um 200 00:08:20,900 --> 00:08:22,789 and it's not like we are we are a 201 00:08:22,789 --> 00:08:26,590 member of NATO so certainly um uh if we 202 00:08:26,590 --> 00:08:28,534 can use that deconfliction line to 203 00:08:28,534 --> 00:08:30,201 assist with the with alliance 204 00:08:30,201 --> 00:08:32,479 communications will absolutely do that . 205 00:08:32,479 --> 00:08:35,630 Um It's not so binary . Is that all I'm 206 00:08:35,630 --> 00:08:38,220 trying to do is describe that it is set 207 00:08:38,220 --> 00:08:40,109 up bilaterally between the United 208 00:08:40,109 --> 00:08:42,310 States and Russia . But of course look 209 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,730 part of the reason that that we want to 210 00:08:44,730 --> 00:08:46,730 do this is because of NATO airspace 211 00:08:46,730 --> 00:08:49,270 which buttresses up now against uh 212 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:53,160 contested airspace . So if you know if 213 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,216 I conveyed any idea that you know we 214 00:08:55,216 --> 00:08:57,450 would only use this to convey us 215 00:08:57,740 --> 00:08:59,851 individual unilateral concerns . That 216 00:08:59,851 --> 00:09:01,907 is absolutely not the case because a 217 00:09:01,907 --> 00:09:04,220 senior defense official has said before 218 00:09:04,220 --> 00:09:07,850 that there are ideas including maybe in 219 00:09:07,850 --> 00:09:10,760 NATO Russia channel . So was this I 220 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,100 mean basically because Russia rejected 221 00:09:13,110 --> 00:09:15,690 such a channel and they insisted on OK . 222 00:09:15,700 --> 00:09:19,140 And on what is what is the your 223 00:09:19,140 --> 00:09:21,362 understanding of what happened actually 224 00:09:21,362 --> 00:09:24,980 yesterday and how how safe is the 225 00:09:24,990 --> 00:09:27,930 nuclear plants right now we don't have 226 00:09:28,150 --> 00:09:30,261 perfect knowledge of exactly how this 227 00:09:30,261 --> 00:09:32,200 attack on the nuclear power plant 228 00:09:32,210 --> 00:09:35,370 transpired . Clearly there was one , 229 00:09:35,380 --> 00:09:38,200 clearly it was violent . Clearly 230 00:09:38,210 --> 00:09:41,360 ordinance was was used an attack was 231 00:09:41,740 --> 00:09:44,370 was conducted on the power plant 232 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:48,480 in a in an effort by Russian forces to 233 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,490 gain control of it . We cannot contest 234 00:09:51,500 --> 00:09:53,722 or refute reports that they are in fact 235 00:09:53,722 --> 00:09:57,660 control and control of it . Uh And 236 00:09:58,330 --> 00:10:00,530 as for conditions there again , our 237 00:10:00,530 --> 00:10:04,120 knowledge is imperfect , but but as we 238 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,342 understand it , there's been no leakage 239 00:10:06,342 --> 00:10:08,780 of radioactive material now that what 240 00:10:08,790 --> 00:10:11,280 what operational status it's in . We 241 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:13,520 can't speak to our role here at the 242 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,240 Department of Defense is to continue to 243 00:10:16,250 --> 00:10:18,660 assist the Department of Energy as they 244 00:10:18,660 --> 00:10:21,510 work through response efforts of their 245 00:10:21,510 --> 00:10:24,000 own . And as they work with allies and 246 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,000 partners . You know , we because we 247 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,380 have experience running nuclear power 248 00:10:28,380 --> 00:10:30,480 plants in the Department of Defense 249 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,300 were a part of that were a part of that 250 00:10:33,300 --> 00:10:35,133 effort providing some advice and 251 00:10:35,133 --> 00:10:37,244 counsel to the Department of Energy . 252 00:10:37,244 --> 00:10:39,380 Let me just take a moment if I might 253 00:10:39,500 --> 00:10:42,540 though this is not your question to uh 254 00:10:42,550 --> 00:10:45,190 to state to state the obvious about the 255 00:10:45,190 --> 00:10:47,530 dangers here and how this underscores 256 00:10:47,530 --> 00:10:49,308 the recklessness with which the 257 00:10:49,308 --> 00:10:51,363 Russians have been perpetrating this 258 00:10:51,363 --> 00:10:53,308 unprovoked invasion and assault on 259 00:10:53,308 --> 00:10:56,710 Ukraine and their sovereignty attacking 260 00:10:56,710 --> 00:10:59,440 a nuclear power plant is 261 00:10:59,850 --> 00:11:03,850 exceedingly dangerous uh and 262 00:11:05,140 --> 00:11:09,070 could have visited uh a lot more damage 263 00:11:09,070 --> 00:11:10,903 and destruction to the people of 264 00:11:10,903 --> 00:11:13,240 Ukraine and to the uh and perhaps even 265 00:11:13,250 --> 00:11:16,930 to neighboring countries . Um uh had 266 00:11:16,930 --> 00:11:19,550 this gone a different way . Um and we 267 00:11:19,550 --> 00:11:21,860 continue to call on Russia to stop the 268 00:11:21,860 --> 00:11:24,480 invasion period . De escalate move 269 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,647 their troops out . But certainly short 270 00:11:26,647 --> 00:11:29,310 of that to be more mindful of their 271 00:11:29,310 --> 00:11:32,390 obligations under international law . 272 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,530 And certainly with respect to 273 00:11:34,540 --> 00:11:36,818 humanitarian concerns about , you know , 274 00:11:36,818 --> 00:11:39,580 about perpetrating violence anywhere 275 00:11:39,580 --> 00:11:41,636 near a nuclear power plant which are 276 00:11:41,636 --> 00:11:43,580 not designed to withstand combat . 277 00:11:43,580 --> 00:11:45,524 That's not it's not their function 278 00:11:45,524 --> 00:11:48,100 peaceful nuclear power . Sorry , I 279 00:11:48,100 --> 00:11:50,156 wanted to just get that out . Do you 280 00:11:50,156 --> 00:11:52,350 have any indications that that there's 281 00:11:52,350 --> 00:11:54,683 any disruptions to the power ? You know ? 282 00:11:54,683 --> 00:11:56,850 One of the concerns is that if there's 283 00:11:56,850 --> 00:11:58,850 no cooling apparatus in the nuclear 284 00:11:58,850 --> 00:12:00,850 reactor , then that's that's like a 285 00:12:00,850 --> 00:12:03,017 real vulnerability . Do you have any ? 286 00:12:03,017 --> 00:12:04,850 And I know that it's hard to say 287 00:12:04,850 --> 00:12:04,720 operationally . Do you have any 288 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:06,910 indications of that ? We don't and we 289 00:12:06,910 --> 00:12:09,021 don't know again , we don't know what 290 00:12:09,021 --> 00:12:11,188 the status of the plant is right now . 291 00:12:11,188 --> 00:12:13,299 Again , I point you to the Department 292 00:12:13,299 --> 00:12:15,466 of Energy to talk about that with with 293 00:12:15,466 --> 00:12:17,688 more detail . And then 11 more thing on 294 00:12:17,688 --> 00:12:19,910 this deconfliction . I'm not clear . It 295 00:12:19,910 --> 00:12:22,132 is , I get it . It's between the US and 296 00:12:22,132 --> 00:12:24,132 the Russian military . But is there 297 00:12:24,132 --> 00:12:26,380 will there be some scenario where other 298 00:12:26,380 --> 00:12:29,290 NATO ally aircraft or military 299 00:12:29,290 --> 00:12:31,360 equipment could be , you could be 300 00:12:31,370 --> 00:12:33,740 deconflicting on their behalf ? We 301 00:12:33,740 --> 00:12:35,851 haven't heard about any other nations 302 00:12:35,851 --> 00:12:37,907 setting up any kind of deconfliction 303 00:12:37,907 --> 00:12:39,907 and others have been sending things 304 00:12:39,907 --> 00:12:39,220 forward to that area ? I think it's 305 00:12:39,220 --> 00:12:41,440 entirely possible that should there be 306 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:43,820 an alliance concern that we can convey 307 00:12:43,820 --> 00:12:45,987 to the Russians through that channel . 308 00:12:45,987 --> 00:12:48,042 We absolutely will remember . We are 309 00:12:48,042 --> 00:12:51,600 also a NATO ally . Yeah , john 310 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:55,060 on the conflict in Syria , we know that 311 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,140 the Russians and American aircraft 312 00:12:58,940 --> 00:13:01,051 crossing into their lines and then of 313 00:13:01,051 --> 00:13:03,162 course they just were telling us that 314 00:13:03,162 --> 00:13:05,329 part again , you know that Russian and 315 00:13:05,329 --> 00:13:07,440 like in all Syrian airspace , Russian 316 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:11,150 and american air assets were crossing 317 00:13:11,750 --> 00:13:15,170 into each other's line and that's why 318 00:13:15,170 --> 00:13:18,150 the deconfliction line was used to say , 319 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,216 hey , keep out of this area . We are 320 00:13:20,216 --> 00:13:22,104 coming here or or we are going to 321 00:13:22,104 --> 00:13:24,104 strike this or we are here , we are 322 00:13:24,104 --> 00:13:26,216 there . But here in that this setting 323 00:13:26,216 --> 00:13:28,382 in this theater there are two separate 324 00:13:28,382 --> 00:13:31,700 air spaces and why ? Like how does the 325 00:13:31,700 --> 00:13:33,756 confliction line is going to be used 326 00:13:33,756 --> 00:13:35,756 for ? What , what will they say for 327 00:13:35,756 --> 00:13:37,700 example , on the line ? Because we 328 00:13:37,700 --> 00:13:39,867 don't see that . I don't think there's 329 00:13:39,867 --> 00:13:41,867 like a given script that's gonna be 330 00:13:41,867 --> 00:13:43,922 used on any particular day or in any 331 00:13:43,922 --> 00:13:46,089 particular instance . I mean this is , 332 00:13:46,089 --> 00:13:48,033 you've got contested airspace over 333 00:13:48,033 --> 00:13:50,256 Ukraine which , which , but just let me 334 00:13:50,256 --> 00:13:52,089 finish which buttresses right up 335 00:13:52,089 --> 00:13:54,830 against countries , NATO countries uh , 336 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,480 and their airspace , it makes eminent 337 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:59,536 sense for us to be able to have some 338 00:13:59,536 --> 00:14:02,780 way of communicating with the Russians 339 00:14:03,110 --> 00:14:07,050 should uh , operations uh , in 340 00:14:07,050 --> 00:14:09,760 that contested airspace um 341 00:14:11,130 --> 00:14:14,310 pose any kind of a threat or even just 342 00:14:14,310 --> 00:14:16,720 pose a concern to the alliance with the 343 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:18,831 United States . We want to be able to 344 00:14:18,831 --> 00:14:20,942 have a way of speaking directly at an 345 00:14:20,942 --> 00:14:22,887 operational level with the Russian 346 00:14:22,887 --> 00:14:25,109 Ministry of Defense . So it makes a lot 347 00:14:25,109 --> 00:14:27,220 of sense to do this Also on the Black 348 00:14:27,220 --> 00:14:29,240 Sea . We now see that Russians have 349 00:14:29,250 --> 00:14:32,690 almost taken 1/3 of the entire 350 00:14:32,700 --> 00:14:35,390 northern parts of the Black Sea coast 351 00:14:35,390 --> 00:14:37,501 of the Black Sea . Is there a concern 352 00:14:37,501 --> 00:14:41,400 or to what extent concerning ? Is it 353 00:14:41,410 --> 00:14:43,850 for you that Russians take the entire 354 00:14:43,850 --> 00:14:47,360 course of the Northern Black Sea and 355 00:14:48,340 --> 00:14:51,630 just create a geopolitical ? Apparently 356 00:14:51,630 --> 00:14:53,797 don't have your level of visibility on 357 00:14:53,797 --> 00:14:55,741 where the Russian ships are in the 358 00:14:55,741 --> 00:14:57,741 Black Sea . And I'm not prepared to 359 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:02,110 Seed or two or to say with 360 00:15:02,110 --> 00:15:04,640 certainty that that they have control 361 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,150 over the international waters in the 362 00:15:07,150 --> 00:15:11,120 Black Sea . They have naval assets 363 00:15:11,180 --> 00:15:13,347 in the Black Sea . There are Black Sea 364 00:15:13,347 --> 00:15:15,569 nations , they have naval assets in the 365 00:15:15,569 --> 00:15:17,791 Black Sea . They have already used some 366 00:15:17,791 --> 00:15:19,791 of those naval assets to conduct an 367 00:15:19,791 --> 00:15:22,013 amphibious assault from the sea of Azov 368 00:15:22,013 --> 00:15:25,080 onto the coastline there of southern 369 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,930 Ukraine . As I've said , the leader , I 370 00:15:28,940 --> 00:15:31,051 don't have any updates for you in the 371 00:15:31,051 --> 00:15:32,996 maritime environment . I don't , I 372 00:15:32,996 --> 00:15:34,996 can't assert for sure that they are 373 00:15:34,996 --> 00:15:37,107 planning to do yet another amphibious 374 00:15:37,107 --> 00:15:39,218 assault , whether it's towards Odessa 375 00:15:39,218 --> 00:15:41,107 or any other southern uh southern 376 00:15:41,107 --> 00:15:43,329 Ukrainian ports . Uh but we're watching 377 00:15:43,329 --> 00:15:46,200 it as best we can . Okay , jim , john , 378 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:49,000 this is a little bit involved but on 379 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:52,300 february 18th I asked in Poland , I 380 00:15:52,300 --> 00:15:55,200 asked Secretary Austin if the National 381 00:15:55,300 --> 00:15:58,120 Defense strategy would need to be 382 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:01,370 rewritten as a result of the Russian 383 00:16:01,380 --> 00:16:04,050 threats at that time . He said no . And 384 00:16:04,060 --> 00:16:07,120 that the integrated deterrence concept 385 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,270 that underlay the idea of the NDS was 386 00:16:10,270 --> 00:16:13,230 already sort of been used . I'd like to 387 00:16:13,230 --> 00:16:15,960 thank given the Russian performance in 388 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,650 Ukraine so far that it sort of cement 389 00:16:19,660 --> 00:16:23,460 the idea of china being pacing threat . 390 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,490 Yet I'm seeing stories that the defense 391 00:16:27,940 --> 00:16:30,330 National Defense Strategy is being 392 00:16:30,330 --> 00:16:33,970 rewritten . Has it changed since 393 00:16:33,970 --> 00:16:37,190 February 18 ? Uh , what I would tell 394 00:16:37,190 --> 00:16:40,480 you jim , is that the National Defense 395 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,470 Strategy is , is still being crafted ? 396 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:47,780 It's gonna be heavily informed by the 397 00:16:47,830 --> 00:16:49,941 President's interim national security 398 00:16:50,020 --> 00:16:53,040 guidance . Um , it's certainly being 399 00:16:53,050 --> 00:16:56,420 written in uh in parallel with the 400 00:16:56,420 --> 00:16:58,642 National Security strategy , which also 401 00:16:58,642 --> 00:17:01,900 hasn't been completed yet . Um and 402 00:17:01,910 --> 00:17:04,132 you're absolutely right , the Secretary 403 00:17:04,132 --> 00:17:06,750 was was clear that uh , it will 404 00:17:06,750 --> 00:17:08,860 reinforce his , his notion of an 405 00:17:08,870 --> 00:17:10,759 integrated deterrence and it will 406 00:17:10,759 --> 00:17:12,926 certainly recognize that china remains 407 00:17:12,926 --> 00:17:15,259 the pacing challenge for the department , 408 00:17:15,259 --> 00:17:17,481 but it will also recognize other nation 409 00:17:17,481 --> 00:17:19,970 state threats out there . Um , and that , 410 00:17:19,970 --> 00:17:22,390 and that includes Russia . Um , and as 411 00:17:22,390 --> 00:17:24,334 we've been writing it , we've been 412 00:17:24,334 --> 00:17:26,557 writing it as we've watched Russia over 413 00:17:26,557 --> 00:17:28,723 the last couple of months , you know , 414 00:17:28,723 --> 00:17:30,779 build up this massive military force 415 00:17:30,779 --> 00:17:33,330 around Ukraine's borders . Um , so it 416 00:17:33,330 --> 00:17:35,610 would be foolish for us to think that 417 00:17:35,620 --> 00:17:37,970 that the the crafting of it wasn't also 418 00:17:37,970 --> 00:17:39,914 informed by what we've been seeing 419 00:17:39,914 --> 00:17:42,780 Russia do , but is it being rewritten 420 00:17:42,790 --> 00:17:45,280 as a result of what we're seeing Russia ? 421 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,710 I think that overstates it heavily , 422 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,830 but it certainly will be informed by by 423 00:17:51,830 --> 00:17:53,886 what we've been seeing over the past 424 00:17:53,886 --> 00:17:56,219 couple of months . Yeah . Thanks , Tara , 425 00:17:56,219 --> 00:18:00,000 Tara , thank you . Um Has the 426 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,830 department seen any evidence that 427 00:18:04,250 --> 00:18:06,210 the invading Russian forces also 428 00:18:06,210 --> 00:18:07,766 reliant on the internet and 429 00:18:07,766 --> 00:18:10,810 communications inside Ukraine ? There's 430 00:18:10,810 --> 00:18:13,032 been a lot of questions about why , you 431 00:18:13,032 --> 00:18:15,254 know , there was an assumption early on 432 00:18:15,254 --> 00:18:15,210 that the internet would be brought down , 433 00:18:15,210 --> 00:18:17,321 that the infrastructure grid would be 434 00:18:17,321 --> 00:18:20,490 brought down . Um Why is it that all of 435 00:18:20,490 --> 00:18:22,490 this infrastructure has remained in 436 00:18:22,490 --> 00:18:24,379 place ? And are these forces also 437 00:18:24,379 --> 00:18:26,490 reliant on that to communicate and to 438 00:18:26,490 --> 00:18:30,030 navigate ? I can't honestly 439 00:18:30,030 --> 00:18:33,270 can't speak to Russian plans here in 440 00:18:33,270 --> 00:18:35,326 their intentions with respect to the 441 00:18:35,326 --> 00:18:38,320 information and environment and as for 442 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:42,170 their navigation skills . Again , I I 443 00:18:42,180 --> 00:18:44,740 don't uh I'm not riding in the cab of 444 00:18:44,740 --> 00:18:46,740 these trucks , I don't know exactly 445 00:18:46,740 --> 00:18:48,907 what they're using to get from Point A 446 00:18:48,907 --> 00:18:50,740 to point B . Clearly they're not 447 00:18:50,740 --> 00:18:52,962 getting to Point A to point B very fast 448 00:18:52,962 --> 00:18:55,129 right now , at least in the north . Um 449 00:18:55,129 --> 00:18:57,296 So I can't speak to that Tara . Um but 450 00:18:57,296 --> 00:18:59,518 we have seen some internet outages , we 451 00:18:59,518 --> 00:19:01,710 have seen them try to impact the 452 00:19:01,710 --> 00:19:03,377 information and communication 453 00:19:03,377 --> 00:19:05,599 environment , not the least of which is 454 00:19:05,599 --> 00:19:07,488 striking uh you know , television 455 00:19:07,488 --> 00:19:10,560 towers and that kind of thing . Um uh 456 00:19:10,940 --> 00:19:14,620 and again , I don't want to speculate , 457 00:19:14,620 --> 00:19:17,320 I mean , they perhaps they have found 458 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,620 some value to keeping some um public 459 00:19:20,620 --> 00:19:22,509 communications open for their own 460 00:19:22,509 --> 00:19:25,350 purposes um for their own decision 461 00:19:25,350 --> 00:19:27,406 making processes . But that's just a 462 00:19:27,406 --> 00:19:29,461 speculation . I don't I don't know , 463 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:31,973 one follow up on the deconfliction line , 464 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:35,430 if it's if it's going to be used for , 465 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,700 you know , deconflicting airspace by 466 00:19:37,710 --> 00:19:40,080 NATO borders , could also potentially 467 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,430 be used for , say , coordinating a 468 00:19:42,430 --> 00:19:45,310 humanitarian corridor or people fleeing 469 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:47,320 Ukraine ? Or is it just going to be 470 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:49,487 military to military operations ? It's 471 00:19:49,487 --> 00:19:51,320 primarily a military to military 472 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,376 channel . But that doesn't mean , as 473 00:19:53,376 --> 00:19:55,376 I've said before , that it can't be 474 00:19:55,376 --> 00:19:57,542 used for other purposes if need be . I 475 00:19:57,542 --> 00:19:59,764 mean , we'll have to see it's only been 476 00:19:59,764 --> 00:20:01,931 a couple of days old . So , um , we're 477 00:20:01,931 --> 00:20:04,209 we think it's the right thing to do it . 478 00:20:04,209 --> 00:20:06,209 We've we've done this kind of thing 479 00:20:06,209 --> 00:20:08,209 before . Um , and it makes a lot of 480 00:20:08,209 --> 00:20:07,690 sense , particularly when you're 481 00:20:07,690 --> 00:20:10,040 talking about that contested Ukrainian 482 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:11,984 airspace , but couldn't find other 483 00:20:11,984 --> 00:20:15,270 purposes . That perhaps , I mean , uh , 484 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,447 we again , we think it's the smart and 485 00:20:17,447 --> 00:20:20,170 the prudent thing to do ? Barb follow 486 00:20:20,170 --> 00:20:22,580 up question other people's questions . 487 00:20:22,590 --> 00:20:25,440 But one question first , can you bring 488 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,990 us up to date on the thinking 489 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,560 about whether to support any moves by 490 00:20:32,740 --> 00:20:35,540 East european allies and partners to 491 00:20:35,550 --> 00:20:39,370 send their MiG 29 into Ukraine to 492 00:20:39,380 --> 00:20:41,820 give the Ukrainians extra inventory . 493 00:20:41,830 --> 00:20:43,886 You mean us support to that ? Do you 494 00:20:43,886 --> 00:20:46,810 support ? The idea is the United States . 495 00:20:47,300 --> 00:20:49,300 As you know , this conversation has 496 00:20:49,300 --> 00:20:51,467 ebbed and flowed over the last several 497 00:20:51,467 --> 00:20:54,530 days of several East European Allies 498 00:20:54,530 --> 00:20:57,040 and Partners , including Slovakia , 499 00:20:57,050 --> 00:20:59,350 which wants to accelerate its have 16 500 00:20:59,350 --> 00:21:01,850 purchases so they can send their MiG 29 . 501 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:05,030 Is this something this idea something 502 00:21:05,150 --> 00:21:07,990 that the US would be supportive of And 503 00:21:07,990 --> 00:21:10,157 then I have two quick , I don't have a 504 00:21:10,157 --> 00:21:12,434 departmental position on this proposal . 505 00:21:12,434 --> 00:21:15,170 Barb these are um , considerations that 506 00:21:15,740 --> 00:21:17,962 sovereign nation states have to make in 507 00:21:17,962 --> 00:21:20,018 the , in their own and through their 508 00:21:20,018 --> 00:21:22,184 own process is what I can just tell us 509 00:21:22,184 --> 00:21:24,407 what what we do support and what we are 510 00:21:24,407 --> 00:21:26,518 doing is looking for ways to continue 511 00:21:26,518 --> 00:21:28,518 to get security assistance into the 512 00:21:28,518 --> 00:21:30,629 hands of the Ukrainian armed forces . 513 00:21:30,629 --> 00:21:32,796 And we're we're doing that to a fairly 514 00:21:32,796 --> 00:21:34,573 well and we're accelerating and 515 00:21:34,573 --> 00:21:36,629 expediting , um , uh , even the most 516 00:21:36,629 --> 00:21:38,462 recent drawdown package that the 517 00:21:38,462 --> 00:21:40,462 president approved . Let me try one 518 00:21:40,462 --> 00:21:44,400 more time on deconfliction because so , 519 00:21:44,510 --> 00:21:47,760 I mean you're , the United States is 520 00:21:48,140 --> 00:21:49,973 not entering Ukraine airspace or 521 00:21:49,973 --> 00:21:52,370 Ukraine territory . So you have nothing , 522 00:21:52,370 --> 00:21:55,880 you need to notify the Russians that 523 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:57,880 you're doing because you're staying 524 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:00,560 outside of this war zone . They 525 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:03,790 um , you said you know , there was 526 00:22:03,790 --> 00:22:06,450 concern that there could be a situation 527 00:22:06,450 --> 00:22:08,790 in which you would have worries that 528 00:22:08,790 --> 00:22:11,260 would lead you to make a phone call . 529 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,440 And you mentioned in fact the nuclear 530 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:16,990 incident concerned it was a case where 531 00:22:16,990 --> 00:22:19,310 you are concerned that something could 532 00:22:19,310 --> 00:22:22,300 impact neighboring countries . So how 533 00:22:22,310 --> 00:22:25,630 is there a way you can explain how much 534 00:22:25,630 --> 00:22:27,830 of this idea of needing to have a 535 00:22:27,830 --> 00:22:30,310 communications line with the Russians 536 00:22:30,940 --> 00:22:33,370 isn't really about deconfliction 537 00:22:33,380 --> 00:22:35,547 because you're both supposedly staying 538 00:22:35,547 --> 00:22:38,740 on your own side . But worry that they 539 00:22:38,750 --> 00:22:40,361 may not stay on their side . 540 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,480 I mean it's primarily designed barb 541 00:22:47,490 --> 00:22:50,010 too , to help reduce the risks of 542 00:22:50,010 --> 00:22:51,910 miscalculation . We call it a 543 00:22:51,910 --> 00:22:55,030 deconfliction line , but um 544 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:57,880 because that's what we're used to 545 00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:59,602 calling him and that's what we 546 00:22:59,602 --> 00:23:01,769 typically use them for . But I I'm not 547 00:23:01,769 --> 00:23:04,700 gonna sit here , you know , only a few 548 00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:06,922 days after it's been set up and and try 549 00:23:06,922 --> 00:23:08,922 to draw bright lines around what it 550 00:23:08,922 --> 00:23:11,030 could be used for . Um If there's a 551 00:23:11,030 --> 00:23:13,141 need for us to be able to communicate 552 00:23:13,141 --> 00:23:15,030 with the Ministry of Defense in a 553 00:23:15,030 --> 00:23:17,060 timely fashion about a concern . I 554 00:23:17,060 --> 00:23:19,116 suspect that we'll use it for that . 555 00:23:19,116 --> 00:23:21,338 And we would hope that the the Russians 556 00:23:21,338 --> 00:23:23,504 should they have a timely concern that 557 00:23:23,504 --> 00:23:25,560 they want to present that they would 558 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:28,210 use it as as well . So incident 559 00:23:28,220 --> 00:23:31,870 happened . Has it now with because you 560 00:23:31,870 --> 00:23:34,410 provide support to the Department of 561 00:23:34,410 --> 00:23:37,830 Energy , Has it led to any 562 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:40,970 additional need for consideration by 563 00:23:40,970 --> 00:23:44,440 the Defense Department for additional 564 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:48,440 protective gear sensors or any kind 565 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:52,430 of technology ah for 566 00:23:52,430 --> 00:23:55,400 radiological or chemical or biological 567 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,560 issues where us troops are located and 568 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:02,160 for the allied partners and nations and 569 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:04,600 partners that they're working with did 570 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:08,230 last night's events . Cause you to 571 00:24:08,230 --> 00:24:10,440 need to think about taking more 572 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,560 protective measures because you said 573 00:24:12,940 --> 00:24:15,600 there was concern that one of the 574 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:17,750 concerns could be the potential of 575 00:24:17,750 --> 00:24:20,160 impact on neighboring countries in 576 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:22,460 general striking a nuclear power plant 577 00:24:22,460 --> 00:24:24,460 would cause anybody to be concerned 578 00:24:24,460 --> 00:24:26,293 about should cause anybody to be 579 00:24:26,293 --> 00:24:28,404 concerned about that . Um , I'm going 580 00:24:28,404 --> 00:24:30,293 to point you to the Department of 581 00:24:30,293 --> 00:24:34,080 Energy about whatever response um 582 00:24:34,090 --> 00:24:35,812 coordination that they feel is 583 00:24:35,812 --> 00:24:37,923 appropriate . We provide some support 584 00:24:37,923 --> 00:24:39,757 and guidance to them . I have no 585 00:24:39,757 --> 00:24:41,812 decisions to talk to you today about 586 00:24:41,812 --> 00:24:44,620 any additional resources that that that 587 00:24:44,620 --> 00:24:47,720 could be could be needed again again 588 00:24:47,730 --> 00:24:49,508 without speaking for the Energy 589 00:24:49,508 --> 00:24:51,619 Department . Uh , our assessment this 590 00:24:51,619 --> 00:24:53,230 morning is that there was no 591 00:24:53,230 --> 00:24:57,040 radioactive leaks um , uh , and uh 592 00:24:57,050 --> 00:24:59,780 and no significant damage to the plants 593 00:24:59,790 --> 00:25:02,270 operation . But again , I really would 594 00:25:02,340 --> 00:25:04,570 uh I need to point you to the Energy 595 00:25:04,570 --> 00:25:06,681 Department for anything more specific 596 00:25:06,681 --> 00:25:08,980 than that . U . S . Troops in the 597 00:25:08,990 --> 00:25:11,500 region . Has this caused you are there 598 00:25:11,510 --> 00:25:14,840 any discussions thinking analysis by 599 00:25:14,850 --> 00:25:16,720 this department for additional 600 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:18,887 protection ? I know , I know I know of 601 00:25:18,887 --> 00:25:22,310 no such decisions or no such 602 00:25:22,310 --> 00:25:24,143 discussions with respect to what 603 00:25:24,143 --> 00:25:26,680 happened last night . But obviously we 604 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:28,847 take force protection very seriously . 605 00:25:28,847 --> 00:25:30,569 It's the secretaries prime and 606 00:25:30,569 --> 00:25:32,791 paramount concern . Nothing to speak to 607 00:25:32,791 --> 00:25:35,300 with respect to the uh , the the attack 608 00:25:35,300 --> 00:25:39,230 on the power plant . it . Thanks , 609 00:25:39,230 --> 00:25:41,286 john , um , you said the airspace is 610 00:25:41,286 --> 00:25:43,540 still contested above Ukraine . You 611 00:25:43,540 --> 00:25:45,540 also talked about how on the ground 612 00:25:45,540 --> 00:25:47,707 effort in the north it seems stalled . 613 00:25:47,707 --> 00:25:49,929 More success in the south . I wonder if 614 00:25:49,929 --> 00:25:52,096 there's any parallels with that in the 615 00:25:52,096 --> 00:25:51,770 area ? No , it's a changing environment . 616 00:25:52,140 --> 00:25:54,190 But are you seeing some regions in 617 00:25:54,190 --> 00:25:56,023 which either the Russians or the 618 00:25:56,023 --> 00:25:58,246 Ukrainians are more or less dominant in 619 00:25:58,246 --> 00:26:00,780 the air . You know , it's dynamic 620 00:26:00,790 --> 00:26:03,750 airspace matt . It would be foolish for 621 00:26:03,750 --> 00:26:07,150 me to try to carve it up for you at 622 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,250 2:30 PM on Friday and say that , you 623 00:26:10,250 --> 00:26:12,306 know , 11 side or the other has more 624 00:26:12,306 --> 00:26:14,700 dominance over a particular region 625 00:26:14,700 --> 00:26:16,756 because it's contested . That's what 626 00:26:16,756 --> 00:26:18,978 contested means . Um All I can tell you 627 00:26:18,980 --> 00:26:21,520 uh with certainty is that the Ukrainian 628 00:26:21,530 --> 00:26:23,960 air forces continue to fly . They still 629 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:26,127 have air and missile defense available 630 00:26:26,127 --> 00:26:28,350 to them . They are using them and using 631 00:26:28,350 --> 00:26:30,406 them quite effectively . And the way 632 00:26:30,406 --> 00:26:32,628 they have marshaled their resources and 633 00:26:32,628 --> 00:26:34,683 applied them to the fight in the air 634 00:26:34,683 --> 00:26:36,628 has been quite extraordinary . The 635 00:26:36,628 --> 00:26:38,406 Russians likewise have a lot of 636 00:26:38,406 --> 00:26:40,517 aircraft available to them as well as 637 00:26:40,517 --> 00:26:43,360 uh , missiles they have fired over 500 638 00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:45,960 since the beginning of this , of this 639 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,480 invasion . Um , so that's what makes 640 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:50,702 this airspace , that's what makes it so 641 00:26:50,702 --> 00:26:52,813 contested . Quite frankly , there's a 642 00:26:52,813 --> 00:26:54,924 lot of hardware flying around in that 643 00:26:54,924 --> 00:26:56,813 airspace and it literally changes 644 00:26:56,813 --> 00:26:58,869 throughout a given day based on what 645 00:26:58,869 --> 00:27:00,813 the Russians are doing and how the 646 00:27:00,813 --> 00:27:02,869 Ukrainians are trying to resist what 647 00:27:02,869 --> 00:27:04,924 the Russians are doing . Um and it's 648 00:27:04,924 --> 00:27:06,647 because it's so dynamic and so 649 00:27:06,647 --> 00:27:08,758 contested that again , we felt it was 650 00:27:08,758 --> 00:27:08,530 important to have a deconfliction 651 00:27:08,530 --> 00:27:11,800 mechanism off of something . Barbara 652 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:14,490 asked um at this point , a senior 653 00:27:14,490 --> 00:27:17,810 defense official earlier said that most 654 00:27:17,810 --> 00:27:19,890 of their Ukraine air capability is 655 00:27:19,890 --> 00:27:23,850 still intact . Are it doesn't 656 00:27:23,850 --> 00:27:25,906 seem like that's a need . Or are you 657 00:27:25,906 --> 00:27:28,128 aware of any requests of the Ukrainians 658 00:27:28,128 --> 00:27:30,239 for more aircraft and if they already 659 00:27:30,239 --> 00:27:32,294 have most of their , their air power 660 00:27:32,294 --> 00:27:34,350 still intact , Do they even have the 661 00:27:34,350 --> 00:27:36,183 extra pilots to fly in the extra 662 00:27:36,183 --> 00:27:38,406 aircraft ? At this point ? I don't want 663 00:27:38,406 --> 00:27:40,461 to speak for the Ukrainians . What I 664 00:27:40,461 --> 00:27:42,572 can tell you is that we are in direct 665 00:27:42,572 --> 00:27:44,683 communication with them , um , nearly 666 00:27:44,683 --> 00:27:46,739 every day about their requirements . 667 00:27:46,739 --> 00:27:48,628 And uh , and we're doing the best 668 00:27:48,628 --> 00:27:50,683 weekend to fill those requirements . 669 00:27:50,683 --> 00:27:52,739 Okay , let's leave it at that . Jeff 670 00:27:52,739 --> 00:27:54,794 Seldin . Vol John , thanks very much 671 00:27:54,794 --> 00:27:57,110 for doing this . Two questions . First , 672 00:27:57,120 --> 00:27:59,064 Ukraine's embassy in Washington is 673 00:27:59,064 --> 00:28:01,050 saying it has a list of about 3000 674 00:28:01,050 --> 00:28:03,360 American volunteers , including former 675 00:28:03,360 --> 00:28:05,770 military . We want to go and join the 676 00:28:05,770 --> 00:28:08,250 fight in Ukraine . Does the pentagon 677 00:28:08,250 --> 00:28:10,472 have any position on americans going to 678 00:28:10,472 --> 00:28:12,472 fight in Ukraine ? And is there any 679 00:28:12,472 --> 00:28:14,250 broader effort to track foreign 680 00:28:14,250 --> 00:28:16,700 fighters of all nationalities ? So I 681 00:28:16,700 --> 00:28:19,840 certainly can't verify the numbers that 682 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,940 you've put up there . Um , uh , we have 683 00:28:22,940 --> 00:28:26,590 seen no such list and no such , no such 684 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:28,880 compilation . I would just say this and 685 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:31,102 I talked about this I think a couple of 686 00:28:31,102 --> 00:28:34,530 days ago . Two things . One , this is 687 00:28:34,530 --> 00:28:37,200 not the place for americans to be in 688 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,110 Ukraine right now . And the State 689 00:28:39,110 --> 00:28:41,960 Department has made that very clear uh , 690 00:28:41,970 --> 00:28:44,820 in urging over so many weeks for 691 00:28:44,820 --> 00:28:47,460 americans that are in Ukraine to leave . 692 00:28:47,940 --> 00:28:50,680 And urging americans not in Ukraine not 693 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:53,820 to go . It is a war zone . Now , that's 694 00:28:53,820 --> 00:28:55,970 the number one . Number two should 695 00:28:55,970 --> 00:28:58,500 americans want to help Ukraine and it's 696 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:01,780 it's laudable that they do . The best 697 00:29:01,780 --> 00:29:03,669 way to do that is to find ways to 698 00:29:03,669 --> 00:29:06,480 contribute to the many uh non 699 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:08,740 governmental uh and humanitarian 700 00:29:08,740 --> 00:29:10,573 organizations that are trying to 701 00:29:10,573 --> 00:29:13,260 alleviate what has now become a very 702 00:29:13,260 --> 00:29:16,280 acute humanitarian crisis in Ukraine . 703 00:29:16,290 --> 00:29:18,690 And in countries that are now bordering 704 00:29:18,690 --> 00:29:20,523 Ukraine as what the U . N . Just 705 00:29:20,523 --> 00:29:22,746 estimated . I think yesterday more than 706 00:29:22,746 --> 00:29:24,912 a million people have fled the country 707 00:29:24,912 --> 00:29:27,134 and that doesn't even count the tens of 708 00:29:27,134 --> 00:29:29,134 thousands that are displaced in the 709 00:29:29,134 --> 00:29:31,357 country . So if you really want to help 710 00:29:31,357 --> 00:29:33,301 the people of Ukraine as a private 711 00:29:33,301 --> 00:29:35,468 citizen find a way to donate resources 712 00:29:35,468 --> 00:29:37,670 uh to these these organizations that 713 00:29:37,670 --> 00:29:39,781 are trying to alleviate that crisis , 714 00:29:39,781 --> 00:29:43,770 Tom are there any prohibitions on 715 00:29:44,490 --> 00:29:46,657 military personnel , let's say an army 716 00:29:46,657 --> 00:29:49,860 reservist who wants to go over . I mean 717 00:29:49,860 --> 00:29:52,082 tom I mean , the president's been clear 718 00:29:52,082 --> 00:29:54,304 there's not gonna be any U . S . Troops 719 00:29:54,304 --> 00:29:55,416 fighting in Ukraine 720 00:30:00,140 --> 00:30:03,050 under either the law or drd 721 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:05,910 regulations about that . You know , I'm 722 00:30:05,910 --> 00:30:07,966 gonna have to I'm not a lawyer , I'm 723 00:30:07,966 --> 00:30:10,243 gonna have to take that one . Tom that . 724 00:30:10,243 --> 00:30:11,966 But let me be very clear , the 725 00:30:11,966 --> 00:30:14,010 president has made it clear U . S . 726 00:30:14,010 --> 00:30:16,177 Troops are not going to be fighting in 727 00:30:16,177 --> 00:30:18,232 Ukraine . That includes in the skies 728 00:30:18,232 --> 00:30:20,288 over Ukraine . Uh , it is uh , it is 729 00:30:20,288 --> 00:30:22,454 not a military mission that the United 730 00:30:22,454 --> 00:30:24,621 States military would take on . I know 731 00:30:24,621 --> 00:30:26,843 you're asking a very specific potential 732 00:30:26,843 --> 00:30:28,843 scenario . Let me find out . Rather 733 00:30:28,843 --> 00:30:31,260 than speculate and guess about that tom 734 00:30:31,260 --> 00:30:33,540 Secretary . Hey , thanks sean . Two 735 00:30:33,540 --> 00:30:35,730 quick questions . One last november , 736 00:30:35,730 --> 00:30:37,841 The Coast Guard finished the transfer 737 00:30:37,841 --> 00:30:40,100 of three ships to the Ukrainian Navy . 738 00:30:40,110 --> 00:30:41,999 I'm wondering if the pentagon has 739 00:30:41,999 --> 00:30:44,054 visibility on their status . And the 740 00:30:44,054 --> 00:30:47,130 second question is , a senior official 741 00:30:47,130 --> 00:30:49,297 yesterday talked about how at least 70 742 00:30:49,297 --> 00:30:51,408 missiles were fired from Belarus into 743 00:30:51,408 --> 00:30:53,670 Ukraine . Is it the Pentagon's analysis 744 00:30:53,670 --> 00:30:57,170 that that can places belarus as they 745 00:30:57,640 --> 00:31:00,670 participant in the war . Thank you . Um , 746 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:04,290 what we've said all along time is that 747 00:31:04,300 --> 00:31:07,900 uh , Belarus uh , is partly 748 00:31:07,900 --> 00:31:09,844 responsible for what's going on in 749 00:31:09,844 --> 00:31:12,011 Ukraine . We've been , we've been very 750 00:31:12,011 --> 00:31:14,067 clear about that by the support that 751 00:31:14,067 --> 00:31:16,289 they have given to Russia to be able to 752 00:31:16,289 --> 00:31:16,230 launch this invasion . Now we haven't 753 00:31:16,230 --> 00:31:18,410 seen Belarusian forces insert 754 00:31:18,410 --> 00:31:20,466 themselves into Ukraine . We haven't 755 00:31:20,466 --> 00:31:22,188 seen indications that they are 756 00:31:22,188 --> 00:31:24,410 preparing to do that . But clearly they 757 00:31:24,410 --> 00:31:26,466 are complicit with President Putin's 758 00:31:26,466 --> 00:31:26,080 war of choice . No doubt about that . 759 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:28,247 And as for the ship's tom I don't have 760 00:31:28,247 --> 00:31:30,247 any update for you on that . I just 761 00:31:30,247 --> 00:31:33,300 simply don't know Jeff Seigel , thank 762 00:31:33,300 --> 00:31:37,180 you . Thank you . It appears 763 00:31:37,180 --> 00:31:39,890 there's been some news during the news 764 00:31:39,890 --> 00:31:42,240 conference here . I'm reading something 765 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:44,290 that says the moldavian moldavian 766 00:31:44,290 --> 00:31:47,880 breakaway region of trend , which I'm 767 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:50,380 not pronouncing correctly has demanded 768 00:31:50,380 --> 00:31:52,120 that Mordovia recognized its 769 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:54,176 independence . This is a place where 770 00:31:54,176 --> 00:31:58,140 about 1500 Russian troops are stationed . 771 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:00,280 Is the Defense Department concerned 772 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:02,447 that this could be an expansion of the 773 00:32:02,447 --> 00:32:05,670 Russian invasion of Ukraine ? Nothing 774 00:32:05,670 --> 00:32:07,726 for you on that pal . I haven't seen 775 00:32:07,726 --> 00:32:10,170 this report and I'm not gonna try to 776 00:32:10,170 --> 00:32:11,948 wing it here from the podium on 777 00:32:11,948 --> 00:32:14,059 something that you're seeing online . 778 00:32:14,059 --> 00:32:16,170 So , uh , we'll check and and and see 779 00:32:16,170 --> 00:32:18,281 if we have anything on it . But I I'm 780 00:32:18,281 --> 00:32:20,392 not gonna take the question because I 781 00:32:20,392 --> 00:32:22,503 believe that that's probably a better 782 00:32:22,503 --> 00:32:21,880 question put to my State Department 783 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:24,470 colleagues . However , I'll go see 784 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:26,536 what's available out there . But I'm 785 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:28,960 I'm just not capable of of jumping into 786 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:30,904 something that's breaking breaking 787 00:32:30,904 --> 00:32:34,630 right now , Tony Capaci Oh Hi John I 788 00:32:34,630 --> 00:32:36,910 have a budget question nine Ukraine 789 00:32:36,910 --> 00:32:38,990 specific . But what is the status of 790 00:32:38,990 --> 00:32:41,670 the FY 23 budget ? Are the final 791 00:32:41,670 --> 00:32:43,750 numbers pretty much done And you're 792 00:32:43,750 --> 00:32:45,806 kind of feeding it into the computer 793 00:32:45,806 --> 00:32:48,580 and ready , ready for release ? And has 794 00:32:48,590 --> 00:32:50,860 the invasion at all changed 795 00:32:51,990 --> 00:32:54,046 change the number ? Has there been a 796 00:32:54,046 --> 00:32:56,260 major influx of funding in the last 797 00:32:56,270 --> 00:32:58,270 couple and last week because of the 798 00:32:58,270 --> 00:33:00,620 invasion shock you Tony But I'm not 799 00:33:00,620 --> 00:33:02,731 gonna talk about the status of the Fy 800 00:33:02,731 --> 00:33:04,953 fy 23 budget . We're still hard at work 801 00:33:04,953 --> 00:33:07,120 at that . That effort being led by the 802 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:09,350 deputy secretary . She's she's running 803 00:33:09,350 --> 00:33:11,700 a very tight process and I am not going 804 00:33:11,700 --> 00:33:13,756 to get ahead of that process and how 805 00:33:13,756 --> 00:33:15,756 that's going . But we're working on 806 00:33:15,756 --> 00:33:18,860 that real hard address . 807 00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:25,240 Yeah , that does the National security 808 00:33:25,240 --> 00:33:27,129 strategy and the National Defense 809 00:33:27,129 --> 00:33:29,500 Strategy have to be published first 810 00:33:29,510 --> 00:33:32,220 before the budget comes out . Is is 811 00:33:32,220 --> 00:33:35,150 that the sequence ? Uh they don't have 812 00:33:35,150 --> 00:33:38,110 to be Tony . Um There's no uh there's 813 00:33:38,110 --> 00:33:39,999 no regulation , there's no rule , 814 00:33:39,999 --> 00:33:42,054 there's no legislation that requires 815 00:33:42,054 --> 00:33:44,221 you have to have the National Security 816 00:33:44,221 --> 00:33:46,110 Strategy and the National Defense 817 00:33:46,110 --> 00:33:48,166 Strategy published before before the 818 00:33:48,166 --> 00:33:50,880 budget . All three documents uh inform 819 00:33:50,890 --> 00:33:54,660 each other . Um uh look ideally you 820 00:33:54,660 --> 00:33:56,827 want a budget to follow a strategy but 821 00:33:56,827 --> 00:33:58,993 it doesn't have to come out that way . 822 00:34:00,940 --> 00:34:02,773 Yeah . Um just going back to the 823 00:34:02,773 --> 00:34:04,996 hotline when you're setting it up , how 824 00:34:04,996 --> 00:34:06,996 does it work ? Does general Walters 825 00:34:06,996 --> 00:34:09,107 talked to his counterparts saying all 826 00:34:09,107 --> 00:34:11,273 right , we're going to set this up and 827 00:34:11,273 --> 00:34:13,440 then some of the staff set it up um at 828 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:15,551 what level does it rise I guess . And 829 00:34:15,551 --> 00:34:17,607 second question is any change to the 830 00:34:17,607 --> 00:34:19,829 nuclear forces . Russian nuclear forces 831 00:34:19,829 --> 00:34:21,940 after they were put on high alert . I 832 00:34:21,940 --> 00:34:24,218 have no uh no changes to speak to that . 833 00:34:24,218 --> 00:34:26,730 We've noticed in the Russian strategic 834 00:34:26,740 --> 00:34:29,560 nuclear force posture , we're still 835 00:34:29,570 --> 00:34:31,960 obviously monitoring and reviewing as 836 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:34,580 we do every day . And we just again say 837 00:34:34,580 --> 00:34:36,358 that Secretary Austin is calm , 838 00:34:36,358 --> 00:34:38,413 comfortable and confident in our own 839 00:34:38,413 --> 00:34:40,413 strategic deterrent posture and our 840 00:34:40,413 --> 00:34:42,580 ability to defend the homeland as well 841 00:34:42,580 --> 00:34:44,636 as allies and partners . And uh it's 842 00:34:44,636 --> 00:34:46,969 not a hotline it's a deconfliction line . 843 00:34:46,969 --> 00:34:48,969 Uh as I said , it's it's handled in 844 00:34:48,969 --> 00:34:51,024 staff that the operational level . I 845 00:34:51,024 --> 00:34:53,024 don't think there's any expectation 846 00:34:53,024 --> 00:34:55,247 that general Walters is going to be the 847 00:34:55,247 --> 00:34:55,000 only one picking up the phone . 848 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:57,111 Certainly if you wanted to do that as 849 00:34:57,111 --> 00:34:59,111 the european command commander , he 850 00:34:59,111 --> 00:35:01,333 could do that . But our anticipation is 851 00:35:01,333 --> 00:35:03,389 that this will be staffed at a lower 852 00:35:03,389 --> 00:35:05,910 level on his headquarters , uh , to 853 00:35:05,910 --> 00:35:08,870 really deal with with operational level 854 00:35:08,870 --> 00:35:11,560 concerns that that need to be expressed . 855 00:35:12,740 --> 00:35:14,962 Okay , one more and then I'm gonna go , 856 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:18,560 we get the daily update on number of 857 00:35:18,940 --> 00:35:21,810 munition inspired . And also if you 858 00:35:21,810 --> 00:35:23,866 have a breakdown of , you know where 859 00:35:23,866 --> 00:35:26,032 you're seeing them come from . I don't 860 00:35:26,032 --> 00:35:28,032 have that and I wouldn't be putting 861 00:35:28,032 --> 00:35:30,199 that out here from the podium . Tara , 862 00:35:30,199 --> 00:35:33,510 as I said , we have noticed , we not 863 00:35:33,510 --> 00:35:35,677 noticed . We we've assessed that since 864 00:35:35,677 --> 00:35:37,732 the beginning of this invasion , the 865 00:35:37,732 --> 00:35:39,621 Russians have fired more than 500 866 00:35:39,621 --> 00:35:41,830 missiles of various types , cruise 867 00:35:41,830 --> 00:35:43,880 missiles , short range ballistic 868 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:45,769 missiles , medium range ballistic 869 00:35:45,769 --> 00:35:47,824 missiles , surface to air missiles , 870 00:35:47,824 --> 00:35:50,370 More than 500 of them . Um , that that 871 00:35:50,380 --> 00:35:52,491 that's about as much detail as as I'm 872 00:35:52,491 --> 00:35:54,547 going to be able to go into from the 873 00:35:54,547 --> 00:35:56,769 podium . Yeah . The back there , I know 874 00:35:56,769 --> 00:36:00,110 you talked about cool of food shortages 875 00:36:00,110 --> 00:36:02,277 today that the Russians have faced . I 876 00:36:02,277 --> 00:36:04,166 was curious if they're making any 877 00:36:04,166 --> 00:36:06,166 progress overcoming that or if it's 878 00:36:06,166 --> 00:36:08,820 still largely stalled . And then what 879 00:36:08,820 --> 00:36:11,240 the concern is that the Russians make 880 00:36:11,650 --> 00:36:13,820 other nuclear plants in the future , 881 00:36:13,820 --> 00:36:16,042 Given this is the second one we've seen 882 00:36:16,042 --> 00:36:18,098 here . Again , we don't have perfect 883 00:36:18,098 --> 00:36:20,320 visibility into Russian intentions . We 884 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:22,264 know there are other nuclear power 885 00:36:22,264 --> 00:36:24,376 plants inside Ukraine . Clearly , the 886 00:36:24,376 --> 00:36:26,487 international community does not want 887 00:36:26,487 --> 00:36:28,653 to see another incident , such as what 888 00:36:28,653 --> 00:36:30,570 we saw last night , which could 889 00:36:30,570 --> 00:36:32,737 potentially just escalate the level of 890 00:36:32,737 --> 00:36:34,903 violence and destruction in Ukraine to 891 00:36:34,903 --> 00:36:37,340 a level that , uh , that that is , and 892 00:36:37,340 --> 00:36:39,540 should be unacceptable even to the 893 00:36:39,540 --> 00:36:41,651 Russians . But I can't speak to their 894 00:36:41,651 --> 00:36:43,484 intentions with respect to other 895 00:36:43,484 --> 00:36:45,790 nuclear power plants . Um , and as for 896 00:36:45,790 --> 00:36:48,390 food , food and fuel . Again , our 897 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:50,511 general assessment today is that they 898 00:36:50,511 --> 00:36:52,600 are still struggling with logistics 899 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:54,656 challenges to include food for their 900 00:36:54,656 --> 00:36:56,656 troops and fuel for their for their 901 00:36:56,656 --> 00:36:58,822 vehicles . We do not believe they have 902 00:36:58,822 --> 00:37:01,044 overcome that . Now , as I've said many 903 00:37:01,044 --> 00:37:03,211 times , we would expect them to try to 904 00:37:03,211 --> 00:37:05,433 overcome these challenges . And , and I 905 00:37:05,433 --> 00:37:07,600 think we're seeing attempts by them to 906 00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:09,822 do that . How successful they've been . 907 00:37:09,822 --> 00:37:11,933 Again , with a level of specificity , 908 00:37:11,933 --> 00:37:13,989 we just don't , we just don't know . 909 00:37:13,989 --> 00:37:15,989 Okay , thanks everybody have a good 910 00:37:15,989 --> 00:37:15,250 weekend