1 00:00:00,340 --> 00:00:04,200 Hello . Everybody seems a little higher 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,050 then . Oh yeah . What the heck ? 3 00:00:08,740 --> 00:00:11,860 Let's put it Kirby size . There we go . 4 00:00:12,740 --> 00:00:15,310 All right , A couple of things to go 5 00:00:15,310 --> 00:00:17,532 through at the top and uh we'll get out 6 00:00:17,532 --> 00:00:20,240 your questions . Um I think you saw on 7 00:00:20,240 --> 00:00:22,570 friday the department notified Congress 8 00:00:22,580 --> 00:00:24,580 of additional assistance activities 9 00:00:24,580 --> 00:00:26,802 under authority provided by the Ukraine 10 00:00:26,802 --> 00:00:28,969 Security Assistance initiative U . S . 11 00:00:28,969 --> 00:00:31,200 A . I . And under that initiative , D . 12 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:33,760 O . D . Will provide up to $300 million 13 00:00:34,150 --> 00:00:36,039 in security assistance to bolster 14 00:00:36,039 --> 00:00:38,150 Ukraine's capacity to defend itself . 15 00:00:38,150 --> 00:00:40,094 And this of course underscores are 16 00:00:40,094 --> 00:00:41,840 under unwavering commitment to 17 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:43,910 Ukraine's sovereignty uh and their 18 00:00:43,910 --> 00:00:45,966 territorial integrity and support of 19 00:00:45,966 --> 00:00:48,880 their efforts to repel uh the Russian 20 00:00:48,890 --> 00:00:51,430 forces inside their country . Um You've 21 00:00:51,430 --> 00:00:53,597 probably seen if you haven't seen when 22 00:00:53,597 --> 00:00:55,597 you get to the list . I'm not gonna 23 00:00:55,597 --> 00:00:55,460 read it right now . There's a quite 24 00:00:55,460 --> 00:00:57,970 extensive detailed list of what some of 25 00:00:57,970 --> 00:01:00,080 these capabilities are including . 26 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,540 Unmanned aerial systems and some uh 27 00:01:03,550 --> 00:01:06,740 tactical secure communications And 28 00:01:06,740 --> 00:01:09,150 other like capabilities . We've now 29 00:01:09,150 --> 00:01:11,070 committed more than $2.3 billion 30 00:01:11,070 --> 00:01:16,710 1.6 31 00:01:16,710 --> 00:01:19,980 billion since Russia's invasion . 32 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,890 Unlike presidential drawdown , U . S . 33 00:01:23,890 --> 00:01:26,112 A . I . Is an authority under which the 34 00:01:26,112 --> 00:01:28,112 United States procures capabilities 35 00:01:28,112 --> 00:01:30,168 from industry rather than delivering 36 00:01:30,168 --> 00:01:32,279 equipment that is drawn down from our 37 00:01:32,279 --> 00:01:34,612 own stocks . That's the difference here . 38 00:01:34,612 --> 00:01:36,612 So this announcement represents the 39 00:01:36,612 --> 00:01:38,834 beginning of a contracting process that 40 00:01:38,834 --> 00:01:38,420 will provide these new capabilities . I 41 00:01:38,420 --> 00:01:40,642 would I hasten to add that we are going 42 00:01:40,642 --> 00:01:42,864 to expedite that contracting process as 43 00:01:42,864 --> 00:01:44,864 fast as we can . I don't have exact 44 00:01:44,864 --> 00:01:46,976 delivery dates for you or procurement 45 00:01:46,976 --> 00:01:48,920 dates today but rest assured we're 46 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,253 going to be moving it as fast as we can . 47 00:01:51,253 --> 00:01:53,364 Uh The U . S . Also continues to work 48 00:01:53,364 --> 00:01:55,142 with its allies and partners to 49 00:01:55,142 --> 00:01:57,309 identify and provide to the Ukrainians 50 00:01:57,309 --> 00:01:59,198 additional capabilities and we'll 51 00:01:59,198 --> 00:02:01,309 certainly utilize all available tools 52 00:02:01,309 --> 00:02:03,364 to support Ukraine's armed forces as 53 00:02:03,364 --> 00:02:05,309 they as they fight bravely for the 54 00:02:05,309 --> 00:02:07,309 defense of their country . Also , I 55 00:02:07,309 --> 00:02:09,198 think you may have just heard the 56 00:02:09,198 --> 00:02:11,420 national security adviser um just a few 57 00:02:11,420 --> 00:02:13,364 minutes ago say that we are in the 58 00:02:13,364 --> 00:02:15,142 process of the committee , even 59 00:02:15,142 --> 00:02:17,198 additional resources for material to 60 00:02:17,198 --> 00:02:19,309 the Ukrainian military as part of our 61 00:02:19,309 --> 00:02:21,142 ongoing and intensive efforts to 62 00:02:21,142 --> 00:02:23,309 provide them the equipment they need . 63 00:02:23,309 --> 00:02:25,420 So all that's to say is as we've said 64 00:02:25,420 --> 00:02:24,760 many times , we're going to continue to 65 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:26,760 support Ukraine's ability to defend 66 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:28,982 itself . We're going to do that as much 67 00:02:28,982 --> 00:02:31,570 as we can as fast as we can um in 68 00:02:31,570 --> 00:02:34,070 keeping with that today . The Secretary 69 00:02:34,070 --> 00:02:36,126 did speak with Ukrainian Minister of 70 00:02:36,126 --> 00:02:38,440 Defense Alexey Reznikoff to again 71 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:40,440 reaffirm , reaffirm our support for 72 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,590 Ukraine . He reiterated the US 73 00:02:42,590 --> 00:02:44,312 commitment to the provision of 74 00:02:44,312 --> 00:02:47,220 additional defensive assistance to 75 00:02:47,220 --> 00:02:49,510 bolster their capacity And he 76 00:02:49,510 --> 00:02:51,621 highlighted that $300 million dollars 77 00:02:51,740 --> 00:02:53,690 Ukraine's Security assistance 78 00:02:53,920 --> 00:02:56,087 initiative package that we just talked 79 00:02:56,087 --> 00:02:58,740 about . He of course also expressed 80 00:02:58,750 --> 00:03:01,130 outrage at the apparent atrocities that 81 00:03:01,130 --> 00:03:03,186 were committed by Russian forces and 82 00:03:03,186 --> 00:03:05,352 BUCA across Ukraine and reiterated the 83 00:03:05,352 --> 00:03:07,241 US commitment to using every tool 84 00:03:07,241 --> 00:03:09,297 available to help document and share 85 00:03:09,297 --> 00:03:11,130 information in an effort to hold 86 00:03:11,130 --> 00:03:13,297 accountable those responsible . Uh And 87 00:03:13,297 --> 00:03:15,463 of course uh they have stayed in close 88 00:03:15,463 --> 00:03:17,630 contact and they will continue to stay 89 00:03:17,630 --> 00:03:19,741 in close contact on the documents and 90 00:03:19,741 --> 00:03:21,908 evidence front . I want to stress that 91 00:03:21,908 --> 00:03:23,963 this is an administration effort not 92 00:03:23,963 --> 00:03:26,680 not not D . O . D . Specifically that 93 00:03:26,690 --> 00:03:28,801 that we in concert with so many other 94 00:03:28,801 --> 00:03:30,801 nations around the world . We'll do 95 00:03:30,801 --> 00:03:32,912 what we can to make sure that um that 96 00:03:32,912 --> 00:03:35,134 that clear evidence of these war crimes 97 00:03:35,134 --> 00:03:36,968 are documented and preserved for 98 00:03:36,968 --> 00:03:39,079 investigators to to look at . I don't 99 00:03:39,079 --> 00:03:41,190 have anything specific to speak to in 100 00:03:41,190 --> 00:03:43,357 terms of D . O . D . Capabilities with 101 00:03:43,357 --> 00:03:45,468 respect to that collection . But it's 102 00:03:45,468 --> 00:03:47,634 part of an inter agency effort to make 103 00:03:47,634 --> 00:03:49,523 sure that that the war crimes are 104 00:03:49,523 --> 00:03:51,412 properly documented . Um And then 105 00:03:51,412 --> 00:03:53,412 lastly not lastly actually have two 106 00:03:53,412 --> 00:03:55,412 more things um and exercise to talk 107 00:03:55,412 --> 00:03:57,468 about over the weekend . Iceland and 108 00:03:57,468 --> 00:03:59,634 the U . S . Sixth fleet kicked off the 109 00:03:59,634 --> 00:04:01,801 biannual exercise northern viking with 110 00:04:01,801 --> 00:04:03,746 other NATO allies in Iceland . The 111 00:04:03,746 --> 00:04:05,857 exercise will run through the 14th of 112 00:04:05,857 --> 00:04:07,579 april and demonstrates U . S . 113 00:04:07,579 --> 00:04:09,634 Commitment to the defense of Iceland 114 00:04:09,634 --> 00:04:11,468 and the Greenland Iceland United 115 00:04:11,468 --> 00:04:13,634 Kingdom gap as well as the strength of 116 00:04:13,634 --> 00:04:15,840 the 70 plus year defense relationship 117 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,062 between the United States and Iceland . 118 00:04:18,062 --> 00:04:20,118 U . S . Navy and Marine Corps forces 119 00:04:20,118 --> 00:04:22,600 including the USs kearsarge amphibious 120 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:24,267 ready group , the 22nd Marine 121 00:04:24,267 --> 00:04:26,820 expeditionary unit , P eight Maritime 122 00:04:26,820 --> 00:04:29,070 Patrol aircraft from keflavik Air base 123 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:31,910 and the Henry J . Kaiser class underway 124 00:04:31,910 --> 00:04:34,243 replenishment oiler , the U . S . N . S . 125 00:04:34,243 --> 00:04:36,590 Patuxent as well as sailors from Task 126 00:04:36,590 --> 00:04:39,100 Force 68 uh in the Virginia class 127 00:04:39,110 --> 00:04:41,221 attack submarine USs john Warner will 128 00:04:41,221 --> 00:04:45,210 all participate . Uh And 129 00:04:45,210 --> 00:04:47,377 then finally while we're talking about 130 00:04:47,377 --> 00:04:50,060 naval issues on friday , the D . O . D . 131 00:04:50,060 --> 00:04:51,949 Did release its annual freedom of 132 00:04:51,949 --> 00:04:54,227 Navigation report for fiscal year 2021 . 133 00:04:54,227 --> 00:04:56,504 I'll let you go and look at the report . 134 00:04:56,504 --> 00:04:58,393 I won't give you the uh the whole 135 00:04:58,393 --> 00:04:59,893 details but it reports are 136 00:04:59,893 --> 00:05:01,671 comprehensive global freedom of 137 00:05:01,671 --> 00:05:03,504 navigation program that seeks to 138 00:05:03,504 --> 00:05:05,671 challenge excessive maritime claims in 139 00:05:05,671 --> 00:05:07,504 order to preserve the rights and 140 00:05:07,504 --> 00:05:09,338 freedoms and uses of the sea and 141 00:05:09,338 --> 00:05:11,282 airspace guaranteed to all nations 142 00:05:11,282 --> 00:05:13,282 under international law . In fiscal 143 00:05:13,282 --> 00:05:15,338 year 21 U . S . Forces operationally 144 00:05:15,338 --> 00:05:17,227 challenged 37 different excessive 145 00:05:17,227 --> 00:05:19,282 maritime claims made by 26 different 146 00:05:19,282 --> 00:05:21,116 claimants throughout the world , 147 00:05:21,116 --> 00:05:22,782 excessive maritime claims are 148 00:05:22,782 --> 00:05:24,949 inconsistent with international law as 149 00:05:24,949 --> 00:05:24,660 reflected in the law of the sea of 150 00:05:24,660 --> 00:05:26,716 convention and they pose a threat to 151 00:05:26,716 --> 00:05:28,938 the legal foundation of the rules based 152 00:05:28,938 --> 00:05:30,938 international order . And with that 153 00:05:30,938 --> 00:05:32,993 we'll get the question Salida um Jon 154 00:05:32,993 --> 00:05:35,550 did the minister have any specific 155 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:37,893 requests for the secretary this morning ? 156 00:05:37,893 --> 00:05:40,060 Um That could be looked at in terms of 157 00:05:40,060 --> 00:05:42,060 the upcoming packages And then more 158 00:05:42,060 --> 00:05:45,350 broadly , um Jake Sullivan talked today 159 00:05:45,350 --> 00:05:47,517 about this sort of shift of focus that 160 00:05:47,517 --> 00:05:49,628 you all have been talking about for a 161 00:05:49,628 --> 00:05:53,070 while to the east and mentioned the 162 00:05:53,070 --> 00:05:55,810 potential of dozens of battalion 163 00:05:55,820 --> 00:05:58,590 tactical groups moving that way . Has 164 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:02,050 have you seen evidence of 165 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,490 battalion tactical groups actually 166 00:06:04,490 --> 00:06:06,850 moving towards the east at this point ? 167 00:06:06,860 --> 00:06:10,060 Or are they still in that resupply 168 00:06:10,940 --> 00:06:13,370 movement ? Yeah . So on on your first 169 00:06:13,370 --> 00:06:15,630 question , I won't uh we were we put a 170 00:06:15,630 --> 00:06:17,797 readout of the call . I'm not gonna go 171 00:06:17,797 --> 00:06:19,797 any more detail than that . I think 172 00:06:19,797 --> 00:06:21,963 it's safe . You can safely assume that 173 00:06:21,963 --> 00:06:24,186 that every time he has a chance to talk 174 00:06:24,186 --> 00:06:26,241 with Minister Reznikoff , he invites 175 00:06:26,241 --> 00:06:29,140 the Minister to uh to offer whatever 176 00:06:29,150 --> 00:06:31,039 needs he might have . So that's a 177 00:06:31,039 --> 00:06:33,039 routine part of their discussions . 178 00:06:33,039 --> 00:06:35,261 Sometimes he doesn't even need to offer 179 00:06:35,261 --> 00:06:37,317 that Mr Resnick off , of course , uh 180 00:06:37,317 --> 00:06:39,780 mentions in his own right the kinds of 181 00:06:39,780 --> 00:06:41,947 capabilities are looking for . You can 182 00:06:41,947 --> 00:06:45,070 imagine that with Ukraine under attack 183 00:06:45,070 --> 00:06:47,260 the way it is that that those two 184 00:06:47,260 --> 00:06:49,038 leaders would would not miss an 185 00:06:49,038 --> 00:06:51,204 opportunity when they're chatting with 186 00:06:51,204 --> 00:06:52,816 one another to to talk about 187 00:06:52,816 --> 00:06:54,927 requirements and capabilities , but I 188 00:06:54,927 --> 00:06:56,760 won't get into more detail about 189 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:58,927 specifics . Um and then on your second 190 00:06:58,927 --> 00:07:02,670 question , um we do believe that that 191 00:07:02,670 --> 00:07:05,310 the Russian military intends to focus 192 00:07:05,310 --> 00:07:07,421 their efforts on the Donbass area and 193 00:07:07,421 --> 00:07:09,532 the east . We do believe that as they 194 00:07:09,532 --> 00:07:11,588 move forces out of Kiev and Chairman 195 00:07:11,588 --> 00:07:13,643 Heave and places like sumi that they 196 00:07:13,643 --> 00:07:17,030 are going to put these uh units into a 197 00:07:17,030 --> 00:07:20,470 refit regimen so that they can be 198 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,702 resupplied , maybe even reinforced with 199 00:07:22,702 --> 00:07:24,702 manpower and then applied elsewhere 200 00:07:24,702 --> 00:07:26,758 into the country . We think that the 201 00:07:26,758 --> 00:07:28,591 most likely place for them to be 202 00:07:28,591 --> 00:07:30,758 reapplied into the , into the fight in 203 00:07:30,758 --> 00:07:32,813 Ukraine is in the east , in the , in 204 00:07:32,813 --> 00:07:34,536 the Donbass . We have not seen 205 00:07:34,536 --> 00:07:36,536 wholesale movement in that regard . 206 00:07:36,536 --> 00:07:38,800 We're only just now seeing um uh more 207 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,360 movement of forces out of Ukraine and 208 00:07:41,370 --> 00:07:44,220 up into the north . But too soon to say 209 00:07:44,220 --> 00:07:46,510 that we can see any of those battalion 210 00:07:46,510 --> 00:07:48,700 tactical groups being actively 211 00:07:48,700 --> 00:07:51,100 resupplied and then and then reapplied 212 00:07:51,110 --> 00:07:53,110 into the fight . That hasn't really 213 00:07:53,110 --> 00:07:55,940 happened yet . That said , lita , we we 214 00:07:55,940 --> 00:07:57,773 have seen efforts by the Russian 215 00:07:57,773 --> 00:07:59,940 military to get more aggressive and go 216 00:07:59,940 --> 00:08:02,218 more more on the offense in the Donbas . 217 00:08:02,218 --> 00:08:04,329 This is on the ground as they as they 218 00:08:04,329 --> 00:08:06,273 pushed south from that town called 219 00:08:06,273 --> 00:08:08,273 Elysium . Um , and try to close off 220 00:08:08,273 --> 00:08:10,496 Ukrainian armed forces in the Donbas as 221 00:08:10,496 --> 00:08:12,980 they now focus more of their air strike 222 00:08:12,980 --> 00:08:14,980 activity on the Donbas area and the 223 00:08:14,980 --> 00:08:16,869 joint , the J Fo the Joint forces 224 00:08:16,869 --> 00:08:19,630 operations area as they now press the 225 00:08:19,630 --> 00:08:23,390 Wagner group to put the to add to their 226 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:25,630 recruiting totals and then move those 227 00:08:25,630 --> 00:08:28,630 contractors into the Donbas . So we and 228 00:08:28,630 --> 00:08:30,630 certainly we have seen more kinetic 229 00:08:30,630 --> 00:08:32,797 activity , more military operations if 230 00:08:32,797 --> 00:08:34,830 you will in the Donbas . So clearly 231 00:08:34,830 --> 00:08:37,052 they are , they're definitely putting a 232 00:08:37,052 --> 00:08:39,163 priority on that part of Ukraine . Um 233 00:08:39,163 --> 00:08:41,400 we just haven't seen that there's been 234 00:08:41,410 --> 00:08:43,250 out of the forces that are 235 00:08:43,250 --> 00:08:45,580 repositioning out of Kiev and sharing a 236 00:08:45,580 --> 00:08:47,690 heave , We haven't seen them be 237 00:08:47,690 --> 00:08:49,857 reintroduced back into the fight yet , 238 00:08:49,857 --> 00:08:52,050 gen do you have any indication john 239 00:08:52,050 --> 00:08:54,480 that these recent atrocities in BUCA 240 00:08:54,490 --> 00:08:56,870 were carried out by the Wagner group , 241 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,380 the Chechens , the , the mercenary 242 00:08:59,380 --> 00:09:01,436 groups that have been sent in or was 243 00:09:01,436 --> 00:09:03,740 this something that was wide scale , 244 00:09:03,750 --> 00:09:05,990 you know , at the recruit level , the 245 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,222 conscript level that was taking that is 246 00:09:08,222 --> 00:09:10,222 taking place in various cities . We 247 00:09:10,222 --> 00:09:12,333 don't know , we don't , we don't know 248 00:09:12,333 --> 00:09:15,210 exactly who committed these atrocities 249 00:09:15,210 --> 00:09:17,570 or what level or what the chain of 250 00:09:17,570 --> 00:09:19,737 command was . But clearly , you know , 251 00:09:19,737 --> 00:09:22,480 we , we certainly do not refute that 252 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,480 they , that they happened . And you 253 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,591 talk about the difference in the kind 254 00:09:26,591 --> 00:09:29,960 of military aid now going from The 255 00:09:29,970 --> 00:09:32,180 drawdown weapons that are already on 256 00:09:32,210 --> 00:09:34,432 off the shelf weapons that you can send 257 00:09:34,432 --> 00:09:37,100 over . Um , will you ever be going back 258 00:09:37,100 --> 00:09:39,230 to that ? And will there be a gap for 259 00:09:39,230 --> 00:09:41,230 this $300 million dollars since you 260 00:09:41,230 --> 00:09:43,341 have to contract it ? Will there be a 261 00:09:43,341 --> 00:09:45,341 gap in flow of weapons into Ukraine 262 00:09:45,341 --> 00:09:47,397 because of that . We certainly don't 263 00:09:47,397 --> 00:09:47,110 want there to be a gap . That's why 264 00:09:47,110 --> 00:09:48,721 we're going to expedite this 265 00:09:48,721 --> 00:09:50,832 contracting process as fast as we can 266 00:09:50,832 --> 00:09:52,777 so that there is no gap and We are 267 00:09:52,777 --> 00:09:54,777 still delivering on the 800 million 268 00:09:54,777 --> 00:09:56,888 drawdown that the president just most 269 00:09:56,888 --> 00:09:59,610 recently signed out . Um again , uh , 270 00:09:59,620 --> 00:10:02,060 shipments arrived on that drawdown 271 00:10:02,060 --> 00:10:04,060 package even over the course of the 272 00:10:04,060 --> 00:10:05,949 weekend , there'll be another one 273 00:10:05,949 --> 00:10:08,060 arriving in the next 24 hours . We're 274 00:10:08,060 --> 00:10:10,227 prioritizing the kinds of capabilities 275 00:10:10,227 --> 00:10:12,227 in those shipments that we know the 276 00:10:12,227 --> 00:10:14,060 Ukrainians need the most javelin 277 00:10:14,060 --> 00:10:16,220 stingers . Um , uh , UAV . S . So all 278 00:10:16,220 --> 00:10:18,810 that's being prioritized . Our goal is 279 00:10:18,820 --> 00:10:21,110 again , I said it before as fast as we 280 00:10:21,110 --> 00:10:23,277 can as much as we can and just keep it 281 00:10:23,277 --> 00:10:25,443 going to make sure that the Ukrainians 282 00:10:25,443 --> 00:10:27,610 can continue to defend themselves . So 283 00:10:27,610 --> 00:10:29,888 our goal would be no gap on your first , 284 00:10:29,888 --> 00:10:31,888 the first part of your question . I 285 00:10:31,888 --> 00:10:34,110 don't want to get ahead of of the White 286 00:10:34,110 --> 00:10:36,110 House and the President , you heard 287 00:10:36,110 --> 00:10:38,166 jake Sullivan just talk a little bit 288 00:10:38,166 --> 00:10:40,054 ago that there will be additional 289 00:10:40,054 --> 00:10:42,166 assistance to , to speak to in coming 290 00:10:42,166 --> 00:10:44,388 days and I'll just leave it at that out 291 00:10:44,388 --> 00:10:46,499 of drawdown stockpiles and that's why 292 00:10:46,499 --> 00:10:48,388 you're going to this new ? No , I 293 00:10:48,388 --> 00:10:50,499 wouldn't , I wouldn't characterize it 294 00:10:50,499 --> 00:10:52,443 as you know , we're , we're out of 295 00:10:52,443 --> 00:10:52,290 Schlitz on that stuff and now we have 296 00:10:52,290 --> 00:10:54,346 to go to a different route . This is 297 00:10:54,346 --> 00:10:56,457 just another way of getting them some 298 00:10:56,457 --> 00:10:58,457 security assistance . But again , I 299 00:10:58,457 --> 00:11:00,179 don't want to get ahead of the 300 00:11:00,179 --> 00:11:02,346 president or any decisions that , that 301 00:11:02,346 --> 00:11:04,568 they haven't announced yet . Um , thank 302 00:11:04,568 --> 00:11:06,901 you . Just a couple of quick follow ups . 303 00:11:06,901 --> 00:11:09,068 You mentioned that the secretary today 304 00:11:09,068 --> 00:11:11,123 expressed outrage about Luca and his 305 00:11:11,123 --> 00:11:12,901 call with the Ukrainian Defense 306 00:11:12,901 --> 00:11:14,740 Minister . Is there a point in 307 00:11:14,740 --> 00:11:16,990 Secretary Austin's view where this 308 00:11:16,990 --> 00:11:18,990 building feels that there's a moral 309 00:11:18,990 --> 00:11:20,990 obligation to prevent war crimes in 310 00:11:20,990 --> 00:11:23,240 Ukraine . Are you suggesting that , 311 00:11:23,250 --> 00:11:25,640 that we haven't expressed that there's 312 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:28,310 a that there's a moral obligation not 313 00:11:28,310 --> 00:11:30,588 to commit war crimes there or anywhere . 314 00:11:30,588 --> 00:11:32,588 Yes , you feel that there's a moral 315 00:11:32,588 --> 00:11:34,810 obligation to prevent more war crimes . 316 00:11:34,810 --> 00:11:37,170 There there should be no war crimes 317 00:11:37,260 --> 00:11:39,482 there because there should be no war in 318 00:11:39,482 --> 00:11:41,538 Ukraine because Vladimir Putin still 319 00:11:41,538 --> 00:11:43,538 had diplomatic options on the table 320 00:11:43,538 --> 00:11:45,760 when you decided in late february to go 321 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:47,760 ahead and cross over the border and 322 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:49,982 invade a sovereign neighbor neighboring 323 00:11:49,982 --> 00:11:51,704 country . Um and so look , the 324 00:11:51,704 --> 00:11:53,816 international community has spoken on 325 00:11:53,816 --> 00:11:55,927 this . President has spoken on this , 326 00:11:55,927 --> 00:11:57,982 we've spoken on this . Uh We believe 327 00:11:57,982 --> 00:12:00,149 the Russians are committing war crimes 328 00:12:00,149 --> 00:12:02,482 in Ukraine , they need to be documented , 329 00:12:02,482 --> 00:12:04,316 evidence needs to be collected , 330 00:12:04,316 --> 00:12:06,482 investigations need to be completed by 331 00:12:06,482 --> 00:12:08,704 the United States . The United States , 332 00:12:08,704 --> 00:12:08,690 not just the D . O . D . The United 333 00:12:08,690 --> 00:12:10,746 States will be a participant in that 334 00:12:10,746 --> 00:12:13,280 process . and then my second follow is 335 00:12:13,290 --> 00:12:15,460 a senior administration official said 336 00:12:15,460 --> 00:12:18,170 that about 2/3 of the Russian troops 337 00:12:18,170 --> 00:12:20,600 around keith . Um We're repositioning , 338 00:12:20,610 --> 00:12:22,221 you mentioned that about the 339 00:12:22,221 --> 00:12:24,277 potentially refitting and going back 340 00:12:24,277 --> 00:12:26,388 into Ukraine , is there anything that 341 00:12:26,388 --> 00:12:28,840 could be done to prevent these forces 342 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,490 from re entering Ukraine ? Uh If you're 343 00:12:32,490 --> 00:12:34,601 asking is the United States gonna get 344 00:12:34,601 --> 00:12:36,940 militarily involved in the fighting in 345 00:12:36,940 --> 00:12:39,218 Ukraine . The President has been clear , 346 00:12:39,218 --> 00:12:41,440 that's not gonna happen . Um but we are 347 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,420 going to provide every advantage we can 348 00:12:44,420 --> 00:12:46,420 to the Ukrainian military to defend 349 00:12:46,420 --> 00:12:48,531 their territory , their sovereignty , 350 00:12:48,531 --> 00:12:51,130 their citizens there , their towns and 351 00:12:51,130 --> 00:12:54,130 villages . So that support will will go 352 00:12:54,130 --> 00:12:57,920 on now . Uh what what what operations 353 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:00,750 the Ukrainians will undertake inside 354 00:13:00,750 --> 00:13:02,806 their borders to defend themselves . 355 00:13:02,870 --> 00:13:04,926 That's up for them to speak to . Not 356 00:13:04,926 --> 00:13:07,203 for the United States , two quick ones . 357 00:13:07,203 --> 00:13:09,314 So the to jennifer's questions . It's 358 00:13:09,314 --> 00:13:11,481 not that the U . S . Doesn't have some 359 00:13:11,481 --> 00:13:13,759 of these things to provide US military . 360 00:13:13,759 --> 00:13:15,759 That is . But has the US hit like a 361 00:13:15,759 --> 00:13:17,759 threshold in some of these specific 362 00:13:17,759 --> 00:13:20,092 capabilities like javelins and stingers ? 363 00:13:20,092 --> 00:13:22,259 That if the military keeps giving some 364 00:13:22,259 --> 00:13:24,092 from their stocks it degrades us 365 00:13:24,092 --> 00:13:26,314 military readiness . And that's why the 366 00:13:26,314 --> 00:13:28,800 this this next group is going directly 367 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,160 from the defensive that we're that 368 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,610 we're applying Usa Iowa is just another 369 00:13:33,610 --> 00:13:35,443 tool in the toolbox . It doesn't 370 00:13:35,443 --> 00:13:38,450 connote some sort of shortage that 371 00:13:38,460 --> 00:13:41,910 affects U . S . Readiness at this stage . 372 00:13:42,050 --> 00:13:44,950 And then one more um today the State 373 00:13:44,950 --> 00:13:47,006 Department announced that the US was 374 00:13:47,006 --> 00:13:48,839 selling some F . 16 CS and Ds to 375 00:13:48,839 --> 00:13:51,100 Bulgaria . And I'm wondering if that is 376 00:13:51,110 --> 00:13:53,332 a if that is one of these . We've heard 377 00:13:53,332 --> 00:13:55,388 a lot about backfilling so that some 378 00:13:55,388 --> 00:13:57,554 countries could send migs to Ukraine . 379 00:13:57,554 --> 00:13:59,666 Is that this kind of a deal ? I would 380 00:13:59,666 --> 00:14:01,610 not uh refer to it in that in that 381 00:14:01,610 --> 00:14:03,443 capacity . You're not aware that 382 00:14:03,443 --> 00:14:05,554 Bulgaria is gonna send mix so that in 383 00:14:05,554 --> 00:14:05,060 the U . S . I'm not gonna speak for 384 00:14:05,060 --> 00:14:07,116 another nation and I certainly would 385 00:14:07,116 --> 00:14:09,116 leave it to the state department to 386 00:14:09,116 --> 00:14:11,338 talk about foreign military sales . But 387 00:14:11,338 --> 00:14:13,449 I would not draw any conclusions from 388 00:14:13,449 --> 00:14:15,338 that announcement to some sort of 389 00:14:15,338 --> 00:14:17,393 backfill requirement . That would be 390 00:14:17,393 --> 00:14:19,616 that would be a misreading of of what's 391 00:14:19,616 --> 00:14:21,727 happening . So it was it was also the 392 00:14:21,727 --> 00:14:25,680 question I wanted to ask you . But but 393 00:14:25,690 --> 00:14:29,090 Bulgaria has said that they would give 394 00:14:29,110 --> 00:14:32,670 these mix if they had some F 395 00:14:32,670 --> 00:14:36,000 16 as backup . So it's surprising 396 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,760 that just as 397 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,690 Ukraine needs mix 398 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:45,060 us is deciding . 399 00:14:45,570 --> 00:14:49,450 Uh , I don't have any , I don't 400 00:14:49,450 --> 00:14:51,617 have anything more to add on this than 401 00:14:51,617 --> 00:14:53,950 what I did with with with with Courtney . 402 00:14:53,950 --> 00:14:56,172 I'm just gonna leave it at that and I'm 403 00:14:56,172 --> 00:14:58,283 not going to speak for another nation 404 00:14:58,283 --> 00:15:00,394 and what another nation is willing or 405 00:15:00,394 --> 00:15:02,283 able to do in terms of supporting 406 00:15:02,283 --> 00:15:04,506 Ukraine , that's up to them to speak to 407 00:15:04,506 --> 00:15:06,561 Barbara , both you and Jake Sullivan 408 00:15:06,561 --> 00:15:08,728 were very specific this afternoon that 409 00:15:08,728 --> 00:15:10,617 us troops would not be going into 410 00:15:10,617 --> 00:15:12,980 Ukraine to fight Russian soldiers . So 411 00:15:12,990 --> 00:15:16,910 I just want to close the loop on that . 412 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:19,600 You're not going into fight Russian 413 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:23,540 soldiers . But is the door open for 414 00:15:23,550 --> 00:15:26,250 U . S . Troops to go into Ukraine in a 415 00:15:26,260 --> 00:15:29,440 non combat role to assist with 416 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:32,096 if and when it comes to it . And I'm 417 00:15:32,096 --> 00:15:34,260 not speculating the polish initiative 418 00:15:34,740 --> 00:15:37,500 if and when it comes to it to assist in 419 00:15:37,510 --> 00:15:39,566 documentation of war crimes . As you 420 00:15:39,566 --> 00:15:41,930 just said , the pentagon would be part 421 00:15:41,940 --> 00:15:44,920 of the inter agency effort is the door 422 00:15:44,930 --> 00:15:48,260 now open with these new missions to U . 423 00:15:48,260 --> 00:15:50,730 S . Troops . In Ukraine in a non 424 00:15:50,730 --> 00:15:52,897 conference . There are no plans to put 425 00:15:52,897 --> 00:15:55,174 U . S . Troops in Ukraine at this time . 426 00:15:55,174 --> 00:15:57,397 There is no there are no discussions or 427 00:15:57,397 --> 00:16:00,070 conversations or plans or speculations 428 00:16:00,070 --> 00:16:01,959 about using US troops in terms of 429 00:16:02,300 --> 00:16:05,350 documentation of war crimes in Ukraine , 430 00:16:05,530 --> 00:16:07,808 it is still a hot war going on Barbara . 431 00:16:07,808 --> 00:16:11,770 Um and the president has been very 432 00:16:11,770 --> 00:16:13,603 clear U . S . Troops will not be 433 00:16:13,603 --> 00:16:15,714 fighting in Ukraine . There's been no 434 00:16:15,714 --> 00:16:18,220 change to that . And and uh and your 435 00:16:18,230 --> 00:16:20,341 your question was speculative because 436 00:16:20,341 --> 00:16:22,286 you used the word if um there's no 437 00:16:22,286 --> 00:16:25,000 discussion about US troops being 438 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,167 involved in the physical documentation 439 00:16:27,167 --> 00:16:29,690 or collection of evidence really 440 00:16:29,690 --> 00:16:31,801 quickly . Just because you definitely 441 00:16:31,801 --> 00:16:33,857 say boots aren't boots on the ground 442 00:16:33,857 --> 00:16:36,134 are not going to happen . But you know , 443 00:16:36,134 --> 00:16:38,079 the previous administration , when 444 00:16:38,079 --> 00:16:40,301 Syria used chemical weapons against its 445 00:16:40,301 --> 00:16:42,468 citizens launched tomahawks , not from 446 00:16:42,468 --> 00:16:44,690 inside Ukraine . There were no boots on 447 00:16:44,690 --> 00:16:44,080 the ground so to speak that they 448 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,970 launched tomahawks in on um sites that 449 00:16:46,980 --> 00:16:49,240 had chemical weapons to prevent Syria 450 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,518 from using them against their citizens . 451 00:16:51,518 --> 00:16:54,310 Is there any sort of plan in place to 452 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:56,264 kind of prevent war crimes in that 453 00:16:56,264 --> 00:16:58,710 sense ? Without US Boots going , you 454 00:16:58,710 --> 00:17:00,877 know on the ground , the United States 455 00:17:00,877 --> 00:17:03,154 is not going to be fighting in Ukraine . 456 00:17:03,154 --> 00:17:03,000 President biden was very clear about 457 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,167 that . What we are going to do is help 458 00:17:05,167 --> 00:17:07,820 Ukraine defend itself and Ukraine and 459 00:17:07,820 --> 00:17:09,876 Ukrainian armed forces are defending 460 00:17:09,876 --> 00:17:12,460 themselves . David , could you go over 461 00:17:13,220 --> 00:17:16,110 the reinforcements that you know of 462 00:17:16,120 --> 00:17:19,850 that are headed for the East ? Um 463 00:17:20,540 --> 00:17:22,262 I can't remember what's on the 464 00:17:22,262 --> 00:17:24,484 background and what's on the record . I 465 00:17:24,484 --> 00:17:27,330 think it's been said that Um 1000 466 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,100 members from the Wagner Group had been 467 00:17:30,100 --> 00:17:32,750 sent to the Don Boss . I think it's 468 00:17:32,750 --> 00:17:36,140 been said that right , Russia 469 00:17:36,140 --> 00:17:39,570 was preparing to send units from 470 00:17:39,580 --> 00:17:43,120 Georgia . Um and then of course there 471 00:17:43,120 --> 00:17:46,360 are all the the ones in in Belarus . 472 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,760 So what can you tell us about 473 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:53,020 reinforcements that have actually been 474 00:17:53,020 --> 00:17:56,920 sent into the east ? And do you know 475 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:00,030 anything about reports that battalions 476 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:03,670 in Georgia have refused to go ? 477 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,630 Um So we don't have 478 00:18:08,630 --> 00:18:12,460 perfect visibility into the Russian 479 00:18:12,460 --> 00:18:14,571 order of battle , how many , how many 480 00:18:14,571 --> 00:18:16,793 troops they have everywhere ? They have 481 00:18:16,793 --> 00:18:19,410 them , they already have a sizable 482 00:18:19,410 --> 00:18:21,521 number of troops in the Donbas . They 483 00:18:21,521 --> 00:18:23,570 did from the beginning , in fact in 484 00:18:23,570 --> 00:18:25,626 many cases they never left . They've 485 00:18:25,626 --> 00:18:27,737 been fighting there for eight years . 486 00:18:27,737 --> 00:18:29,903 We do have indications that the Wagner 487 00:18:29,903 --> 00:18:32,610 group um is trying to recruit fighters 488 00:18:32,610 --> 00:18:36,050 from uh mostly from the Middle East 489 00:18:36,540 --> 00:18:39,710 um to apply them in the Don Boss . Um 490 00:18:39,710 --> 00:18:41,877 and that is where the Wagner group has 491 00:18:41,877 --> 00:18:44,099 been active for a lot of the last eight 492 00:18:44,099 --> 00:18:46,321 years . So not a big surprise that they 493 00:18:46,321 --> 00:18:48,377 would be focusing on that part of of 494 00:18:48,377 --> 00:18:50,890 Ukraine . Certainly given the Russians 495 00:18:50,890 --> 00:18:53,001 re prioritization of that part of the 496 00:18:53,001 --> 00:18:56,640 country . Um We have also 497 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:59,920 seen indications that that the 498 00:19:00,010 --> 00:19:03,850 Russian Ministry of Defense is looking 499 00:19:03,850 --> 00:19:06,940 for other ways to reinforce their 500 00:19:06,940 --> 00:19:09,250 manpower bringing troops in from other , 501 00:19:09,530 --> 00:19:11,810 from other places outside of Ukraine 502 00:19:11,810 --> 00:19:15,260 and in fact from outside Russia . Um , 503 00:19:15,270 --> 00:19:18,000 but I don't have specific information 504 00:19:18,010 --> 00:19:21,630 that would , that , that 505 00:19:21,650 --> 00:19:24,250 speaks to a certain number or a certain 506 00:19:24,250 --> 00:19:27,980 timeline or even a location . Just 507 00:19:27,980 --> 00:19:30,860 as in my answer to lida . Again , we 508 00:19:30,860 --> 00:19:32,693 don't have perfect thinking into 509 00:19:32,693 --> 00:19:35,340 Russian plans here . It's very clear to 510 00:19:35,340 --> 00:19:37,173 us though , that they do want to 511 00:19:37,173 --> 00:19:39,540 prioritize the Don boss . So logically , 512 00:19:39,540 --> 00:19:41,762 it makes sense that if they're going to 513 00:19:41,762 --> 00:19:43,873 reinforce , that's probably the place 514 00:19:43,873 --> 00:19:45,984 they're going to reinforce the most . 515 00:19:45,984 --> 00:19:47,929 But David , we just , we were just 516 00:19:47,929 --> 00:19:49,707 aren't there yet to uh , to see 517 00:19:49,707 --> 00:19:51,651 anything real demonstrable when it 518 00:19:51,651 --> 00:19:54,360 comes to reinforcement . That said 519 00:19:54,370 --> 00:19:56,770 again , what we have seen is , uh , 520 00:19:56,780 --> 00:19:59,490 more strikes in the Donbass , more 521 00:19:59,490 --> 00:20:01,657 offensive maneuvers by the Russians in 522 00:20:01,657 --> 00:20:03,768 the Donbass . Again , uh , the effort 523 00:20:03,768 --> 00:20:06,320 of putting private military contractors 524 00:20:06,330 --> 00:20:08,330 more , They're , I mean , they're , 525 00:20:08,330 --> 00:20:10,386 they are clearly prioritizing it and 526 00:20:10,386 --> 00:20:12,386 we'll just have to see as this , as 527 00:20:12,386 --> 00:20:14,386 this unveils . And I think I missed 528 00:20:14,386 --> 00:20:16,800 another question . Units in Georgia 529 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:18,856 have refused to go . I have not seen 530 00:20:18,856 --> 00:20:22,290 any evidence of that . Thank you . 531 00:20:22,300 --> 00:20:24,470 Thank you , john , with all the 532 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:27,010 movements you've been watching for the 533 00:20:27,330 --> 00:20:29,640 last couple of days of Russian troops 534 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,810 leaving Kiev region and Tony 535 00:20:34,140 --> 00:20:36,740 more to the north towards belarus . Do 536 00:20:36,740 --> 00:20:39,880 you think of the threat of another . 537 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:42,720 Russian offensive towards Kiev is still 538 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:46,130 there or it hasn't diminished in one 539 00:20:46,130 --> 00:20:48,840 way or the other , I think certainly uh 540 00:20:48,850 --> 00:20:51,840 what we've seen would indicate to us 541 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:55,580 that uh that the Russians 542 00:20:55,580 --> 00:20:57,800 have at least for the time being given 543 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:01,170 up on a ground offensive against Kiev . 544 00:21:01,540 --> 00:21:03,484 But we've kind of been seeing that 545 00:21:03,484 --> 00:21:05,596 unveiled over the last week or so , I 546 00:21:05,596 --> 00:21:07,818 mean they kind of stopped advancing and 547 00:21:07,818 --> 00:21:09,873 started to dig in and have defensive 548 00:21:09,873 --> 00:21:11,762 positions . And then last week we 549 00:21:11,762 --> 00:21:13,873 started to see them sort of move some 550 00:21:13,873 --> 00:21:16,096 of those troops off . We're seeing more 551 00:21:16,096 --> 00:21:18,262 now over the course of the last of the 552 00:21:18,262 --> 00:21:20,262 weekend , we think actually , quite 553 00:21:20,262 --> 00:21:22,373 frankly , a majority of the battalion 554 00:21:22,373 --> 00:21:24,429 tactical groups that they had a raid 555 00:21:24,429 --> 00:21:26,484 against Kiev at least from the north 556 00:21:26,484 --> 00:21:28,596 and northwest have now begin to begun 557 00:21:28,596 --> 00:21:30,890 to , to to move out to to retreat away 558 00:21:30,890 --> 00:21:33,700 from Kiev again , for what we think is 559 00:21:33,710 --> 00:21:35,950 uh refitting resupplying and then 560 00:21:35,950 --> 00:21:39,430 repositioning elsewhere . So right 561 00:21:39,430 --> 00:21:42,060 now , um , it certainly appears as if 562 00:21:42,060 --> 00:21:45,510 the ground threat , the potential 563 00:21:45,510 --> 00:21:48,850 occupation of Kiev has has diminished . 564 00:21:49,740 --> 00:21:51,851 That said , and there's always a that 565 00:21:51,851 --> 00:21:55,630 said , we they can , they 566 00:21:55,630 --> 00:21:57,797 can and have at least in the course of 567 00:21:57,797 --> 00:21:59,797 the last couple of days continue to 568 00:21:59,797 --> 00:22:01,908 strike key from the air . Now again , 569 00:22:01,908 --> 00:22:03,908 we see that prioritization shifting 570 00:22:03,908 --> 00:22:06,460 more to the east , but keith is still 571 00:22:06,460 --> 00:22:08,370 vulnerable to air attacks by the 572 00:22:08,370 --> 00:22:10,314 Russians and because we don't have 573 00:22:10,314 --> 00:22:12,370 perfect visibility into exactly what 574 00:22:12,380 --> 00:22:14,602 their long term plans on here , I don't 575 00:22:14,602 --> 00:22:16,769 think any of us is ready to say , well 576 00:22:16,769 --> 00:22:18,880 the threat to keep is over . Uh and I 577 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:21,102 don't think that I don't even think the 578 00:22:21,102 --> 00:22:23,324 Ukrainians would say that . Um so we're 579 00:22:23,324 --> 00:22:25,491 just gonna watch this as best we can . 580 00:22:25,491 --> 00:22:27,324 Let me go to the phones here . I 581 00:22:27,324 --> 00:22:30,560 haven't done that . Um Phil Stewart 582 00:22:32,140 --> 00:22:34,420 hey there , Jake , Sullivan just spoke 583 00:22:34,420 --> 00:22:36,570 and talked about uh intelligence 584 00:22:36,570 --> 00:22:39,480 agencies collecting evidence of of war 585 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:42,870 crimes in Ukraine . Can you give us any 586 00:22:42,870 --> 00:22:46,220 sense of contributions by D . O . D . 587 00:22:46,230 --> 00:22:48,940 Intel agencies and and separately ? Um 588 00:22:48,950 --> 00:22:51,280 you know , is there any , I know you 589 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,410 said it wasn't clear whether the Wagner 590 00:22:54,410 --> 00:22:56,670 group was responsible but is it is it 591 00:22:56,670 --> 00:22:58,670 clear to the pentagon at this point 592 00:22:58,670 --> 00:23:00,892 that Russian forces are responsible for 593 00:23:00,892 --> 00:23:03,360 what happened in in boca . Thank you . 594 00:23:03,540 --> 00:23:05,762 I think it's fairly obvious not just to 595 00:23:05,762 --> 00:23:07,984 us but to the world that Russian forces 596 00:23:07,984 --> 00:23:10,096 are responsible for the atrocities in 597 00:23:10,096 --> 00:23:12,207 Bhutan . Now , exactly who what units 598 00:23:12,207 --> 00:23:14,540 whether they're contractors or Chechens ? 599 00:23:14,540 --> 00:23:16,651 I don't think we're able to say right 600 00:23:16,651 --> 00:23:18,818 now , but we're certainly not refuting 601 00:23:18,818 --> 00:23:20,596 that that that these atrocities 602 00:23:20,596 --> 00:23:22,762 occurred and that they occurred at the 603 00:23:22,762 --> 00:23:24,873 hands of of Russians . Um and I don't 604 00:23:24,873 --> 00:23:27,040 have anything more in terms of context 605 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:29,151 or color to add the in terms in terms 606 00:23:29,151 --> 00:23:30,929 of our contribution to a larger 607 00:23:30,929 --> 00:23:33,040 interagency and frankly international 608 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:34,984 effort to make sure that these war 609 00:23:34,984 --> 00:23:37,096 crimes are documented the D . O . D . 610 00:23:37,096 --> 00:23:39,207 Will participate as as we can but I'm 611 00:23:39,207 --> 00:23:41,373 not going to get into specific details 612 00:23:41,373 --> 00:23:43,318 of what that's gonna look like And 613 00:23:43,318 --> 00:23:45,540 again . And you heard jake say this not 614 00:23:45,540 --> 00:23:47,484 long ago . I mean all of you , the 615 00:23:47,484 --> 00:23:49,940 global media are are doing a lot of 616 00:23:49,940 --> 00:23:52,600 this documentation as well . Just in 617 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:54,822 terms of the imagery that you're , that 618 00:23:54,822 --> 00:23:56,989 you're seeing that you're reporting on 619 00:23:56,989 --> 00:23:59,044 as you're producing and distributing 620 00:23:59,044 --> 00:24:01,156 all of that will help contribute um , 621 00:24:01,156 --> 00:24:03,267 to the investigative efforts that are 622 00:24:03,267 --> 00:24:04,711 ongoing . Helene cooper . 623 00:24:08,140 --> 00:24:11,860 Hey Kirby thanks . Um , I know you said 624 00:24:11,870 --> 00:24:14,480 just to follow up on Phil's question 625 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,380 that you don't know , you know that you 626 00:24:17,380 --> 00:24:19,540 assume that Russian what happened in 627 00:24:19,540 --> 00:24:22,730 BUCO was at the hands of Russian forces 628 00:24:22,730 --> 00:24:24,786 though . You don't know who but does 629 00:24:24,786 --> 00:24:27,060 the Pentagon have any information about 630 00:24:27,060 --> 00:24:30,370 which Russian military unit was in Buja , 631 00:24:30,380 --> 00:24:32,780 which Russian military unit was 632 00:24:32,790 --> 00:24:35,200 occupying Boucha ? Was it conscripts or 633 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,770 mercenaries ? I actually don't have 634 00:24:37,770 --> 00:24:40,030 that level of detail for you . Helene , 635 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,560 I don't , I don't , I don't have , we 636 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:45,727 don't have the order of battle to that 637 00:24:45,727 --> 00:24:47,893 level of specificity at least . Uh not 638 00:24:47,893 --> 00:24:51,820 not that I'm aware of . Uh , 639 00:24:51,830 --> 00:24:55,160 Howard Altman . Hey john question for 640 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:57,830 you on the concerted effort by the 641 00:24:57,830 --> 00:25:00,490 Russians to strike Ukrainian fuel 642 00:25:00,490 --> 00:25:03,180 supplies ? How long do you think 643 00:25:03,180 --> 00:25:05,900 Ukraine can hold out and continue to 644 00:25:05,900 --> 00:25:09,230 fuel its forces and where do you think 645 00:25:09,230 --> 00:25:11,452 they can store them that they might not 646 00:25:11,452 --> 00:25:13,760 get hit . You know , I don't have a 647 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:15,982 good answer for how long they can their 648 00:25:15,982 --> 00:25:17,927 fuel supplies will will hold out . 649 00:25:17,927 --> 00:25:20,760 Howard . Um the truth is there hasn't , 650 00:25:20,770 --> 00:25:22,992 you know , most of the strikes that the 651 00:25:22,992 --> 00:25:24,881 Russians have conducted have been 652 00:25:24,881 --> 00:25:27,980 against infrastructure , not 653 00:25:27,980 --> 00:25:30,147 necessarily fuel supplies . Now we did 654 00:25:30,147 --> 00:25:34,000 see some um a fuel depot hit 655 00:25:34,010 --> 00:25:37,510 in Odessa over the weekend . Um uh and 656 00:25:37,510 --> 00:25:39,621 I think the Ukrainians have spoken to 657 00:25:39,621 --> 00:25:41,566 the degree to which that that that 658 00:25:41,566 --> 00:25:44,380 depot is now out of commission . Um but 659 00:25:44,380 --> 00:25:46,710 I don't have an assessment for you of 660 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:48,780 of how much has been , how much fuel 661 00:25:48,780 --> 00:25:51,350 has been um taken out of the hands of 662 00:25:51,350 --> 00:25:53,350 the Ukrainians or how long the that 663 00:25:53,350 --> 00:25:55,294 there that that they'll be able to 664 00:25:55,294 --> 00:25:58,720 subsist . Obviously . Um uh we will 665 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:00,442 continue to do the rest of the 666 00:26:00,442 --> 00:26:02,609 international community , will do what 667 00:26:02,609 --> 00:26:04,840 we can to uh to help them sustain 668 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,950 themselves in the fight . Jeff Seigel , 669 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:11,729 thank you . The new york Times is 670 00:26:11,729 --> 00:26:14,420 reporting satellite imagery has shown 671 00:26:14,420 --> 00:26:18,410 for weeks the that people in Buka had 672 00:26:18,410 --> 00:26:20,820 been murdered . I'm wondering can the 673 00:26:20,820 --> 00:26:22,931 Defense Department say whether it has 674 00:26:22,931 --> 00:26:26,020 also seen evidence while the Russians 675 00:26:26,020 --> 00:26:29,820 were still in BUCA about of 676 00:26:29,830 --> 00:26:33,420 uh of dead bodies , mass graves uh that 677 00:26:33,420 --> 00:26:35,780 that proved that the Russians carried 678 00:26:35,780 --> 00:26:38,500 out these executions , Jeff . I I think 679 00:26:38,500 --> 00:26:40,667 I've kind of already talked about this 680 00:26:40,667 --> 00:26:42,889 today . I mean we we certainly uh we've 681 00:26:42,889 --> 00:26:45,056 seen much of the same imagery that you 682 00:26:45,056 --> 00:26:47,167 have , obviously we are in touch with 683 00:26:47,167 --> 00:26:49,278 our Ukrainian counterparts . Uh we're 684 00:26:49,278 --> 00:26:51,500 certainly in no position to refute that 685 00:26:51,500 --> 00:26:53,667 these atrocities occurred um that they 686 00:26:53,667 --> 00:26:55,389 occurred on the scale that the 687 00:26:55,389 --> 00:26:57,500 Ukrainians have said they've occurred 688 00:26:57,500 --> 00:26:59,611 and that Russians are are responsible 689 00:26:59,611 --> 00:27:01,722 for that . And I think I'll just uh I 690 00:27:01,722 --> 00:27:03,556 think I'll just leave it at that 691 00:27:03,556 --> 00:27:05,778 elsewhere in the room louis john I have 692 00:27:05,778 --> 00:27:08,570 two questions . Um Jake Sullivan said 693 00:27:08,580 --> 00:27:10,691 that it appears likely that Russia is 694 00:27:10,691 --> 00:27:13,300 preparing to deploy dozens of battalion 695 00:27:13,300 --> 00:27:15,510 tactical groups . Does Russia have the 696 00:27:15,510 --> 00:27:18,880 capability to redirect dozens of 697 00:27:18,890 --> 00:27:21,223 battalion tactical groups to the Donbas ? 698 00:27:21,223 --> 00:27:24,250 Yes . And where did those come from ? I 699 00:27:24,250 --> 00:27:26,417 know it's pretty standard that they're 700 00:27:26,417 --> 00:27:28,528 going into belarus but I mean at what 701 00:27:28,528 --> 00:27:30,750 point do they become battalion tactical 702 00:27:30,750 --> 00:27:33,970 groups again some some some of those 703 00:27:33,970 --> 00:27:37,740 units are um are nowhere 704 00:27:37,740 --> 00:27:39,851 near the original strength because of 705 00:27:39,851 --> 00:27:43,450 casualties and surrenders . Um 706 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:45,840 uh Some of them are in better shape 707 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:47,910 than others . Um In terms of manning 708 00:27:47,910 --> 00:27:51,400 and quite frankly uh systems , 709 00:27:51,410 --> 00:27:53,950 weapons equipment vehicles . 710 00:27:54,940 --> 00:27:57,440 Um I can't speak for how the Russians 711 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,950 are gonna reorganize or refit . Right . 712 00:27:59,960 --> 00:28:02,600 I mean they could they could take the 713 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:04,767 remnants of two or three B . T . G . S 714 00:28:04,767 --> 00:28:06,989 and make a new one if they wanted to or 715 00:28:06,989 --> 00:28:09,211 they could just keep the original three 716 00:28:09,211 --> 00:28:11,378 and reinforce them with new people and 717 00:28:11,378 --> 00:28:13,433 new stuff . Uh We just don't we just 718 00:28:13,433 --> 00:28:16,680 don't know . But we we do believe uh 719 00:28:16,690 --> 00:28:19,020 that as they go back across the border 720 00:28:19,020 --> 00:28:21,020 whether it's belarus or into Russia 721 00:28:21,020 --> 00:28:23,242 that they will find a way to refit them 722 00:28:23,242 --> 00:28:25,550 resupply them and then reapply them 723 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:27,504 into the fight . We think the most 724 00:28:27,504 --> 00:28:29,616 logical place for that given what the 725 00:28:29,616 --> 00:28:32,000 Russians have so far shown that they're 726 00:28:32,010 --> 00:28:34,121 they're willing to do with respect to 727 00:28:34,121 --> 00:28:36,343 prioritizing the Donbas that that would 728 00:28:36,343 --> 00:28:38,121 be the place . But I couldn't I 729 00:28:38,121 --> 00:28:40,420 couldn't give you an example of of uh 730 00:28:40,430 --> 00:28:42,486 of each battalion tactical group and 731 00:28:42,486 --> 00:28:44,597 whether or not it's going to remain a 732 00:28:44,597 --> 00:28:46,819 whole unit going forward or be combined 733 00:28:46,819 --> 00:28:49,440 with with others . But just in terms of 734 00:28:49,450 --> 00:28:52,430 sheer manpower that they have still 735 00:28:52,430 --> 00:28:54,470 available to them , it's it's very 736 00:28:54,470 --> 00:28:57,670 possible uh that what Mr Sullivan said 737 00:28:57,670 --> 00:28:59,837 is accurate that it could be dozens of 738 00:28:59,837 --> 00:29:02,003 B . T . G . S . We just don't know and 739 00:29:02,003 --> 00:29:04,170 we're just gonna have to watch this as 740 00:29:04,170 --> 00:29:06,114 it uh and monitor in real time and 741 00:29:06,114 --> 00:29:08,281 we'll obviously keep us apprised as we 742 00:29:08,281 --> 00:29:10,392 as we can in terms of what we know we 743 00:29:10,392 --> 00:29:12,392 do think they're going to put a lot 744 00:29:12,392 --> 00:29:14,559 more effort into the Donbas region and 745 00:29:14,559 --> 00:29:16,726 it's not just manpower . I know that's 746 00:29:16,726 --> 00:29:18,837 the focus today . I get that but it's 747 00:29:18,837 --> 00:29:20,892 it's about where the air strikes are 748 00:29:20,892 --> 00:29:23,003 going to go and uh it's about the the 749 00:29:23,003 --> 00:29:24,892 priority of ground operations and 750 00:29:24,892 --> 00:29:26,892 maneuver and artillery . One of the 751 00:29:26,892 --> 00:29:28,892 things we've been seeing is as they 752 00:29:28,892 --> 00:29:31,030 come south out of Islam . Um they're 753 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:33,151 they're trying to focus that southern 754 00:29:33,151 --> 00:29:35,096 push more on the ability to to use 755 00:29:35,096 --> 00:29:37,360 artillery in the Donbass . So again 756 00:29:37,370 --> 00:29:39,740 we'll we'll we'll have to watch this as 757 00:29:39,740 --> 00:29:41,851 closely as we can going forward , but 758 00:29:41,851 --> 00:29:44,018 it's just not perfect . It's not we're 759 00:29:44,018 --> 00:29:46,129 not able to perfectly predict exactly 760 00:29:46,129 --> 00:29:48,462 how they're going to reform their units . 761 00:29:48,462 --> 00:29:48,350 And the other point was that Mr 762 00:29:48,350 --> 00:29:52,180 Sullivan kept describing the 763 00:29:52,190 --> 00:29:54,990 Russian movement as a retreat . Um is 764 00:29:54,990 --> 00:29:57,212 that an accurate assessment of what the 765 00:29:57,212 --> 00:29:59,323 Russians are saying ? He he described 766 00:29:59,323 --> 00:30:01,434 it as a common sense description that 767 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:03,807 they had gone in there , pill mill and 768 00:30:03,807 --> 00:30:05,862 now they have been failed and it had 769 00:30:05,862 --> 00:30:08,029 been beaten backwards and so therefore 770 00:30:08,029 --> 00:30:10,029 they're retreating . I think that's 771 00:30:10,029 --> 00:30:12,029 that's accurate , particularly what 772 00:30:12,029 --> 00:30:14,029 we've been seeing over the the last 773 00:30:14,029 --> 00:30:16,360 several days . Um uh you know , late 774 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:18,360 last week , we've only seen a small 775 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:22,230 number of Russian units begin to 776 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:25,340 uh to move back from from Kiev and 777 00:30:25,340 --> 00:30:27,618 we've seen that number increased . Now , 778 00:30:27,618 --> 00:30:29,618 we think it's the majority now have 779 00:30:29,618 --> 00:30:31,729 begin to to move out of Kiev . And as 780 00:30:31,729 --> 00:30:33,951 they're moving out , the Ukrainians are 781 00:30:33,951 --> 00:30:35,840 attacking them . Um And I'm not a 782 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:39,080 military strategists or or historian , 783 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:41,247 but my understanding of the retreat is 784 00:30:41,247 --> 00:30:43,136 that you're moving back as you're 785 00:30:43,136 --> 00:30:45,247 getting pushed back and that's what's 786 00:30:45,247 --> 00:30:47,413 happening . Yeah , so I think that's a 787 00:30:47,413 --> 00:30:47,190 very accurate description of what's 788 00:30:47,190 --> 00:30:50,130 going on , but he also said , and and 789 00:30:50,140 --> 00:30:52,362 and the and this matters just as much , 790 00:30:52,362 --> 00:30:54,880 if not more what we've been saying here 791 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:56,991 that they will expect . They're gonna 792 00:30:56,991 --> 00:30:59,970 reposition into belarus to Russia refit 793 00:30:59,970 --> 00:31:02,060 resupply and then push those troops 794 00:31:02,060 --> 00:31:04,490 back in , we don't believe that this is 795 00:31:04,490 --> 00:31:08,470 a a complete withdrawal from 796 00:31:08,470 --> 00:31:10,470 the war effort . These guys are not 797 00:31:10,470 --> 00:31:12,637 going home I guess is the main point . 798 00:31:12,637 --> 00:31:14,748 Yeah . They're retreating out of Kiev 799 00:31:14,748 --> 00:31:16,970 um but they're not being sent home . We 800 00:31:16,970 --> 00:31:19,750 we see no indication of that . Yeah , 801 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:22,820 real . Thank you . I want to ask you 802 00:31:22,820 --> 00:31:25,610 about India's purchase of S- 400 803 00:31:25,620 --> 00:31:27,842 missile defense system from last year . 804 00:31:27,842 --> 00:31:31,090 Is there any changes in the US position 805 00:31:31,100 --> 00:31:33,750 on the acquisition of such systems and 806 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:35,940 is providing administration open to 807 00:31:35,940 --> 00:31:38,310 sanctioning India if India 808 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:41,250 operationalize is S- 400 system . I 809 00:31:41,260 --> 00:31:43,482 don't have anything on the sanctions to 810 00:31:43,482 --> 00:31:45,649 talk to you . We we've been very clear 811 00:31:45,649 --> 00:31:48,260 uh with our indian partners about our 812 00:31:48,260 --> 00:31:50,482 concerns over this uh this purchase and 813 00:31:50,482 --> 00:31:52,593 encouraging them as we encourage many 814 00:31:52,593 --> 00:31:54,370 others not to purchase Russian 815 00:31:54,380 --> 00:31:57,870 equipment . Um and um we remain 816 00:31:57,870 --> 00:32:00,690 encouraged by uh India's continued 817 00:32:00,690 --> 00:32:03,560 diversification of of their defense 818 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:05,671 equipment over just the past decade . 819 00:32:05,671 --> 00:32:08,870 So uh we'll uh we'll we'll continue to 820 00:32:08,870 --> 00:32:11,203 have that conversation with the indians . 821 00:32:11,550 --> 00:32:13,850 So do you think purchasing such a 822 00:32:13,860 --> 00:32:16,140 sophisticated defense system from last 823 00:32:16,140 --> 00:32:19,060 year is consistent with quality , 824 00:32:19,070 --> 00:32:21,930 basic principles and objectives or 825 00:32:21,930 --> 00:32:25,210 maintaining rule based owner order ? I 826 00:32:25,220 --> 00:32:27,387 think I think we've made it very clear 827 00:32:27,387 --> 00:32:29,553 to the indians are concerns about this 828 00:32:29,553 --> 00:32:31,664 particular purchase . We've been very 829 00:32:31,664 --> 00:32:33,609 clear about that . Okay , one more 830 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,880 Questions . one You have been of course 831 00:32:36,890 --> 00:32:40,750 Sullivan as well that NATO has not been 832 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:43,240 so united in recent memory after the 833 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:46,910 invasion of Ukraine by the Russia . But 834 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:50,580 we start to hear some some um 835 00:32:50,590 --> 00:32:52,800 types of push backs from Germans and 836 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:54,960 some allies about sanctioning Russian 837 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:57,071 gas . And then we start to some types 838 00:32:57,071 --> 00:32:59,850 of slowdown among the United Allies 839 00:32:59,850 --> 00:33:03,710 providing aid to Ukraine while the 840 00:33:03,710 --> 00:33:06,120 US continue to do that . Do you think 841 00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:10,120 that the the sense of unity 842 00:33:10,130 --> 00:33:13,660 in NATO is getting weaker as they go by ? 843 00:33:14,740 --> 00:33:18,500 No . No . And 844 00:33:18,510 --> 00:33:21,930 then the other thing on an indian 845 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:24,951 India's purchase of S- 400 , you said 846 00:33:24,951 --> 00:33:28,330 that ? Well you are encouraged by 847 00:33:28,410 --> 00:33:31,070 India's efforts to diversification of 848 00:33:31,070 --> 00:33:34,560 its military or defense articles . 849 00:33:35,210 --> 00:33:37,488 The same case was also true for Turkey . 850 00:33:37,488 --> 00:33:40,090 Turkey was also trying to diversify its 851 00:33:40,540 --> 00:33:43,540 defense capabilities and they purchased 852 00:33:43,540 --> 00:33:46,390 of course as 400 we expressed the same 853 00:33:46,390 --> 00:33:48,557 concerns to them and that's why we had 854 00:33:48,557 --> 00:33:50,723 to make a decision on the F 35 because 855 00:33:50,723 --> 00:33:52,850 we believe that that That capability 856 00:33:52,850 --> 00:33:54,628 that air defense capability was 857 00:33:54,628 --> 00:33:56,683 fundamentally incompatible with them 858 00:33:56,683 --> 00:33:58,739 also having F 35 and we would not we 859 00:33:58,739 --> 00:34:00,961 were very clear with our Turkish allies 860 00:34:00,961 --> 00:34:03,770 as well . Okay . Thanks everybody . Mhm .