1 00:00:03,140 --> 00:00:06,420 okay . A couple of things that the at 2 00:00:06,420 --> 00:00:08,840 the top you all have . We talked about 3 00:00:08,850 --> 00:00:10,739 the $800 million dollars security 4 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:13,496 security assistance package that the 5 00:00:13,496 --> 00:00:15,718 president authorized yesterday . We are 6 00:00:15,718 --> 00:00:17,773 hard at work at filling that package 7 00:00:17,773 --> 00:00:19,607 out . And while I don't have any 8 00:00:19,607 --> 00:00:21,610 shipments to speak to today , I can 9 00:00:21,610 --> 00:00:23,720 assure you that we're moving we're 10 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:25,887 moving as aggressively as we can to to 11 00:00:25,887 --> 00:00:28,990 to source all those items , get our 12 00:00:28,990 --> 00:00:31,212 hands on that material uh and get it on 13 00:00:31,212 --> 00:00:33,323 its way just as quickly as possible . 14 00:00:33,340 --> 00:00:36,800 The previous $800 million package that 15 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:38,744 the Secretary , I'm sorry that the 16 00:00:38,744 --> 00:00:40,990 president authorized um is really only 17 00:00:40,990 --> 00:00:43,250 a few days away from closing out . So 18 00:00:43,250 --> 00:00:45,250 we're just gonna keep moving , keep 19 00:00:45,250 --> 00:00:47,417 going forward . Um And in keeping with 20 00:00:47,417 --> 00:00:49,250 our consultation with allies and 21 00:00:49,250 --> 00:00:51,361 partners about capabilities that they 22 00:00:51,361 --> 00:00:53,580 have that they could also provide to 23 00:00:53,580 --> 00:00:55,247 Ukraine . The secretary spoke 24 00:00:55,247 --> 00:00:57,030 separately today with the case 25 00:00:57,030 --> 00:00:59,030 counterparts from Slovakia and from 26 00:00:59,030 --> 00:01:01,110 Croatia . Again , as part of this 27 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,176 ongoing consultation with allies and 28 00:01:03,176 --> 00:01:05,350 partners . Um and we'll have fuller 29 00:01:05,350 --> 00:01:08,140 readouts of those conversations later 30 00:01:08,140 --> 00:01:10,730 this afternoon . But again , it's of a 31 00:01:10,730 --> 00:01:12,619 piece of the Secretary's personal 32 00:01:12,619 --> 00:01:15,100 involvement in trying to help uh 33 00:01:15,110 --> 00:01:17,490 consult with with allies and partners 34 00:01:17,490 --> 00:01:19,400 about getting additional security 35 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,622 assistance items . And I'm not going to 36 00:01:21,622 --> 00:01:23,789 get ahead of the the readout just just 37 00:01:23,789 --> 00:01:27,350 yet separately . I would like to know 38 00:01:27,940 --> 00:01:31,650 off the topic of Ukraine that uh that 39 00:01:31,660 --> 00:01:33,980 on Tuesday , the Defense P . O W . M . 40 00:01:33,980 --> 00:01:36,620 I . A accounting agency announced that 41 00:01:36,620 --> 00:01:38,910 U . S . Army Air Forces Lieutenant 42 00:01:38,910 --> 00:01:41,780 Colonel Addison E baker , he was 36 43 00:01:41,780 --> 00:01:44,002 when he was killed during World War two 44 00:01:44,002 --> 00:01:46,790 passionately passionately posthumously 45 00:01:46,790 --> 00:01:49,290 excuse me , awarded the medal of honor . 46 00:01:49,740 --> 00:01:52,210 Was finally accounted for on the on 47 00:01:52,210 --> 00:01:54,450 eight April this year . 48 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:58,930 Lieutenant Colonel baker was piloting a 49 00:01:58,930 --> 00:02:01,960 b 24 Liberator bomber during operation 50 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,350 tidal wave near Ploiesti Romania . 51 00:02:05,940 --> 00:02:08,500 His plane was hit by anti aircraft fire 52 00:02:08,500 --> 00:02:10,667 and crashed but not before he was able 53 00:02:10,667 --> 00:02:13,070 to drop his bombs on the target . Baker 54 00:02:13,070 --> 00:02:15,300 is the 17th Airman identified as part 55 00:02:15,300 --> 00:02:17,870 of the Ploy SD project which began in 56 00:02:17,870 --> 00:02:21,140 2017 at the defense P . O . W . M . I . 57 00:02:21,140 --> 00:02:23,650 A accounting agencies laboratory at 58 00:02:23,660 --> 00:02:26,900 Offutt , Offutt Air Force Base Nebraska . 59 00:02:26,910 --> 00:02:28,730 Uh and our thoughts and prayers 60 00:02:28,730 --> 00:02:31,340 continue to go out with Lieutenant 61 00:02:31,340 --> 00:02:33,400 Colonel baker's family . But we're 62 00:02:33,410 --> 00:02:35,577 certainly proud and honored to be able 63 00:02:35,577 --> 00:02:37,466 to uh to uh you know , be able to 64 00:02:37,466 --> 00:02:40,440 identify his remains and and recognize 65 00:02:40,450 --> 00:02:42,740 his incredible service to the country 66 00:02:42,750 --> 00:02:45,500 during World War two . Okay , bob I 67 00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:47,444 think you're on the phone . You're 68 00:02:47,444 --> 00:02:50,530 first . Yes , thank you . I am on the 69 00:02:50,530 --> 00:02:52,697 phone today . I hope you can hear me . 70 00:02:52,697 --> 00:02:56,210 Um could you on Ukraine , could you 71 00:02:56,220 --> 00:02:58,220 give your current assessment of the 72 00:02:58,220 --> 00:03:00,220 Russian ship incident as to whether 73 00:03:00,220 --> 00:03:02,320 it's your working assumption that it 74 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,860 was struck by a missile . Is it still 75 00:03:04,860 --> 00:03:07,590 moving under its own power ? And lastly , 76 00:03:07,590 --> 00:03:11,110 could you um offer your 77 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,287 assessment of what the significance of 78 00:03:13,287 --> 00:03:15,287 this losses for the broader Russian 79 00:03:15,287 --> 00:03:17,700 campaign . Thank you . So I'll just 80 00:03:17,700 --> 00:03:19,790 tell you what we know . And uh and 81 00:03:19,790 --> 00:03:21,957 that's to be very honest with you that 82 00:03:21,957 --> 00:03:24,090 we don't know everything . We cannot 83 00:03:24,090 --> 00:03:27,260 confirm the Ukrainian reports that it 84 00:03:27,260 --> 00:03:30,230 was hit by a missile , but we are also 85 00:03:30,230 --> 00:03:32,452 not in a position to refute that , uh , 86 00:03:32,452 --> 00:03:34,680 that it could have been a Ukrainian 87 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,870 missile which struck the ship . We just 88 00:03:37,870 --> 00:03:40,400 don't have perfect visibility on 89 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,660 exactly what happened . We do believe 90 00:03:42,670 --> 00:03:45,180 that there was a significant explosion 91 00:03:45,190 --> 00:03:48,510 on this cruiser , the moskva of slava , 92 00:03:48,510 --> 00:03:51,350 class of cruisers in the Russian Navy . 93 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:55,560 We do believe that that that explosion 94 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,380 caused a significant fire , which as of 95 00:03:58,380 --> 00:04:00,436 this morning was still raging aboard 96 00:04:00,436 --> 00:04:03,730 the ship . We do assess that at least 97 00:04:03,730 --> 00:04:06,830 some of the crew members evacuated the 98 00:04:06,830 --> 00:04:08,774 ship , uh , and were placed aboard 99 00:04:08,774 --> 00:04:10,997 other Russian Navy ships . I can't tell 100 00:04:10,997 --> 00:04:13,052 you if it's the whole crew . We just 101 00:04:13,052 --> 00:04:15,330 have a sense , we have assessment that , 102 00:04:15,330 --> 00:04:17,497 that some crew were evacuated from the 103 00:04:17,497 --> 00:04:19,990 ship . Um , and uh , we are this 104 00:04:19,990 --> 00:04:22,230 morning , we had assessed that the ship 105 00:04:22,230 --> 00:04:24,341 was underway under its own power . We 106 00:04:24,341 --> 00:04:26,119 are no longer able to make that 107 00:04:26,119 --> 00:04:28,590 certainty . Uh , today , this afternoon , 108 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,640 we're not exactly sure that the ship is 109 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:33,973 actually still able to make its own way . 110 00:04:34,030 --> 00:04:36,220 So that's the update . That's the best 111 00:04:36,230 --> 00:04:38,230 that we can provide you in terms of 112 00:04:38,230 --> 00:04:40,119 what we know and feel comfortable 113 00:04:40,119 --> 00:04:42,690 speaking to as for the impact on the 114 00:04:42,690 --> 00:04:45,340 Russian Navy . Um , that's a little 115 00:04:45,340 --> 00:04:47,618 difficult to know with great certitude . 116 00:04:47,618 --> 00:04:50,200 Um , they , they have and have had 117 00:04:50,210 --> 00:04:52,230 anywhere from a dozen to two dozen 118 00:04:52,230 --> 00:04:54,286 ships operating in the Black Sea and 119 00:04:54,286 --> 00:04:56,452 the sea of Azov since the beginning of 120 00:04:56,452 --> 00:04:59,120 this invasion . Um uh They are they 121 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:01,500 have ports as you know , on the Black 122 00:05:01,500 --> 00:05:05,270 Sea . Uh So they historically have 123 00:05:05,270 --> 00:05:09,150 operated their um it's um it 124 00:05:09,150 --> 00:05:11,261 would be difficult to be able to tell 125 00:05:11,261 --> 00:05:13,261 you that this one ship being out of 126 00:05:13,261 --> 00:05:15,880 commission , um what exactly the impact 127 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,102 is going to have . And the reason I say 128 00:05:18,102 --> 00:05:21,880 that is because the their their naval 129 00:05:21,890 --> 00:05:24,110 component here to the war has been 130 00:05:24,110 --> 00:05:26,860 fairly limited to two things . One 131 00:05:26,940 --> 00:05:29,051 cruise missile strikes inside Ukraine 132 00:05:29,051 --> 00:05:31,500 and to replenishment and resupply of 133 00:05:31,500 --> 00:05:33,611 their efforts in the , in the south . 134 00:05:33,611 --> 00:05:35,722 They've only conducted one amphibious 135 00:05:35,722 --> 00:05:37,889 landing and that was on an uncontested 136 00:05:37,889 --> 00:05:39,944 stretch of beach near burdens in the 137 00:05:39,944 --> 00:05:42,167 sea of Azov . Um And they hadn't really 138 00:05:42,167 --> 00:05:44,000 made any concerted naval efforts 139 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,167 towards Odessa . So I guess it remains 140 00:05:46,167 --> 00:05:48,056 to be seen exactly what the major 141 00:05:48,056 --> 00:05:50,111 impact is going to be . Again . That 142 00:05:50,111 --> 00:05:52,167 said , this is a cruiser . They only 143 00:05:52,167 --> 00:05:54,333 have three in this class . It's a ship 144 00:05:54,333 --> 00:05:56,450 that is roughly 600 ft long and has a 145 00:05:56,450 --> 00:05:59,450 crew of almost 400 , I'm sorry , more 146 00:05:59,450 --> 00:06:02,740 than 400 , almost 500 sailors on board . 147 00:06:02,750 --> 00:06:05,240 Um and it's basically designed for air 148 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,460 defense , that's uh that's what this 149 00:06:07,460 --> 00:06:09,682 ship is designed to do , not unlike our 150 00:06:09,682 --> 00:06:11,904 own cruisers . Um So it's going to have 151 00:06:11,904 --> 00:06:13,793 an impact on their capabilities , 152 00:06:13,793 --> 00:06:16,016 certainly in the near term , whether it 153 00:06:16,016 --> 00:06:17,627 has an impact on their naval 154 00:06:17,627 --> 00:06:17,620 capabilities in the long term , it's 155 00:06:17,620 --> 00:06:21,030 just , we're just unclear right now and 156 00:06:21,030 --> 00:06:23,950 we don't have uh as much as I'm , 157 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,400 I know we'd like to have and you'd like 158 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:28,289 us to have , we just don't have a 159 00:06:28,289 --> 00:06:30,511 better clearer sense of the damage done 160 00:06:30,511 --> 00:06:32,678 and what impact it's gonna have to the 161 00:06:32,678 --> 00:06:34,790 ship , the ship's future here in the 162 00:06:34,790 --> 00:06:36,846 near term , whether uh , whether she 163 00:06:36,846 --> 00:06:38,957 can and will be repaired and put back 164 00:06:38,957 --> 00:06:40,957 into service or not , we just don't 165 00:06:40,957 --> 00:06:44,850 know , David earlier today , defense 166 00:06:44,850 --> 00:06:47,017 officials said that other ships in the 167 00:06:47,017 --> 00:06:50,460 Black Sea had since this explosion move 168 00:06:50,840 --> 00:06:54,560 further away from the coast . Oh , 169 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,230 for whatever reason , does that 170 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,650 change the fact that these other ships 171 00:07:00,650 --> 00:07:02,928 have moved further away from the coast . 172 00:07:03,340 --> 00:07:05,410 Does that change their ability to 173 00:07:05,420 --> 00:07:08,380 launch cruise missiles against targets 174 00:07:08,380 --> 00:07:10,491 inside Ukraine ? Or are they still do 175 00:07:10,491 --> 00:07:13,260 it ? I wouldn't , 176 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:16,951 I wouldn't take away from this , that 177 00:07:16,951 --> 00:07:19,062 the that that's gonna have a dramatic 178 00:07:19,062 --> 00:07:20,951 impact on their ability to launch 179 00:07:20,951 --> 00:07:23,118 surface cruise missiles into Ukraine . 180 00:07:23,118 --> 00:07:25,173 I mean , they have a long range as , 181 00:07:25,173 --> 00:07:27,396 you know , David . Um and the fact that 182 00:07:27,396 --> 00:07:29,507 some of them may have moved away from 183 00:07:29,507 --> 00:07:31,729 the Northern Black Sea away from Odessa 184 00:07:31,729 --> 00:07:33,784 and the coast doesn't mean that they 185 00:07:33,784 --> 00:07:36,007 are completely incapable of maneuvering 186 00:07:36,007 --> 00:07:38,007 to other parts of the Black Sea and 187 00:07:38,007 --> 00:07:40,118 launching cruise missiles . I I don't 188 00:07:40,118 --> 00:07:42,173 think we'd be willing to go that far 189 00:07:42,173 --> 00:07:44,229 just yet . Yeah . You know , we hear 190 00:07:44,229 --> 00:07:45,951 about the airspace still being 191 00:07:45,951 --> 00:07:48,173 contested sort of CFS of Northern Black 192 00:07:48,173 --> 00:07:50,396 Sea . Is that considered contested ? Is 193 00:07:50,396 --> 00:07:52,396 that Russian ? And what sort of the 194 00:07:52,396 --> 00:07:51,870 definition of that ? You mean the 195 00:07:51,870 --> 00:07:55,110 maritime environment ? I think um 196 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:58,862 you would you would be going too far if 197 00:07:58,862 --> 00:08:02,110 you said , or we were to say that the 198 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:04,176 northern areas of the Black Sea were 199 00:08:04,176 --> 00:08:06,064 not contested , that the that the 200 00:08:06,064 --> 00:08:08,064 Russians had freedom of maneuver uh 201 00:08:08,064 --> 00:08:10,710 completely inside the Black Sea . I 202 00:08:10,710 --> 00:08:12,932 think that would be going too far . The 203 00:08:12,932 --> 00:08:14,932 for a couple of reasons . One , the 204 00:08:14,932 --> 00:08:17,220 Ukrainian Navy though small , still has 205 00:08:17,220 --> 00:08:20,530 operating craft to uh they do have 206 00:08:20,530 --> 00:08:22,790 coastal defense capabilities . You saw 207 00:08:22,790 --> 00:08:24,901 the brits had given them some coastal 208 00:08:24,901 --> 00:08:27,520 defense missile capabilities . We in 209 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,631 this latest package , you're offering 210 00:08:29,631 --> 00:08:31,820 them some coastal defense , unmanned 211 00:08:31,820 --> 00:08:35,740 surface capability . Um and three of 212 00:08:35,740 --> 00:08:38,820 the issue of mines . Uh we know that 213 00:08:38,820 --> 00:08:40,931 mines have been a factor particularly 214 00:08:40,931 --> 00:08:44,420 south of Odessa . Uh and that uh some 215 00:08:44,420 --> 00:08:46,660 of those mines uh could be free 216 00:08:46,660 --> 00:08:49,240 floating uh and therefore not not more 217 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,407 to a specific area and therefore could 218 00:08:51,407 --> 00:08:54,600 affect a Navy's ability to to freely 219 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:58,010 maneuver in that maritime space . Um So 220 00:08:58,020 --> 00:09:00,960 while they certainly from just a purely 221 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,220 naval perspective , the Russians have 222 00:09:03,220 --> 00:09:05,560 superiority in the Black Sea to the 223 00:09:05,560 --> 00:09:08,680 Ukrainians . Um more ships , more 224 00:09:08,680 --> 00:09:11,060 firepower , certainly more naval 225 00:09:11,060 --> 00:09:13,750 capability . Um We would not assess 226 00:09:13,750 --> 00:09:16,380 that they have achieved , you know , 227 00:09:16,390 --> 00:09:19,040 complete freedom of movement . Um So 228 00:09:19,050 --> 00:09:22,650 again , they have used the 229 00:09:22,650 --> 00:09:25,060 maritime environment to strike inland . 230 00:09:25,540 --> 00:09:27,350 Um They have used the maritime 231 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:30,520 environment to assault the mainland in 232 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:32,790 terms of an amphibious assault and they 233 00:09:32,790 --> 00:09:34,901 have used the maritime environment to 234 00:09:34,901 --> 00:09:37,179 intimidate and in some cases to try to , 235 00:09:37,179 --> 00:09:39,830 we think in some cases try to pin down 236 00:09:39,830 --> 00:09:41,941 Ukrainian ground forces near Odessa , 237 00:09:42,300 --> 00:09:44,920 so they still have quite a bit of naval 238 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:48,490 capability available to them when the 239 00:09:48,500 --> 00:09:50,920 embassy in Kiev was moved to levy and 240 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,031 then and then to Poland , the marines 241 00:09:53,031 --> 00:09:55,310 obviously moved out as well . Um Are 242 00:09:55,310 --> 00:09:57,643 they still with the contingent of U . S . 243 00:09:57,643 --> 00:09:59,366 Diplomats in Poland or if they 244 00:09:59,366 --> 00:10:01,588 dispersed ? I guess what I'm getting at 245 00:10:01,588 --> 00:10:03,532 is the french have opened up their 246 00:10:03,532 --> 00:10:03,470 embassy or have said they're going to 247 00:10:03,470 --> 00:10:05,581 open up their embassy in Kiev . So if 248 00:10:05,581 --> 00:10:07,637 the US were to make that decision of 249 00:10:07,637 --> 00:10:09,637 the marines with the contingent and 250 00:10:09,637 --> 00:10:11,692 able to move out pretty quickly back 251 00:10:11,692 --> 00:10:13,859 into keep or how does it work ? Uh you 252 00:10:13,859 --> 00:10:16,081 know , I can't say definitively how how 253 00:10:16,081 --> 00:10:18,248 many of the marine security detachment 254 00:10:18,248 --> 00:10:20,280 is with the now displaced embassy 255 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:22,280 personnel . I suspect that there is 256 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,224 still some physical security being 257 00:10:24,224 --> 00:10:26,447 provided them even though they're in uh 258 00:10:26,447 --> 00:10:29,240 in Poland . Um And I don't want to get 259 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:31,018 ahead of the State Department's 260 00:10:31,018 --> 00:10:33,129 decision about about their embassy in 261 00:10:33,129 --> 00:10:36,690 Kiev and and if and or when and and how 262 00:10:36,750 --> 00:10:38,972 they might think about reality . That's 263 00:10:38,972 --> 00:10:40,694 really something for the State 264 00:10:40,694 --> 00:10:42,806 Department to speak to . I would just 265 00:10:42,806 --> 00:10:44,972 tell you that without getting into the 266 00:10:44,972 --> 00:10:47,790 hypotheticals here ? Uh the marines are 267 00:10:47,790 --> 00:10:49,700 very proud of their security 268 00:10:49,710 --> 00:10:51,543 responsibilities with respect to 269 00:10:51,543 --> 00:10:53,488 embassies and posts all around the 270 00:10:53,488 --> 00:10:55,710 world and support to our diplomats . Um 271 00:10:55,710 --> 00:10:57,877 and uh that would be an active part of 272 00:10:57,877 --> 00:11:00,360 any consideration of bringing an 273 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,560 embassy back up to speed . It would be 274 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:04,751 force protection and security for our 275 00:11:04,751 --> 00:11:06,973 diplomats and clearly the Department of 276 00:11:06,973 --> 00:11:06,860 Defense would be a part of that 277 00:11:06,860 --> 00:11:08,582 discussion but there's been no 278 00:11:08,582 --> 00:11:12,160 decisions made . Um Tara , thanks john 279 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,416 of the few cruise missiles that have 280 00:11:14,416 --> 00:11:16,582 been launched by the Russian navy into 281 00:11:16,582 --> 00:11:19,050 Ukraine . Can you tell us did these 282 00:11:19,050 --> 00:11:21,270 originate from the mosque or did some 283 00:11:21,270 --> 00:11:23,326 of them originate from the mosque to 284 00:11:23,326 --> 00:11:25,326 and then I have a couple others . I 285 00:11:25,326 --> 00:11:27,326 couldn't tell you for sure . I mean 286 00:11:27,326 --> 00:11:29,326 this is a cruiser by definition , I 287 00:11:29,326 --> 00:11:31,492 mean they could do a lot of things but 288 00:11:31,492 --> 00:11:33,326 they're basically an air defense 289 00:11:33,326 --> 00:11:35,326 platforms . So typically um they're 290 00:11:35,326 --> 00:11:37,437 designed for air defense purposes but 291 00:11:37,437 --> 00:11:40,000 I'm not suggesting that she wouldn't 292 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,222 have offensive capabilities . We know , 293 00:11:42,222 --> 00:11:44,333 I would just tell you that we do know 294 00:11:44,333 --> 00:11:47,040 that some , not a lot but some cruise 295 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,040 missile attacks inside Ukraine have 296 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:51,262 emanated from surface combatants in the 297 00:11:51,262 --> 00:11:53,151 Black Sea and the sea of Azov ? I 298 00:11:53,151 --> 00:11:55,207 couldn't tell you whether the Moskva 299 00:11:55,207 --> 00:11:58,230 participated in that and how much and 300 00:11:58,230 --> 00:12:01,010 then just to others on the on the USPS 301 00:12:01,010 --> 00:12:02,843 that the US will be providing to 302 00:12:02,843 --> 00:12:05,890 Ukraine , will these unmanned surface 303 00:12:05,890 --> 00:12:08,120 vehicles be armed and kind of , what 304 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:10,342 will their purpose or what will they be 305 00:12:10,342 --> 00:12:12,231 able to provide Ukraine ? They're 306 00:12:12,231 --> 00:12:14,120 designed to help Ukraine with its 307 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:16,490 coastal defense needs . And I think I'm 308 00:12:16,490 --> 00:12:18,601 just gonna leave it at that . I'm not 309 00:12:18,601 --> 00:12:20,323 going to get into the specific 310 00:12:20,323 --> 00:12:22,490 capabilities , but they're designed to 311 00:12:22,490 --> 00:12:24,601 help Ukraine with its coastal defense 312 00:12:24,601 --> 00:12:26,768 needs . The as the next tranche of 800 313 00:12:26,768 --> 00:12:28,934 million goes in . Is there any concern 314 00:12:28,934 --> 00:12:30,990 that because these are more advanced 315 00:12:30,990 --> 00:12:33,212 weapons , Russia may contest the supply 316 00:12:33,212 --> 00:12:35,212 lines . Can all of the , have those 317 00:12:35,212 --> 00:12:37,434 supply lines remain uncontested to this 318 00:12:37,434 --> 00:12:39,546 point ? All I can do is tell you what 319 00:12:39,546 --> 00:12:41,712 we're seeing today and and and flights 320 00:12:41,712 --> 00:12:43,934 are still going into transhipment sites 321 00:12:43,934 --> 00:12:46,400 in the region . Um and ground movement 322 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,280 is still occurring of this material 323 00:12:49,290 --> 00:12:53,120 inside Ukraine um that every 324 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,980 single day there are security 325 00:12:55,980 --> 00:12:59,660 assistance weapons and material um and 326 00:12:59,660 --> 00:13:01,827 support equipment that is getting into 327 00:13:01,827 --> 00:13:04,550 Ukrainian hands . And as we've said 328 00:13:04,550 --> 00:13:06,772 before , we're gonna keep doing that as 329 00:13:06,772 --> 00:13:08,717 much as we can as fast as we can . 330 00:13:08,717 --> 00:13:10,606 There have been no uh we have not 331 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,130 seeing any Russian efforts to interdict 332 00:13:14,130 --> 00:13:16,130 that flow . And so we're just gonna 333 00:13:16,130 --> 00:13:18,297 keep , we're gonna keep doing it . And 334 00:13:18,297 --> 00:13:20,408 as you know , we don't talk about the 335 00:13:20,408 --> 00:13:22,519 specifics of that flow so that we can 336 00:13:22,519 --> 00:13:24,408 preserve a measure of operational 337 00:13:24,408 --> 00:13:26,519 security and we constantly look at it 338 00:13:26,519 --> 00:13:28,352 every day monitor it , change it 339 00:13:28,352 --> 00:13:30,463 adapted as needed . Yeah , silly . Um 340 00:13:30,463 --> 00:13:34,270 you said that Russia is still naval 341 00:13:34,270 --> 00:13:37,140 superiority in the Black Sea just in 342 00:13:37,140 --> 00:13:38,807 terms of numbers of ships and 343 00:13:38,807 --> 00:13:40,973 capabilities . I think that's a that's 344 00:13:40,973 --> 00:13:43,084 a mathematical truth . Yeah . Do they 345 00:13:43,084 --> 00:13:45,420 block naval movements of other 346 00:13:45,430 --> 00:13:48,230 countries around the Black Sea Romania 347 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:50,462 for example ? I'm not aware of anything 348 00:13:50,462 --> 00:13:53,230 that they've done to affect the other 349 00:13:53,230 --> 00:13:55,230 sovereign states on the Black Sea . 350 00:13:55,230 --> 00:13:57,330 They have blockaded Odessa . Clearly 351 00:13:57,330 --> 00:14:00,050 they have prevented Odessa from uh from 352 00:14:00,050 --> 00:14:03,770 its economic uh trade and and 353 00:14:03,770 --> 00:14:05,937 flow of maritime traffic in and out of 354 00:14:05,937 --> 00:14:08,103 Odessa . But I'm not aware of anything 355 00:14:08,103 --> 00:14:10,850 they've done to threaten or to propose 356 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,130 a problem for the economies of other 357 00:14:13,130 --> 00:14:15,440 Black Sea nations . Thinking about the 358 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,496 economy . I'm thinking about how you 359 00:14:17,496 --> 00:14:21,330 are going to give those unmanned 360 00:14:21,340 --> 00:14:25,020 defense costal shifts 361 00:14:25,030 --> 00:14:28,060 to to Ukraine . They have to go 362 00:14:28,060 --> 00:14:31,870 somewhere . Travis . Thanks 363 00:14:31,870 --> 00:14:35,360 john is there any update from you calm 364 00:14:35,370 --> 00:14:38,200 on the plan for U . S . Troops to train 365 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:40,033 these Ukrainians on any of these 366 00:14:40,033 --> 00:14:42,500 systems ? I don't have any details to 367 00:14:42,500 --> 00:14:45,680 speak to today . Um uh as I said 368 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,250 yesterday uh we're mindful of the clock 369 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:52,360 and we're mindful that there will be a 370 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:55,000 a basic fundamental training need for 371 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:56,889 some of these systems . I want to 372 00:14:56,889 --> 00:14:58,889 stress Travis that as I tried to do 373 00:14:58,889 --> 00:15:01,650 yesterday perhaps not perfectly uh 374 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,660 while some of these systems the radar 375 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,060 the the howitzers will require some 376 00:15:08,060 --> 00:15:10,393 Familiarization and some basic training . 377 00:15:10,393 --> 00:15:12,980 It's not gonna it's not exorbitant . It 378 00:15:12,980 --> 00:15:14,869 won't take a long time . It won't 379 00:15:14,869 --> 00:15:17,530 require a large pool of trainees . Um 380 00:15:17,540 --> 00:15:21,040 We'll work it out , we'll try to get 381 00:15:21,050 --> 00:15:24,960 uh opportunities for a small number 382 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:27,071 of Ukrainians to be familiarized with 383 00:15:27,071 --> 00:15:29,330 these systems but we don't believe that 384 00:15:29,340 --> 00:15:32,660 it's going to be an onerous task or or 385 00:15:32,660 --> 00:15:36,070 lengthy in time or in in resources . Um 386 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,350 General Walters . Uh I was able to 387 00:15:39,350 --> 00:15:41,500 brief Secretary Austin just this 388 00:15:41,500 --> 00:15:43,740 morning on on his efforts to to work 389 00:15:43,740 --> 00:15:45,962 this out and and he's , believe me , he 390 00:15:45,962 --> 00:15:48,700 knows that that it's a requirement and 391 00:15:48,700 --> 00:15:50,644 he's and he's working on it . If I 392 00:15:50,644 --> 00:15:52,700 could just follow up , you mentioned 393 00:15:52,700 --> 00:15:54,756 the identification of the remains at 394 00:15:54,756 --> 00:15:56,589 the top of the briefing and this 395 00:15:56,589 --> 00:15:58,700 question may come out of left field a 396 00:15:58,700 --> 00:16:01,120 little bit but um there are still 397 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:03,320 thousands of U . S . Service members 398 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:05,542 missing in North Korea . And during the 399 00:16:05,542 --> 00:16:07,598 last administration there was really 400 00:16:07,598 --> 00:16:09,850 high profile return of remains from 401 00:16:09,850 --> 00:16:12,710 North Korea to the United States . I'm 402 00:16:12,710 --> 00:16:14,154 just wondering if if this 403 00:16:14,154 --> 00:16:16,310 administration still has that as a 404 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,060 priority and if it's working that in 405 00:16:19,060 --> 00:16:21,760 any way or whether it looks at the 406 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:23,760 situation with North Korea now it's 407 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:25,760 just it's just being unrealistic to 408 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:27,816 expect some kind of , yeah I'm gonna 409 00:16:27,816 --> 00:16:30,038 take half your question because I don't 410 00:16:30,038 --> 00:16:32,230 know what progress has been made with 411 00:16:32,230 --> 00:16:35,530 respect to the korean peninsula . Um So 412 00:16:35,530 --> 00:16:38,570 let me see if I can find out , I'll 413 00:16:38,570 --> 00:16:40,626 check with D . P . A . And see where 414 00:16:40,626 --> 00:16:42,930 that is but on the larger issue that 415 00:16:42,930 --> 00:16:45,152 you raised , it's absolutely a priority 416 00:16:45,152 --> 00:16:47,208 for the secretary . In fact , one of 417 00:16:47,208 --> 00:16:50,500 his uh one of his very early visits to 418 00:16:50,500 --> 00:16:53,440 Hawaii . He took time to go visit D . P . 419 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:55,520 A . And talked to them about their 420 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:57,742 recovery efforts and walked through the 421 00:16:57,742 --> 00:16:59,964 laboratory , talk to the scientists and 422 00:16:59,964 --> 00:17:02,076 the forensic experts . It was quite a 423 00:17:02,076 --> 00:17:03,990 fascinating day and he is 100% 424 00:17:03,990 --> 00:17:06,610 committed uh to doing everything that 425 00:17:06,610 --> 00:17:09,280 we can and he can to support D . P . A . 426 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,280 In this mission . And it's it's not 427 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:13,391 just Korea , it's it's it's Vietnam , 428 00:17:13,391 --> 00:17:15,502 it's it's from World War Two . I mean 429 00:17:15,502 --> 00:17:17,447 there's a lot of work that they're 430 00:17:17,447 --> 00:17:19,502 doing um and he's 100% supportive of 431 00:17:19,502 --> 00:17:22,490 that . He uh he certainly understands 432 00:17:22,490 --> 00:17:25,380 and respects the closure that this 433 00:17:25,390 --> 00:17:28,370 offers to two families of of the of the 434 00:17:28,370 --> 00:17:31,090 fallen and and and the lost . Um and 435 00:17:31,090 --> 00:17:33,140 it's it's it's an incredible effort 436 00:17:33,150 --> 00:17:35,010 that has spanned multiple 437 00:17:35,010 --> 00:17:37,288 administrations . Of course going back . 438 00:17:37,288 --> 00:17:39,399 So I can tell you he's 100% committed 439 00:17:39,399 --> 00:17:41,510 to that now , exactly what that looks 440 00:17:41,510 --> 00:17:43,732 like on the Korean peninsula . I'd have 441 00:17:43,732 --> 00:17:45,732 to get you a better answer . Yeah , 442 00:17:45,732 --> 00:17:47,843 thank you , john I got my audience in 443 00:17:47,843 --> 00:17:50,066 Ukraine . So I got a question on behalf 444 00:17:50,066 --> 00:17:52,288 of my audience . You know , people just 445 00:17:52,288 --> 00:17:54,343 started to return to keith right now 446 00:17:54,343 --> 00:17:53,920 because the Western embassies are 447 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:55,920 returning to . It's a good sign and 448 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:58,340 right now , people are just concerned . 449 00:17:58,340 --> 00:18:00,173 So very much and I spoke with my 450 00:18:00,173 --> 00:18:02,284 colleagues on the ground , I spoke to 451 00:18:02,284 --> 00:18:04,340 politicians today about this Russian 452 00:18:04,340 --> 00:18:06,451 military threat to strike . Ukrainian 453 00:18:06,451 --> 00:18:08,451 decision making centers , including 454 00:18:08,451 --> 00:18:10,284 those in Kiev possibly means the 455 00:18:10,284 --> 00:18:12,229 Minister of Defense possibly means 456 00:18:12,229 --> 00:18:14,396 office of the president . So could you 457 00:18:14,396 --> 00:18:16,820 share your assessment firstly ? Or is 458 00:18:16,820 --> 00:18:19,870 Russia from militarily point of view 459 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:22,450 able to do it ? And secondly , if it 460 00:18:22,450 --> 00:18:24,783 will happen and Ukraine will , you know , 461 00:18:24,783 --> 00:18:26,770 strike back , might it be the 462 00:18:26,770 --> 00:18:29,103 significant escalation of the situation ? 463 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,700 So , I mean , the first answer to your 464 00:18:31,700 --> 00:18:33,811 question is is yes , of course Russia 465 00:18:33,811 --> 00:18:36,033 still has the capability to strike . IV 466 00:18:36,033 --> 00:18:38,930 I mean even as we started to see their 467 00:18:38,930 --> 00:18:42,850 troops retreat from Kiev and china , he 468 00:18:42,850 --> 00:18:46,230 from the north . I said many times that 469 00:18:46,230 --> 00:18:49,730 we do not believe that Kiev was no 470 00:18:49,730 --> 00:18:51,952 longer under threat , particularly from 471 00:18:51,952 --> 00:18:54,174 airstrikes . I mean , we said that many 472 00:18:54,174 --> 00:18:56,452 times in the early stages of this , uh , 473 00:18:56,452 --> 00:18:58,730 this retreat and this repositioning of , 474 00:18:58,730 --> 00:19:01,310 of Russian troops . The Russians still 475 00:19:01,310 --> 00:19:04,780 have uh long range airstrike capability 476 00:19:05,050 --> 00:19:06,883 available to them , whether it's 477 00:19:06,883 --> 00:19:09,560 through missiles or from air launched 478 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:12,720 cruise missiles , um they I'm sorry , 479 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:14,664 ballistic missiles or air launched 480 00:19:14,664 --> 00:19:16,831 cruise missiles , they still have that 481 00:19:16,831 --> 00:19:19,053 capability available to them . We never 482 00:19:19,053 --> 00:19:21,690 for a moment . Um even as the Russians 483 00:19:21,690 --> 00:19:22,912 began to reposition , 484 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,770 I felt that Kiev wasn't potentially 485 00:19:28,770 --> 00:19:31,710 still under threat . I won't I can't 486 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,040 and won't speak to specific 487 00:19:34,050 --> 00:19:36,272 intelligence assessments about what the 488 00:19:36,272 --> 00:19:39,690 likelihood is here , but but we but 489 00:19:39,690 --> 00:19:42,030 we're mindful that that not just key 490 00:19:42,030 --> 00:19:44,252 but other cities in Ukraine could still 491 00:19:44,252 --> 00:19:46,419 come under threat from uh from Russian 492 00:19:46,419 --> 00:19:48,697 air attacks and missile strikes . Okay . 493 00:19:48,940 --> 00:19:50,960 Yeah . You know , it's kind of 494 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,280 surprising that if Russia still has 495 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,447 such strong capabilities to be able to 496 00:19:55,447 --> 00:19:57,502 strike and keep and elsewhere is the 497 00:19:57,502 --> 00:19:59,558 pentagon surprised that they haven't 498 00:19:59,558 --> 00:19:59,280 tried to make an attempt on these 499 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,690 weapons convoys ? And is it was that 500 00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:03,867 part of the calculus going in of where 501 00:20:03,867 --> 00:20:05,867 these weapons are going in that the 502 00:20:05,867 --> 00:20:07,811 possibility that the Russians , we 503 00:20:07,811 --> 00:20:09,589 don't take uh we don't take any 504 00:20:09,589 --> 00:20:13,350 movement of weapons and systems 505 00:20:13,350 --> 00:20:15,460 going into Ukraine for granted . Not 506 00:20:15,470 --> 00:20:18,030 not on any given day . And that's why 507 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:19,929 we're very careful about how much 508 00:20:19,929 --> 00:20:22,151 information we put out there about it . 509 00:20:22,151 --> 00:20:24,320 That's why that we uh were careful to 510 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:26,653 modulate that activity on any given day . 511 00:20:26,653 --> 00:20:28,764 We're not taking it for granted . And 512 00:20:28,764 --> 00:20:30,709 frankly neither are the Ukrainians 513 00:20:30,709 --> 00:20:32,931 either . Um we we get these things into 514 00:20:32,931 --> 00:20:35,200 their hands . Uh and and uh and and 515 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:37,478 they're moving it inside their country . 516 00:20:37,478 --> 00:20:40,100 Uh and uh I think the the less we say 517 00:20:40,100 --> 00:20:43,960 about that , the better , Yeah , 518 00:20:44,380 --> 00:20:46,324 john Ukraine says it reclaimed the 519 00:20:46,324 --> 00:20:48,158 checkpoint along the border with 520 00:20:48,158 --> 00:20:50,269 Belarus . So how important would that 521 00:20:50,269 --> 00:20:52,324 move be at this current stage in the 522 00:20:52,324 --> 00:20:54,269 war ? And is Belarus still hosting 523 00:20:54,269 --> 00:20:56,380 those Russian soldiers , not only to 524 00:20:56,380 --> 00:20:58,547 resupply but redeploy them . I haven't 525 00:20:58,547 --> 00:21:01,120 seen the report that they retaken a 526 00:21:01,120 --> 00:21:03,231 checkpoint . So it's difficult for me 527 00:21:03,231 --> 00:21:05,860 to um to go into much detail about that 528 00:21:05,860 --> 00:21:08,210 we have not seen continued to not to 529 00:21:08,210 --> 00:21:11,800 have not seen um tangible efforts by 530 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:15,020 Belarus to involve their troops inside 531 00:21:15,020 --> 00:21:17,780 Ukraine . Now that said they have 532 00:21:17,780 --> 00:21:19,780 housed Russian troops on their soil 533 00:21:19,780 --> 00:21:21,700 continue to do so today they have 534 00:21:21,700 --> 00:21:23,811 allowed missile strikes to occur from 535 00:21:23,811 --> 00:21:25,756 their soil . They have allowed for 536 00:21:25,756 --> 00:21:27,811 airstrikes to be launched from their 537 00:21:27,811 --> 00:21:29,978 soil so that clearly they are enabling 538 00:21:29,978 --> 00:21:32,210 the Russian invasion inside Ukraine . 539 00:21:32,210 --> 00:21:34,350 But in terms of their actual forces 540 00:21:34,350 --> 00:21:36,517 being involved , we just have not seen 541 00:21:36,517 --> 00:21:38,683 that . And again , I haven't seen this 542 00:21:38,683 --> 00:21:40,739 report . So it's difficult for me to 543 00:21:40,739 --> 00:21:42,517 assess the significance of this 544 00:21:42,517 --> 00:21:45,350 checkpoint , but it certainly wouldn't 545 00:21:45,350 --> 00:21:48,530 surprise me given that once that as the 546 00:21:48,530 --> 00:21:50,863 Russians were retreating from the north , 547 00:21:50,863 --> 00:21:53,030 the Ukrainians were in hot pursuit and 548 00:21:53,030 --> 00:21:55,260 and doing the best they could to to to 549 00:21:55,260 --> 00:21:57,316 make that retreat more difficult for 550 00:21:57,316 --> 00:21:59,410 the Russians more hasty than I think 551 00:21:59,410 --> 00:22:01,632 they wanted it to be . Um and of course 552 00:22:01,632 --> 00:22:04,020 they they had to do a significant 553 00:22:04,020 --> 00:22:06,350 amount of clearance because of concerns 554 00:22:06,350 --> 00:22:10,230 for for landmines . Yeah . Mike Stone 555 00:22:10,230 --> 00:22:14,100 and Reuters , it was just yesterday 556 00:22:14,100 --> 00:22:16,350 that's all I just didn't know . Just 557 00:22:16,350 --> 00:22:18,980 reminding . But I got it in your face 558 00:22:18,980 --> 00:22:21,036 is burned on my brain . Mike stone . 559 00:22:21,036 --> 00:22:23,202 Reuters got it go ahead . Mike Stone . 560 00:22:23,202 --> 00:22:25,369 Yesterday's package didn't include any 561 00:22:25,369 --> 00:22:28,710 Stinger missiles . Is there a reason 562 00:22:28,710 --> 00:22:30,821 for that ? Did the Ukrainians rescind 563 00:22:30,821 --> 00:22:34,080 their request for Stingers or has the 564 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,247 United States par stock been reached ? 565 00:22:36,247 --> 00:22:38,720 No , no , no , no . Again , every 566 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,170 shipment is based on consultations that 567 00:22:41,170 --> 00:22:42,892 we're having directly with the 568 00:22:42,892 --> 00:22:44,726 Ukrainians I think you know , we 569 00:22:44,726 --> 00:22:46,781 detailed for you pretty specifically 570 00:22:46,781 --> 00:22:49,800 what was in this $800 million . Um and 571 00:22:49,810 --> 00:22:51,810 these were these were items that we 572 00:22:51,810 --> 00:22:54,160 knew uh and that Ukrainians made clear 573 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:56,160 that they that they wanted . I mean 574 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,080 we'll have some uh later after the 575 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:01,247 briefing today . I think we'll be able 576 00:23:01,247 --> 00:23:03,191 to give you an update on the total 577 00:23:03,191 --> 00:23:05,136 numbers of things that we provided 578 00:23:05,136 --> 00:23:07,136 including Stingers . And you'll see 579 00:23:07,136 --> 00:23:10,310 that it's it's quite a lot . Um and um 580 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:13,390 I would not rule out going forward in 581 00:23:13,390 --> 00:23:16,660 future drawdown packages or deliveries 582 00:23:16,670 --> 00:23:18,892 of security assistance that there might 583 00:23:18,892 --> 00:23:21,059 be additional Stingers going forward . 584 00:23:21,059 --> 00:23:23,281 But this package was very much tailored 585 00:23:23,281 --> 00:23:26,300 in consultation with the Ukrainians on 586 00:23:26,310 --> 00:23:29,560 what they believed they needed 587 00:23:29,940 --> 00:23:31,829 specifically for the fight in the 588 00:23:31,829 --> 00:23:33,607 Donbas . And as we talked about 589 00:23:33,607 --> 00:23:35,718 yesterday , given the terrain , given 590 00:23:35,718 --> 00:23:37,940 the kinds of reinforcements , given the 591 00:23:37,940 --> 00:23:40,162 kinds of capabilities that the Russians 592 00:23:40,162 --> 00:23:42,218 bless you are beginning to push into 593 00:23:42,218 --> 00:23:45,550 that region . Things like artillery and 594 00:23:45,550 --> 00:23:48,090 counter artillery , radar . Uh , those 595 00:23:48,090 --> 00:23:50,034 were some of the big items that we 596 00:23:50,034 --> 00:23:52,201 really believe were most important for 597 00:23:52,201 --> 00:23:54,423 this next tranche , but I wouldn't rule 598 00:23:54,423 --> 00:23:56,534 out additional deliveries of Stingers 599 00:23:56,534 --> 00:23:59,660 going forward . Yeah . Um I wanted to 600 00:23:59,660 --> 00:24:01,771 follow up and click on your answer to 601 00:24:01,771 --> 00:24:04,520 embrace on the embassy . You said , you 602 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:06,980 know because of marines providing 603 00:24:06,980 --> 00:24:09,380 security . That this you're the Defense 604 00:24:09,380 --> 00:24:11,158 Department would be part of any 605 00:24:11,158 --> 00:24:13,213 discussions but that no decision has 606 00:24:13,213 --> 00:24:15,310 been made . So to make sure I 607 00:24:15,310 --> 00:24:18,620 understand . Yes there are discussions 608 00:24:18,620 --> 00:24:22,060 about when if how to reopen the embassy . 609 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:24,751 I'd refer you to my colleagues at the 610 00:24:24,751 --> 00:24:26,973 State Department said that you would be 611 00:24:26,973 --> 00:24:28,807 part of these discussions but no 612 00:24:28,807 --> 00:24:30,918 decision has been made . Can you tell 613 00:24:30,918 --> 00:24:33,140 us if you are discussing it with them , 614 00:24:33,140 --> 00:24:34,862 I would refer you to the State 615 00:24:34,862 --> 00:24:37,084 Department . My other question is yet , 616 00:24:37,084 --> 00:24:39,307 can't say his name . Pierrot said today 617 00:24:39,340 --> 00:24:42,500 that Russia would significantly bolster 618 00:24:42,500 --> 00:24:44,930 its western flank and start moving 619 00:24:44,930 --> 00:24:47,400 things weapons there . If Finland and 620 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:49,344 Sweden were to join NATO and I was 621 00:24:49,344 --> 00:24:51,567 wondering if you had any update whether 622 00:24:51,567 --> 00:24:54,410 you yet see Russia moving weaponry 623 00:24:54,420 --> 00:24:56,531 towards that flank . I don't have any 624 00:24:56,531 --> 00:24:59,960 update for you on that . Yeah joe 625 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:04,590 thanks . The president used his 626 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,767 drawdown authority several times now . 627 00:25:06,767 --> 00:25:08,790 I think it might be seven um to 628 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:10,690 transfer us military equipment to 629 00:25:10,690 --> 00:25:14,470 Ukraine from us stockpiles and to 630 00:25:14,470 --> 00:25:16,526 follow up on your answer yesterday . 631 00:25:16,526 --> 00:25:18,970 You said that they aren't yet at unsafe 632 00:25:18,970 --> 00:25:21,750 levels . Can you share the metric for 633 00:25:21,750 --> 00:25:24,180 that assessment ? We're gonna be 634 00:25:24,180 --> 00:25:26,347 careful about that , joe . I think you 635 00:25:26,347 --> 00:25:29,330 can imagine um uh I would just tell you 636 00:25:29,330 --> 00:25:31,441 that this is something we're watching 637 00:25:31,441 --> 00:25:33,980 you every single day and it's one of 638 00:25:33,980 --> 00:25:36,147 the reasons why we wanted to have that 639 00:25:36,147 --> 00:25:38,210 roundtable yesterday with Ceos . I'm 640 00:25:38,210 --> 00:25:40,377 not going to get into specific metrics 641 00:25:40,377 --> 00:25:42,599 but I can assure you that we are not at 642 00:25:42,599 --> 00:25:44,543 the point where our inventories of 643 00:25:44,543 --> 00:25:48,120 these systems have have have or will 644 00:25:48,130 --> 00:25:50,830 imminently affect our readiness . We're 645 00:25:50,830 --> 00:25:52,886 watching this literally every single 646 00:25:52,886 --> 00:25:55,052 day . Um , and we don't want to get to 647 00:25:55,052 --> 00:25:57,450 a point where that becomes an issue , 648 00:25:57,460 --> 00:25:59,571 which is again one of the reasons why 649 00:25:59,571 --> 00:26:01,682 we , we had this discussion yesterday 650 00:26:01,682 --> 00:26:03,849 with the C E O s were comfortable that 651 00:26:03,849 --> 00:26:06,140 our stocks are , are in keeping with 652 00:26:06,140 --> 00:26:08,250 our readiness needs . Um , but we 653 00:26:08,260 --> 00:26:10,980 obviously know that as these packages 654 00:26:10,980 --> 00:26:13,970 go on and as the need continues inside 655 00:26:13,970 --> 00:26:16,210 Ukraine , we want to lead turn that we 656 00:26:16,210 --> 00:26:18,210 want to be ahead of the bow wave on 657 00:26:18,210 --> 00:26:20,377 that and not get into a point where it 658 00:26:20,377 --> 00:26:22,488 becomes readiness issue to that end . 659 00:26:22,488 --> 00:26:24,710 Um , will the secretary be recommending 660 00:26:24,710 --> 00:26:26,580 at any point that the defense 661 00:26:26,580 --> 00:26:28,530 production act be used to ramp up 662 00:26:28,540 --> 00:26:31,360 production ? I don't , I don't have 663 00:26:31,360 --> 00:26:33,360 anything to predict with respect to 664 00:26:33,360 --> 00:26:35,770 that joe , I'm not anticipating that . 665 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:37,784 Um , and obviously that would be a 666 00:26:37,784 --> 00:26:39,840 discussion between the president and 667 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:41,951 the secretary , but I know of no such 668 00:26:41,951 --> 00:26:44,062 discussions on that right now jenny , 669 00:26:44,062 --> 00:26:46,360 thank you john , I have expectations on 670 00:26:46,740 --> 00:26:50,410 North Korea . Russia sounds good . 671 00:26:51,740 --> 00:26:55,420 Recently . The Russian defense minister 672 00:26:55,490 --> 00:26:58,670 has asked those current leader kim jong 673 00:26:58,670 --> 00:27:01,500 un to provide the missiles , 674 00:27:01,710 --> 00:27:05,340 ammunition weapons to use for 675 00:27:05,350 --> 00:27:09,060 Ukraine world . What can you say 676 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:13,170 about military cooperation between 677 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:17,130 there's korean , I don't have much 678 00:27:17,140 --> 00:27:20,060 context on any cooperation between 679 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:23,950 North Korea and Russia have 680 00:27:25,340 --> 00:27:27,560 obviously we wouldn't , 681 00:27:29,740 --> 00:27:33,380 we wouldn't approve of any 682 00:27:33,380 --> 00:27:35,880 nation providing material support to 683 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:37,936 Russia in this invasion of Ukraine . 684 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:41,560 But North Korea and china , excuse me . 685 00:27:42,940 --> 00:27:46,620 They support economic and military . 686 00:27:48,060 --> 00:27:51,560 So it can be a affected the more 687 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:55,900 strong world in Ukraine . It affected 688 00:27:55,900 --> 00:27:59,490 the korean peninsula . How did you 689 00:27:59,500 --> 00:28:03,350 estimate ? Yeah , again , we , I 690 00:28:03,350 --> 00:28:05,294 have , let me put it this way . We 691 00:28:05,294 --> 00:28:07,500 haven't seen any tangible support from 692 00:28:07,500 --> 00:28:09,611 either china or North Korea to Russia 693 00:28:09,740 --> 00:28:13,680 0.1 .2 . We in addition to 694 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:15,902 doing everything we can to help Ukraine 695 00:28:15,902 --> 00:28:17,513 defend itself , we also have 696 00:28:17,513 --> 00:28:19,736 responsibilities in South Korea to help 697 00:28:19,736 --> 00:28:21,847 the South Koreans defend themselves . 698 00:28:21,847 --> 00:28:23,870 Um and to reinforce our security 699 00:28:23,870 --> 00:28:26,092 commitments on the Korean peninsula and 700 00:28:26,092 --> 00:28:28,259 we're still very able and very capable 701 00:28:28,259 --> 00:28:31,790 of doing that . South Korea . Excuse me . 702 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,860 Because I haven't with the 703 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:39,220 aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln is 704 00:28:39,220 --> 00:28:42,170 in Korea right now in korean peninsula 705 00:28:42,530 --> 00:28:46,420 with this Abraham Lincoln joint U . 706 00:28:46,420 --> 00:28:49,730 S . And South Korea doing exercises 707 00:28:49,730 --> 00:28:53,720 next week or why they coming to the 708 00:28:53,940 --> 00:28:56,410 korean peninsula . It's not uncommon 709 00:28:56,410 --> 00:28:59,040 for us aircraft carriers to to steam in 710 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:01,480 that part of the world . Um Not unusual 711 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:03,591 at all . I don't have anything on the 712 00:29:03,591 --> 00:29:05,758 Lincoln scheduled to speak to today or 713 00:29:05,758 --> 00:29:07,924 what exercises you might contribute to 714 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:10,071 refer to the U . S . Forces Korea for 715 00:29:10,071 --> 00:29:12,293 that . But look , freedom of navigation 716 00:29:12,293 --> 00:29:14,580 is freedom of navigation and our 717 00:29:14,590 --> 00:29:17,930 carriers demonstrate uh significant 718 00:29:17,940 --> 00:29:20,490 maritime power all over the world . 719 00:29:20,490 --> 00:29:22,601 It's not uncommon for them to operate 720 00:29:22,601 --> 00:29:26,290 in those waters . The mosque was the 721 00:29:26,300 --> 00:29:29,120 flagship of the Black Sea fleet . Do 722 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:31,176 you know the identity of the Admiral 723 00:29:31,176 --> 00:29:34,020 whose flag it was And what I've seen 724 00:29:34,030 --> 00:29:35,030 I've seen 725 00:29:37,140 --> 00:29:40,390 I've seen colloquial comments about her 726 00:29:40,390 --> 00:29:42,612 being the the flagship of the Black Sea 727 00:29:42,612 --> 00:29:44,723 fleet . I have nothing to corroborate 728 00:29:44,723 --> 00:29:46,946 that she was in fact a real flagship in 729 00:29:46,946 --> 00:29:49,168 the way that we consider a flagship . I 730 00:29:49,168 --> 00:29:51,390 mean she's obviously it's a cruiser and 731 00:29:51,390 --> 00:29:53,446 and and probably the biggest surface 732 00:29:53,446 --> 00:29:55,557 combatant that they have in the Black 733 00:29:55,557 --> 00:29:57,779 Sea at this point . Um And there's only 734 00:29:57,779 --> 00:29:57,750 you know there's only three in that 735 00:29:57,750 --> 00:29:59,780 class . So they the Russians didn't 736 00:29:59,780 --> 00:30:01,947 make a lot of them but whether she was 737 00:30:01,947 --> 00:30:04,100 an actual flagship with an actual 738 00:30:04,100 --> 00:30:06,100 Admiral and staff aboard the way we 739 00:30:06,100 --> 00:30:08,156 conceive of it , I just don't know . 740 00:30:08,156 --> 00:30:12,020 Yeah . Yeah . Really I want to 741 00:30:12,030 --> 00:30:14,440 ask you about the security deal between 742 00:30:14,450 --> 00:30:17,120 China and the Solomon island . The 743 00:30:17,130 --> 00:30:19,160 diplomatic efforts are ongoing to 744 00:30:19,170 --> 00:30:21,210 encourage the Solomon islands to 745 00:30:21,210 --> 00:30:23,840 reconsider reconsider the deal . So 746 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:26,470 from the military perspective , do you 747 00:30:26,470 --> 00:30:29,110 think this security deal is a part of 748 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:32,620 china's broad effort to project 749 00:30:32,630 --> 00:30:34,797 power beyond the second island chain ? 750 00:30:35,140 --> 00:30:37,251 It certainly could be . I I refer you 751 00:30:37,251 --> 00:30:39,362 to the State Department more for more 752 00:30:39,362 --> 00:30:41,584 details . Um I would just tell you that 753 00:30:41,584 --> 00:30:43,473 we do understand that the Solomon 754 00:30:43,473 --> 00:30:45,251 Islands and the P . R . C . R . 755 00:30:45,251 --> 00:30:47,251 Discussing a broad security related 756 00:30:47,251 --> 00:30:49,473 agreement . Um The broad nature of that 757 00:30:49,473 --> 00:30:51,584 agreement itself leaves open the door 758 00:30:51,584 --> 00:30:53,584 for the potential deployment of PRC 759 00:30:53,584 --> 00:30:55,862 military forces to the Solomon Islands , 760 00:30:55,862 --> 00:30:58,084 Solomon Islands . Excuse me . Uh And we 761 00:30:58,084 --> 00:31:00,251 believe that signing such an agreement 762 00:31:00,251 --> 00:31:02,473 could actually increase destabilization 763 00:31:02,473 --> 00:31:04,529 within the Solomon Islands and could 764 00:31:04,529 --> 00:31:06,473 set a concerning president for the 765 00:31:06,473 --> 00:31:09,070 wider pacific island region . So I mean 766 00:31:09,070 --> 00:31:11,237 obviously we're concerned about this . 767 00:31:11,237 --> 00:31:13,181 Okay , let me go to the phones . I 768 00:31:13,181 --> 00:31:15,237 haven't done that very much . Jeff . 769 00:31:15,237 --> 00:31:17,403 Seigel . Happy birthday , Jeff , thank 770 00:31:17,403 --> 00:31:19,237 you very much . The Air Force is 771 00:31:19,237 --> 00:31:22,440 helping families of transgender , gay 772 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:25,150 and Children who are in states that 773 00:31:25,150 --> 00:31:27,630 have passed anti gay and trans laws 774 00:31:27,630 --> 00:31:30,190 like florida Alabama and texas . And 775 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:32,422 I'm wondering is the Defense Department 776 00:31:32,422 --> 00:31:34,470 coming up with any policies to help 777 00:31:34,470 --> 00:31:38,390 military families who feel that the who 778 00:31:38,390 --> 00:31:40,450 live in states that have passed laws 779 00:31:40,450 --> 00:31:42,672 like this , Jeff ? I'm not aware of any 780 00:31:42,672 --> 00:31:44,728 departmental wide policies . I think 781 00:31:44,728 --> 00:31:48,240 what the Air Force did was uh was 782 00:31:48,250 --> 00:31:50,510 communicate to airmen and their 783 00:31:50,510 --> 00:31:53,500 families that if they needed any 784 00:31:53,500 --> 00:31:57,170 assistance or advice or counsel um um 785 00:31:57,180 --> 00:32:00,050 as they transferred from base to base 786 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:02,500 uh that there was a set of resources 787 00:32:02,500 --> 00:32:06,350 available to them . Carla bob . 788 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:10,100 D . O . A . Hey thanks john um like 789 00:32:10,100 --> 00:32:12,870 barb I am interested in Russia's threat 790 00:32:12,870 --> 00:32:15,110 to deploy nuclear weapons . Um and 791 00:32:15,110 --> 00:32:17,166 around the Baltic should Finland and 792 00:32:17,166 --> 00:32:20,780 Sweden join NATO . How concerning is 793 00:32:20,780 --> 00:32:24,740 this threat to the pentagon ? And also 794 00:32:24,750 --> 00:32:27,900 Medvedev was claiming that Russia was 795 00:32:27,900 --> 00:32:30,110 not to blame for this . What would he 796 00:32:30,110 --> 00:32:32,054 say about that ? Sorry , that's my 797 00:32:32,054 --> 00:32:34,480 daughter . Sounds like you you've got a 798 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:36,702 bit of an armed conflict going on there 799 00:32:36,702 --> 00:32:40,350 at home ? Are you okay ? We are okay . 800 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:42,416 That is what happens when you try to 801 00:32:42,416 --> 00:32:44,471 lock your office door and you have a 802 00:32:44,471 --> 00:32:47,490 four year old did not sound nonviolent . 803 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:51,970 Um , oh man , I 804 00:32:51,970 --> 00:32:54,081 gotta get my brains wrapped around us 805 00:32:54,081 --> 00:32:56,192 again . Um , uh , look , we obviously 806 00:32:56,192 --> 00:32:58,820 take , uh , any potential nuclear 807 00:32:58,820 --> 00:33:00,931 threat very , very seriously . And we 808 00:33:00,931 --> 00:33:03,098 noted early on in the conflict when Mr 809 00:33:03,098 --> 00:33:06,200 Putin decided to uh , to offer some 810 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:08,144 bellicose rhetoric with respect to 811 00:33:08,144 --> 00:33:10,367 nuclear capabilities . That we noted at 812 00:33:10,367 --> 00:33:12,533 the time that we took that seriously . 813 00:33:12,533 --> 00:33:14,756 Um , and that we continue to monitor it 814 00:33:14,756 --> 00:33:18,210 as best we can . Um , so with respect 815 00:33:18,210 --> 00:33:20,050 to any recent rhetoric , we're 816 00:33:20,050 --> 00:33:22,383 obviously watching that very closely to , 817 00:33:22,383 --> 00:33:24,661 I would just tell you again two things . 818 00:33:24,661 --> 00:33:27,240 Our strategic nuclear deterrent posture 819 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:29,407 is something that the secretary checks 820 00:33:29,407 --> 00:33:31,351 in on every single day . It is not 821 00:33:31,351 --> 00:33:33,407 something that we take for granted . 822 00:33:33,407 --> 00:33:35,629 And number two , we have , we have seen 823 00:33:35,629 --> 00:33:37,660 nothing uh , in the space out there 824 00:33:37,660 --> 00:33:41,530 that , that that has given us , uh , 825 00:33:41,540 --> 00:33:44,910 cause uh , to change that posture , uh , 826 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:47,290 in any tangible way whatsoever . So 827 00:33:47,290 --> 00:33:49,457 we're watching this every single day , 828 00:33:49,730 --> 00:33:52,510 Tony to paseo . Hi john , I want to go 829 00:33:52,510 --> 00:33:54,566 back to the unmanned coastal defense 830 00:33:54,566 --> 00:33:57,200 ships . A senior defense official told 831 00:33:57,200 --> 00:33:59,730 reporters today that Ukraine officers 832 00:33:59,730 --> 00:34:02,008 in the US have already trained on them . 833 00:34:02,008 --> 00:34:04,063 A couple questions for you . Are the 834 00:34:04,063 --> 00:34:06,230 vehicles ? Are the vessels coming from 835 00:34:06,230 --> 00:34:08,452 navy prototype programs . when are they 836 00:34:08,452 --> 00:34:10,760 expected to arrive in Ukraine waters ? 837 00:34:11,240 --> 00:34:13,462 And third are they designed or intended 838 00:34:13,462 --> 00:34:15,900 to attack Russian vessels like the 839 00:34:15,900 --> 00:34:18,570 cruiser moskva . You don't have a 840 00:34:18,580 --> 00:34:20,802 shipment details for you . As I said at 841 00:34:20,802 --> 00:34:22,969 the very top of the briefing . Um , as 842 00:34:22,969 --> 00:34:25,024 I can get you more information about 843 00:34:25,024 --> 00:34:27,080 actual deliveries will do that . I'm 844 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:29,302 just not in a position to do that . The 845 00:34:29,302 --> 00:34:31,469 authorization just came down yesterday 846 00:34:31,469 --> 00:34:33,691 and we're working very hard at sourcing 847 00:34:33,691 --> 00:34:35,747 these things and getting them on the 848 00:34:35,747 --> 00:34:37,969 way to Ukraine as quickly as possible . 849 00:34:37,969 --> 00:34:37,390 I'm not going to talk about the 850 00:34:37,390 --> 00:34:39,557 specific capabilities of these U . S . 851 00:34:39,557 --> 00:34:41,668 V . S . I've talked about them to the 852 00:34:41,668 --> 00:34:43,723 degree that we're going to go . Um , 853 00:34:43,723 --> 00:34:46,030 and they are designed to help Ukraine 854 00:34:46,030 --> 00:34:47,990 with its coastal defense , coastal 855 00:34:47,990 --> 00:34:50,101 defenses . Something that Ukraine has 856 00:34:50,101 --> 00:34:52,323 repeatedly said they're interested in , 857 00:34:52,323 --> 00:34:55,240 It is particularly an acute need now as 858 00:34:55,250 --> 00:34:58,240 um , as we see , the Russians really 859 00:34:58,240 --> 00:35:00,351 refocus their efforts on the east and 860 00:35:00,351 --> 00:35:02,573 the south . And of course when you talk 861 00:35:02,573 --> 00:35:04,684 about the east and the south , you're 862 00:35:04,684 --> 00:35:04,270 talking about the sea of Azov in the 863 00:35:04,270 --> 00:35:06,492 maritime environment and you're talking 864 00:35:06,492 --> 00:35:08,714 about the northern Black Sea . So these 865 00:35:08,714 --> 00:35:11,130 uh , these capabilities will be uh , we 866 00:35:11,130 --> 00:35:13,860 hope helpful in their coastal defense 867 00:35:13,860 --> 00:35:16,027 needs and I really think that's as far 868 00:35:16,027 --> 00:35:17,916 as I'm going to go on it . Okay , 869 00:35:17,916 --> 00:35:20,138 thanks everybody appreciate it . We are 870 00:35:20,138 --> 00:35:23,450 not briefing tomorrow . Um , given the 871 00:35:23,460 --> 00:35:25,516 holiday weekend coming up ? So we'll 872 00:35:25,516 --> 00:35:26,470 see you guys on monday .