1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,333 everybody a couple of things at the top . 2 00:00:03,340 --> 00:00:07,270 Um I think you saw yesterday 3 00:00:07,270 --> 00:00:09,326 just to recap Secretary had a chance 4 00:00:09,326 --> 00:00:12,160 over vtc to speak with the Ukrainian 5 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:14,896 troops that were still in the states 6 00:00:14,896 --> 00:00:17,062 completing their training right before 7 00:00:17,062 --> 00:00:20,410 they went back to to Ukraine . He had a 8 00:00:20,410 --> 00:00:22,910 chance to thank them for their service 9 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:25,930 to their country and um to wish them 10 00:00:25,930 --> 00:00:27,920 the very best as they went back in 11 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,920 defense of that country . Um and uh and 12 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,198 it was a good , it was a good exchange . 13 00:00:33,198 --> 00:00:35,364 Um speaking of exchanges , I think you 14 00:00:35,364 --> 00:00:37,531 saw this morning , the Secretary had a 15 00:00:37,531 --> 00:00:39,990 chance to meet bilaterally with the 16 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,360 Minister of Defense of India . Uh 17 00:00:42,370 --> 00:00:45,300 Minister Singh uh change of views as 18 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:47,530 you might expect on a range of regional 19 00:00:47,530 --> 00:00:50,160 security priorities . Quite frankly , 20 00:00:50,940 --> 00:00:53,107 everything from what's going on in the 21 00:00:53,107 --> 00:00:55,273 indian ocean to the east and southeast 22 00:00:55,273 --> 00:00:57,384 Asia all the way to europe . It was a 23 00:00:57,384 --> 00:00:59,607 good discussion and a good precursor to 24 00:00:59,607 --> 00:01:01,773 the two plus two ministerial , but the 25 00:01:01,773 --> 00:01:03,607 secretary will be attending this 26 00:01:03,607 --> 00:01:05,773 afternoon over at the State Department 27 00:01:05,773 --> 00:01:07,940 with Secretary Blinken . There'll be a 28 00:01:07,940 --> 00:01:07,140 press conference at the end of that . 29 00:01:07,140 --> 00:01:09,670 So I'm sure each each of the ministers 30 00:01:09,670 --> 00:01:11,892 will have a chance to to to talk to the 31 00:01:11,892 --> 00:01:14,490 press about about that , that that 32 00:01:14,490 --> 00:01:16,490 discussion and uh and progress that 33 00:01:16,490 --> 00:01:18,840 we're making in deepening our bilateral 34 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,062 relationship with India and here at the 35 00:01:21,062 --> 00:01:22,951 pentagon focusing on this defense 36 00:01:22,951 --> 00:01:25,570 partnership with with India . Finally , 37 00:01:25,570 --> 00:01:27,750 in some personnel news , we're excited 38 00:01:27,750 --> 00:01:30,760 to welcome Miss Rebecca Hersman , I 39 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:32,927 think she's a familiar name to many of 40 00:01:32,927 --> 00:01:35,038 you . She's coming in as the director 41 00:01:35,038 --> 00:01:37,316 of the defense threat reduction agency , 42 00:01:37,316 --> 00:01:39,427 otherwise known as detras de ti are a 43 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,410 um , as you know , she has previously 44 00:01:42,410 --> 00:01:44,132 served as the Deputy Assistant 45 00:01:44,132 --> 00:01:46,132 Secretary of Defense for countering 46 00:01:46,132 --> 00:01:48,188 weapons of mass destruction . And of 47 00:01:48,188 --> 00:01:50,410 course we owe our thanks to Dr Williams 48 00:01:50,410 --> 00:01:52,410 who has been the acting director of 49 00:01:52,410 --> 00:01:54,466 Detroit now for the past 15 months . 50 00:01:54,466 --> 00:01:56,577 And we're certainly welcome . Glad to 51 00:01:56,577 --> 00:01:58,910 welcome MS Hersman back to the Pentagon . 52 00:01:58,910 --> 00:02:01,077 Also have a personal announcement here 53 00:02:01,077 --> 00:02:03,132 in public affairs today . We welcome 54 00:02:03,132 --> 00:02:05,299 Miss Sabrina Singh who came over to us 55 00:02:05,299 --> 00:02:07,354 from her duties at the White House . 56 00:02:07,354 --> 00:02:09,410 She'll be taking over a new position 57 00:02:09,410 --> 00:02:11,299 here in OsD Public Affairs called 58 00:02:11,299 --> 00:02:13,243 Integrated Campaigns . She's gonna 59 00:02:13,243 --> 00:02:15,466 basically be helping us do a better job 60 00:02:15,466 --> 00:02:17,688 of stitching together all the different 61 00:02:17,688 --> 00:02:19,410 vehicles that are that we have 62 00:02:19,410 --> 00:02:21,521 available to us and communicating and 63 00:02:21,521 --> 00:02:23,410 making sure we're doing that more 64 00:02:23,410 --> 00:02:25,577 effectively and more efficiently . And 65 00:02:25,577 --> 00:02:27,688 we're really , really glad to get her 66 00:02:27,688 --> 00:02:27,220 here . We've been working for weeks to 67 00:02:27,230 --> 00:02:29,350 uh to to bring her on board And we're 68 00:02:29,350 --> 00:02:31,406 really excited to have her here . So 69 00:02:31,406 --> 00:02:33,810 with that bob , thank you , john upon 70 00:02:33,810 --> 00:02:37,270 Ukraine , can you describe the extent 71 00:02:37,270 --> 00:02:39,810 to which you are seeing the Russians 72 00:02:39,810 --> 00:02:42,950 shifting there , their forces from the 73 00:02:42,950 --> 00:02:46,750 north to the east . And um , and also 74 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:49,329 to what extent are you seeing any 75 00:02:49,329 --> 00:02:50,884 evidence that they are more 76 00:02:50,884 --> 00:02:53,051 aggressively going after Ukrainian air 77 00:02:53,051 --> 00:02:55,710 defenses in recent days . Yeah . So 78 00:02:55,710 --> 00:02:57,710 again with the caveat that we don't 79 00:02:57,710 --> 00:02:59,932 have perfect visibility into everything 80 00:02:59,932 --> 00:02:59,910 that the Russians are doing . We have 81 00:02:59,910 --> 00:03:02,630 seen some early indications that um , 82 00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:05,460 that they continue to flow the forces 83 00:03:05,460 --> 00:03:07,571 that they had in the north of Ukraine 84 00:03:07,571 --> 00:03:09,950 around Kiev , particularly in chair and 85 00:03:09,950 --> 00:03:12,400 heave , moving them north into Belarus . 86 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,456 And then , and we're starting to see 87 00:03:14,456 --> 00:03:16,622 early indications of movement eastward 88 00:03:16,622 --> 00:03:19,810 now back into Russia . We still believe 89 00:03:19,810 --> 00:03:21,921 that the goal here for them . So they 90 00:03:21,921 --> 00:03:24,032 have none of those battalion tactical 91 00:03:24,032 --> 00:03:26,610 groups that were arrayed in the north 92 00:03:26,620 --> 00:03:29,010 are now in Ukraine . Our view , our 93 00:03:29,010 --> 00:03:31,121 view , our assessment is that they're 94 00:03:31,121 --> 00:03:33,288 they've all left and they're beginning 95 00:03:33,288 --> 00:03:36,090 this uh effort to move them further to 96 00:03:36,090 --> 00:03:38,940 the east . We think we think that 97 00:03:38,940 --> 00:03:41,690 they're gonna use places like Belgorod 98 00:03:41,700 --> 00:03:45,240 um , uh , and uh value key uses to the 99 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,560 north of the border with Ukraine as 100 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,380 refit stations as way stations for them 101 00:03:50,380 --> 00:03:53,960 to resupply . We have we have seen 102 00:03:53,970 --> 00:03:56,810 we have seen some early indications bob 103 00:03:56,810 --> 00:03:58,840 that that they are in fact , the 104 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:02,830 Russians are in fact trying to resupply 105 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:04,784 and reinforce their efforts in the 106 00:04:04,784 --> 00:04:07,007 Donbas . I think you guys have all seen 107 00:04:07,007 --> 00:04:09,173 imagery , I've seen it in some of your 108 00:04:09,173 --> 00:04:11,110 outlets of yet another convoy of 109 00:04:11,110 --> 00:04:14,330 vehicles that are heading south towards 110 00:04:14,340 --> 00:04:16,770 that town of Elysium . We believe that 111 00:04:16,780 --> 00:04:19,270 these are these are the early stages of 112 00:04:19,280 --> 00:04:21,447 a reinforcement effort by the Russians 113 00:04:21,447 --> 00:04:23,910 in the Donbas ? It's not clear to us 114 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,280 how many vehicles are in this convoy , 115 00:04:26,290 --> 00:04:28,512 what exactly they're bringing . It does 116 00:04:28,512 --> 00:04:31,310 seem to be a mix of of personnel 117 00:04:31,310 --> 00:04:33,700 carrying vehicles as well as armored 118 00:04:33,700 --> 00:04:35,700 vehicles and maybe some artillery , 119 00:04:35,700 --> 00:04:38,860 maybe some uh some some enabling 120 00:04:38,860 --> 00:04:41,390 capabilities . Um not exactly clear , 121 00:04:41,390 --> 00:04:43,279 but this does seem to be an early 122 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:45,168 effort by them to reinforce their 123 00:04:45,168 --> 00:04:47,112 efforts in the down bus on the air 124 00:04:47,112 --> 00:04:50,010 defense . So well , I mean , um again , 125 00:04:50,010 --> 00:04:52,180 without getting into Russian targeting 126 00:04:52,190 --> 00:04:53,857 because we don't have perfect 127 00:04:53,857 --> 00:04:56,720 visibility on that . Uh we have seen 128 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:00,330 the Russians hit airfields 129 00:05:00,340 --> 00:05:02,400 uh in the last couple of weeks , 130 00:05:02,410 --> 00:05:06,030 including one near Dnipro just 131 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,270 over the last day or so . Um what 132 00:05:09,270 --> 00:05:11,214 exactly they're targeting at those 133 00:05:11,214 --> 00:05:13,390 fields is not perfectly clear to us . 134 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:17,280 Um but but we uh I would just 135 00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:19,447 say this about Ukrainian air defense , 136 00:05:19,447 --> 00:05:22,070 they still have a lot of their air 137 00:05:22,070 --> 00:05:24,237 defense capability available to them . 138 00:05:24,237 --> 00:05:26,490 They , as you know , have been asking 139 00:05:26,490 --> 00:05:29,170 for more . And so we are working with 140 00:05:29,170 --> 00:05:32,360 allies and partners to help to help get 141 00:05:32,900 --> 00:05:35,250 long range air defense systems into 142 00:05:35,250 --> 00:05:37,890 Ukraine . And we're secretary is 143 00:05:37,890 --> 00:05:40,223 working this personally , quite frankly , 144 00:05:40,223 --> 00:05:42,446 working with allies and partners to see 145 00:05:42,446 --> 00:05:44,668 uh what they can do . We want to try to 146 00:05:44,668 --> 00:05:46,890 get them long range air defense systems 147 00:05:46,890 --> 00:05:48,946 that we know they know how to use um 148 00:05:48,946 --> 00:05:51,112 and can put it into uh into employment 149 00:05:51,112 --> 00:05:54,690 fairly quickly . The Ukrainians uh 150 00:05:54,700 --> 00:05:56,644 again , without getting into their 151 00:05:56,644 --> 00:05:59,220 order of battle , they clearly value 152 00:05:59,230 --> 00:06:01,397 their short and long range air defense 153 00:06:01,397 --> 00:06:04,280 for good reason . Um and and they're 154 00:06:04,280 --> 00:06:06,447 doing a very effective job of using it 155 00:06:06,447 --> 00:06:08,391 and marshaling those resources and 156 00:06:08,391 --> 00:06:10,724 doing the best they can to protect them . 157 00:06:10,724 --> 00:06:12,724 Obviously address questions earlier 158 00:06:12,724 --> 00:06:14,947 today , President Zelensky talked about 159 00:06:14,947 --> 00:06:16,891 what he said was the death toll in 160 00:06:16,891 --> 00:06:19,169 Mario pool . He said tens of thousands . 161 00:06:19,169 --> 00:06:21,336 I know you don't go into numbers , but 162 00:06:21,336 --> 00:06:23,280 is that scale sound plausible ? It 163 00:06:23,280 --> 00:06:25,391 could be address , we don't know . Um 164 00:06:25,391 --> 00:06:27,336 and I don't think anybody's really 165 00:06:27,336 --> 00:06:29,502 gonna know until Ukrainian authorities 166 00:06:29,502 --> 00:06:32,590 are able to get in there and and and 167 00:06:32,590 --> 00:06:34,646 look and see it's still being fought 168 00:06:34,646 --> 00:06:37,900 over . Uh so it's still contested , 169 00:06:37,910 --> 00:06:40,780 it's still contested territory . But if 170 00:06:40,780 --> 00:06:42,836 you just look at the imagery and you 171 00:06:42,836 --> 00:06:45,002 see how much the Russians have pounded 172 00:06:45,002 --> 00:06:48,050 Mario opal from the air . Um it's 173 00:06:48,060 --> 00:06:50,330 inconceivable to imagine that there 174 00:06:50,340 --> 00:06:52,800 aren't going to be civilian casualties 175 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:54,744 and that it could be a significant 176 00:06:54,744 --> 00:06:57,890 number , but I think we just needed not 177 00:06:57,900 --> 00:06:59,956 be jumping to conclusions here while 178 00:06:59,956 --> 00:07:02,067 the city is still being fought over . 179 00:07:02,067 --> 00:07:04,178 And secondly , jake Sullivan over the 180 00:07:04,178 --> 00:07:06,233 weekend talked about the new Russian 181 00:07:06,233 --> 00:07:08,344 general sort of lead the war effort . 182 00:07:08,344 --> 00:07:10,067 Is that in any way a sign that 183 00:07:10,067 --> 00:07:12,233 President Putin has accepted that it's 184 00:07:12,233 --> 00:07:14,344 not going well and he sort of sort of 185 00:07:14,344 --> 00:07:16,456 needs to readjust in some way , shape 186 00:07:16,456 --> 00:07:18,622 or form , I don't think Mr Putin needs 187 00:07:18,622 --> 00:07:20,678 many signs that it hasn't been going 188 00:07:20,678 --> 00:07:22,789 well for him in Ukraine . I mean uh , 189 00:07:22,789 --> 00:07:26,570 here we are day 46 . And uh and again , 190 00:07:26,580 --> 00:07:29,060 you know , he failed to achieve so many 191 00:07:29,060 --> 00:07:31,170 of his geographic and strategic 192 00:07:31,170 --> 00:07:33,390 objectives inside Ukraine . So they're 193 00:07:33,390 --> 00:07:35,501 repositioning , they're refocusing on 194 00:07:35,501 --> 00:07:38,830 the Donbass . Um uh I'll let them speak 195 00:07:38,830 --> 00:07:42,660 to their personnel announcements , but 196 00:07:44,830 --> 00:07:47,052 it wouldn't surprise anybody that there 197 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:49,830 trying to organize themselves better 198 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,610 for a now more geographically confined 199 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:55,200 uh and more specific set of target 200 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:56,978 objectives now in in the Donbas 201 00:07:56,978 --> 00:08:00,440 specifically and in the south , what I 202 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,770 would just hasten to offer is that the 203 00:08:03,770 --> 00:08:06,320 Ukrainians have been for eight years 204 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,264 and still are fighting over that , 205 00:08:08,264 --> 00:08:10,570 that's still part of Ukraine . Um and 206 00:08:10,580 --> 00:08:12,747 they show no signs of being willing to 207 00:08:12,747 --> 00:08:14,747 give that territory up . Nor should 208 00:08:14,747 --> 00:08:18,420 they . Uh And uh so we'll have to 209 00:08:18,420 --> 00:08:21,140 see how this plays out . But whatever 210 00:08:21,140 --> 00:08:23,470 the Russian plans are or whatever their 211 00:08:23,470 --> 00:08:25,870 goals for this new commander are um 212 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:28,102 they're still gonna have to reckon with 213 00:08:28,102 --> 00:08:30,158 a very stiff , very effective , very 214 00:08:30,158 --> 00:08:32,269 capable and quite frankly , I've used 215 00:08:32,269 --> 00:08:34,213 this word before , but very nimble 216 00:08:34,213 --> 00:08:36,269 Ukrainian defense . Let me go to the 217 00:08:36,269 --> 00:08:38,491 phones just a little bit and we'll just 218 00:08:38,491 --> 00:08:40,436 keep working around uh Barbara , I 219 00:08:40,436 --> 00:08:41,991 think you're online today . 220 00:08:44,540 --> 00:08:46,760 Yeah . Hi , I do want to follow up on 221 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:49,720 the general if I May is there , he's 222 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:52,260 obviously there is someone known to the 223 00:08:52,260 --> 00:08:55,940 U . S . Military from his operations in 224 00:08:55,950 --> 00:08:59,190 Syria and in um the destruction of 225 00:08:59,190 --> 00:09:02,560 Aleppo what can you tell people 226 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,270 if if anything at all about his track 227 00:09:06,270 --> 00:09:09,970 record in um having a 228 00:09:09,980 --> 00:09:13,560 disregard for civilian casualties and 229 00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:16,400 then I wanted to follow up follow up on 230 00:09:16,410 --> 00:09:18,632 the next round of security assistance . 231 00:09:18,632 --> 00:09:22,150 If I may look , I'm not I'm not gonna 232 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,460 details biographic details or is uh , 233 00:09:27,940 --> 00:09:31,840 or pretend to think that that that that 234 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,720 we know perfectly how this particular 235 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,080 general intends intends to to lead . I 236 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:40,030 would say this , he and other 237 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,300 senior Russian leaders have shown in 238 00:09:43,300 --> 00:09:45,411 the past , and you mentioned Syria as 239 00:09:45,411 --> 00:09:47,633 one example , have shown clearly in the 240 00:09:47,633 --> 00:09:49,522 past their disregard for avoiding 241 00:09:49,522 --> 00:09:52,340 civilian harm , their utter disregard 242 00:09:52,340 --> 00:09:55,560 in many ways , um , for the laws of war , 243 00:09:55,940 --> 00:09:58,420 laws of armed conflict , um , and the 244 00:09:58,420 --> 00:10:00,531 brutality with which they conduct and 245 00:10:00,531 --> 00:10:02,698 prosecute their operations . There's a 246 00:10:02,698 --> 00:10:06,470 track record here before Ukraine , uh , 247 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:10,290 of Russian brutality . And You've 248 00:10:10,290 --> 00:10:14,240 seen it on display every single day of 249 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,960 the last 46 days , uh , the 250 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,182 brutality that the Russians are capable 251 00:10:20,182 --> 00:10:22,404 of . We're seeing it today , as you and 252 00:10:22,404 --> 00:10:24,404 I are talking here . You can see it 253 00:10:24,404 --> 00:10:27,450 today . So , I think , 254 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:32,180 sadly , uh , we can all expect that 255 00:10:32,180 --> 00:10:34,291 that's the same brutal tactics , that 256 00:10:34,291 --> 00:10:37,490 same disregard uh , for civilian life 257 00:10:37,500 --> 00:10:39,910 and civilian infrastructure , um , will 258 00:10:39,910 --> 00:10:42,060 will probably continue as they now 259 00:10:42,060 --> 00:10:44,780 focus uh , in a more geographically 260 00:10:44,780 --> 00:10:47,002 confined area in the Donbas . You heard 261 00:10:47,002 --> 00:10:48,780 the chairman talk about this at 262 00:10:48,780 --> 00:10:50,790 testimony last week that it was his 263 00:10:50,790 --> 00:10:53,210 assessment , and we believe he's right 264 00:10:53,220 --> 00:10:55,630 that this this could this could augur 265 00:10:55,630 --> 00:10:58,440 in for a more protracted and a very 266 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:02,260 bloody , uh , next next next phase here 267 00:11:02,270 --> 00:11:05,380 of this conflict . Um , and I don't 268 00:11:05,380 --> 00:11:08,990 know and wouldn't pretend to um 269 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,490 to say that we know for certain that 270 00:11:11,500 --> 00:11:13,556 that this new general is going to be 271 00:11:13,556 --> 00:11:16,860 the author of some new additional uh 272 00:11:16,870 --> 00:11:19,600 and more bloody tactics . But we but we 273 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,760 can certainly say by what we've seen in 274 00:11:23,140 --> 00:11:27,120 um , in the past that that we are , 275 00:11:27,130 --> 00:11:30,430 uh , we're probably turning another 276 00:11:30,430 --> 00:11:33,200 page in the same book um , of of 277 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:35,620 Russian brutality . And again , I'll 278 00:11:35,620 --> 00:11:38,540 say it . Um , I know you get tired of 279 00:11:38,540 --> 00:11:40,707 me saying it , but I'll say it again . 280 00:11:40,707 --> 00:11:42,707 This war could end today . Mr Putin 281 00:11:42,707 --> 00:11:44,929 could do the right thing now . He could 282 00:11:44,929 --> 00:11:47,040 sit down in good faith with President 283 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,262 Zelensky immediately and this war could 284 00:11:49,262 --> 00:11:51,429 end . He had diplomatic options on the 285 00:11:51,429 --> 00:11:53,596 table . He chose to ignore them . Uh , 286 00:11:53,596 --> 00:11:55,707 and here we are , day 46 . He has not 287 00:11:55,707 --> 00:11:57,873 achieved the strategic objectives that 288 00:11:57,873 --> 00:11:59,984 he wanted to achieve . Um , this this 289 00:11:59,984 --> 00:12:02,096 is the perfect opportunity for him to 290 00:12:02,096 --> 00:12:04,262 negotiate in good faith with President 291 00:12:04,262 --> 00:12:06,460 Zelensky and end the war Kourtney 292 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,060 security security assistance , if I may . 293 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:12,690 Um , as you shift into the south and 294 00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:15,680 eat it as Ukraine shifts into the south 295 00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:18,100 and the east in uh newer , heavy , 296 00:12:18,110 --> 00:12:21,600 heavy round of combat . And you look at 297 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,160 security assistance . Can you can 298 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:27,751 how do you what's your best thought ? 299 00:12:27,751 --> 00:12:29,920 The U . S . Is best thoughts about how 300 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:33,270 to get artillery armor . Long Green 301 00:12:33,270 --> 00:12:35,270 chair defense , all the things that 302 00:12:35,270 --> 00:12:39,070 you've said they need for that arena to 303 00:12:39,070 --> 00:12:42,940 them when uh they do not 304 00:12:42,940 --> 00:12:44,829 have us versions in their current 305 00:12:44,829 --> 00:12:47,340 inventory and they need things quickly 306 00:12:47,340 --> 00:12:49,673 that they can take advantage of and use , 307 00:12:49,673 --> 00:12:51,896 can you help people understand the next 308 00:12:51,896 --> 00:12:54,007 round of security assistance ? Well , 309 00:12:54,007 --> 00:12:56,080 we are working very very hard every 310 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:58,710 single day to continue to get security 311 00:12:58,710 --> 00:13:00,932 assistance to the Ukrainians . I mean , 312 00:13:00,932 --> 00:13:02,821 you know , 8-10 flights a day are 313 00:13:02,821 --> 00:13:04,877 coming into the region . Uh not just 314 00:13:04,877 --> 00:13:06,988 from the United States but from other 315 00:13:06,988 --> 00:13:09,700 nations as well . Um and uh that stuff 316 00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:12,540 isn't sitting around Barbara . It gets 317 00:13:12,540 --> 00:13:14,707 to these transshipment sites . They're 318 00:13:14,707 --> 00:13:16,707 they're they're put onto trucks and 319 00:13:16,707 --> 00:13:18,762 they're moved into Ukraine very very 320 00:13:18,762 --> 00:13:20,929 quickly . In some cases , stuff coming 321 00:13:20,929 --> 00:13:23,340 from the United States takes No more 322 00:13:23,340 --> 00:13:25,900 than 4-6 days from the time the 323 00:13:25,900 --> 00:13:28,250 president authorises drawdown authority 324 00:13:28,250 --> 00:13:30,083 to it gets into the hands of the 325 00:13:30,083 --> 00:13:32,250 Ukrainians . That's an incredible rate 326 00:13:32,250 --> 00:13:34,361 of speed and we aren't slowing down . 327 00:13:34,361 --> 00:13:36,740 Uh the regardless of the Russian 328 00:13:36,740 --> 00:13:38,629 refocus on the Donbas , we're not 329 00:13:38,629 --> 00:13:40,796 slowing down . That stuff continues to 330 00:13:40,796 --> 00:13:43,018 move . It's going to continue to move . 331 00:13:43,018 --> 00:13:45,240 We said as much as we can as fast as we 332 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:47,407 can and we meet it . Um and the the re 333 00:13:47,407 --> 00:13:49,518 prioritization of the Russians on the 334 00:13:49,518 --> 00:13:51,351 east hasn't had an effect on our 335 00:13:51,351 --> 00:13:53,573 ability to help coordinate the delivery 336 00:13:53,573 --> 00:13:55,296 of massive amounts of security 337 00:13:55,296 --> 00:13:57,407 assistance from the United States and 338 00:13:57,407 --> 00:13:59,573 other nations into Ukraine , that flow 339 00:13:59,573 --> 00:14:01,240 still continues . Uh Courtney 340 00:14:09,740 --> 00:14:12,370 sorry , has been answered . If you hear 341 00:14:12,370 --> 00:14:14,370 me my questions answered . Thanks . 342 00:14:14,370 --> 00:14:18,000 Thanks . You said that the 343 00:14:18,010 --> 00:14:20,150 fighting is continuing in Mariupol . 344 00:14:20,570 --> 00:14:23,910 But the pro Russian 345 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:29,670 troops in this region 346 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:33,770 just I said this morning that 347 00:14:33,770 --> 00:14:37,300 they took the pot and the 348 00:14:37,300 --> 00:14:41,070 Ukrainian army said that 349 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:44,210 that that are still in Mariupol said 350 00:14:44,210 --> 00:14:45,877 that they don't have any more 351 00:14:45,877 --> 00:14:49,200 ammunitions . So do you , Is is it your 352 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,060 assessment that is foreign ? 353 00:14:52,740 --> 00:14:55,450 I told you how assessment as of this 354 00:14:55,450 --> 00:14:57,561 morning , was that the city was still 355 00:14:57,561 --> 00:15:00,000 being fought over ? I don't I don't 356 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,111 have more up to date information than 357 00:15:02,111 --> 00:15:05,430 that and that and nothing of what you 358 00:15:05,430 --> 00:15:07,520 just read out to me necessarily 359 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:09,576 disputes are assessment this morning 360 00:15:09,576 --> 00:15:11,798 that it's still being followed . Yeah . 361 00:15:11,798 --> 00:15:13,964 Um I'm wondering about the , you don't 362 00:15:13,964 --> 00:15:16,131 know what we've seen like in BUCA with 363 00:15:16,131 --> 00:15:18,298 the possibility that the Russians have 364 00:15:18,298 --> 00:15:20,353 executed captives . I'm wondering if 365 00:15:20,353 --> 00:15:22,464 there is some concern that this could 366 00:15:22,464 --> 00:15:24,520 change international norms or put us 367 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:26,520 troops in some danger in the future 368 00:15:26,570 --> 00:15:28,681 that some other nation may see Russia 369 00:15:28,681 --> 00:15:30,959 acting in this way and that that U . S . 370 00:15:30,959 --> 00:15:33,126 Troops are taken captive that they may 371 00:15:33,126 --> 00:15:35,237 be treated in the same way . Is there 372 00:15:35,237 --> 00:15:37,760 any concern that Russia's actions could 373 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,551 you know , endanger U . S . Troops in 374 00:15:40,551 --> 00:15:42,718 that way or change the international . 375 00:15:42,718 --> 00:15:44,884 I would just say that our expectations 376 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:48,807 are that prisoners of war are going to 377 00:15:48,807 --> 00:15:50,696 be treated in accordance with the 378 00:15:50,696 --> 00:15:52,862 Geneva conventions and the rule of law 379 00:15:52,862 --> 00:15:54,918 period and that's the way that's the 380 00:15:54,918 --> 00:15:57,180 way it needs to be . And we've been , 381 00:15:57,190 --> 00:15:59,301 you know , we've been very open about 382 00:15:59,301 --> 00:16:01,468 that . Has there been any developments 383 00:16:01,468 --> 00:16:03,468 and has already been helping in any 384 00:16:03,468 --> 00:16:05,468 specific way now with the effort to 385 00:16:05,468 --> 00:16:07,560 kind of collect the data and look at 386 00:16:07,570 --> 00:16:09,626 what the Russians have actually done 387 00:16:09,626 --> 00:16:11,737 and may be charged , I would just say 388 00:16:11,737 --> 00:16:13,959 in general , because we're not going to 389 00:16:13,959 --> 00:16:16,181 talk about everything specifically that 390 00:16:16,181 --> 00:16:18,403 we're doing as part of the inter agency 391 00:16:18,403 --> 00:16:20,237 effort here in the United States 392 00:16:20,237 --> 00:16:22,459 Government . But but in general , we'll 393 00:16:22,459 --> 00:16:24,681 pitch in and do our part to try to help 394 00:16:24,681 --> 00:16:26,848 with the collection of evidence of the 395 00:16:26,848 --> 00:16:28,959 war of war crimes being conducted for 396 00:16:28,959 --> 00:16:31,126 use and investigative procedures going 397 00:16:31,126 --> 00:16:33,126 forward . I mean , we're focused on 398 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:35,573 doing what we can to help document that . 399 00:16:35,740 --> 00:16:39,250 It's also fairly transparent 400 00:16:39,940 --> 00:16:42,830 for the world to see the again , the 401 00:16:42,830 --> 00:16:44,719 brutality and the war crimes that 402 00:16:44,719 --> 00:16:46,886 Russian forces are conducting at all , 403 00:16:46,886 --> 00:16:48,774 like what the idea is done in any 404 00:16:48,774 --> 00:16:50,663 example , anything like satellite 405 00:16:50,663 --> 00:16:52,719 imagery or anything like that . No , 406 00:16:52,719 --> 00:16:52,110 I'm not going to get into that . I mean , 407 00:16:52,110 --> 00:16:54,332 but we are helping collect the evidence 408 00:16:54,332 --> 00:16:56,554 and document things . Some of that will 409 00:16:56,554 --> 00:16:59,560 be through open source imagery as well . 410 00:16:59,740 --> 00:17:01,796 But I won't go into more detail than 411 00:17:01,796 --> 00:17:04,110 that . Yeah , today china china's 412 00:17:04,110 --> 00:17:06,277 Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had 413 00:17:06,277 --> 00:17:08,054 sent a large supply of military 414 00:17:08,054 --> 00:17:10,277 supplies into Serbia over the weekend . 415 00:17:10,277 --> 00:17:12,388 They didn't detail exactly what we're 416 00:17:12,388 --> 00:17:12,180 in the shipments , but that there was 417 00:17:12,190 --> 00:17:14,301 multiple shipments and that they also 418 00:17:14,301 --> 00:17:16,301 claimed the china china is claiming 419 00:17:16,301 --> 00:17:18,523 that had nothing to do with the current 420 00:17:18,523 --> 00:17:20,746 situation on the ground in Ukraine . Is 421 00:17:20,746 --> 00:17:20,310 that also the U . S . Assessment ? Is 422 00:17:20,310 --> 00:17:22,421 there any fear of what china might be 423 00:17:22,421 --> 00:17:24,421 doing here ? We can't confirm those 424 00:17:24,421 --> 00:17:26,532 reports . Have seen the press reports 425 00:17:26,532 --> 00:17:28,699 but we're not in a position to confirm 426 00:17:28,699 --> 00:17:30,921 uh the idea that china might be sending 427 00:17:30,921 --> 00:17:32,840 systems into Serbia . So it'd be 428 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,190 difficult since I can't confirm it for 429 00:17:35,190 --> 00:17:37,590 me to speculate as to what the purpose 430 00:17:37,590 --> 00:17:39,423 might be . They confirm that the 431 00:17:39,423 --> 00:17:41,423 chinese admitted that they were the 432 00:17:41,423 --> 00:17:43,479 ones that send it . I'm just curious 433 00:17:43,479 --> 00:17:43,180 though . Is there any concerns with 434 00:17:43,180 --> 00:17:46,450 them sending weapons into look ? I mean 435 00:17:46,460 --> 00:17:49,680 we would certainly not want to see 436 00:17:49,690 --> 00:17:52,270 anything flow in that could be enough 437 00:17:52,270 --> 00:17:54,860 advantage to the Russians . Okay , 438 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:59,500 mike , they're uh still confidence and 439 00:17:59,510 --> 00:18:01,677 go back to the indian thing is they're 440 00:18:01,677 --> 00:18:03,843 still confidence that India can remain 441 00:18:03,843 --> 00:18:05,954 a defense partner in the indo pacific 442 00:18:05,954 --> 00:18:08,121 region when their actions in regard to 443 00:18:08,121 --> 00:18:10,288 Russia and the invasion of Ukraine are 444 00:18:10,288 --> 00:18:12,510 so at odds with much of the rest of the 445 00:18:12,510 --> 00:18:14,677 world . Look , I think I said it right 446 00:18:14,677 --> 00:18:16,677 at the top . And uh and you'll hear 447 00:18:16,677 --> 00:18:18,899 later this afternoon , we have a strong 448 00:18:18,899 --> 00:18:21,010 defense partnership with India and we 449 00:18:21,010 --> 00:18:23,177 are going to continue to look for ways 450 00:18:23,177 --> 00:18:23,080 to deepen that defense partnership , 451 00:18:23,090 --> 00:18:25,740 India is an important partner in the 452 00:18:25,740 --> 00:18:27,962 region in the indo pacific region . And 453 00:18:27,962 --> 00:18:30,184 um and we're gonna we're gonna continue 454 00:18:30,184 --> 00:18:32,184 to look for ways to to improve that 455 00:18:32,184 --> 00:18:34,220 that partnership . And uh you know 456 00:18:34,230 --> 00:18:37,450 India should be able to speak for their 457 00:18:37,450 --> 00:18:39,561 own national policies with respect to 458 00:18:39,561 --> 00:18:41,394 what's going on in in Russia and 459 00:18:41,394 --> 00:18:43,561 Ukraine . We've been very honest about 460 00:18:43,561 --> 00:18:45,672 where we are on this . Uh the actions 461 00:18:45,672 --> 00:18:47,728 were taken and the things that we're 462 00:18:47,728 --> 00:18:49,783 doing . Um but the other things that 463 00:18:49,783 --> 00:18:51,783 we're doing are looking for ways to 464 00:18:51,783 --> 00:18:51,680 make sure that we deepen that 465 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:54,710 partnership with India . David chinese 466 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:58,490 military . I'm not I'm not saying that 467 00:18:58,490 --> 00:19:00,601 it would . David , I'm not confirming 468 00:19:00,601 --> 00:19:02,546 it . I'm just saying that if if if 469 00:19:02,546 --> 00:19:04,657 that's the intent , if it's some sort 470 00:19:04,657 --> 00:19:08,300 of uh potential option of of 471 00:19:08,300 --> 00:19:10,290 getting assistance to Russia , 472 00:19:10,300 --> 00:19:12,580 obviously , you know , we would not 473 00:19:12,590 --> 00:19:14,479 consider that helpful but I'm not 474 00:19:14,479 --> 00:19:16,701 confirming that it happened and I'm not 475 00:19:16,701 --> 00:19:18,423 and as I said before , I'm not 476 00:19:18,423 --> 00:19:20,534 confirming what their intent is . Any 477 00:19:20,534 --> 00:19:23,810 evidence that china has provided any 478 00:19:23,810 --> 00:19:27,350 support , any military support for 479 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:29,007 Russia and Ukraine . 480 00:19:31,340 --> 00:19:34,890 Um let's see , Jeff 481 00:19:34,890 --> 00:19:38,110 struggle . Thank you . The Defense 482 00:19:38,110 --> 00:19:40,780 Department says it has shipped hundreds 483 00:19:40,790 --> 00:19:43,700 of Switchblade drones to Ukraine , is 484 00:19:43,700 --> 00:19:46,090 it possible to get a rough number 200 . 485 00:19:47,340 --> 00:19:50,350 leave it at hundreds , Jeff , how many 486 00:19:50,350 --> 00:19:52,183 hundreds says hundreds have been 487 00:19:52,183 --> 00:19:54,239 committed . That doesn't necessarily 488 00:19:54,239 --> 00:19:56,572 mean hundreds have been shipped shipped . 489 00:19:56,572 --> 00:19:58,739 We know that 100 have been shipped and 490 00:19:58,739 --> 00:20:02,610 they are in the region heather from us 491 00:20:02,610 --> 00:20:06,560 and I thank you so much . So um I know 492 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:08,671 that you said that the senior defense 493 00:20:08,671 --> 00:20:10,616 official earlier said there was no 494 00:20:10,616 --> 00:20:12,393 maritime updates . Um But I was 495 00:20:12,393 --> 00:20:14,504 wondering if you have any information 496 00:20:14,504 --> 00:20:16,671 about the dozens of naval ships in the 497 00:20:16,671 --> 00:20:18,727 Black Sea . And if there's any um my 498 00:20:18,727 --> 00:20:20,949 anti mining activities going on in your 499 00:20:20,949 --> 00:20:23,040 Odessa , I don't know of any anti 500 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:25,930 mining activities near Odessa . We know 501 00:20:25,930 --> 00:20:29,870 that um that uh that there have been 502 00:20:29,870 --> 00:20:33,860 minds in the waters off Odessa . But 503 00:20:33,860 --> 00:20:36,330 I'm not sure of any anti mining efforts . 504 00:20:36,330 --> 00:20:38,497 You're I think you're probably talking 505 00:20:38,497 --> 00:20:40,608 about Russian mind sweeping And and I 506 00:20:40,608 --> 00:20:42,608 just I can't read out Russian naval 507 00:20:42,608 --> 00:20:44,441 activity with any great level of 508 00:20:44,441 --> 00:20:46,530 specificity . They still have uh 509 00:20:46,540 --> 00:20:49,500 roughly a couple of dozen or so uh 510 00:20:49,510 --> 00:20:51,621 ships in the Black Sea and the sea of 511 00:20:51,621 --> 00:20:53,790 Azov . We think a large part of their 512 00:20:53,790 --> 00:20:56,190 focus is replenishment and resupply 513 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:58,600 again , that follows suit to what we've 514 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:00,656 been talking about coming out of the 515 00:21:00,656 --> 00:21:02,711 north . This is yet another convoy . 516 00:21:02,711 --> 00:21:04,822 But we also think that from the south 517 00:21:04,822 --> 00:21:06,878 they want to use some of their naval 518 00:21:06,878 --> 00:21:08,933 vessels to help resupply and restock 519 00:21:08,933 --> 00:21:11,100 their forces in the south to the south 520 00:21:11,100 --> 00:21:13,260 of the Donbas . Yes . 521 00:21:14,980 --> 00:21:17,760 Is there any attribution on the strike 522 00:21:18,140 --> 00:21:21,350 in Syria the other day or no , not yet . 523 00:21:21,940 --> 00:21:23,996 Is that something that you expect to 524 00:21:23,996 --> 00:21:26,051 have at some point . I think at some 525 00:21:26,051 --> 00:21:28,051 point we'll probably be able to get 526 00:21:28,051 --> 00:21:30,273 into more detail on that . Gordon ? But 527 00:21:30,273 --> 00:21:32,218 we're still working with our Iraqi 528 00:21:32,218 --> 00:21:32,140 partners on that . No specific 529 00:21:32,140 --> 00:21:34,860 attribution . I mean , these things are 530 00:21:34,860 --> 00:21:36,860 of a piece though , of the kinds of 531 00:21:36,860 --> 00:21:38,916 activities we've seen out of militia 532 00:21:38,916 --> 00:21:41,082 groups in the past militia groups that 533 00:21:41,082 --> 00:21:43,193 are backed by Iran . But I don't want 534 00:21:43,193 --> 00:21:43,020 to get ahead of where the investigation 535 00:21:43,020 --> 00:21:45,710 is . Mike . Can you confirm the 536 00:21:45,710 --> 00:21:48,400 general's report that the user 537 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,678 commander is going to be the next sack ? 538 00:21:50,678 --> 00:21:52,733 You're in NATO . I have no personnel 539 00:21:52,733 --> 00:21:54,956 announcements to speak to our decisions 540 00:21:54,956 --> 00:21:56,870 to speak to today . Okay . Thanks 541 00:21:56,870 --> 00:21:57,540 everybody .