1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,360 Doyle , how you doing ? 2 00:00:06,340 --> 00:00:08,820 Good , good to see you okay . A couple 3 00:00:08,820 --> 00:00:12,700 things at the top here . Uh early this 4 00:00:12,700 --> 00:00:14,756 morning , I think you all know , the 5 00:00:14,756 --> 00:00:16,422 secretary met with his german 6 00:00:16,422 --> 00:00:18,478 counterpart , the Defense Minister , 7 00:00:18,478 --> 00:00:21,420 Christine Lambrecks to reaffirm the U . 8 00:00:21,420 --> 00:00:24,400 S . German bilateral relationship . The 9 00:00:24,410 --> 00:00:26,132 two leaders discussed Russia's 10 00:00:26,132 --> 00:00:29,820 unprovoked and premeditated invasion of 11 00:00:29,830 --> 00:00:32,550 Ukraine with each leader making notes 12 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:35,900 uh of the bravery and the skill with 13 00:00:35,900 --> 00:00:37,733 which Ukrainian armed forces are 14 00:00:37,733 --> 00:00:39,956 defending their country . The Secretary 15 00:00:39,956 --> 00:00:41,733 thanked the Minister for german 16 00:00:41,733 --> 00:00:44,020 assistance to Ukraine including lethal 17 00:00:44,020 --> 00:00:47,260 and non lethal assistance . And he also 18 00:00:47,260 --> 00:00:49,640 thanked the Minister for Germans 19 00:00:49,650 --> 00:00:52,150 support , helping bolster NATO's 20 00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:54,870 eastern flank , including through their 21 00:00:54,870 --> 00:00:57,400 support to us and NATO force 22 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:00,060 deployments to and through Germany 23 00:01:01,530 --> 00:01:03,980 german leadership as well 24 00:01:03,990 --> 00:01:07,480 uh for being a framework nation for the 25 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:09,647 NATO battle group in Lithuania . Their 26 00:01:09,647 --> 00:01:11,900 leadership of that . Uh in Germany's 27 00:01:11,900 --> 00:01:14,122 decision to deploy patriot batteries to 28 00:01:14,122 --> 00:01:16,344 Slovakia and support of the NATO battle 29 00:01:16,344 --> 00:01:18,067 group there , the leaders also 30 00:01:18,067 --> 00:01:20,122 discussed security challenges in the 31 00:01:20,122 --> 00:01:21,980 indo pacific Secretary commended 32 00:01:21,980 --> 00:01:24,036 Germany's decision to increase their 33 00:01:24,036 --> 00:01:26,370 defense spending to 2% of their gross 34 00:01:26,370 --> 00:01:28,850 domestic product . They agreed to 35 00:01:28,850 --> 00:01:30,739 remain in close contact on shared 36 00:01:30,739 --> 00:01:32,906 security concerns in Europe and in the 37 00:01:32,906 --> 00:01:35,150 run up to the NATO summit in June 38 00:01:35,180 --> 00:01:38,650 yesterday the secretary , just catch 39 00:01:38,650 --> 00:01:40,700 you up to speed . I had a chance to 40 00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:42,811 speak with his Canadian counterpart , 41 00:01:42,811 --> 00:01:44,756 Minister of National Defense Anita 42 00:01:44,756 --> 00:01:46,867 Annan . They spoke obviously by phone 43 00:01:46,867 --> 00:01:48,867 to discuss a range of bilateral and 44 00:01:48,867 --> 00:01:50,867 global issues including of course , 45 00:01:50,867 --> 00:01:52,811 what's going on in Ukraine and the 46 00:01:52,811 --> 00:01:54,978 future of us Canada cooperation in the 47 00:01:54,978 --> 00:01:57,089 arctic as well as steps taken by both 48 00:01:57,089 --> 00:01:58,820 countries to implement NORAD 49 00:01:58,820 --> 00:02:01,810 modernization . Um Just a schedule note , 50 00:02:01,810 --> 00:02:04,260 I think you probably are aware , but on 51 00:02:04,260 --> 00:02:06,204 friday , General Mackenzie will be 52 00:02:06,204 --> 00:02:08,038 relinquishing command of U . S . 53 00:02:08,038 --> 00:02:10,360 Central Command to General gorilla and 54 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:12,471 Secretary will be going down there to 55 00:02:12,471 --> 00:02:14,527 officiate over that ceremony . Um To 56 00:02:14,527 --> 00:02:16,638 note the incredible work that Central 57 00:02:16,638 --> 00:02:18,416 Command continues to do for our 58 00:02:18,416 --> 00:02:20,193 national defense , but also the 59 00:02:20,193 --> 00:02:22,249 leadership of General Mackenzie over 60 00:02:22,249 --> 00:02:24,304 these last several years . Uh and in 61 00:02:24,304 --> 00:02:26,471 particular just uh in the last several 62 00:02:26,471 --> 00:02:28,940 months with respect to leading a truly 63 00:02:28,940 --> 00:02:31,218 historic evacuation out of Afghanistan . 64 00:02:31,218 --> 00:02:33,384 So he's looking forward to that and to 65 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,890 um getting a chance to to highlight 66 00:02:35,900 --> 00:02:37,733 General McKenzie's extraordinary 67 00:02:37,733 --> 00:02:39,900 military career as he as he gets ready 68 00:02:39,900 --> 00:02:41,789 to retire . Well , that will take 69 00:02:41,789 --> 00:02:45,520 questions lead to your first Thanks Don ? 70 00:02:45,530 --> 00:02:49,290 T two Things Please . Um can you 71 00:02:49,300 --> 00:02:52,150 uh there's been discussion about the 72 00:02:52,150 --> 00:02:54,261 Russian troops that have been sort of 73 00:02:54,261 --> 00:02:57,680 leaving uh the area surrounding Kiev 74 00:02:57,690 --> 00:03:00,130 and moving towards Belarus . Can you 75 00:03:00,140 --> 00:03:03,700 give us um a better sense of what the 76 00:03:03,710 --> 00:03:05,821 department is seeing is that dozens , 77 00:03:05,821 --> 00:03:08,620 is that hundreds ? And is there actual 78 00:03:08,620 --> 00:03:11,470 movement within belarus of attempts to 79 00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:14,830 get supplies etcetera to them ? And 80 00:03:14,830 --> 00:03:18,750 then my second question is um 81 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,550 there's been a lot of discussion about 82 00:03:22,140 --> 00:03:25,160 Putin's advisers not giving him 83 00:03:25,420 --> 00:03:28,400 accurate information particularly about 84 00:03:28,410 --> 00:03:30,810 the state of the battle . Does the 85 00:03:30,810 --> 00:03:34,540 Pentagon believe those reports ? And do 86 00:03:34,540 --> 00:03:37,280 you have anything that you can point to 87 00:03:37,290 --> 00:03:39,610 that you that that actually suggests 88 00:03:39,620 --> 00:03:41,509 that that is actually happening . 89 00:03:44,140 --> 00:03:47,630 Yeah . So on the withdrawal we uh we 90 00:03:47,630 --> 00:03:51,160 have seen over the last 24 hours um 91 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,050 uh the repositioning of a 92 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,630 a small percentage of the troops 93 00:03:59,630 --> 00:04:03,060 that and the battalion tactical groups 94 00:04:03,060 --> 00:04:05,360 that Russia had a raid against Kiev , 95 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,100 Probably in the neighborhood of 20% of 96 00:04:08,100 --> 00:04:10,580 what they had . Uh they are beginning 97 00:04:10,580 --> 00:04:13,370 to reposition some of those troops . We 98 00:04:13,370 --> 00:04:16,770 assess our repositioning into belarus . 99 00:04:16,780 --> 00:04:19,700 Um We don't have an exact number for 100 00:04:19,700 --> 00:04:22,160 you , but that's our early assessments . 101 00:04:22,170 --> 00:04:24,600 Uh None of them , we have seen none of 102 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,220 them uh repositioned to their home 103 00:04:27,220 --> 00:04:29,553 garrison . And that's not a small point . 104 00:04:29,940 --> 00:04:32,090 If the Russians are serious about de 105 00:04:32,090 --> 00:04:34,201 escalating because that's their claim 106 00:04:34,201 --> 00:04:36,423 here , then they should send him home , 107 00:04:36,423 --> 00:04:38,646 but they're not doing that at least not 108 00:04:38,646 --> 00:04:40,868 yet . So that's not what we're seeing . 109 00:04:40,868 --> 00:04:43,940 Um um and I don't know , you know , our 110 00:04:43,950 --> 00:04:45,894 our assessment would be as we said 111 00:04:45,894 --> 00:04:48,061 yesterday , that that they're going to 112 00:04:48,061 --> 00:04:51,560 refit these troops resupply them 113 00:04:51,940 --> 00:04:54,020 uh and then probably employ , employ 114 00:04:54,020 --> 00:04:57,480 them elsewhere in Ukraine . But I I 115 00:04:57,490 --> 00:04:59,657 don't believe that at this stage we've 116 00:04:59,657 --> 00:05:02,750 seen the refitting going on um 117 00:05:03,340 --> 00:05:06,310 uh you know , with any specificity on 118 00:05:06,310 --> 00:05:10,010 the reports of Putin not being will be 119 00:05:10,010 --> 00:05:12,066 advised , you know , I'm going to be 120 00:05:12,066 --> 00:05:14,232 careful here not to getting not not to 121 00:05:14,232 --> 00:05:16,288 getting into the into intelligence , 122 00:05:16,288 --> 00:05:18,840 but we would concur with the conclusion 123 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:22,410 that um that Mr 124 00:05:22,410 --> 00:05:25,550 Putin has not been fully informed 125 00:05:25,850 --> 00:05:29,420 by his Ministry of Defense at every 126 00:05:29,420 --> 00:05:32,350 turn over the last month ? Now ? I want 127 00:05:32,350 --> 00:05:34,550 a caveat that we don't have access to 128 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:36,782 every bit of information that he's been 129 00:05:36,782 --> 00:05:38,893 given or every conversation that he's 130 00:05:38,893 --> 00:05:41,060 had . And I'm going to be very careful 131 00:05:41,060 --> 00:05:43,060 here not getting into too much more 132 00:05:43,060 --> 00:05:45,282 detail on this , but we have seen these 133 00:05:45,282 --> 00:05:47,393 press reports attributed to a U . S . 134 00:05:47,393 --> 00:05:49,560 Official and uh and we we would concur 135 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:51,830 with the basic finding . Um I but I'm 136 00:05:51,830 --> 00:05:54,210 not going to get uh any more specific 137 00:05:54,210 --> 00:05:57,660 than than that . Okay , court , 138 00:05:58,100 --> 00:06:00,267 Can you talk ? I just want to be clear 139 00:06:00,267 --> 00:06:02,378 on the repositioning the 20% . You're 140 00:06:02,378 --> 00:06:04,544 not saying that all of those have gone 141 00:06:04,544 --> 00:06:06,878 to Belarus and if not say less than 20% , 142 00:06:06,878 --> 00:06:09,100 less than 20% . Less than 20% of what's 143 00:06:09,100 --> 00:06:11,267 been arrayed arrayed around , Kiev has 144 00:06:11,267 --> 00:06:13,450 now moved out . But all of the has now 145 00:06:13,460 --> 00:06:16,460 been been they've started to reposition , 146 00:06:16,470 --> 00:06:18,692 I don't know that . I'd say all of them 147 00:06:18,692 --> 00:06:20,914 moved out . We've we've seen them begin 148 00:06:20,914 --> 00:06:22,940 to reposition less than 20% . Our 149 00:06:22,940 --> 00:06:26,890 assessment on you know today . Um And 150 00:06:26,890 --> 00:06:29,001 we think some of them , not all , but 151 00:06:29,001 --> 00:06:31,057 some of them have already moved into 152 00:06:31,057 --> 00:06:32,723 belarus . What do you mean by 153 00:06:32,723 --> 00:06:34,834 reposition then , are there ? They're 154 00:06:34,834 --> 00:06:36,779 moving further away from Kiev like 155 00:06:36,779 --> 00:06:38,834 they're leaving they're leaving Kiev 156 00:06:38,834 --> 00:06:41,057 and heading more towards the north away 157 00:06:41,057 --> 00:06:43,223 from away from the city . And are they 158 00:06:43,223 --> 00:06:45,446 continuing as they're moving away ? Are 159 00:06:45,446 --> 00:06:47,501 they continuing to launch attacks on 160 00:06:47,501 --> 00:06:49,612 the city of media ? They're launching 161 00:06:49,612 --> 00:06:51,779 artillery as from further away still . 162 00:06:51,779 --> 00:06:54,112 I mean what would you characterize that ? 163 00:06:54,112 --> 00:06:53,660 No , I think I think the the troops 164 00:06:53,660 --> 00:06:55,882 that were seeing move away or that sort 165 00:06:55,882 --> 00:06:58,720 of focus is moving away . But uh we 166 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:00,831 still assess as we did yesterday that 167 00:07:00,831 --> 00:07:03,800 that Kiev is still being attacked by by 168 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,050 bombardment , artillery fire as well as 169 00:07:06,050 --> 00:07:08,750 airstrikes . There's still , as I said 170 00:07:08,750 --> 00:07:10,694 yesterday , I mean there's still a 171 00:07:10,694 --> 00:07:13,490 majority of the forces that Mr Putin 172 00:07:13,490 --> 00:07:15,712 put around , Kiev are still there now . 173 00:07:15,712 --> 00:07:17,546 As I said a couple of days ago , 174 00:07:17,546 --> 00:07:19,823 they're largely in defensive positions . 175 00:07:19,823 --> 00:07:21,934 We we several days ago stopped seeing 176 00:07:21,934 --> 00:07:23,990 any advancement on their part . They 177 00:07:23,990 --> 00:07:25,990 weren't moving closer to the city . 178 00:07:25,990 --> 00:07:28,157 They from a from a ground effort there 179 00:07:28,157 --> 00:07:30,379 was no more advancing on on key but the 180 00:07:30,379 --> 00:07:32,434 airstrikes have not stopped . Not at 181 00:07:32,434 --> 00:07:34,657 all . So keith , as I said yesterday is 182 00:07:34,657 --> 00:07:36,823 still very much under threat . Had you 183 00:07:36,823 --> 00:07:39,046 said how many total B . T . G . S there 184 00:07:39,046 --> 00:07:40,934 were around key before ? We never 185 00:07:40,934 --> 00:07:43,101 actually gave a number of the total uh 186 00:07:43,101 --> 00:07:45,212 and I want to be careful about that . 187 00:07:45,212 --> 00:07:47,434 But uh but again our best assessment is 188 00:07:47,434 --> 00:07:49,660 less than 20% over the last 24 hours . 189 00:07:49,660 --> 00:07:52,240 Now , we've seen to start to to re 190 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:56,060 position and I want to hit it again 191 00:07:56,070 --> 00:07:58,292 because I think it's an important point 192 00:07:58,292 --> 00:08:00,459 if if the Russians were really serious 193 00:08:00,459 --> 00:08:02,459 about de escalating and and the way 194 00:08:02,459 --> 00:08:04,292 they spun this yesterday um that 195 00:08:04,292 --> 00:08:06,626 they're trying to take the pressure off , 196 00:08:06,626 --> 00:08:08,848 well then send them home and that's not 197 00:08:08,848 --> 00:08:08,760 what they're doing , at least , not yet , 198 00:08:09,140 --> 00:08:13,030 David . So just to be clear on the What 199 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:14,984 troops you're talking about here , 200 00:08:14,984 --> 00:08:16,984 there were basically three lines of 201 00:08:16,984 --> 00:08:19,570 advance , northwest , northeast , and I 202 00:08:19,570 --> 00:08:21,848 would say from the north and northwest , 203 00:08:21,848 --> 00:08:23,737 those groupings are the ones that 204 00:08:23,737 --> 00:08:25,514 they're drawing from now , that 205 00:08:25,514 --> 00:08:29,390 includes uh yeah , 206 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,630 it does . It . We do think some troops 207 00:08:32,630 --> 00:08:34,880 that were arrayed against china heave 208 00:08:34,890 --> 00:08:36,446 have also been part of this 209 00:08:36,446 --> 00:08:40,400 repositioning and as well , um to 210 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:42,400 the further to the east , there's a 211 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:45,710 town called sumi s um y um and we think 212 00:08:45,710 --> 00:08:48,050 some of those troops have also 213 00:08:48,140 --> 00:08:50,080 repositioned into belarus . 214 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,220 So john is it wrong to say that ? I 215 00:08:55,220 --> 00:08:57,442 mean you're using the word reposition . 216 00:08:57,442 --> 00:08:59,720 I'm trying to understand the situation , 217 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:01,776 is it is it wrong to say that Russia 218 00:09:01,776 --> 00:09:03,998 withdrew some of its forces from around 219 00:09:03,998 --> 00:09:06,220 Kiev ? They have they have beginning to 220 00:09:06,220 --> 00:09:08,550 move some forces away from keith , if 221 00:09:08,550 --> 00:09:10,606 you want to call it withdrawal . I'm 222 00:09:10,606 --> 00:09:12,772 not gonna argue with you on the verb , 223 00:09:12,772 --> 00:09:14,994 I'm using reposition on purpose because 224 00:09:14,994 --> 00:09:17,217 the way it's being spun by the Ministry 225 00:09:17,217 --> 00:09:19,439 of Defense is that they're that they're 226 00:09:19,439 --> 00:09:21,383 pulling back and they're trying to 227 00:09:21,383 --> 00:09:23,550 deescalate and um and depressurize the 228 00:09:23,550 --> 00:09:25,717 situation and we just don't believe we 229 00:09:25,717 --> 00:09:27,939 haven't seen any evidence of that right 230 00:09:27,939 --> 00:09:30,161 now , we separated from the whole , the 231 00:09:30,161 --> 00:09:29,340 escalation , because clearly you're 232 00:09:29,340 --> 00:09:31,284 saying there's still bombardment , 233 00:09:31,284 --> 00:09:33,451 they're using missiles . They're using 234 00:09:33,451 --> 00:09:35,618 artillery , not necessarily the center 235 00:09:35,618 --> 00:09:37,673 of the city , but I don't know where 236 00:09:37,673 --> 00:09:39,840 they're landing . This is according to 237 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:41,870 our reporting , but the forces , 238 00:09:42,150 --> 00:09:44,730 regardless of the escalation , Russia 239 00:09:44,950 --> 00:09:47,490 is withdrawing some of his troops away 240 00:09:47,490 --> 00:09:49,712 from Kiev , they are repositioning some 241 00:09:49,712 --> 00:09:51,879 of their troops away from Kiev . Yes , 242 00:09:51,879 --> 00:09:55,350 Sylvie , yes . Um do you 243 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,890 see more troops going in the direction 244 00:09:58,900 --> 00:10:01,570 of Donbas as they say , they would 245 00:10:01,580 --> 00:10:03,930 refocus on again , we haven't seen , 246 00:10:03,940 --> 00:10:05,662 you know , of the of the small 247 00:10:05,662 --> 00:10:07,551 percentage of troops that we have 248 00:10:07,551 --> 00:10:10,220 observed that they are repositioning , 249 00:10:10,430 --> 00:10:14,050 we haven't seen any of them , uh 250 00:10:14,060 --> 00:10:17,750 go elsewhere inside Ukraine . Um All I 251 00:10:17,750 --> 00:10:21,640 would tell you is that the the Russians 252 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:23,529 have said themselves are going to 253 00:10:23,529 --> 00:10:26,050 prioritize the Donbas region . We have 254 00:10:26,050 --> 00:10:28,900 seen them become much more active there 255 00:10:28,900 --> 00:10:31,011 in the last few days . For instance , 256 00:10:31,011 --> 00:10:33,178 we think that the Wagner group now has 257 00:10:33,178 --> 00:10:36,280 about 1000 people dedicated to the Don 258 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:40,050 boss . Um we have seen an increase , I 259 00:10:40,060 --> 00:10:42,060 shouldn't say an increase . We have 260 00:10:42,060 --> 00:10:44,870 seen them prioritize airstrikes in the 261 00:10:44,870 --> 00:10:48,430 Donbas area . Um So if you look at it 262 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,607 again , I'm not , you know , you can't 263 00:10:50,607 --> 00:10:52,773 I can't count every single and I'm not 264 00:10:52,773 --> 00:10:54,884 going to count every single artillery 265 00:10:54,884 --> 00:10:57,340 shell or missile strike because they 266 00:10:57,340 --> 00:11:00,620 continue um to bombard population 267 00:11:00,620 --> 00:11:02,700 centers through the air that's Mario 268 00:11:02,700 --> 00:11:05,030 people that's chair and heave , it's 269 00:11:05,030 --> 00:11:08,150 Kharkiv . It certainly is keith , but 270 00:11:08,740 --> 00:11:10,510 generally where we see them 271 00:11:10,510 --> 00:11:12,790 prioritizing the airstrikes now , it's 272 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:14,950 it's it's in the north , with the 273 00:11:14,950 --> 00:11:17,061 exception of Mario poets , largely in 274 00:11:17,061 --> 00:11:19,172 the north . It's it's key , it's it's 275 00:11:19,172 --> 00:11:21,339 still Kharkiv , it's still china heave 276 00:11:21,339 --> 00:11:23,570 and it's in the Donbas . So when we're 277 00:11:23,570 --> 00:11:25,681 talking about what what they're doing 278 00:11:25,681 --> 00:11:27,792 in the Donbas , we know they've added 279 00:11:27,792 --> 00:11:30,014 now , private military contractors , we 280 00:11:30,014 --> 00:11:32,181 know that they're prioritizing some of 281 00:11:32,181 --> 00:11:34,403 their air strike activity there in ways 282 00:11:34,403 --> 00:11:36,626 that they weren't doing before . Uh and 283 00:11:36,626 --> 00:11:38,792 we know that they're considering other 284 00:11:38,792 --> 00:11:40,903 ways of reinforcing as well as what I 285 00:11:40,903 --> 00:11:40,890 said yesterday is we they , you know , 286 00:11:40,890 --> 00:11:43,090 they they we can see them make a 287 00:11:43,090 --> 00:11:45,890 concerted effort to try to occupy more 288 00:11:45,890 --> 00:11:49,300 territory in the Donbas . Yeah , can 289 00:11:49,300 --> 00:11:51,356 you explain what the reason would be 290 00:11:51,356 --> 00:11:53,578 for them sending troops from the Wagner 291 00:11:53,578 --> 00:11:55,578 group into the Donbass region . You 292 00:11:55,578 --> 00:11:57,744 have to tell me who you are and what ? 293 00:11:57,744 --> 00:11:57,480 I'm sorry , thank you for taking my 294 00:11:57,480 --> 00:11:59,702 question . My name is Liz freed and I'm 295 00:11:59,702 --> 00:12:02,230 with Fox News . Can you explain maybe 296 00:12:02,230 --> 00:12:04,230 the concerns that the US would have 297 00:12:04,230 --> 00:12:06,770 about them sending those private trips 298 00:12:06,770 --> 00:12:09,790 to the Donbas region ? And there are 299 00:12:09,790 --> 00:12:12,170 reasons for doing it . Well , I mean , 300 00:12:12,170 --> 00:12:15,070 think a couple of things . Um they have 301 00:12:15,070 --> 00:12:18,310 used Wagner contractors in the Donbas 302 00:12:18,310 --> 00:12:20,477 over the last eight years . So this is 303 00:12:20,477 --> 00:12:22,532 an area where the Wagner group is uh 304 00:12:22,532 --> 00:12:25,510 experienced . Um uh so it's not a 305 00:12:25,510 --> 00:12:27,520 surprise that they would that they 306 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:29,820 would try to try to look at using 307 00:12:29,830 --> 00:12:32,960 private military contractors there ? Um 308 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,662 Number two , we think it's a reflection 309 00:12:35,662 --> 00:12:37,440 of the very tough fighting that 310 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,750 continues to go on there in the Donbas 311 00:12:39,750 --> 00:12:42,560 And uh , Mr Putin's desire to reinforce 312 00:12:42,560 --> 00:12:44,810 his efforts there . Um you guys asked 313 00:12:44,810 --> 00:12:48,290 me yesterday , you know , show me how 314 00:12:48,290 --> 00:12:50,512 we think he's prioritizing . That's one 315 00:12:50,512 --> 00:12:52,734 of the ways why we think he's trying to 316 00:12:52,734 --> 00:12:56,040 prioritize the Donbass region . Um , So 317 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:58,207 the department has released its budget 318 00:12:58,207 --> 00:13:00,429 and now we're in budget season , you'll 319 00:13:00,429 --> 00:13:02,484 be going to the hill justifying what 320 00:13:02,484 --> 00:13:04,707 you want to do with the annual budget . 321 00:13:04,707 --> 00:13:06,707 And I'm sure lawmakers will want to 322 00:13:06,707 --> 00:13:09,280 know what the department is doing , the 323 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,920 soviet Russia and this new reality of 324 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:13,976 Russia invading Ukraine and being an 325 00:13:13,976 --> 00:13:15,809 acute threat , What would be the 326 00:13:15,809 --> 00:13:18,470 department's response to Congress , how 327 00:13:18,690 --> 00:13:20,990 described what it's doing to kind of 328 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,167 counter this new reality with Russia . 329 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,329 I think if you look at the budget 330 00:13:25,329 --> 00:13:27,329 itself , um , and the reason why we 331 00:13:27,329 --> 00:13:29,107 wanted to do a national defense 332 00:13:29,107 --> 00:13:31,218 strategy in concert with the budget , 333 00:13:31,218 --> 00:13:33,540 was to to show that the budget is 334 00:13:33,540 --> 00:13:35,651 strategically aligned with what we're 335 00:13:35,651 --> 00:13:37,762 trying to do in this department . And 336 00:13:37,762 --> 00:13:39,818 of course , China remains the pacing 337 00:13:39,818 --> 00:13:42,620 challenge . The # one concern for the 338 00:13:42,620 --> 00:13:44,620 department , there's no doubt about 339 00:13:44,620 --> 00:13:47,230 that . But uh , but but as you said , 340 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:49,410 we refer , we refer to Russia as an 341 00:13:49,410 --> 00:13:51,521 acute threat . You don't have to look 342 00:13:51,521 --> 00:13:53,632 any more than what you've been seeing 343 00:13:53,632 --> 00:13:55,854 over the last month to see the threat , 344 00:13:55,854 --> 00:13:57,966 the kinds of threats that that Russia 345 00:13:57,966 --> 00:14:00,021 can pose to international security . 346 00:14:00,021 --> 00:14:02,243 And so if you take a look at the at the 347 00:14:02,243 --> 00:14:04,577 budget and the investments we're making , 348 00:14:04,577 --> 00:14:04,450 for instance in research and 349 00:14:04,450 --> 00:14:06,172 development and scientific and 350 00:14:06,172 --> 00:14:09,150 technology . $130 billion though the 351 00:14:09,150 --> 00:14:11,020 highest watermark ever for this 352 00:14:11,020 --> 00:14:12,742 department in terms of R and D 353 00:14:12,742 --> 00:14:14,353 investments , a lot of those 354 00:14:14,353 --> 00:14:17,050 capabilities , cyber space five G 355 00:14:17,060 --> 00:14:19,460 artificial intelligence , hypersonic . 356 00:14:19,470 --> 00:14:22,010 You look at all that stuff and yes , it 357 00:14:22,010 --> 00:14:23,954 will certainly help us against the 358 00:14:23,954 --> 00:14:25,899 pacing challenge of china , but it 359 00:14:25,899 --> 00:14:28,121 absolutely will help us against what we 360 00:14:28,121 --> 00:14:30,399 consider the acute threat of of Russia . 361 00:14:30,399 --> 00:14:32,566 Let me go to the phones here . Uh were 362 00:14:32,566 --> 00:14:33,566 a cop . 363 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:39,410 Hi john . Um thanks for doing this . 364 00:14:39,940 --> 00:14:43,550 So with the movement of the forces away 365 00:14:43,550 --> 00:14:45,570 from Kiev , are you also seeing a 366 00:14:45,570 --> 00:14:47,940 movement of equipment and artillery ? 367 00:14:47,940 --> 00:14:49,662 Or is it just personnel that's 368 00:14:49,662 --> 00:14:52,540 departing ? Thank you . No , I mean 369 00:14:52,540 --> 00:14:56,070 when we were seeing units go um 370 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,200 so it's our assessment that they are 371 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:01,240 also bringing um much of their 372 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,351 equipment with them again for refit , 373 00:15:03,351 --> 00:15:06,010 we believe for refit and repurposing uh 374 00:15:06,020 --> 00:15:08,187 for future operations inside Ukraine . 375 00:15:08,187 --> 00:15:10,131 But look , I mean , Tara , I can't 376 00:15:10,131 --> 00:15:12,680 count every vehicle . Uh you know , uh 377 00:15:12,690 --> 00:15:14,634 every rucksack that these guys are 378 00:15:14,634 --> 00:15:16,460 moving with them . But it's our 379 00:15:16,460 --> 00:15:18,404 assessment that they that they are 380 00:15:18,404 --> 00:15:20,571 their intention is to reposition these 381 00:15:20,571 --> 00:15:22,800 units so that they can refit them for 382 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:26,180 future operations , oren Liebermann CNN 383 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,880 a question specific to Mariupol , given 384 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:32,824 the destruction that you're seeing 385 00:15:32,824 --> 00:15:34,991 there ? Would you characterize that as 386 00:15:34,991 --> 00:15:37,213 the Russians carpet bombing the city or 387 00:15:37,213 --> 00:15:39,269 conducting a scorched earth campaign 388 00:15:39,269 --> 00:15:41,436 there ? Or would you not use that sort 389 00:15:41,436 --> 00:15:40,580 of terminology in terms of what you're 390 00:15:40,580 --> 00:15:42,636 seeing ? It's devastating what we're 391 00:15:42,636 --> 00:15:45,700 seeing there . I'm gonna , I'll let uh 392 00:15:45,710 --> 00:15:47,650 experts decide how they want to 393 00:15:47,660 --> 00:15:50,180 characterize it or label it , but it is 394 00:15:50,180 --> 00:15:52,347 obviously devastating . You don't have 395 00:15:52,347 --> 00:15:54,402 to look any further than the imagery 396 00:15:54,402 --> 00:15:56,458 that that your network is showing as 397 00:15:56,458 --> 00:15:58,569 well as so many other news outlets to 398 00:15:58,569 --> 00:16:01,080 see . Um , uh , just how significant 399 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,740 the damage the Russians are doing in 400 00:16:03,740 --> 00:16:06,410 Mario opal . Um , and the devastating 401 00:16:06,410 --> 00:16:09,140 effects that it's having their on on 402 00:16:09,140 --> 00:16:11,850 what can only be described as the 403 00:16:11,850 --> 00:16:15,010 civilian infrastructure , residential 404 00:16:15,010 --> 00:16:18,560 buildings , hospitals , um , recreation 405 00:16:18,570 --> 00:16:20,840 parks , everything . I mean the place 406 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,760 is just being decimated uh , from a 407 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:27,070 structural perspective by the the 408 00:16:27,070 --> 00:16:29,450 onslaught of , of Russian airstrikes , 409 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,060 uh , Caitlin stars and stripes . 410 00:16:36,140 --> 00:16:38,490 Hi Don . Um , I'm just trying to break 411 00:16:38,490 --> 00:16:40,712 down some of the jargon I'm noticing in 412 00:16:40,712 --> 00:16:44,440 the budget and the nDS um , explainer . 413 00:16:44,450 --> 00:16:47,050 Um , can you just describe for us , 414 00:16:47,050 --> 00:16:49,217 what's the difference between an acute 415 00:16:49,217 --> 00:16:52,770 threat and a pacing threat ? Okay , 416 00:16:53,340 --> 00:16:56,730 we'll try this again , we we call china 417 00:16:56,730 --> 00:16:59,110 a pacing challenge because in in many 418 00:16:59,110 --> 00:17:01,240 of the military kinds of capabilities 419 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:03,351 that that we're we know , we're gonna 420 00:17:03,351 --> 00:17:07,330 need , um , uh , uh , to respond 421 00:17:07,330 --> 00:17:10,910 to uh , what is an increasingly 422 00:17:10,910 --> 00:17:13,077 aggressive china in the indo , pacific 423 00:17:13,077 --> 00:17:16,120 specifically . Um , and the the 424 00:17:16,120 --> 00:17:17,731 potential threats that those 425 00:17:17,731 --> 00:17:20,190 capabilities uh mean for us that we're 426 00:17:20,190 --> 00:17:22,630 gonna have to uh we're gonna have to 427 00:17:22,630 --> 00:17:24,890 stay ahead of those capabilities . And 428 00:17:24,890 --> 00:17:26,946 again , you look at the budget , you 429 00:17:26,946 --> 00:17:29,112 can see the kinds of capabilities that 430 00:17:29,112 --> 00:17:28,960 we're that we're investing in for the 431 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:32,570 future uh two to make sure that 432 00:17:32,570 --> 00:17:35,300 we are not just keeping apace with 433 00:17:35,300 --> 00:17:37,356 china's military modernization , but 434 00:17:37,356 --> 00:17:39,467 that that we're staying ahead of it , 435 00:17:39,467 --> 00:17:41,633 we are ahead of it now . We believe we 436 00:17:41,633 --> 00:17:43,689 need to stay ahead of it . Um and as 437 00:17:43,689 --> 00:17:45,800 for an acute threat , what what we're 438 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:48,660 talking about here with Russia is um uh 439 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:52,270 this is a military that remains potent . 440 00:17:53,170 --> 00:17:56,360 Um and if you want proof 441 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:58,980 of of being an acute threat , a 442 00:17:58,980 --> 00:18:02,510 specific threat , a relevant timely 443 00:18:02,510 --> 00:18:04,677 threat . If that's the way you want to 444 00:18:04,677 --> 00:18:06,677 describe a cute , that's the way we 445 00:18:06,677 --> 00:18:08,732 would certainly look at it . Look at 446 00:18:08,732 --> 00:18:10,899 places like Mario people , look at the 447 00:18:10,899 --> 00:18:10,890 question that Orange just asked , you 448 00:18:10,890 --> 00:18:13,120 can see it for yourself that there are 449 00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:15,390 that they're very much posing a threat 450 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:18,670 right now um in this time frame 451 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:22,390 acutely on the european continent and 452 00:18:22,390 --> 00:18:24,446 that's what we refer to when we talk 453 00:18:24,446 --> 00:18:27,900 about an acute threat , general walter 454 00:18:27,900 --> 00:18:30,030 that um told lawmakers this morning 455 00:18:30,030 --> 00:18:32,030 that there needs to be some sort of 456 00:18:32,030 --> 00:18:34,360 repositioning of permanent rotational 457 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:36,580 forces in europe . Um and he said that 458 00:18:36,580 --> 00:18:38,469 he talked to lawmakers about it , 459 00:18:38,469 --> 00:18:40,802 you've said in the past couple of weeks ? 460 00:18:40,802 --> 00:18:40,510 The pentagon ? That's a discussion in 461 00:18:40,510 --> 00:18:43,070 the pentagon . Is that part of the 462 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,247 posture review that was completed last 463 00:18:45,247 --> 00:18:47,302 year ? Can we expect in the next few 464 00:18:47,302 --> 00:18:49,413 months or this year any announcements 465 00:18:49,413 --> 00:18:51,636 about moving permanent basing around or 466 00:18:51,636 --> 00:18:53,691 having different kinds of rotational 467 00:18:53,691 --> 00:18:55,802 deployments in europe ? I'm not going 468 00:18:55,802 --> 00:18:57,969 to get ahead of decisions that haven't 469 00:18:57,969 --> 00:18:57,690 been made , but I think it's safe to 470 00:18:57,690 --> 00:18:59,960 assume that given what Russia has done 471 00:19:00,540 --> 00:19:02,550 over the last month and the ways in 472 00:19:02,550 --> 00:19:04,661 which the security environment on the 473 00:19:04,661 --> 00:19:06,772 european continent have changed and I 474 00:19:06,772 --> 00:19:08,640 use that as past tense , not not 475 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:11,470 present tense . Uh you can bet that 476 00:19:11,470 --> 00:19:13,581 senior leaders here at the department 477 00:19:13,581 --> 00:19:15,692 are gonna take a look at our european 478 00:19:15,692 --> 00:19:17,859 posture going forward . Um Now again , 479 00:19:17,859 --> 00:19:19,914 I can't tell you , you know , when a 480 00:19:19,914 --> 00:19:22,137 decision is going to be made one way or 481 00:19:22,137 --> 00:19:21,440 the other or what that's gonna look 482 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:23,470 like . But the secretary absolutely 483 00:19:23,470 --> 00:19:25,303 wants to keep an open mind about 484 00:19:25,303 --> 00:19:27,137 european posture going forward . 485 00:19:27,137 --> 00:19:29,400 Clearly because of the acute threat of 486 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,511 Russia and clearly because of the way 487 00:19:31,511 --> 00:19:33,678 the security environment in europe has 488 00:19:33,678 --> 00:19:35,344 changed . So could it mean um 489 00:19:36,740 --> 00:19:39,540 more troops more permanently based in 490 00:19:39,540 --> 00:19:41,484 europe ? It could , but again , no 491 00:19:41,484 --> 00:19:43,540 decisions have been made right now . 492 00:19:43,540 --> 00:19:45,707 Sounds like this has been a discussion 493 00:19:45,707 --> 00:19:47,707 with you come for a lot longer than 494 00:19:47,707 --> 00:19:50,040 these last couple of months with Russia . 495 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:49,300 It was part of the posture review . 496 00:19:49,300 --> 00:19:51,411 Sure . I mean when we put the posture 497 00:19:51,411 --> 00:19:53,522 review together , we absolutely spoke 498 00:19:53,522 --> 00:19:55,980 to general Walters and and our allies 499 00:19:55,980 --> 00:19:58,050 and partners as we sort of game that 500 00:19:58,050 --> 00:20:00,217 out . But of course that was completed 501 00:20:00,217 --> 00:20:02,690 well before Mr Putin decided to invade 502 00:20:02,690 --> 00:20:05,200 Ukraine . So we're going to keep an 503 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,420 open mind Megan . The security 504 00:20:07,420 --> 00:20:09,253 environment is different now and 505 00:20:09,253 --> 00:20:13,140 however this war ends and we don't know 506 00:20:13,140 --> 00:20:15,084 when and we don't know what that's 507 00:20:15,084 --> 00:20:16,918 gonna look like . I think we are 508 00:20:16,918 --> 00:20:18,807 working under the assumption that 509 00:20:18,807 --> 00:20:21,140 europe is not gonna be the same anymore . 510 00:20:21,140 --> 00:20:23,307 And so therefore we probably shouldn't 511 00:20:23,307 --> 00:20:25,529 have the same outlook to our posture in 512 00:20:25,529 --> 00:20:27,529 europe . Now again what's the blend 513 00:20:27,529 --> 00:20:29,251 gonna be between temporary and 514 00:20:29,251 --> 00:20:31,029 rotational deployments versus a 515 00:20:31,029 --> 00:20:33,196 permanent posture ? We don't have that 516 00:20:33,196 --> 00:20:33,060 figured out right now . The other thing 517 00:20:33,060 --> 00:20:35,350 I'd say because it's really important 518 00:20:35,350 --> 00:20:37,910 important point to make whatever 519 00:20:37,910 --> 00:20:40,510 decisions we make , they're going to be 520 00:20:40,510 --> 00:20:42,288 in lockstep with the allies and 521 00:20:42,288 --> 00:20:44,288 partners . I mean we're going to do 522 00:20:44,288 --> 00:20:46,454 this in full consultation because some 523 00:20:46,454 --> 00:20:48,454 nations are simply going to be more 524 00:20:48,454 --> 00:20:50,399 eager for additional U . S . Force 525 00:20:50,399 --> 00:20:50,360 presence than others . And we have to 526 00:20:50,360 --> 00:20:52,527 respect that . Right so my question is 527 00:20:52,527 --> 00:20:54,749 this has been going on , the discussion 528 00:20:54,749 --> 00:20:56,749 has been going on a lot longer than 529 00:20:56,749 --> 00:20:58,916 just the Ukraine conflict . So are you 530 00:20:58,916 --> 00:21:01,138 or have you already begun some of those 531 00:21:01,138 --> 00:21:03,193 consultations and those negotiations 532 00:21:03,193 --> 00:21:02,890 with those countries keeping in mind 533 00:21:02,890 --> 00:21:05,112 that you've been having this discussion 534 00:21:05,112 --> 00:21:07,279 for a lot longer than just this year . 535 00:21:07,279 --> 00:21:09,390 Yes we've had these discussions going 536 00:21:09,390 --> 00:21:11,501 on before the invasion clearly but in 537 00:21:11,501 --> 00:21:13,223 terms of post invasion posture 538 00:21:13,223 --> 00:21:16,860 decisions . No . Now , look , we've in 539 00:21:16,860 --> 00:21:18,804 the brussels and twice in the last 540 00:21:18,804 --> 00:21:20,693 couple of weeks the secretary has 541 00:21:20,693 --> 00:21:22,916 visited Poland and Germany and Slovakia 542 00:21:22,916 --> 00:21:24,860 and Bulgaria . And in every one of 543 00:21:24,860 --> 00:21:26,860 those conversations , when he meets 544 00:21:26,860 --> 00:21:28,916 with his counterparts , um there's a 545 00:21:28,916 --> 00:21:31,230 discussion about uh us leadership in 546 00:21:31,230 --> 00:21:33,400 the region and what it means and what 547 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:35,733 they want it to look like . So , I mean , 548 00:21:35,733 --> 00:21:38,570 I'm not gonna I'm not gonna walk you 549 00:21:38,570 --> 00:21:41,140 away from the idea that that that 550 00:21:41,150 --> 00:21:43,372 informal discussions are happening . Of 551 00:21:43,372 --> 00:21:45,594 course they are . You would expect that 552 00:21:45,594 --> 00:21:47,817 to be the case . I mean , given what Mr 553 00:21:47,817 --> 00:21:49,928 Putin has done , but in terms of hard 554 00:21:49,928 --> 00:21:52,039 nose negotiating , you know , sitting 555 00:21:52,039 --> 00:21:54,094 down and and with with pen and paper 556 00:21:54,094 --> 00:21:56,261 and and mapping it out what it's gonna 557 00:21:56,261 --> 00:21:56,230 look like long term . No , we're not at 558 00:21:56,230 --> 00:21:58,260 that point right now . Yeah . 559 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,830 And then the secretary told the House 560 00:22:03,830 --> 00:22:07,230 panel today that duty is working With 561 00:22:07,230 --> 00:22:10,080 Slovakia to identify the requirements 562 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:12,080 for meeting Slovakia's need in case 563 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:14,191 they provide their S 300 to Ukraine . 564 00:22:14,540 --> 00:22:16,840 Could you please detail the work that 565 00:22:16,850 --> 00:22:18,961 work a little bit ? What are you guys 566 00:22:18,961 --> 00:22:21,128 doing with Secretary said as much when 567 00:22:21,128 --> 00:22:24,350 we were in Slovakia Qasem . Um , so 568 00:22:24,620 --> 00:22:26,787 that's absolutely right . We are doing 569 00:22:26,787 --> 00:22:28,787 that . I'm not going to get I'm not 570 00:22:28,787 --> 00:22:30,564 going to detail from the podium 571 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:32,649 consultations were having with an 572 00:22:32,649 --> 00:22:34,316 individual nation state about 573 00:22:34,316 --> 00:22:36,538 capabilities that they might be willing 574 00:22:36,538 --> 00:22:38,704 to provide Ukraine and what the offset 575 00:22:38,704 --> 00:22:40,927 might look like . But we are absolutely 576 00:22:40,927 --> 00:22:40,170 having discussions with them about that 577 00:22:40,700 --> 00:22:43,010 general Walters , responding to a 578 00:22:43,020 --> 00:22:45,810 question today acknowledged that the U . 579 00:22:45,810 --> 00:22:47,866 S . Pulled out its destroyers out of 580 00:22:47,866 --> 00:22:49,754 Black sea just before the Russian 581 00:22:49,754 --> 00:22:51,850 invasion and he added that us should 582 00:22:51,850 --> 00:22:53,794 return to the Black Sea as soon as 583 00:22:53,794 --> 00:22:55,794 possible . What was the calculus of 584 00:22:55,794 --> 00:22:57,906 pulling those ships out of Black seed 585 00:22:57,906 --> 00:23:00,360 then ? And do you have a plan or any , 586 00:23:00,370 --> 00:23:02,592 is there a discussion in the department 587 00:23:02,592 --> 00:23:04,648 to send back some ships to the Black 588 00:23:04,648 --> 00:23:07,240 Sea ? I think look , we move ships in 589 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,610 and out of the Black Sea routinely . Um 590 00:23:09,620 --> 00:23:11,980 That's it's not unusual . I mean we 591 00:23:11,980 --> 00:23:14,202 don't we don't keep them permanently in 592 00:23:14,202 --> 00:23:16,980 the Black Sea but but we absolutely 593 00:23:16,980 --> 00:23:19,313 have moved them in and out as as needed . 594 00:23:19,313 --> 00:23:21,900 Um And it was it was deemed a prudent 595 00:23:21,900 --> 00:23:24,060 decision to do it in the in the as we 596 00:23:24,060 --> 00:23:26,440 continue to see uh an invasion is more 597 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,670 imminent uh to uh to make it very clear 598 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:33,440 to everybody that that the United 599 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,110 States was not interested in in um 600 00:23:36,540 --> 00:23:39,910 enforcing a conflict by by some posture 601 00:23:39,910 --> 00:23:42,077 decision that we're making . So it was 602 00:23:42,077 --> 00:23:44,188 the prudent thing to do at the time . 603 00:23:44,188 --> 00:23:46,299 And I don't have anything to announce 604 00:23:46,299 --> 00:23:48,466 with respect if and when U . S . Ships 605 00:23:48,466 --> 00:23:50,521 will go back into the Black Sea , we 606 00:23:50,521 --> 00:23:52,577 watch and monitor this every day and 607 00:23:52,577 --> 00:23:54,799 and we'll make the best decisions based 608 00:23:54,799 --> 00:23:54,770 on what's in the best interests of our 609 00:23:54,770 --> 00:23:56,659 national security and that of our 610 00:23:56,659 --> 00:23:59,800 allies and partners as well over here ? 611 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:02,490 Way in the back there kelly . 612 00:24:04,140 --> 00:24:06,418 I know you can't go too much into this , 613 00:24:06,418 --> 00:24:08,600 but how dangerous is it that Putin is 614 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:10,711 not being informed by his advisors on 615 00:24:10,711 --> 00:24:12,822 what is happening on the ground ? And 616 00:24:12,822 --> 00:24:14,878 are we in touch with the top Russian 617 00:24:14,878 --> 00:24:16,989 military leaders yet ? I know you had 618 00:24:16,989 --> 00:24:16,980 said that they had declined to engage 619 00:24:16,990 --> 00:24:19,420 just last week . No , no conversations 620 00:24:19,420 --> 00:24:22,770 to speak to yet . We maintain our 621 00:24:22,770 --> 00:24:24,992 willingness to have those discussions , 622 00:24:24,992 --> 00:24:27,210 but it's a two way street . The 623 00:24:27,220 --> 00:24:29,387 Russians have to be willing to pick up 624 00:24:29,387 --> 00:24:31,609 the phone and uh and thus far they have 625 00:24:31,609 --> 00:24:33,831 not been willing to do that . Obviously 626 00:24:34,940 --> 00:24:38,260 it understandably would would be an 627 00:24:38,260 --> 00:24:42,190 issue of concern if for not just 628 00:24:42,740 --> 00:24:45,070 our european allies and partners , but 629 00:24:45,070 --> 00:24:48,230 certainly for for Ukraine , if if Mr 630 00:24:48,230 --> 00:24:50,710 Putin is misinformed or uninformed 631 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:53,560 about what's going on inside Ukraine , 632 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:57,280 um it's his military , it's his war , 633 00:24:57,290 --> 00:25:00,740 he chose it . Uh And so the fact that 634 00:25:00,740 --> 00:25:03,510 he may not have all the context that he 635 00:25:03,510 --> 00:25:05,740 may not fully understand the degree to 636 00:25:05,740 --> 00:25:08,080 which his forces are failing in Ukraine . 637 00:25:08,090 --> 00:25:10,150 That's a little discomforting to be 638 00:25:10,150 --> 00:25:12,940 honest with you . And um it's certainly 639 00:25:12,950 --> 00:25:16,440 um one outcome of that could could be 640 00:25:16,450 --> 00:25:20,210 um uh it could be a less than faithful 641 00:25:20,210 --> 00:25:22,154 effort at negotiating some sort of 642 00:25:22,154 --> 00:25:24,154 settlement here . If he's not fully 643 00:25:24,154 --> 00:25:27,080 informed of how poorly he is doing 644 00:25:28,340 --> 00:25:30,760 then then how are his negotiators going 645 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:33,920 to come up with uh an agreement that 646 00:25:33,930 --> 00:25:37,160 that uh that that that is enduring ? 647 00:25:37,170 --> 00:25:39,520 Certainly one that respects Ukrainian 648 00:25:39,530 --> 00:25:41,752 sovereignty . Uh The other thing is , I 649 00:25:41,752 --> 00:25:43,970 mean , you don't know how um a leader 650 00:25:43,970 --> 00:25:46,260 like that's going to react uh to to 651 00:25:46,260 --> 00:25:48,710 getting bad news . So yeah , it's it's 652 00:25:48,710 --> 00:25:51,900 disconcerting Felicia . Hey , john , 653 00:25:51,910 --> 00:25:55,110 thanks for taking my question . Um any 654 00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:57,760 notable observations or assessments 655 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:00,310 since it came up yesterday on Ukrainian 656 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:02,560 counterattacks ? And I'm wondering if 657 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:05,850 you like efforts to take cities back 658 00:26:05,850 --> 00:26:08,072 and I'm wondering if you have some sort 659 00:26:08,072 --> 00:26:10,183 of , I don't know top line assessment 660 00:26:10,183 --> 00:26:12,183 about how they're doing overall . I 661 00:26:12,183 --> 00:26:14,294 don't have anything today in terms of 662 00:26:14,294 --> 00:26:16,870 specific uh just broadly speaking , 663 00:26:16,870 --> 00:26:19,130 Felicia , we've seen them counterattack 664 00:26:19,130 --> 00:26:22,880 and retake territory to the west and to 665 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:25,170 the northwest of Kiev 666 00:26:26,510 --> 00:26:29,930 as we see 667 00:26:29,940 --> 00:26:33,390 some Russian troops reposition and move 668 00:26:33,390 --> 00:26:35,950 away . We have seen indications that 669 00:26:35,950 --> 00:26:38,150 the Ukrainians are moving forward as 670 00:26:38,150 --> 00:26:42,040 you might expect them to do . Where 671 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:45,800 it's really notable is in the south . I 672 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:48,400 mean when we were talking early on the , 673 00:26:48,410 --> 00:26:50,577 remember these are sort of three lines 674 00:26:50,577 --> 00:26:52,688 of access that the Russians have used 675 00:26:52,688 --> 00:26:54,910 north east and south generally speaking 676 00:26:54,910 --> 00:26:56,966 and in the south , they had made the 677 00:26:56,966 --> 00:26:59,021 most progress in the first couple of 678 00:26:59,021 --> 00:27:01,132 weeks . Um and now the Ukrainians are 679 00:27:01,132 --> 00:27:04,400 are literally clawing back some of that , 680 00:27:04,410 --> 00:27:06,521 some of that territory particularly . 681 00:27:06,521 --> 00:27:09,440 Um uh just to the northwest of Crimea . 682 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,500 So the Kherson area and and and the 683 00:27:12,510 --> 00:27:14,454 positioning of the Russians around 684 00:27:14,454 --> 00:27:16,750 Mykolaiv , which they now have lost a 685 00:27:16,750 --> 00:27:19,380 lot of footing there . So we've seen uh 686 00:27:19,390 --> 00:27:22,640 the Ukrainians very tough and trying to 687 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:25,510 get back territory there in the south . 688 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:27,631 Now mary opal again , I don't need to 689 00:27:27,631 --> 00:27:29,798 tell you this because you guys are all 690 00:27:29,798 --> 00:27:31,964 covering it , but that obviously there 691 00:27:31,964 --> 00:27:33,964 is a lot of heavy fighting going on 692 00:27:33,964 --> 00:27:36,020 right there . Um uh we we think that 693 00:27:36,020 --> 00:27:38,187 there are some Russian forces that are 694 00:27:38,187 --> 00:27:40,131 very , very close to city center . 695 00:27:40,131 --> 00:27:42,131 Ukrainians are fighting very , very 696 00:27:42,131 --> 00:27:44,131 hard . It is the town is just being 697 00:27:44,131 --> 00:27:45,980 shellacked with airstrikes and 698 00:27:45,980 --> 00:27:48,091 bombardment . Um , as we talked about 699 00:27:48,091 --> 00:27:50,740 earlier , um , both sides 700 00:27:50,750 --> 00:27:54,590 fighting very , very hard over Mario 701 00:27:54,590 --> 00:27:58,510 opal . From a geographic perspective , 702 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:01,520 clearly it's very important to both 703 00:28:01,530 --> 00:28:03,530 sides because of where , where it's 704 00:28:03,530 --> 00:28:05,640 located right there at the , at the 705 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:07,584 southern sort of end of the of the 706 00:28:07,584 --> 00:28:11,280 Donbas region three today , 707 00:28:11,450 --> 00:28:15,450 That's okay . Yesterday , I just wanted 708 00:28:15,460 --> 00:28:18,190 to first thank you . A clarification . 709 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:20,311 Um , you had said that there had been 710 00:28:20,311 --> 00:28:22,311 more airstrikes in the done bus and 711 00:28:22,311 --> 00:28:24,422 increased activity there and you said 712 00:28:24,422 --> 00:28:26,644 that there was still air strikes in the 713 00:28:26,644 --> 00:28:28,978 Kiev area and that they had pulled back , 714 00:28:28,978 --> 00:28:30,756 would you call it a decrease in 715 00:28:30,756 --> 00:28:32,867 activity in the cave area ? Are there 716 00:28:32,867 --> 00:28:34,700 still , Is there a significant , 717 00:28:34,700 --> 00:28:36,811 significant reduction in airstrikes ? 718 00:28:36,811 --> 00:28:38,922 Like how has that changed ? Or has it 719 00:28:38,922 --> 00:28:41,144 changed other than , aside from the 20% 720 00:28:41,144 --> 00:28:43,311 that kind of pulled back ? I don't , I 721 00:28:43,311 --> 00:28:45,589 don't , you know , we weren't counting , 722 00:28:45,589 --> 00:28:48,370 uh , missile strikes on Kiev . So I 723 00:28:48,370 --> 00:28:50,650 can't give you an honest answer in 724 00:28:50,650 --> 00:28:52,872 terms of like whether it was more today 725 00:28:52,872 --> 00:28:55,150 than yesterday , what I would just say 726 00:28:55,150 --> 00:28:58,180 is generally the city continues to be 727 00:28:58,180 --> 00:28:59,902 under threat of airstrikes and 728 00:28:59,902 --> 00:29:02,069 bombardment . We are continuing to see 729 00:29:02,069 --> 00:29:03,791 that . So even as the Russians 730 00:29:03,791 --> 00:29:05,902 repositioned some of their troops and 731 00:29:05,902 --> 00:29:08,124 before that , before they started to re 732 00:29:08,124 --> 00:29:10,124 position , they were in a defensive 733 00:29:10,124 --> 00:29:12,013 crouch , basically , they weren't 734 00:29:12,013 --> 00:29:14,069 advancing from the ground anymore in 735 00:29:14,069 --> 00:29:16,236 the city . But even with all that , we 736 00:29:16,236 --> 00:29:18,347 continue to see that the city is very 737 00:29:18,347 --> 00:29:18,330 much under threat from airstrikes . 738 00:29:20,570 --> 00:29:22,792 Secondly , how many missiles has Russia 739 00:29:22,792 --> 00:29:26,790 launched ? I couldn't give you an exact 740 00:29:26,790 --> 00:29:29,123 number , but it's , as I said yesterday , 741 00:29:29,123 --> 00:29:31,346 it's definitely more than 1000 . Okay . 742 00:29:31,346 --> 00:29:33,346 And then finally , I apologize if I 743 00:29:33,346 --> 00:29:35,568 missed this , but when you were talking 744 00:29:35,568 --> 00:29:37,623 about the Wagner group , uh , do you 745 00:29:37,623 --> 00:29:39,457 know where they're coming from ? 746 00:29:39,457 --> 00:29:41,568 General Townsend had told Vox earlier 747 00:29:41,568 --> 00:29:43,679 that there was recruiting going on in 748 00:29:43,679 --> 00:29:45,846 Africa , can you tell us where they're 749 00:29:45,846 --> 00:29:45,840 coming from ? Specifically ? Is that 750 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:48,330 Syria or that I couldn't give you , I 751 00:29:48,330 --> 00:29:50,663 couldn't give you the roster . Uh , and , 752 00:29:50,663 --> 00:29:52,441 and you know where every single 753 00:29:52,441 --> 00:29:54,663 employee of the Wagner group are coming 754 00:29:54,663 --> 00:29:57,050 from . All I can tell you is that we do 755 00:29:57,050 --> 00:29:59,340 think they are going to prioritize the 756 00:29:59,340 --> 00:30:01,550 Donbas area , that we have indications 757 00:30:01,550 --> 00:30:03,606 that they'll , that they plan to put 758 00:30:03,740 --> 00:30:06,360 1000 or so of their contractors in 759 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,750 Donbas where they're all coming from . 760 00:30:08,750 --> 00:30:11,320 I don't know , we have seen indications 761 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:13,487 that the Wagner group is recruiting in 762 00:30:13,487 --> 00:30:15,431 places like Syria , in places like 763 00:30:15,431 --> 00:30:18,760 Northern Africa , Libya , but how many 764 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:21,060 are of that ? 1000 or so ? Whether I 765 00:30:21,060 --> 00:30:22,949 just , I don't have that level of 766 00:30:22,949 --> 00:30:25,560 detail . The point is that it's just 767 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:27,504 another example of how Mr Putin is 768 00:30:27,504 --> 00:30:31,250 gonna is gonna throw more energy uh 769 00:30:31,260 --> 00:30:34,390 into trying to occupy the Donbas now . 770 00:30:34,390 --> 00:30:36,557 To what end ? We're not exactly sure . 771 00:30:36,557 --> 00:30:38,501 Certainly so far , he has not been 772 00:30:38,501 --> 00:30:41,280 successful in that either , but but we 773 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:43,502 believe that they're that they they are 774 00:30:43,502 --> 00:30:45,558 going to prioritize that part of the 775 00:30:45,558 --> 00:30:49,330 country in Libya . I said we've 776 00:30:49,330 --> 00:30:50,941 seen them say we've seen the 777 00:30:50,941 --> 00:30:53,052 indications that they want to recruit 778 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:55,580 out of places like North Africa and 779 00:30:55,590 --> 00:30:58,550 Syria specifically . I said Libya to 780 00:30:58,550 --> 00:31:00,980 fight in Ukraine . Yes , Mike , 781 00:31:01,820 --> 00:31:05,190 question about the 20 refitting a 782 00:31:05,190 --> 00:31:07,810 mechanized unit is a significant 783 00:31:07,820 --> 00:31:10,310 logistics challenge requiring 784 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:14,020 maintenance munitions P . O . L . Are 785 00:31:14,020 --> 00:31:17,300 you seeing any examples of , of , of of 786 00:31:17,300 --> 00:31:19,467 that happening with , you know , the , 787 00:31:19,467 --> 00:31:21,522 the support elements coming in to to 788 00:31:21,522 --> 00:31:23,910 refit or are you just assuming at this 789 00:31:23,910 --> 00:31:26,290 point they will be refitting too soon . 790 00:31:26,340 --> 00:31:29,230 You know , I as I said , we've only 791 00:31:29,230 --> 00:31:32,710 just , Yeah , we're only just beginning 792 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:35,560 beginning to see this repositioning . 793 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:38,490 It's a minor percentage of the total 794 00:31:38,490 --> 00:31:40,546 force that they had to the North and 795 00:31:40,546 --> 00:31:43,350 northwest of of Kiev . Um , 796 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:46,407 and uh , we believe the intent is to , 797 00:31:46,407 --> 00:31:48,780 is to in many of these cases to bring 798 00:31:48,780 --> 00:31:50,947 them into belarus so they can be refit 799 00:31:50,947 --> 00:31:53,224 and resupplied . But uh , but you know , 800 00:31:53,224 --> 00:31:55,169 it's just now starting mike . So I 801 00:31:55,169 --> 00:31:56,947 don't really have anything more 802 00:31:56,947 --> 00:31:59,058 specific to , to speak to it and look 803 00:31:59,058 --> 00:32:01,224 mike . I mean , we may never have that 804 00:32:01,224 --> 00:32:03,447 level of detail for you . I mean , it's 805 00:32:03,447 --> 00:32:05,558 uh , you know , we do the best we can 806 00:32:05,558 --> 00:32:04,970 to tell you what we're seeing , but we 807 00:32:04,970 --> 00:32:07,303 were not going to see everything . Yeah . 808 00:32:07,303 --> 00:32:09,710 How close , how close are are they 809 00:32:09,710 --> 00:32:11,488 going back from you say they're 810 00:32:11,488 --> 00:32:13,654 repositioning from ? I mean , look , I 811 00:32:13,654 --> 00:32:16,190 mean , again , uh , they , they were 812 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:18,270 again , mike , we're only just 813 00:32:18,270 --> 00:32:21,320 beginning to see this . So , um , we 814 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:24,520 assessed and that the closest that they , 815 00:32:24,530 --> 00:32:27,440 their advance elements got to The city 816 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:30,730 center of key was about 15 to 20 km . 817 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:34,900 Um , so it's the , uh , it's , it's 818 00:32:34,900 --> 00:32:38,530 the forces that were arrayed 819 00:32:38,540 --> 00:32:41,670 around the hospital airfield 820 00:32:42,540 --> 00:32:45,320 that we believe those were the ones 821 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:47,320 that have begun , They're the first 822 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:49,920 ones to begin this movement north . Um , 823 00:32:49,930 --> 00:32:51,930 but again , I , I couldn't tell you 824 00:32:51,930 --> 00:32:54,152 where they are on the road right now or 825 00:32:54,152 --> 00:32:56,152 where exactly they're gonna , where 826 00:32:56,152 --> 00:32:59,810 they're gonna end up report of the , 827 00:32:59,810 --> 00:33:02,210 the latest trench of stingers gel ones 828 00:33:02,210 --> 00:33:03,988 and switchblade drones that the 829 00:33:03,988 --> 00:33:06,780 president authorized . What I can tell 830 00:33:06,780 --> 00:33:10,430 you is that material is , is 831 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:12,496 getting into the region every single 832 00:33:12,496 --> 00:33:15,430 day , including over the last 24 hours . 833 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:18,830 Um we are in the first half a dozen 834 00:33:18,830 --> 00:33:21,110 shipments of what will probably be 835 00:33:21,110 --> 00:33:24,370 around 30 or so of this $800 million 836 00:33:24,370 --> 00:33:26,592 that the president signed out . So um , 837 00:33:26,592 --> 00:33:29,370 it's already moving into the region . I 838 00:33:29,370 --> 00:33:31,426 don't have an inventory list for you 839 00:33:31,426 --> 00:33:33,648 Tony about , you know , how many are on 840 00:33:33,648 --> 00:33:35,870 every flight , but we're doing the best 841 00:33:35,870 --> 00:33:37,759 we can to prioritize the kinds of 842 00:33:37,759 --> 00:33:39,814 material that we know the Ukrainians 843 00:33:39,814 --> 00:33:41,926 need the most . Um , and so obviously 844 00:33:41,926 --> 00:33:44,092 that includes some of these anti armor 845 00:33:44,092 --> 00:33:46,148 and anti air defense systems . But I 846 00:33:46,148 --> 00:33:46,140 don't have a I don't have a shopping 847 00:33:46,140 --> 00:33:50,080 list for you today . They they have not 848 00:33:50,090 --> 00:33:53,410 shipped in yet . But we think that that 849 00:33:53,410 --> 00:33:56,170 will , that will change relatively soon . 850 00:33:56,180 --> 00:33:58,490 I need to ask you about this acute the 851 00:33:58,490 --> 00:34:00,546 use of that . You were a cute I know 852 00:34:00,546 --> 00:34:02,712 it's I don't want to be cute , but you 853 00:34:02,712 --> 00:34:04,879 mentioned a few times here , I need to 854 00:34:04,879 --> 00:34:06,934 ask you this . General Van Herrick , 855 00:34:06,934 --> 00:34:08,934 the Northern Command commander said 856 00:34:08,934 --> 00:34:10,768 five days ago that Russia is the 857 00:34:10,768 --> 00:34:12,990 primary military threat to the homeland 858 00:34:12,990 --> 00:34:14,823 and their focus on targeting the 859 00:34:14,823 --> 00:34:16,934 homeland has provided the model other 860 00:34:16,934 --> 00:34:19,157 competitors are beginning to follow and 861 00:34:19,157 --> 00:34:21,323 then general Walters last year , about 862 00:34:21,323 --> 00:34:23,379 a year ago this month said Russia is 863 00:34:23,379 --> 00:34:25,046 the primary threat . It's the 864 00:34:25,046 --> 00:34:27,157 existential threat against the United 865 00:34:27,157 --> 00:34:29,379 States . And I'm just asking you a cute 866 00:34:29,379 --> 00:34:30,990 sounds like a step down from 867 00:34:30,990 --> 00:34:32,934 existential and primary threat and 868 00:34:32,934 --> 00:34:34,823 almost a deliberate attempt to de 869 00:34:34,823 --> 00:34:36,768 emphasize Russia and overemphasize 870 00:34:36,768 --> 00:34:38,823 china this is going to come up as an 871 00:34:38,823 --> 00:34:41,157 issue . So I'd like you to address . No , 872 00:34:41,157 --> 00:34:41,030 it's a fair question . I mean , it's 873 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:43,096 it's not about de emphasizing Russia 874 00:34:43,096 --> 00:34:45,750 and nobody's de emphasizing Russia . Um , 875 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:48,320 we've said many times here , certainly 876 00:34:48,320 --> 00:34:50,431 you and I have talked about this many 877 00:34:50,431 --> 00:34:52,487 times . I mean , nobody's taking the 878 00:34:52,487 --> 00:34:55,170 Russian threat lightly . Nor should we 879 00:34:55,180 --> 00:34:57,513 now . Yes , they've underperformed . Um , 880 00:34:57,513 --> 00:35:00,880 they've made pretty big mistakes in 881 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:04,710 Ukraine planning and execution 882 00:35:04,710 --> 00:35:06,932 wise , of course , they've also faced a 883 00:35:06,932 --> 00:35:08,821 much stiffer resistance than they 884 00:35:08,821 --> 00:35:10,654 anticipated . But nobody's short 885 00:35:10,654 --> 00:35:12,821 changing the kind of threats that they 886 00:35:12,821 --> 00:35:14,932 continue to pose . And you can see it 887 00:35:14,932 --> 00:35:17,099 for yourself . My goodness . Just take 888 00:35:17,099 --> 00:35:19,099 a look at the video and the imagery 889 00:35:19,099 --> 00:35:18,830 coming out of Ukraine and you can see 890 00:35:18,830 --> 00:35:20,941 the damage that that this military is 891 00:35:20,941 --> 00:35:24,400 capable of of , of exerting and causing . 892 00:35:24,410 --> 00:35:27,830 Um , but the secretary has been nothing 893 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:31,190 but completely candid from literally 894 00:35:31,190 --> 00:35:33,330 day one that the pacing challenge in 895 00:35:33,330 --> 00:35:36,000 his view for this department is china . 896 00:35:36,010 --> 00:35:39,930 Uh the the manner in which the 897 00:35:39,930 --> 00:35:41,970 expense at which china continues to 898 00:35:41,970 --> 00:35:44,081 modernize their capabilities continue 899 00:35:44,081 --> 00:35:46,081 to bully their neighbors . Course , 900 00:35:46,081 --> 00:35:49,050 other nations in the region , uh and to 901 00:35:49,310 --> 00:35:51,890 continue to expand the militarization 902 00:35:52,040 --> 00:35:55,530 of of the Western pacific that cannot 903 00:35:55,540 --> 00:35:57,540 be ignored . Nor will it be by this 904 00:35:57,540 --> 00:36:00,000 department . Um I know everybody wants 905 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:03,230 us to rack and stack we've been very 906 00:36:03,230 --> 00:36:05,008 honest china remains the pacing 907 00:36:05,008 --> 00:36:07,119 challenge . Russia we still assess as 908 00:36:07,119 --> 00:36:09,452 an acute threat . Um , I understand the , 909 00:36:09,452 --> 00:36:11,780 the interest in the , you know , in the 910 00:36:11,780 --> 00:36:14,700 adjectives here , but it would be 911 00:36:14,700 --> 00:36:16,422 imprudent for us not to try to 912 00:36:16,422 --> 00:36:18,422 characterize the threat that Russia 913 00:36:18,422 --> 00:36:20,589 poses and to try to deal with it . And 914 00:36:20,589 --> 00:36:22,700 again , look at the budget . I mean , 915 00:36:22,700 --> 00:36:24,922 my goodness , how many budgets have you 916 00:36:24,922 --> 00:36:24,390 reported on ? Take a look at it and you 917 00:36:24,390 --> 00:36:26,600 can see that the kinds of capabilities 918 00:36:26,690 --> 00:36:29,120 that we're investing in are not just 919 00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:30,953 going to help us with the pacing 920 00:36:30,953 --> 00:36:33,176 challenge of china , but they will also 921 00:36:33,176 --> 00:36:35,064 help us deal with the threat that 922 00:36:35,064 --> 00:36:37,176 Russia continues to pose , mentioning 923 00:36:37,176 --> 00:36:39,398 that the nuclear posture review cancels 924 00:36:39,398 --> 00:36:41,620 the sea launched nuclear cruise missile 925 00:36:41,620 --> 00:36:43,787 that the trump administration pushed . 926 00:36:43,787 --> 00:36:45,898 That doesn't sound like beefing up to 927 00:36:45,898 --> 00:36:48,120 deter against Russia . You're cutting a 928 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:50,287 nuclear weapon . What's the irrational 929 00:36:50,287 --> 00:36:49,690 for that cut ? I'm not going to talk 930 00:36:49,690 --> 00:36:51,634 about the specifics of the nuclear 931 00:36:51,640 --> 00:36:53,418 posture review . That remains a 932 00:36:53,418 --> 00:36:55,584 classified document Tony . So I'm just 933 00:36:55,584 --> 00:36:57,584 not going to go there . But I'm not 934 00:36:57,584 --> 00:37:00,240 gonna go there except to say , look at 935 00:37:00,260 --> 00:37:02,316 look at look at the budget . We just 936 00:37:02,316 --> 00:37:04,427 submitted and look at the billions of 937 00:37:04,427 --> 00:37:06,649 dollars that we committed And more than 938 00:37:06,649 --> 00:37:08,871 30 I think billion dollars just to keep 939 00:37:08,871 --> 00:37:11,038 modernizing the triad . So thank you . 940 00:37:11,130 --> 00:37:13,186 I should have figured you'd have the 941 00:37:13,186 --> 00:37:15,150 exact figure more than me but but 942 00:37:15,630 --> 00:37:17,574 Nevertheless more than $30 billion 943 00:37:17,574 --> 00:37:19,408 dollars to modernize the triad . 944 00:37:19,408 --> 00:37:21,640 Nobody's nobody's sloughing off or , or 945 00:37:21,650 --> 00:37:23,650 taking for granted the fact that we 946 00:37:23,650 --> 00:37:25,510 need a strong strategic nuclear 947 00:37:25,510 --> 00:37:27,510 deterrent and that we're willing to 948 00:37:27,510 --> 00:37:29,566 invest in keeping it strong . Yeah , 949 00:37:29,566 --> 00:37:31,510 joseph and Bush , that ought to be 950 00:37:31,510 --> 00:37:33,980 english . You mentioned china Being the 951 00:37:33,990 --> 00:37:36,240 # one threat . I said china is the 952 00:37:36,240 --> 00:37:38,407 pacing challenge for this department . 953 00:37:38,407 --> 00:37:41,730 Can you talk about any conversations 954 00:37:41,730 --> 00:37:43,730 with chinese counterparts in recent 955 00:37:43,730 --> 00:37:45,952 days here ? And have you seen any signs 956 00:37:45,952 --> 00:37:48,460 or indications that of chinese military 957 00:37:48,460 --> 00:37:50,627 assistance to Russia ? Is that still a 958 00:37:50,627 --> 00:37:52,849 consistency ? No indications of chinese 959 00:37:52,849 --> 00:37:55,071 military assistance to Russia . I don't 960 00:37:55,071 --> 00:37:57,127 have any conversations at the very , 961 00:37:57,127 --> 00:37:59,460 very senior levels of the department to , 962 00:37:59,460 --> 00:38:01,682 to read out . It's , it's like Russia , 963 00:38:01,682 --> 00:38:03,849 it's not like we don't have a military 964 00:38:03,849 --> 00:38:05,793 to military multiple communication 965 00:38:05,793 --> 00:38:07,849 channels to speak with the chinese . 966 00:38:07,849 --> 00:38:09,960 It's not like it's not like there's a 967 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:12,071 blackout there , but I don't have any 968 00:38:12,071 --> 00:38:14,238 conversations at the secretary's level 969 00:38:14,238 --> 00:38:16,293 to , to speak to today Alex , Horton 970 00:38:16,293 --> 00:38:17,293 Washington post . 971 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:22,264 Yeah . Thanks john uh , yeah . And 972 00:38:22,264 --> 00:38:24,431 testimony in the last couple of days , 973 00:38:24,431 --> 00:38:26,431 there was some talk about the , the 974 00:38:26,431 --> 00:38:28,598 intelligence picture on the lead up to 975 00:38:28,598 --> 00:38:28,060 the war and Walters . You know , 976 00:38:28,060 --> 00:38:30,227 suggested that there could have been , 977 00:38:30,227 --> 00:38:32,449 you know , gaps and intelligence , both 978 00:38:32,449 --> 00:38:34,570 underestimating the Ukrainian uh , 979 00:38:34,580 --> 00:38:37,010 fight and overestimated the Russian 980 00:38:37,020 --> 00:38:40,150 ability to win this thing quickly . Um , 981 00:38:40,320 --> 00:38:42,530 have you guys started your postmortem 982 00:38:42,530 --> 00:38:44,697 on that thing . I mean , it definitely 983 00:38:44,697 --> 00:38:46,919 has an end . Once the war started , you 984 00:38:46,919 --> 00:38:49,030 know , you can close the book on it . 985 00:38:49,030 --> 00:38:51,141 So I know it's ongoing , but it seems 986 00:38:51,141 --> 00:38:52,974 like you guys can start doing an 987 00:38:52,974 --> 00:38:55,086 assessment of how , you know , on one 988 00:38:55,086 --> 00:38:57,141 hand , you've gotta very right about 989 00:38:57,141 --> 00:38:59,363 their intent to invade the other hand . 990 00:38:59,363 --> 00:39:01,086 You got it very wrong and your 991 00:39:01,086 --> 00:39:03,308 assessment that , you know , Kiev would 992 00:39:03,308 --> 00:39:05,252 fall within days and the Ukrainian 993 00:39:05,252 --> 00:39:07,530 military would dissolve . Can you look , 994 00:39:07,530 --> 00:39:07,060 I want to make a couple of points here , 995 00:39:07,060 --> 00:39:09,690 Alex , this is not a war the United 996 00:39:09,690 --> 00:39:12,070 States is fighting . So I wouldn't 997 00:39:12,070 --> 00:39:14,070 expect that there'll be some formal 998 00:39:14,070 --> 00:39:16,920 after action . Review the way we are 999 00:39:16,930 --> 00:39:20,090 conducting one , for instance , on uh 1000 00:39:20,100 --> 00:39:22,330 on the last year or so in Afghanistan . 1001 00:39:22,340 --> 00:39:25,840 Um obviously , uh , 1002 00:39:26,020 --> 00:39:28,210 the intelligence community , the 1003 00:39:28,220 --> 00:39:30,790 interagency will , I'm sure informally , 1004 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:32,960 at the appropriate time , take a look 1005 00:39:32,960 --> 00:39:35,260 at what what we have learned by 1006 00:39:35,260 --> 00:39:38,060 watching , uh and uh and seeing how 1007 00:39:38,060 --> 00:39:40,060 Russia has underperformed and how , 1008 00:39:40,220 --> 00:39:42,640 quite frankly , amazingly the 1009 00:39:42,640 --> 00:39:44,990 Ukrainians have have performed . I mean , 1010 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:47,000 obviously , we we all want to learn 1011 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:49,167 from things as we as we see them . And 1012 00:39:49,167 --> 00:39:51,222 we're going to learn from our own um 1013 00:39:51,222 --> 00:39:53,444 our own behaviors here . Our efforts to 1014 00:39:53,444 --> 00:39:55,900 help defend Ukraine or help Ukraine 1015 00:39:55,900 --> 00:39:59,750 defend itself will certainly uh , at 1016 00:39:59,750 --> 00:40:01,861 the appropriate time . Take a look at 1017 00:40:01,861 --> 00:40:04,083 how we performed in that regard . We'll 1018 00:40:04,083 --> 00:40:06,139 certainly at the right time , take a 1019 00:40:06,139 --> 00:40:08,250 look at how hard we worked to bolster 1020 00:40:08,250 --> 00:40:10,139 NATO's eastern flank into Megan's 1021 00:40:10,139 --> 00:40:12,028 question . I'm sure there will be 1022 00:40:12,028 --> 00:40:14,194 lessons , we'll learn there about what 1023 00:40:14,194 --> 00:40:13,410 the posture and you're about to look 1024 00:40:13,410 --> 00:40:15,950 like going forward ? But I think it's 1025 00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:18,110 too early right now Alex to sit down 1026 00:40:18,110 --> 00:40:20,910 and uh , and wring hands over specific 1027 00:40:20,910 --> 00:40:23,243 intelligence assessments . You're right . 1028 00:40:23,243 --> 00:40:26,100 We did say for a long time that that we 1029 00:40:26,100 --> 00:40:28,211 had indications that Russia was gonna 1030 00:40:28,211 --> 00:40:31,490 invade . Um , and um uh , while 1031 00:40:31,490 --> 00:40:33,323 certainly the performance of the 1032 00:40:33,323 --> 00:40:35,434 Ukrainians on the field of battle has 1033 00:40:35,434 --> 00:40:37,340 been amazing and incredible and 1034 00:40:37,340 --> 00:40:39,396 inspiring . It's not , and I've said 1035 00:40:39,396 --> 00:40:41,284 this before , it's not like their 1036 00:40:41,284 --> 00:40:44,810 performance uh , came as a shock to , 1037 00:40:44,820 --> 00:40:46,931 to , to people here at the pentagon . 1038 00:40:46,931 --> 00:40:49,042 It wasn't by accident . I mean we are 1039 00:40:49,042 --> 00:40:51,098 all focused and rightly so right now 1040 00:40:51,098 --> 00:40:53,320 there is there in the middle of a fight 1041 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:55,264 on the security assistance and the 1042 00:40:55,264 --> 00:40:57,320 materials , the weapons systems that 1043 00:40:57,320 --> 00:40:59,376 they still need to have that fight . 1044 00:40:59,376 --> 00:41:01,487 But let's not forget the training and 1045 00:41:01,487 --> 00:41:03,542 the support that we have been giving 1046 00:41:03,542 --> 00:41:03,460 the Ukrainians for the last eight years 1047 00:41:03,460 --> 00:41:05,682 as they've been engaged in a hot war in 1048 00:41:05,682 --> 00:41:07,904 the Donbas . And it's not just us , the 1049 00:41:07,904 --> 00:41:10,071 brits , the Canadians , um , and other 1050 00:41:10,071 --> 00:41:12,127 nations in europe who have also lent 1051 00:41:12,127 --> 00:41:14,349 training support to the Ukrainians . So 1052 00:41:14,349 --> 00:41:16,571 their success on the field of battle is 1053 00:41:16,571 --> 00:41:18,820 not an accident , it's the result of a 1054 00:41:18,820 --> 00:41:20,876 lot of hard work over the last eight 1055 00:41:20,876 --> 00:41:23,900 years , Phil Stewart Rogers that 1056 00:41:23,900 --> 00:41:26,122 upfront ? I mean why didn't that change 1057 00:41:26,122 --> 00:41:28,178 your calculus , that Kiev would fall 1058 00:41:28,178 --> 00:41:29,900 very quickly get into specific 1059 00:41:29,900 --> 00:41:32,880 intelligence assessments over over key 1060 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:34,824 falling or not falling Alex . So I 1061 00:41:34,824 --> 00:41:36,436 don't think we ever publicly 1062 00:41:36,436 --> 00:41:38,547 acknowledged a certain range of dates 1063 00:41:38,547 --> 00:41:41,370 or hours or or or weeks with respect to 1064 00:41:41,370 --> 00:41:43,426 to Ukraine . I understand that there 1065 00:41:43,426 --> 00:41:45,259 are officials out there that are 1066 00:41:45,259 --> 00:41:45,100 talking like that and did talk at the 1067 00:41:45,100 --> 00:41:47,267 time , but there was never an official 1068 00:41:47,267 --> 00:41:49,530 position by the department about about 1069 00:41:49,530 --> 00:41:51,830 how long keith would hold out Phil 1070 00:41:53,610 --> 00:41:55,832 All right , thanks to quick questions . 1071 00:41:55,832 --> 00:41:57,900 One um has there been a date to 1072 00:41:57,900 --> 00:42:00,390 reschedule the I C B M test ? The 1073 00:42:00,390 --> 00:42:03,100 minuteman test ? And secondly , um you 1074 00:42:03,100 --> 00:42:05,267 know , there have been a lot of videos 1075 00:42:05,267 --> 00:42:07,720 out there filmed by Ukraine of Russian 1076 00:42:07,720 --> 00:42:09,910 POWs , have there been any discussions 1077 00:42:09,910 --> 00:42:12,077 between the Pentagon and the Ukrainian 1078 00:42:12,077 --> 00:42:14,132 military about any concerns that the 1079 00:42:14,132 --> 00:42:16,490 pentagon might have about doing that . 1080 00:42:16,500 --> 00:42:20,040 Thanks rescheduled . Um and on look 1081 00:42:20,040 --> 00:42:22,810 on uh on prisoners of wars , I'm not 1082 00:42:22,810 --> 00:42:24,421 going to get into individual 1083 00:42:24,421 --> 00:42:26,440 discussions and conversations with 1084 00:42:26,440 --> 00:42:29,510 Ukrainian leaders over over that issue . 1085 00:42:29,510 --> 00:42:32,920 I would just say that uh that uh 1086 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:35,067 that our expectations and the 1087 00:42:35,067 --> 00:42:37,230 expectations of , of of the 1088 00:42:37,230 --> 00:42:39,300 international community is that that 1089 00:42:39,300 --> 00:42:41,522 all prisoners of war will be treated in 1090 00:42:41,522 --> 00:42:44,370 accordance with uh with inter 1091 00:42:44,370 --> 00:42:46,203 international law and the geneva 1092 00:42:46,203 --> 00:42:48,940 conventions , john is my new york times . 1093 00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:52,600 Neither has the pentagon determined 1094 00:42:52,600 --> 00:42:54,600 what kind of weapon was used in the 1095 00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:56,790 attack on the Mario local theater such 1096 00:42:56,790 --> 00:42:58,623 as like an ice skander ballistic 1097 00:42:58,623 --> 00:43:00,734 missile or a cruise missile ? And can 1098 00:43:00,734 --> 00:43:02,623 you say which airfields , Russian 1099 00:43:02,623 --> 00:43:04,790 warplanes , both their fast movers and 1100 00:43:04,790 --> 00:43:06,568 they're heavy bombers have been 1101 00:43:06,568 --> 00:43:09,100 operating from john I in all honesty , 1102 00:43:09,100 --> 00:43:10,822 I can't answer either of those 1103 00:43:10,822 --> 00:43:12,711 questions . I don't think we have 1104 00:43:12,711 --> 00:43:14,878 details on the theater attack in terms 1105 00:43:14,878 --> 00:43:18,510 of what munitions were applied . And I 1106 00:43:18,520 --> 00:43:20,631 couldn't give you a list of airfields 1107 00:43:20,631 --> 00:43:23,820 here today . I would just say um that 1108 00:43:24,200 --> 00:43:26,670 the vast majority and I mean the vast 1109 00:43:26,670 --> 00:43:29,510 majority of of 1110 00:43:30,500 --> 00:43:33,820 of of air strikes that are being 1111 00:43:33,820 --> 00:43:37,110 conducted in uh Ukraine at least from 1112 00:43:37,120 --> 00:43:40,050 aircraft um are taking off and landing 1113 00:43:40,050 --> 00:43:42,750 in either Russian or Belarusian 1114 00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:44,927 territory . And it's largely Russian . 1115 00:43:44,927 --> 00:43:48,550 Um and uh we they they they they're 1116 00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:50,670 they're returning to uh but largely 1117 00:43:50,680 --> 00:43:54,520 returning to base very very few are 1118 00:43:54,520 --> 00:43:57,770 actually being um launched and 1119 00:43:57,770 --> 00:44:00,810 recovered inside Ukraine . Yeah , I'll 1120 00:44:00,810 --> 00:44:03,040 take one more . And then uh then we're 1121 00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:05,207 going to call it a day . Go ahead . Go 1122 00:44:05,207 --> 00:44:07,410 ahead . Two questions . One 1123 00:44:09,090 --> 00:44:12,300 Ukraine was invaded by one of the most 1124 00:44:12,310 --> 00:44:15,340 powerful nations on the earth . And 1125 00:44:15,340 --> 00:44:18,500 Ukraine is a very tiny nation . The war 1126 00:44:18,500 --> 00:44:21,490 goes on over a month still going on . 1127 00:44:21,650 --> 00:44:23,810 Is there anybody any leader or any 1128 00:44:23,810 --> 00:44:26,032 country or any Prime Minister President 1129 00:44:26,032 --> 00:44:28,930 who can tell Mr Putin to stop killing 1130 00:44:28,940 --> 00:44:30,884 those innocent people because when 1131 00:44:30,884 --> 00:44:33,680 there's a war only innocent people are 1132 00:44:33,680 --> 00:44:35,780 the victims , not politicians , not 1133 00:44:35,780 --> 00:44:38,160 rich and famous . And where do you put 1134 00:44:38,160 --> 00:44:40,500 this war ? As far as Mr Putin's 1135 00:44:40,500 --> 00:44:43,040 invasion or Russia has been invasion of 1136 00:44:43,050 --> 00:44:45,550 Afghanistan And now Ukraine's ? 1137 00:44:46,890 --> 00:44:50,410 Look , I mean I president biden has on 1138 00:44:51,770 --> 00:44:54,080 numerous occasions , I had the 1139 00:44:54,080 --> 00:44:55,913 opportunity to send that message 1140 00:44:55,913 --> 00:44:58,220 directly to Mr Putin . We all have but 1141 00:44:58,220 --> 00:45:02,050 President biden has had that um uh you 1142 00:45:02,050 --> 00:45:03,960 know , certainly warned Mr Putin 1143 00:45:03,960 --> 00:45:07,700 against invading um and uh and made 1144 00:45:07,700 --> 00:45:09,920 good on severe economic consequences 1145 00:45:09,920 --> 00:45:11,753 for the result that he made that 1146 00:45:11,753 --> 00:45:13,753 decision . Other european leaders . 1147 00:45:13,753 --> 00:45:16,031 President Macron example , for example , 1148 00:45:16,031 --> 00:45:18,087 has had recent conversations uh with 1149 00:45:18,087 --> 00:45:20,198 with Vladimir Putin about this . It's 1150 00:45:20,198 --> 00:45:22,780 not like uh the international community 1151 00:45:22,780 --> 00:45:25,040 has not with with with with small 1152 00:45:25,040 --> 00:45:27,610 exceptions has not uh rallied to the 1153 00:45:27,610 --> 00:45:30,630 side of of Ukraine and uh and other 1154 00:45:30,630 --> 00:45:32,741 leaders have tried to to impress upon 1155 00:45:32,741 --> 00:45:36,210 Mr Putin uh to to end this war . And 1156 00:45:36,790 --> 00:45:39,060 I would just add uh we've called it a 1157 00:45:39,060 --> 00:45:41,350 war of choice . It absolutely was he 1158 00:45:41,350 --> 00:45:43,461 had diplomatic options left to him on 1159 00:45:43,461 --> 00:45:45,860 the table before he invaded and as he 1160 00:45:45,860 --> 00:45:48,210 invaded , those options are still there . 1161 00:45:48,220 --> 00:45:50,164 He just has to pursue them in good 1162 00:45:50,164 --> 00:45:52,440 faith . And again , if they're serious 1163 00:45:52,450 --> 00:45:55,220 about de escalation as they claim to be , 1164 00:45:55,230 --> 00:45:57,650 then send those troops home rather than 1165 00:45:57,650 --> 00:46:00,000 into belarus to resupply . Did you have 1166 00:46:00,000 --> 00:46:03,560 anyone more John as far as the United 1167 00:46:03,560 --> 00:46:06,200 Nations is concerned , there are almost 1168 00:46:06,210 --> 00:46:09,350 200 members of the United Nations 1169 00:46:09,420 --> 00:46:12,800 around the globe . Many of them are 1170 00:46:12,810 --> 00:46:16,250 rogue nations still in the what is the 1171 00:46:16,250 --> 00:46:18,417 future of the United Nations and where 1172 00:46:18,417 --> 00:46:20,250 the U . N . Stands as far as the 1173 00:46:20,250 --> 00:46:22,700 invasion of Ukraine by Russia . And 1174 00:46:22,700 --> 00:46:24,533 you've seen the U . N . Security 1175 00:46:24,533 --> 00:46:28,510 Council hold many sessions in just the 1176 00:46:28,510 --> 00:46:30,232 last couple of weeks about the 1177 00:46:30,232 --> 00:46:32,177 situation in Ukraine . In fact , I 1178 00:46:32,177 --> 00:46:34,288 think they just did one the other day 1179 00:46:34,288 --> 00:46:36,454 monday . I believe on the humanitarian 1180 00:46:36,454 --> 00:46:38,510 catastrophe that Mr Putin is causing 1181 00:46:38,510 --> 00:46:40,380 inside Ukraine the U . N . Uh is 1182 00:46:40,380 --> 00:46:42,713 engaged on on this issue as they should . 1183 00:46:42,713 --> 00:46:45,060 Um I can't speak for every nation state 1184 00:46:45,070 --> 00:46:48,970 uh inside the U . N . But again I think 1185 00:46:48,980 --> 00:46:52,570 um obviously not every nation uh 1186 00:46:52,580 --> 00:46:55,000 has taken the same stance on Russia 1187 00:46:55,180 --> 00:46:58,140 that the majority have but the majority 1188 00:46:58,140 --> 00:47:00,480 have and the U . N . Continues to to 1189 00:47:00,480 --> 00:47:02,536 stay engaged on this . Finally , you 1190 00:47:02,536 --> 00:47:05,710 think you're Russia and china should 1191 00:47:05,710 --> 00:47:07,821 remain on the United Nations ? That's 1192 00:47:07,850 --> 00:47:09,906 that's that's not a decision for the 1193 00:47:09,906 --> 00:47:11,794 Department of Defense to make . I 1194 00:47:11,794 --> 00:47:13,683 appreciate the question . Alright 1195 00:47:13,683 --> 00:47:13,660 thanks everybody . Got a call out there .