1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:03,620 a couple of things that stop here . I 2 00:00:03,630 --> 00:00:04,550 think you saw 3 00:00:07,940 --> 00:00:08,950 it quit on me . 4 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:16,662 I think you saw that this morning . The 5 00:00:16,662 --> 00:00:18,329 secretary called his Romanian 6 00:00:18,329 --> 00:00:20,496 counterpart . Minister uh thank you to 7 00:00:20,496 --> 00:00:22,718 continue coordinating our assistance to 8 00:00:22,718 --> 00:00:24,773 the Ukrainian people who are bravely 9 00:00:24,773 --> 00:00:28,260 resisting Russia . Russians Russia's 10 00:00:28,270 --> 00:00:31,280 aggression . Both leaders shared a 11 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:33,336 sense of urgency , a shared sense of 12 00:00:33,336 --> 00:00:35,620 urgency given what's going on in the 13 00:00:35,630 --> 00:00:37,797 eastern part of the country . And both 14 00:00:37,797 --> 00:00:40,470 leaders of course commended allied 15 00:00:40,470 --> 00:00:42,470 efforts to provide humanitarian and 16 00:00:42,470 --> 00:00:44,303 security assistance to Ukraine . 17 00:00:44,540 --> 00:00:46,840 Secretary also commended Romania for 18 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:48,920 welcoming hundreds of thousands of 19 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,390 Ukrainian refugees . And he was able to 20 00:00:51,390 --> 00:00:53,557 get an update from the Minister on the 21 00:00:53,557 --> 00:00:55,390 formation of the french led NATO 22 00:00:55,390 --> 00:00:57,446 multinational battle group that's in 23 00:00:57,446 --> 00:00:59,557 Romania . I think we issued a readout 24 00:00:59,557 --> 00:01:01,501 of that call a little bit ago this 25 00:01:01,501 --> 00:01:03,612 afternoon . I think as you all know , 26 00:01:03,612 --> 00:01:05,723 the Secretary is now meeting with the 27 00:01:05,723 --> 00:01:05,410 Philippines Secretary of National 28 00:01:05,410 --> 00:01:07,466 Defense Delfin Lorenzana here at the 29 00:01:07,466 --> 00:01:10,060 pentagon just upstairs uh to discuss 30 00:01:10,060 --> 00:01:11,782 ways to continue to deepen our 31 00:01:11,782 --> 00:01:13,449 cooperation under the U . S . 32 00:01:13,449 --> 00:01:16,230 Philippines alliance . Both ministers 33 00:01:16,230 --> 00:01:18,310 will reiterate their commitment to 34 00:01:18,430 --> 00:01:20,652 supporting the security , stability and 35 00:01:20,652 --> 00:01:22,763 prosperity in the indo pacific and to 36 00:01:22,763 --> 00:01:24,874 ensuring the alliance remains capable 37 00:01:24,874 --> 00:01:26,597 and based on shared values and 38 00:01:26,597 --> 00:01:29,070 interests . They are also scheduled to 39 00:01:29,070 --> 00:01:31,070 of course discuss the importance of 40 00:01:31,070 --> 00:01:33,070 acting in unison to condemn Russian 41 00:01:33,070 --> 00:01:35,070 aggression and acting in solidarity 42 00:01:35,070 --> 00:01:37,237 with Ukraine . Finally , the Secretary 43 00:01:37,237 --> 00:01:39,459 will express his deepest condolences on 44 00:01:39,459 --> 00:01:41,681 behalf of the department for the tragic 45 00:01:41,681 --> 00:01:43,626 loss of life in the wake uh in the 46 00:01:43,626 --> 00:01:45,626 Philippines in the wake of tropical 47 00:01:45,626 --> 00:01:48,450 storm meg . I I think it's more than 48 00:01:48,500 --> 00:01:51,070 100 Filipinos now who have lost their 49 00:01:51,070 --> 00:01:53,080 lives as a result of that tropical 50 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,820 storm . And with that we'll take your 51 00:01:55,820 --> 00:01:58,030 questions bob . I think you're on the 52 00:01:58,030 --> 00:02:01,140 phone . Yes , thank you , john on 53 00:02:01,150 --> 00:02:04,580 Ukraine , wondering what signs you 54 00:02:04,580 --> 00:02:06,430 might be seeing of an imminent 55 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,700 escalation of the Russian offensive in 56 00:02:09,700 --> 00:02:12,720 the Don boss based on recent airstrike 57 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:14,609 activity or other indicators that 58 00:02:14,609 --> 00:02:17,820 you're monitoring bob . Can you repeat 59 00:02:17,820 --> 00:02:21,050 that ? Yeah . What 60 00:02:21,640 --> 00:02:23,990 what signs you might be seeing of an 61 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,020 imminent escalation in the Russian um 62 00:02:27,030 --> 00:02:29,720 of the Russian offensive in the Don box 63 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,550 based on recent airstrike activity or 64 00:02:32,550 --> 00:02:34,661 other things that you're monitoring . 65 00:02:34,661 --> 00:02:36,606 So I would say what , just kind of 66 00:02:36,606 --> 00:02:38,606 reset what we've seen over the last 67 00:02:38,606 --> 00:02:40,772 couple of days and hopefully this will 68 00:02:40,772 --> 00:02:42,994 get your question . I mean we have seen 69 00:02:42,994 --> 00:02:44,994 the Russians continue to flow in um 70 00:02:44,994 --> 00:02:47,540 enablers capabilities that will help 71 00:02:47,540 --> 00:02:51,050 them um fight in the Donbas 72 00:02:51,060 --> 00:02:53,510 going forward . That's artillery 73 00:02:54,670 --> 00:02:57,350 rotary aviation , helicopter support , 74 00:02:57,740 --> 00:03:00,330 Command and control enablers . And we 75 00:03:00,330 --> 00:03:02,940 do believe that they have reinforced 76 00:03:02,950 --> 00:03:05,172 the number of battalion tactical groups 77 00:03:05,172 --> 00:03:07,890 uh in the east and the south of Ukraine . 78 00:03:07,890 --> 00:03:10,112 Now we can't say specifically where all 79 00:03:10,112 --> 00:03:12,070 these battalions uh these tactical 80 00:03:12,070 --> 00:03:14,330 groups are going , but we have seen 81 00:03:14,330 --> 00:03:16,430 over the last few days that they've 82 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,180 added now more than 10 to what they 83 00:03:19,180 --> 00:03:21,790 already had there in that part of the 84 00:03:21,790 --> 00:03:24,060 country separate and distinct from that 85 00:03:24,070 --> 00:03:26,014 bob . We have continued to see the 86 00:03:26,014 --> 00:03:28,126 concentration of their airstrikes and 87 00:03:28,126 --> 00:03:30,770 artillery in the Donbas and in the 88 00:03:30,770 --> 00:03:33,310 south particularly around and in Mario 89 00:03:33,310 --> 00:03:35,530 po that's where the preponderance of 90 00:03:35,530 --> 00:03:38,120 their strike activity has has gone . 91 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,287 And the fighting , Mario Mario po , as 92 00:03:40,287 --> 00:03:42,453 you guys have all seen continues , the 93 00:03:42,453 --> 00:03:44,509 Ukrainians are still resisting . The 94 00:03:44,509 --> 00:03:46,731 city has not fallen to the Russians but 95 00:03:46,731 --> 00:03:48,898 they continue to pound it from the air 96 00:03:48,898 --> 00:03:51,064 and and through and through long range 97 00:03:51,064 --> 00:03:54,010 fires . So it's been a just over the 98 00:03:54,010 --> 00:03:56,232 last several days , you can see you can 99 00:03:56,232 --> 00:03:58,620 continue to see the Russians are are 100 00:03:58,620 --> 00:04:00,676 doing what we call shaping . They're 101 00:04:00,676 --> 00:04:02,750 trying to set the conditions for uh 102 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,640 more aggressive , more overt and larger 103 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,020 ground maneuvers in the Donbas , but 104 00:04:08,020 --> 00:04:10,520 again , I would remind this is an area 105 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,631 of the country that has seen fighting 106 00:04:12,631 --> 00:04:14,742 over the last eight years . This is a 107 00:04:14,742 --> 00:04:16,909 terrain that both sides understand and 108 00:04:16,909 --> 00:04:19,131 know uh , and the Ukrainians , it's not 109 00:04:19,131 --> 00:04:21,242 like they never left the Don boss and 110 00:04:21,242 --> 00:04:23,353 only have been , you know , racing to 111 00:04:23,353 --> 00:04:25,464 get there in the in the , in the last 112 00:04:25,464 --> 00:04:27,131 few days they have been there 113 00:04:27,131 --> 00:04:29,353 throughout this invasion and throughout 114 00:04:29,353 --> 00:04:29,250 the last eight years and they continue 115 00:04:29,250 --> 00:04:32,460 to fight very , very strongly for for 116 00:04:32,460 --> 00:04:34,627 places in the Donbas . And and we have 117 00:04:34,627 --> 00:04:37,010 seen indications in just the last few 118 00:04:37,010 --> 00:04:39,200 days that the Ukrainians not only have 119 00:04:39,340 --> 00:04:41,451 have defended bravely , but they have 120 00:04:41,451 --> 00:04:43,507 been able to secure certain villages 121 00:04:43,507 --> 00:04:47,250 and towns in the Donbas Travis . Yeah , 122 00:04:47,260 --> 00:04:49,482 I have a question about Ukraine two and 123 00:04:49,482 --> 00:04:51,880 US troops training Ukrainians on the 124 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,840 hausers and the radar systems . Um 125 00:04:54,850 --> 00:04:56,906 we've heard that that training could 126 00:04:56,906 --> 00:04:59,128 start this week . I'm just wondering if 127 00:04:59,128 --> 00:05:01,239 there are additional details like you 128 00:05:01,239 --> 00:05:03,406 know , how many U . S . Troops will be 129 00:05:03,406 --> 00:05:05,294 involved , where this is going to 130 00:05:05,294 --> 00:05:07,517 happen ? Um some essential details like 131 00:05:07,517 --> 00:05:09,739 that . Whereas is this going to be held 132 00:05:09,739 --> 00:05:12,140 closely by the pentagon ? I think we're 133 00:05:12,150 --> 00:05:15,150 gonna obviously , mm hmm . So let me 134 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:19,160 back up . It is true that we believe 135 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:23,000 will be able to begin a process of 136 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,320 training Ukrainian armed forces on the 137 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,970 howitzers that will be shortly heading 138 00:05:28,970 --> 00:05:31,780 over . Um that training will occur 139 00:05:31,780 --> 00:05:34,180 outside of Ukraine . It'll be more of a 140 00:05:34,180 --> 00:05:36,458 train the trainers kind of environment . 141 00:05:36,458 --> 00:05:38,124 So it'll be a small number of 142 00:05:38,124 --> 00:05:40,291 Ukrainians that will be trained on the 143 00:05:40,291 --> 00:05:42,069 howitzers and then they will be 144 00:05:42,069 --> 00:05:44,291 reintroduced back into their country to 145 00:05:44,291 --> 00:05:46,291 train their colleagues . Um I'm not 146 00:05:46,291 --> 00:05:48,513 going to get into the locations , it'll 147 00:05:48,513 --> 00:05:50,624 be outside of Ukraine . I'm I'm going 148 00:05:50,624 --> 00:05:52,847 to refrain right now from talking about 149 00:05:52,847 --> 00:05:56,050 who's going to be doing the training uh 150 00:05:56,060 --> 00:05:58,227 and and and exactly on what timeline . 151 00:05:58,227 --> 00:06:01,550 Um I think as we get closer to things , 152 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:03,560 we may be able to talk a little bit 153 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:05,782 more about it , but there is a plan now 154 00:06:05,782 --> 00:06:08,004 that we are beginning to execute and we 155 00:06:08,004 --> 00:06:10,171 think that that training can happen in 156 00:06:10,171 --> 00:06:12,227 the next several days . Important to 157 00:06:12,227 --> 00:06:14,227 remember Travis that this is not as 158 00:06:14,227 --> 00:06:16,393 while this particular system is is new 159 00:06:16,393 --> 00:06:18,338 to the Ukrainians . They don't use 160 00:06:18,338 --> 00:06:20,282 american howitzers in , in , in in 161 00:06:20,282 --> 00:06:23,360 artillery . They understand how to use 162 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:25,990 artillery and it won't , we don't 163 00:06:25,990 --> 00:06:29,240 believe will take very long or require 164 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,351 much detailed training to get them up 165 00:06:31,351 --> 00:06:34,230 to speed on american howitzers , uh , 166 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,650 an artillery piece . So I've been told 167 00:06:36,650 --> 00:06:38,920 is not unlike other artillery pieces . 168 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:40,976 The basic outlines of the system are 169 00:06:40,976 --> 00:06:43,031 the same . Well , we'll just have to 170 00:06:43,031 --> 00:06:45,253 get them up to speed on the particulars 171 00:06:45,253 --> 00:06:47,087 of our howitzers . These are 155 172 00:06:47,087 --> 00:06:49,240 Howitzers . The Ukrainians typically 173 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,407 use 152 . It's a different caliber but 174 00:06:51,407 --> 00:06:53,518 it doesn't mean that it's going to be 175 00:06:53,518 --> 00:06:55,462 overly laborious to get them up to 176 00:06:55,462 --> 00:06:57,684 speed on this . And I think again we'll 177 00:06:57,684 --> 00:07:00,210 be able to get this training done at 178 00:07:00,210 --> 00:07:02,432 least the first round of it in the next 179 00:07:02,432 --> 00:07:04,377 several days . And if I could just 180 00:07:04,377 --> 00:07:06,543 follow up obviously the battlefield is 181 00:07:06,543 --> 00:07:08,432 is very fluid with Maria pole and 182 00:07:08,432 --> 00:07:10,543 what's happening Don boss . But is it 183 00:07:10,543 --> 00:07:12,710 possible at this point in time to talk 184 00:07:12,710 --> 00:07:14,932 at all about how this training and this 185 00:07:14,932 --> 00:07:17,099 equipment , like the howitzers and the 186 00:07:17,099 --> 00:07:19,890 radars could influence the battle or 187 00:07:19,890 --> 00:07:22,112 what capabilities would give Ukrainians 188 00:07:22,112 --> 00:07:24,223 artillery is a specific item that the 189 00:07:24,223 --> 00:07:26,223 Ukrainians asked for because of the 190 00:07:26,223 --> 00:07:28,334 fighting that they expect is going to 191 00:07:28,334 --> 00:07:30,557 occur in the Donbas . Again , I want to 192 00:07:30,557 --> 00:07:32,723 remind , there has been fighting there 193 00:07:32,723 --> 00:07:34,668 for eight years . There's fighting 194 00:07:34,668 --> 00:07:36,668 there today . But the terrain lends 195 00:07:36,668 --> 00:07:39,520 itself to the use of artillery to long 196 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,280 range fires as we call it ? And we know 197 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:44,660 that the Russians also believe the same 198 00:07:44,660 --> 00:07:46,716 thing because we're seeing them move 199 00:07:46,716 --> 00:07:49,049 artillery units into the Donbas as well . 200 00:07:49,049 --> 00:07:50,730 Um and so we want to give the 201 00:07:50,730 --> 00:07:52,897 Ukrainians every bit of advantage that 202 00:07:52,897 --> 00:07:54,952 we can , they specifically asked for 203 00:07:54,952 --> 00:07:56,952 artillery support . And we answered 204 00:07:56,952 --> 00:07:59,630 that with this recent drawdown package 205 00:07:59,630 --> 00:08:02,310 that was just authorized on the 13th . 206 00:08:02,310 --> 00:08:04,560 So that was Wednesday of last week 207 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:09,850 And it's 18 Howitzers , 40,000 rounds 208 00:08:09,860 --> 00:08:12,820 of artillery , 155 artillery that will 209 00:08:12,820 --> 00:08:15,220 go with the hausers . Um and look , 210 00:08:15,220 --> 00:08:17,331 we'll continue to talk with them . It 211 00:08:17,331 --> 00:08:19,553 will be an interactive conversation and 212 00:08:19,553 --> 00:08:21,553 there there there may be additional 213 00:08:21,553 --> 00:08:23,720 security assistance that that comes on 214 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:25,720 top of what we just announced . You 215 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:25,500 didn't ask this . But I think it's 216 00:08:25,500 --> 00:08:28,770 important to also point out that that 217 00:08:28,780 --> 00:08:31,002 authorization from the president was on 218 00:08:31,002 --> 00:08:33,169 the 13th , the exact execute order was 219 00:08:33,169 --> 00:08:36,070 issued on the 14th and on the 15th . 220 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,070 Two days later , the first shipment 221 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,030 started arriving in the theatre of 222 00:08:41,030 --> 00:08:43,230 stuff from that 800 million drawdown 223 00:08:43,230 --> 00:08:45,397 package . Now again , I'm not going to 224 00:08:45,397 --> 00:08:47,619 get into the Inventory list and exactly 225 00:08:47,619 --> 00:08:49,730 what was on that first shipment . But 226 00:08:49,730 --> 00:08:51,897 that is unprecedented speed . 48 hours 227 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,470 after authorization from the President 228 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:56,536 first plane was on its way and there 229 00:08:56,536 --> 00:08:58,591 have been subsequent shipments since 230 00:08:58,591 --> 00:09:00,813 then . Almost a half a dozen as you and 231 00:09:00,813 --> 00:09:03,036 I speak here today have already arrived 232 00:09:03,036 --> 00:09:06,540 in the region . Sylvie . I have two 233 00:09:06,550 --> 00:09:09,480 questions . 1st . The Russians 234 00:09:09,490 --> 00:09:12,210 announced that they have bombed 235 00:09:12,380 --> 00:09:16,160 weapons to cage facility where 236 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,990 some Western weapons were stuck . Can 237 00:09:19,990 --> 00:09:22,720 you confirm that ? No , I know that 238 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:26,670 they struck Levin they hit 239 00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:28,890 they hit targets in LVIV and uh and I 240 00:09:28,890 --> 00:09:31,112 think they also struck in and Kiev over 241 00:09:31,112 --> 00:09:34,230 the last couple of days we don't have a 242 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,462 clear sense of battle damage assessment 243 00:09:36,462 --> 00:09:38,684 about what they were targeting and what 244 00:09:38,684 --> 00:09:41,840 they hit . Um at this time we don't 245 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,010 have any indication that Western aid 246 00:09:44,020 --> 00:09:47,640 was was targeted and or head or 247 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:49,529 destroyed . But again we're still 248 00:09:49,529 --> 00:09:51,751 working our way through the B . D . A . 249 00:09:51,751 --> 00:09:53,418 As you will the battle damage 250 00:09:53,418 --> 00:09:53,370 assessment and I just don't have more 251 00:09:53,370 --> 00:09:57,110 for you than that to follow up 252 00:09:57,110 --> 00:10:00,670 on bob's question you said 253 00:10:00,680 --> 00:10:04,410 last week that the Russians still had , 254 00:10:04,730 --> 00:10:08,090 they were not ready to launch their new 255 00:10:08,100 --> 00:10:11,470 battle , that they had still logistic 256 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,160 problems . Do you assess that they 257 00:10:14,170 --> 00:10:16,910 improved their logistic preparation now 258 00:10:16,910 --> 00:10:20,100 and they could be able to launch too 259 00:10:20,100 --> 00:10:22,170 soon to tell Sylvia . I mean , these 260 00:10:22,170 --> 00:10:24,650 are these appear to be chronic 261 00:10:24,660 --> 00:10:26,827 difficulties that the Russian military 262 00:10:26,827 --> 00:10:28,716 has had in terms of logistics and 263 00:10:28,716 --> 00:10:30,882 sustainment , command and control unit 264 00:10:30,882 --> 00:10:32,660 cohesion , operational maneuver 265 00:10:32,660 --> 00:10:34,493 integration of air to ground all 266 00:10:34,493 --> 00:10:36,660 problems that they still suffer from . 267 00:10:36,660 --> 00:10:38,660 Um So it remains to be seen whether 268 00:10:38,660 --> 00:10:40,716 they have quote fixed these problems 269 00:10:40,716 --> 00:10:42,882 and are now ready to execute in a more 270 00:10:42,882 --> 00:10:44,882 efficient way in the Don boss . Our 271 00:10:44,882 --> 00:10:46,771 assessment is that they are still 272 00:10:46,771 --> 00:10:48,993 struggling with a lot of these problems 273 00:10:48,993 --> 00:10:51,049 are also also our assessment is that 274 00:10:51,049 --> 00:10:53,216 part of the reason we're talking about 275 00:10:53,216 --> 00:10:55,271 shaping operations in the Donbass is 276 00:10:55,271 --> 00:10:55,040 because the Russians are trying to 277 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,030 learn from their mistakes . So , uh in 278 00:10:58,030 --> 00:11:00,030 the last few days we have seen them 279 00:11:00,030 --> 00:11:01,919 move in . As I said , command and 280 00:11:01,919 --> 00:11:03,919 control enablers aviation support , 281 00:11:03,919 --> 00:11:06,400 largely helicopters moving in artillery 282 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,230 units ahead of what would be massive 283 00:11:09,230 --> 00:11:11,286 ground movements by troops or larger 284 00:11:11,286 --> 00:11:13,230 ground movements by troops . So it 285 00:11:13,230 --> 00:11:15,397 appears as if they are trying to learn 286 00:11:15,397 --> 00:11:17,452 from those mistakes . But again , it 287 00:11:17,452 --> 00:11:19,397 remains to be seen whether they've 288 00:11:19,397 --> 00:11:21,341 actually fixed their problems . We 289 00:11:21,341 --> 00:11:23,563 still assess that on many levels and in 290 00:11:23,563 --> 00:11:25,619 many ways they still haven't figured 291 00:11:25,619 --> 00:11:27,730 out logistics and sustainment and and 292 00:11:27,730 --> 00:11:27,450 they still have command and control 293 00:11:27,450 --> 00:11:29,672 problems . But again , it remains to be 294 00:11:29,672 --> 00:11:33,390 seen . David , you say that the 295 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,178 Russians are conducting shaping 296 00:11:35,178 --> 00:11:37,720 operations . The Secretary of the 297 00:11:37,730 --> 00:11:40,040 Ukrainian Security Council was on 298 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,890 television Ukraine this morning saying 299 00:11:42,890 --> 00:11:46,360 that the active phase of the offensive 300 00:11:47,140 --> 00:11:50,620 has begun from Kharkiv down to , 301 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,500 Yeah , do you agree with that ? I 302 00:11:55,510 --> 00:11:57,343 certainly ignored no position to 303 00:11:57,343 --> 00:11:59,510 dispute with the Ukrainians are seeing 304 00:11:59,510 --> 00:12:01,788 on the ground . David there there . Um , 305 00:12:01,788 --> 00:12:04,010 I've also said and said repeatedly that 306 00:12:04,010 --> 00:12:06,232 there have been active operations going 307 00:12:06,232 --> 00:12:08,454 on in the Donbas since the beginning of 308 00:12:08,454 --> 00:12:10,510 this invasion . In fact for the last 309 00:12:10,510 --> 00:12:12,510 eight years . So we absolutely have 310 00:12:12,510 --> 00:12:14,677 seen and we've acknowledged that we've 311 00:12:14,677 --> 00:12:17,570 seen offensive and defensive operations 312 00:12:17,570 --> 00:12:19,792 by both the Russians and the Ukrainians 313 00:12:19,792 --> 00:12:21,626 in just the last several weeks . 314 00:12:21,626 --> 00:12:23,848 There's no question . And I just said a 315 00:12:23,848 --> 00:12:25,959 few minutes ago , we've seen that the 316 00:12:25,959 --> 00:12:27,737 Ukrainians move against Russian 317 00:12:27,737 --> 00:12:29,959 positions in certain towns and villages 318 00:12:29,959 --> 00:12:29,040 and we believe that they've been able 319 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,200 to re secure some of those towns and 320 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:33,530 villages in the Donbas . So we're not 321 00:12:33,530 --> 00:12:36,840 disputing that there's not combat going 322 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,173 on in the Donbas . What we're saying is , 323 00:12:39,173 --> 00:12:42,020 um , we're seeing we're we still 324 00:12:42,020 --> 00:12:44,980 consider what we're seeing to be a 325 00:12:44,990 --> 00:12:47,101 piece of shaping operations that they 326 00:12:47,101 --> 00:12:49,268 are , that the Russians are continuing 327 00:12:49,268 --> 00:12:51,268 to set the conditions for what they 328 00:12:51,268 --> 00:12:53,490 believe will be eventual success on the 329 00:12:53,490 --> 00:12:55,510 ground by using by putting in more 330 00:12:55,510 --> 00:12:57,520 forces putting in more enablers , 331 00:12:57,530 --> 00:12:59,530 putting in more command and control 332 00:12:59,530 --> 00:13:01,641 capability for operations yet to come 333 00:13:02,790 --> 00:13:05,560 in a different way . Do you believe the 334 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,840 Russian offensive in the east has begun ? 335 00:13:08,850 --> 00:13:10,683 We believe that the Russians are 336 00:13:10,683 --> 00:13:12,850 shaping and setting the conditions for 337 00:13:12,850 --> 00:13:14,961 future offensive operations . We also 338 00:13:14,961 --> 00:13:17,530 see David that there is active combat 339 00:13:17,530 --> 00:13:19,586 going on right now in the Donbass as 340 00:13:19,586 --> 00:13:21,586 there has been for the last several 341 00:13:21,586 --> 00:13:23,586 weeks . Yeah . Um , there have been 342 00:13:23,586 --> 00:13:26,000 some reports that both Russians and 343 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,056 Ukrainians who've been using cluster 344 00:13:28,056 --> 00:13:30,222 munitions . Is that something you guys 345 00:13:30,222 --> 00:13:32,333 have seen or can confirm ? We are not 346 00:13:32,333 --> 00:13:34,444 in a position to independently verify 347 00:13:34,444 --> 00:13:36,667 the use of cluster munitions . I mean , 348 00:13:36,667 --> 00:13:36,300 we've seen the video , of course the 349 00:13:36,300 --> 00:13:38,356 same video that I'm sure you've seen 350 00:13:38,356 --> 00:13:40,411 and looked at , but without being on 351 00:13:40,411 --> 00:13:42,522 the ground , it's difficult for us to 352 00:13:42,522 --> 00:13:44,744 say definitively and independently that 353 00:13:44,744 --> 00:13:46,633 we can confirm that certainly not 354 00:13:46,633 --> 00:13:48,800 refuting the images or what others are 355 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,670 saying about it . Okay , uh , jenny , 356 00:13:51,670 --> 00:13:53,670 I'll come back to you in a second . 357 00:13:53,670 --> 00:13:56,120 Okay . The Washington examiner two 358 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,870 questions first . Has any usa not 359 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:01,991 gotten to where it's supposed to go . 360 00:14:01,991 --> 00:14:04,102 And secondly , could we get an update 361 00:14:04,102 --> 00:14:05,991 on Russia's military capability ? 362 00:14:06,210 --> 00:14:08,520 That's a that's second one's a big one 363 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,500 mike . So on the first one , um , Just 364 00:14:11,500 --> 00:14:13,870 to remind what we're doing is helping 365 00:14:13,870 --> 00:14:16,140 coordinate the transshipment of not 366 00:14:16,140 --> 00:14:18,029 only us security assistance , but 367 00:14:18,029 --> 00:14:20,084 security assistance provided by many 368 00:14:20,084 --> 00:14:22,251 other nations , more than 30 . Getting 369 00:14:22,251 --> 00:14:24,307 it into Ukrainian hands , Getting it 370 00:14:24,307 --> 00:14:27,780 into Ukraine using ground methods and 371 00:14:27,780 --> 00:14:29,780 that's as far as I'm going to go in 372 00:14:29,780 --> 00:14:31,724 terms of the details on that . And 373 00:14:31,724 --> 00:14:33,669 we're confident that that material 374 00:14:33,669 --> 00:14:35,780 continues to get into Ukraine once it 375 00:14:35,780 --> 00:14:37,947 gets into Ukrainian hands , it's up to 376 00:14:37,947 --> 00:14:40,002 the Ukrainian armed forces to decide 377 00:14:40,002 --> 00:14:42,280 where it goes . What unit gets it when , 378 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:42,150 where it's stored . If it's stored at 379 00:14:42,150 --> 00:14:44,150 all temporarily . That is up to the 380 00:14:44,150 --> 00:14:46,150 Ukrainians to decide not the United 381 00:14:46,150 --> 00:14:48,261 States , we're not putting strings on 382 00:14:48,261 --> 00:14:50,372 this stuff and telling them that they 383 00:14:50,372 --> 00:14:52,539 have to move this by a certain date or 384 00:14:52,539 --> 00:14:52,340 get it to a certain unit that that we 385 00:14:52,340 --> 00:14:54,396 would not step on their toes in that 386 00:14:54,396 --> 00:14:56,729 regard . Our job , get it in the region , 387 00:14:56,729 --> 00:14:58,673 get it into Ukraine . And then the 388 00:14:58,673 --> 00:15:00,896 Ukrainians use it in the field . As for 389 00:15:00,896 --> 00:15:03,062 Russian military capability . That's a 390 00:15:03,062 --> 00:15:05,284 very big question . So I'll do the best 391 00:15:05,284 --> 00:15:07,451 I can . I mean we still assess that in 392 00:15:07,451 --> 00:15:09,562 general . They have the vast majority 393 00:15:09,562 --> 00:15:11,673 of their their assembled combat power 394 00:15:11,673 --> 00:15:15,060 available to them um uh that they from 395 00:15:15,070 --> 00:15:16,959 from what they assembled over the 396 00:15:16,959 --> 00:15:18,959 course of the fall and in the early 397 00:15:18,959 --> 00:15:21,126 winter months or weeks . Um They still 398 00:15:21,126 --> 00:15:23,348 have a lot of that amassed combat power 399 00:15:23,348 --> 00:15:25,514 available to them . They have suffered 400 00:15:25,514 --> 00:15:27,792 losses , they have suffered casualties , 401 00:15:27,792 --> 00:15:29,848 they have lost platforms and systems 402 00:15:29,848 --> 00:15:31,737 whether it's aircraft or tanks or 403 00:15:31,737 --> 00:15:33,737 armored personnel carriers . You've 404 00:15:33,737 --> 00:15:35,848 seen the video yourself , you've seen 405 00:15:35,848 --> 00:15:37,903 these destroyed Russian platforms on 406 00:15:37,903 --> 00:15:39,903 the side of the road but they still 407 00:15:39,903 --> 00:15:42,070 have quite a bit of capability left to 408 00:15:42,070 --> 00:15:41,980 them now . They are concentrating that 409 00:15:41,980 --> 00:15:44,202 capability in a smaller geographic area 410 00:15:44,202 --> 00:15:46,258 and the Don bosco specifically , but 411 00:15:46,258 --> 00:15:48,424 also in the south . Um And so they are 412 00:15:48,424 --> 00:15:50,690 trying , as I answered earlier , they 413 00:15:50,690 --> 00:15:52,746 are trying to overcome some of their 414 00:15:52,746 --> 00:15:54,523 logistics and sustainment their 415 00:15:54,523 --> 00:15:56,301 interior lines of communication 416 00:15:56,301 --> 00:15:58,468 problems . If you will uh they will uh 417 00:15:58,468 --> 00:16:01,100 they won't have as far to go in the 418 00:16:01,100 --> 00:16:04,110 Donbas to reinforce and resupply 419 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:07,190 refuel their forces in the Donbas 420 00:16:07,190 --> 00:16:09,246 because it's they have a long border 421 00:16:09,246 --> 00:16:12,050 with that part of Ukraine . Um and they 422 00:16:12,050 --> 00:16:14,860 are certainly adding combat capability 423 00:16:14,870 --> 00:16:16,930 in that part of Ukraine . It is a 424 00:16:16,930 --> 00:16:20,330 smaller again piece of ground than what 425 00:16:20,330 --> 00:16:22,330 they have been trying to operate in 426 00:16:22,330 --> 00:16:24,497 over the last 3 to 4 weeks along three 427 00:16:24,497 --> 00:16:27,080 major lines of access across the entire 428 00:16:27,090 --> 00:16:29,280 eastern half of the country . Now . 429 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,447 They've concentrated it and they still 430 00:16:31,447 --> 00:16:34,690 have a lot of combat power uh to uh to 431 00:16:34,690 --> 00:16:36,579 use their . It's also , as I said 432 00:16:36,579 --> 00:16:38,579 earlier terrain they're comfortable 433 00:16:38,579 --> 00:16:40,746 with , they've been fighting over this 434 00:16:40,746 --> 00:16:42,690 over the Donbas area now for eight 435 00:16:42,690 --> 00:16:44,800 years . So their commanders , their 436 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,510 troops , there's a familiarity with the 437 00:16:47,510 --> 00:16:49,566 cities and the towns and the and the 438 00:16:49,566 --> 00:16:51,621 terrain that they didn't necessarily 439 00:16:51,621 --> 00:16:53,732 have when they were trying to come at 440 00:16:53,732 --> 00:16:55,899 key from the north and china , he from 441 00:16:55,899 --> 00:16:58,121 the north and then you know from Crimea 442 00:16:58,121 --> 00:17:00,288 into the south . So um that that we we 443 00:17:00,340 --> 00:17:03,620 I would expect that that they're going 444 00:17:03,620 --> 00:17:05,342 to try again through their own 445 00:17:05,342 --> 00:17:07,398 familiarity with the terrain and the 446 00:17:07,398 --> 00:17:09,509 mistakes they made , they're going to 447 00:17:09,509 --> 00:17:11,620 try to overcome them . Has there been 448 00:17:11,620 --> 00:17:13,842 any change ? Any big fluctuation within 449 00:17:13,842 --> 00:17:15,731 the last week or so or last short 450 00:17:15,731 --> 00:17:18,180 period of time ? I know that uh senior 451 00:17:18,190 --> 00:17:20,800 defense official has put the estimation 452 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:24,230 around 80% to 85% in the past couple of 453 00:17:24,230 --> 00:17:26,460 weeks . Is that around the same . Now 454 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:30,050 you mean of the amount of combat power 455 00:17:30,050 --> 00:17:32,106 they still have available ? Look , I 456 00:17:32,106 --> 00:17:34,580 don't want to get into uh percentages 457 00:17:34,580 --> 00:17:37,070 and and and uh and specific data here 458 00:17:37,070 --> 00:17:39,292 on their combat power from the podium . 459 00:17:39,292 --> 00:17:41,459 I would just say that we still believe 460 00:17:41,459 --> 00:17:43,514 they have the vast majority of their 461 00:17:43,514 --> 00:17:45,626 combat power available to them . Even 462 00:17:45,626 --> 00:17:47,737 even with the losses , they had taken 463 00:17:47,737 --> 00:17:49,960 time months to assemble combined arms 464 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:51,880 capability outside of Ukraine , 465 00:17:51,890 --> 00:17:54,650 aviation , armor , artillery , infantry , 466 00:17:54,650 --> 00:17:57,790 special operations , airborne . Um , 467 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:00,430 they assembled a lot and they still 468 00:18:00,430 --> 00:18:02,486 have a majority of that available to 469 00:18:02,486 --> 00:18:04,597 them , even with the losses that they 470 00:18:04,597 --> 00:18:07,150 sustained in the last few weeks . Yeah , 471 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:10,700 go ahead . Just following up on what MS 472 00:18:10,700 --> 00:18:13,970 breast was getting at . Could you 473 00:18:13,970 --> 00:18:16,137 update us a little bit if you have any 474 00:18:16,137 --> 00:18:18,480 visibility into the mix of of troops 475 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:21,060 available , how many are are they 476 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,180 calling on special forces that they 477 00:18:24,190 --> 00:18:26,550 used in Syria ? Are they calling up new 478 00:18:26,550 --> 00:18:28,680 recruits ? What the mix is there in 479 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,110 terms of um , Yeah , we don't have a 480 00:18:32,110 --> 00:18:34,332 perfect , we we we don't have a perfect 481 00:18:34,332 --> 00:18:36,499 sense of their manpower . Um , we know 482 00:18:36,499 --> 00:18:39,460 that they have tried to recruit foreign 483 00:18:39,460 --> 00:18:41,682 fighters out of Syria . They claim they 484 00:18:41,682 --> 00:18:43,627 were going to get 16,000 . Uh , we 485 00:18:43,627 --> 00:18:45,682 don't have a number to tell you that 486 00:18:45,682 --> 00:18:47,793 they that they got that many , but we 487 00:18:47,793 --> 00:18:49,904 know that they have actively tried to 488 00:18:49,904 --> 00:18:52,127 recruit recruit foreign fighters out of 489 00:18:52,127 --> 00:18:54,293 Syria . We know we've seen indications 490 00:18:54,293 --> 00:18:56,516 that they have tried to reinforce their 491 00:18:56,516 --> 00:18:59,630 troop levels from other parts of Russia 492 00:18:59,630 --> 00:19:02,920 as well as uh countries outside of 493 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,230 Russia and outside of Ukraine . Um , we 494 00:19:06,230 --> 00:19:08,063 know that they are refitting and 495 00:19:08,063 --> 00:19:10,174 resupplying and trying to uh put back 496 00:19:10,174 --> 00:19:11,952 into the fight . Some battalion 497 00:19:11,952 --> 00:19:14,119 tactical groups that were in the north 498 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:15,841 that they have evacuated now , 499 00:19:15,841 --> 00:19:17,897 retreated out of Ukraine and Belarus 500 00:19:17,897 --> 00:19:20,119 and into Russia . We still believe that 501 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:21,930 there's a a not insignificant , 502 00:19:21,940 --> 00:19:23,718 significant number of battalion 503 00:19:23,718 --> 00:19:25,884 tactical groups that they're trying to 504 00:19:25,884 --> 00:19:29,060 to um to refit to come back in . Um and 505 00:19:29,060 --> 00:19:31,227 we know that just in the last few days 506 00:19:31,227 --> 00:19:33,171 they have added to their battalion 507 00:19:33,171 --> 00:19:35,171 tactical groups in the east and the 508 00:19:35,171 --> 00:19:37,282 south . Again , we don't know exactly 509 00:19:37,282 --> 00:19:39,282 where all these units are when they 510 00:19:39,282 --> 00:19:41,338 when they were reintroduced , but we 511 00:19:41,338 --> 00:19:43,338 know they have added to their force 512 00:19:43,338 --> 00:19:45,449 levels in the east and in the south . 513 00:19:45,449 --> 00:19:47,671 And just one other , the bombardment of 514 00:19:47,671 --> 00:19:49,970 LVIV , is that any sort of , could we 515 00:19:49,970 --> 00:19:52,026 read that as an indication that they 516 00:19:52,026 --> 00:19:55,090 have ambitions to go farther west ? I 517 00:19:55,090 --> 00:19:57,312 mean it's only 40 miles from the Polish 518 00:19:57,312 --> 00:19:59,550 border . Yeah , they've struck , 519 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:01,893 they've struck targets near LVIV before . 520 00:20:01,893 --> 00:20:04,004 I wouldn't call it a bombardment . Uh 521 00:20:04,004 --> 00:20:07,140 we we noted um at least one airstrike 522 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,840 in LVIV over the last few days a couple 523 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,630 of days . Um Again , I can't get inside 524 00:20:13,630 --> 00:20:15,741 the Russian mindset here and tell you 525 00:20:15,741 --> 00:20:17,908 what exactly they believed they were , 526 00:20:17,908 --> 00:20:19,963 they were striking and and with what 527 00:20:19,963 --> 00:20:22,186 intent , as I told Sylvie , we're still 528 00:20:22,186 --> 00:20:24,297 trying to assess it ourselves as best 529 00:20:24,297 --> 00:20:26,574 we can . We're not there on the ground . 530 00:20:26,574 --> 00:20:28,630 So we don't know perfectly what they 531 00:20:28,630 --> 00:20:30,463 hit or what the intent was , but 532 00:20:30,463 --> 00:20:32,686 clearly they struck out at Love Eve and 533 00:20:32,686 --> 00:20:34,908 they struck out in Kiev over the , over 534 00:20:34,908 --> 00:20:37,074 the course of the weekend . But most , 535 00:20:37,074 --> 00:20:38,908 and I think this is important to 536 00:20:38,908 --> 00:20:40,797 remember most of their air strike 537 00:20:40,797 --> 00:20:42,741 activity and artillery strikes are 538 00:20:42,741 --> 00:20:45,019 happening in the east and in the south . 539 00:20:45,019 --> 00:20:47,170 Specifically variable barb , two 540 00:20:47,180 --> 00:20:49,291 questions on two different subjects . 541 00:20:49,291 --> 00:20:51,820 And just to go backwards Russia per 542 00:20:51,820 --> 00:20:54,042 minute , you mentioned that you believe 543 00:20:54,042 --> 00:20:55,931 they are still having logistics , 544 00:20:55,931 --> 00:20:57,931 sustainment and command and control 545 00:20:57,931 --> 00:21:00,880 issues even as they put these enablers 546 00:21:00,890 --> 00:21:03,990 in forward positions . What is there ? 547 00:21:03,990 --> 00:21:06,212 We don't believe they have overcome all 548 00:21:06,212 --> 00:21:08,379 of their challenges in those regards . 549 00:21:08,379 --> 00:21:11,570 Can you offer any indicators or 550 00:21:11,580 --> 00:21:13,358 evidence that leads you to that 551 00:21:13,358 --> 00:21:16,000 conclusion ? I think one indicator is 552 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,740 that they they named this new General 553 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:22,640 de Varennikov to take overall overall 554 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:24,920 command of their forces in Ukraine . 555 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:28,270 They didn't have a single uh 556 00:21:28,340 --> 00:21:30,970 overall operational commander before . 557 00:21:30,980 --> 00:21:33,110 What we believe that part of that is 558 00:21:33,110 --> 00:21:35,820 because they want to to improve command 559 00:21:35,820 --> 00:21:38,910 and control and and to try to get more 560 00:21:38,910 --> 00:21:41,100 efficient in their religious ticks and 561 00:21:41,100 --> 00:21:43,211 sustainment capabilities . They still 562 00:21:43,211 --> 00:21:45,044 haven't gotten there again . Our 563 00:21:45,044 --> 00:21:47,070 assessment is that they still have 564 00:21:47,120 --> 00:21:49,342 significant challenges when it comes to 565 00:21:49,342 --> 00:21:51,453 command and control and logistics and 566 00:21:51,453 --> 00:21:54,890 sustainment . If in fact they're just 567 00:21:54,900 --> 00:21:57,710 devastating areas with artillery and 568 00:21:57,710 --> 00:21:59,821 Long Green chair strikes . I think it 569 00:21:59,821 --> 00:22:01,821 does and you don't have to look any 570 00:22:01,821 --> 00:22:03,821 further than what happened in china 571 00:22:03,821 --> 00:22:06,043 heave and Kiev and down in the south to 572 00:22:06,043 --> 00:22:06,010 see that it does absolutely matter 573 00:22:06,010 --> 00:22:08,232 logistics and sustainment , command and 574 00:22:08,232 --> 00:22:10,232 control unit cohesion , operational 575 00:22:10,232 --> 00:22:12,399 maneuver , air to ground integration , 576 00:22:12,399 --> 00:22:14,232 all that still matters . The the 577 00:22:14,232 --> 00:22:16,232 airstrikes alone were not enough to 578 00:22:16,232 --> 00:22:18,288 help them take keith . Can I ask you 579 00:22:18,288 --> 00:22:20,399 about the peculiar situation at Green 580 00:22:20,399 --> 00:22:23,810 Village in Syria ? Um First 581 00:22:25,450 --> 00:22:27,590 Suncom puts out a statement saying of 582 00:22:27,590 --> 00:22:29,534 course that Green village where us 583 00:22:29,534 --> 00:22:31,610 troops are located in northeastern 584 00:22:31,610 --> 00:22:33,920 Syria came under direct fire attack 585 00:22:34,110 --> 00:22:35,943 presumably rockets and mortars . 586 00:22:35,943 --> 00:22:39,000 Several days go by . We then are told 587 00:22:39,010 --> 00:22:41,290 there's a statement if you go on their 588 00:22:41,290 --> 00:22:43,460 website that says no that was wrong 589 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,310 that explosives were deliberately in 590 00:22:46,310 --> 00:22:49,050 placed at Green Village where us troops 591 00:22:49,050 --> 00:22:52,270 are . It seems very odd . 592 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:56,630 The the military sitcom was not 593 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,120 transparent on this matter to let 594 00:22:59,130 --> 00:23:01,500 people know that U . S . Troops were 595 00:23:01,510 --> 00:23:03,677 victimized by what they assessed to be 596 00:23:03,677 --> 00:23:05,899 deliberately in placed explosives . Can 597 00:23:05,899 --> 00:23:08,121 you tell us what the situation is right 598 00:23:08,121 --> 00:23:10,890 now ? Is there what how are you 599 00:23:10,890 --> 00:23:12,946 investigating this ? Is there really 600 00:23:12,946 --> 00:23:16,260 video that people say there is some 601 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:20,310 person seen on video running around the 602 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:23,270 base . What do you think happened there ? 603 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:28,600 Why was it so strangely handled ? Well 604 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:30,830 there's an awful lot there . Uh let's 605 00:23:30,830 --> 00:23:33,120 just start with the basics Barb , it is 606 00:23:33,120 --> 00:23:37,020 still under investigation and as we 607 00:23:37,020 --> 00:23:40,640 learn more uh we 608 00:23:40,870 --> 00:23:43,380 we want to share what we can um we're 609 00:23:43,380 --> 00:23:45,602 not able to always share everything but 610 00:23:45,602 --> 00:23:48,100 we try to share what we can as they dug 611 00:23:48,100 --> 00:23:50,211 into it more . They realized that the 612 00:23:50,211 --> 00:23:52,680 first reports no shock right . First 613 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:55,930 supports for for try this again using 614 00:23:55,930 --> 00:23:58,560 my native language first reports are 615 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:00,671 usually wrong and in this case it was 616 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:02,902 that wasn't a result of indirect fire . 617 00:24:02,902 --> 00:24:05,040 Now they now believe that it was the 618 00:24:05,050 --> 00:24:07,050 deliberate placement of a couple of 619 00:24:07,050 --> 00:24:08,950 charges on the actual facility . 620 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:11,607 They're still looking at this uh still 621 00:24:11,607 --> 00:24:13,829 investigating it . I would refer you to 622 00:24:13,829 --> 00:24:15,440 centcom to speak to how that 623 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:17,440 investigation is going and what the 624 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:19,496 progress is . I don't have an update 625 00:24:19,496 --> 00:24:21,718 for you from the podium today . Um , So 626 00:24:21,718 --> 00:24:23,607 we'll see what they learned going 627 00:24:23,607 --> 00:24:25,329 forward . But that's the going 628 00:24:25,329 --> 00:24:25,090 assumption right now . It was the 629 00:24:25,090 --> 00:24:27,400 deliberate placement of a couple of 630 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:29,830 charges . I don't know anything about 631 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:31,951 video surveillance and whether it was 632 00:24:31,951 --> 00:24:34,007 caught on video or not . Again , I'd 633 00:24:34,007 --> 00:24:36,173 refer you to them to speak to that and 634 00:24:36,173 --> 00:24:38,229 we don't know . Certainly not at our 635 00:24:38,229 --> 00:24:40,420 level . We have a sense of who who 636 00:24:40,420 --> 00:24:42,810 placed these charges . How many were 637 00:24:42,810 --> 00:24:45,680 there ? What was the what was the 638 00:24:45,690 --> 00:24:48,910 motivation ? What was , what was behind 639 00:24:48,910 --> 00:24:51,530 this ? We just the intention . We just 640 00:24:51,530 --> 00:24:55,060 don't know that right now . 641 00:24:56,130 --> 00:24:58,700 Well , there was four individuals for 642 00:24:58,700 --> 00:25:00,922 us service members who were treated for 643 00:25:00,922 --> 00:25:02,978 traumatic brain injury . What I have 644 00:25:02,978 --> 00:25:05,790 been told today is that they that they 645 00:25:05,790 --> 00:25:07,940 either are or have been returned to 646 00:25:07,940 --> 00:25:10,530 duty . Um or I'm sorry . They either 647 00:25:10,530 --> 00:25:12,752 will be soon or they have been returned 648 00:25:12,752 --> 00:25:15,640 uh to duty status that they but they 649 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:18,310 will be obviously because we take T . B . 650 00:25:18,310 --> 00:25:20,580 I . So seriously . I mean there'll be 651 00:25:20,590 --> 00:25:22,812 follow ups and they'll they'll continue 652 00:25:22,812 --> 00:25:25,570 to be evaluated by medical personnel 653 00:25:25,570 --> 00:25:28,480 because as you know , T . B . I can can 654 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:30,424 sometimes take a while to manifest 655 00:25:30,424 --> 00:25:32,369 itself . So we're taking that very 656 00:25:32,369 --> 00:25:34,369 seriously . But my understanding is 657 00:25:34,369 --> 00:25:36,313 that they've been either have been 658 00:25:36,313 --> 00:25:35,790 returned to duty or they will be very 659 00:25:35,790 --> 00:25:38,030 very soon . Yeah . In the back there 660 00:25:38,250 --> 00:25:40,390 janie I'll get to you to say I wanna 661 00:25:40,390 --> 00:25:42,612 get I wanna get through Russian Ukraine 662 00:25:42,612 --> 00:25:46,550 stuff on Syria , you 663 00:25:46,550 --> 00:25:48,970 know , placing charges or explosive 664 00:25:48,970 --> 00:25:51,410 devices is not a typical talk of 665 00:25:51,420 --> 00:25:54,850 Iranian back to militias . Are you 666 00:25:54,850 --> 00:25:57,350 concerned that there are some insider 667 00:25:57,740 --> 00:26:00,570 kind of threat to the U . S . Base over 668 00:26:00,570 --> 00:26:02,403 there ? Well , clearly there's a 669 00:26:02,403 --> 00:26:05,030 concern about about some sort of 670 00:26:05,030 --> 00:26:06,697 insider threat . If the going 671 00:26:06,697 --> 00:26:08,530 assumption is now that they were 672 00:26:08,530 --> 00:26:10,697 deliberate placement of charges inside 673 00:26:10,697 --> 00:26:12,641 Green Village . Of course that's a 674 00:26:12,641 --> 00:26:14,808 concern who is with the U . S . Forces 675 00:26:14,808 --> 00:26:17,490 down there in that I'm referring to 676 00:26:17,490 --> 00:26:19,546 centcom , I don't have a lay down of 677 00:26:19,546 --> 00:26:21,657 everybody that's at Green Village . I 678 00:26:21,657 --> 00:26:23,657 just don't have that for me for you 679 00:26:23,657 --> 00:26:26,860 today on Ukraine we have heard from 680 00:26:26,860 --> 00:26:29,082 this building several times that you're 681 00:26:29,082 --> 00:26:31,304 Russian invasion of Ukraine has changed 682 00:26:31,304 --> 00:26:34,250 the security architecture fundamentally 683 00:26:34,250 --> 00:26:37,680 in europe ? After all these failures of 684 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:39,736 the Russian military ? Is this still 685 00:26:39,736 --> 00:26:41,902 the assessment ? And do you think that 686 00:26:41,902 --> 00:26:44,580 Russia is still a big threat to the 687 00:26:44,580 --> 00:26:47,070 european security . We continue to 688 00:26:47,070 --> 00:26:50,040 believe that the european security 689 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:53,680 environment has changed and will stay 690 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:56,090 changed as a result of Mr Putin's 691 00:26:56,090 --> 00:26:58,200 willingness to conduct an unprovoked 692 00:26:58,210 --> 00:27:01,300 invasion of a neighboring state . Their 693 00:27:01,300 --> 00:27:03,630 failures notwithstanding that war is 694 00:27:03,630 --> 00:27:06,420 still ongoing and we're still sending 695 00:27:06,420 --> 00:27:08,531 security assistance even as you and I 696 00:27:08,531 --> 00:27:10,587 are talking here today to Ukraine to 697 00:27:10,587 --> 00:27:12,809 help defend themselves . So of course , 698 00:27:12,809 --> 00:27:15,031 we assess that the security environment 699 00:27:15,031 --> 00:27:17,253 is changed , not has changed , not will 700 00:27:17,253 --> 00:27:19,476 change is changed . And so we are going 701 00:27:19,476 --> 00:27:21,642 to continue to have conversations here 702 00:27:21,642 --> 00:27:23,753 inside the department and with allies 703 00:27:23,753 --> 00:27:25,976 and partners about what those changes . 704 00:27:25,976 --> 00:27:28,198 Portend for our posture going forward . 705 00:27:28,198 --> 00:27:30,476 I don't have any answers for you today . 706 00:27:30,476 --> 00:27:30,400 We haven't made any decisions . We're 707 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:32,456 not gonna make any decisions without 708 00:27:32,456 --> 00:27:34,344 full consultation with allies and 709 00:27:34,344 --> 00:27:36,122 partners , but we're absolutely 710 00:27:36,122 --> 00:27:38,456 operating under that assumption , kelly . 711 00:27:38,456 --> 00:27:40,910 I believe in question that Russia is 712 00:27:40,910 --> 00:27:43,132 learning from its failed efforts in the 713 00:27:43,132 --> 00:27:45,188 north , but also saying that they're 714 00:27:45,188 --> 00:27:47,354 still having these command and control 715 00:27:47,354 --> 00:27:49,299 issues . So are they learning from 716 00:27:49,299 --> 00:27:51,521 there from what happened in the north ? 717 00:27:51,521 --> 00:27:50,250 What are we seeing ? What are you 718 00:27:50,250 --> 00:27:52,250 assessing ? I think we believe that 719 00:27:52,250 --> 00:27:54,660 they are trying to learn from from past 720 00:27:54,660 --> 00:27:56,771 mistakes and you can see that in just 721 00:27:56,771 --> 00:27:58,660 the way they are conducting these 722 00:27:58,660 --> 00:28:00,882 shaping operations . Uh they're they're 723 00:28:00,882 --> 00:28:02,993 conducting themselves in ways that we 724 00:28:02,993 --> 00:28:04,827 didn't see them around key , for 725 00:28:04,827 --> 00:28:06,716 instance . Um So it appears as if 726 00:28:06,716 --> 00:28:08,716 they're trying to learn now whether 727 00:28:08,716 --> 00:28:10,938 they will be successful in doing that . 728 00:28:10,938 --> 00:28:13,104 Whether we can say they have learned . 729 00:28:13,104 --> 00:28:15,271 I just don't think it's uh we're ready 730 00:28:15,271 --> 00:28:14,670 to say that right now . I think it's 731 00:28:14,670 --> 00:28:17,470 too soon to know one more if I may on 732 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:19,647 cyber attacks . I wanted to ask you if 733 00:28:19,647 --> 00:28:21,591 you're seeing any military systems 734 00:28:21,591 --> 00:28:23,647 being targeted , command and control 735 00:28:23,647 --> 00:28:25,869 and how is the U . S . Going to respond 736 00:28:25,869 --> 00:28:27,813 if the U . S . And NATO are hit by 737 00:28:27,813 --> 00:28:30,620 cyberattacks ? We so you're asking if 738 00:28:30,620 --> 00:28:32,842 we have suffered any cyber attacks as a 739 00:28:32,842 --> 00:28:36,630 result of uh there's so a 740 00:28:36,630 --> 00:28:39,600 couple of d O . D . Infrastructure 741 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:41,767 cyber infrastructure gets assaulted in 742 00:28:41,767 --> 00:28:43,890 cyberspace every single day by a 743 00:28:43,900 --> 00:28:46,460 plethora of different actors out there . 744 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:49,170 Um It's something that we we have to be 745 00:28:49,180 --> 00:28:51,600 cognizant of every single day and work 746 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:54,630 on our resiliency every single day . Do 747 00:28:54,630 --> 00:28:57,010 I have any information about a specific 748 00:28:57,010 --> 00:28:59,690 cyber attack based on , you know , from 749 00:28:59,690 --> 00:29:01,634 Russia or Russia state actors as a 750 00:29:01,634 --> 00:29:03,760 result of Ukraine ? No , I'm not . 751 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:07,230 President Zelensky said over the 752 00:29:07,230 --> 00:29:09,452 weekend , he fears Russia using nuclear 753 00:29:09,452 --> 00:29:11,452 weapons . But Ukraine's head of the 754 00:29:11,452 --> 00:29:13,674 military Intelligence , he says that he 755 00:29:13,674 --> 00:29:16,180 thinks Putin's bluffing is what's the U . 756 00:29:16,180 --> 00:29:18,402 S . Assessment on that possibility that 757 00:29:18,402 --> 00:29:20,513 Putin were to use nuclear weapons . I 758 00:29:20,513 --> 00:29:22,458 would just say two things . One we 759 00:29:22,458 --> 00:29:24,624 noted with concern , as we said at the 760 00:29:24,624 --> 00:29:26,570 time when mr Putin began to use 761 00:29:26,740 --> 00:29:29,910 escalating escalatory rhetoric with 762 00:29:29,910 --> 00:29:32,077 respect to nuclear weapons at the very 763 00:29:32,077 --> 00:29:34,299 outset of this war . It's certainly got 764 00:29:34,299 --> 00:29:37,300 our attention number two . Uh and we 765 00:29:37,300 --> 00:29:39,244 said at the time that that kind of 766 00:29:39,244 --> 00:29:41,520 rhetoric coming from a nuclear power 767 00:29:41,530 --> 00:29:45,410 clearly uh not constructive um and 768 00:29:45,420 --> 00:29:48,450 uh and warranted us taking it seriously 769 00:29:48,460 --> 00:29:50,570 number two . And I've I've said this 770 00:29:50,580 --> 00:29:52,747 before , I'll say it again because I'm 771 00:29:52,747 --> 00:29:54,913 not going to talk about the details of 772 00:29:54,913 --> 00:29:56,802 our strategic deterrent . But the 773 00:29:56,802 --> 00:29:58,969 secretary remain , we're watching this 774 00:29:58,969 --> 00:30:01,080 every single day we monitored as best 775 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:03,136 we can . He remains confident in our 776 00:30:03,136 --> 00:30:05,136 strategic deterrent posture and our 777 00:30:05,136 --> 00:30:07,302 ability to defend the homeland as well 778 00:30:07,302 --> 00:30:09,191 as our allies and partners from a 779 00:30:09,191 --> 00:30:09,170 strategic deterrence perspective and 780 00:30:09,180 --> 00:30:11,347 that's really where I'm going to leave 781 00:30:11,347 --> 00:30:13,013 it um Jared from Al monitor . 782 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:17,407 Hi john , my question has been asked . 783 00:30:17,407 --> 00:30:19,407 Thank you . The last question jenny 784 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:25,820 I asked occasion after that and the 785 00:30:25,820 --> 00:30:28,760 North Korea test fired on a new 786 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:32,310 tactical guided weapons yesterday . 787 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:36,170 What is the US reactions on this ? 788 00:30:36,180 --> 00:30:38,820 We're still analyzing these uh these 789 00:30:38,830 --> 00:30:41,052 these launches , jenny , I don't have a 790 00:30:41,052 --> 00:30:43,274 lot of detail for you today . Obviously 791 00:30:43,274 --> 00:30:45,163 we're still trying to assess what 792 00:30:45,163 --> 00:30:47,219 exactly happened here . How does the 793 00:30:47,219 --> 00:30:50,010 Pentagon evaluate North Korea's nuclear 794 00:30:50,010 --> 00:30:53,680 warheads and missiles ? It will need to 795 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:56,260 strike the United States mainland . 796 00:30:57,330 --> 00:30:58,860 I think um 797 00:31:01,540 --> 00:31:04,800 what I would say janie is North Korea 798 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:07,860 continues to pursue a 799 00:31:08,740 --> 00:31:12,030 ballistic missile program and nuclear 800 00:31:12,030 --> 00:31:15,730 capabilities uh that that 801 00:31:15,740 --> 00:31:19,070 at least we think they believe will 802 00:31:19,070 --> 00:31:22,870 help um intimidate and 803 00:31:22,870 --> 00:31:26,430 threaten our allies and partners in the 804 00:31:26,430 --> 00:31:28,550 region and that includes the rest of 805 00:31:28,550 --> 00:31:31,910 the korean peninsula . Many of these 806 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:33,976 capabilities , some of the ones that 807 00:31:33,976 --> 00:31:36,142 they've tested are in direct violation 808 00:31:36,142 --> 00:31:38,670 of U . N . Security Council resolutions . 809 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:41,480 We continue to call on North Korea to 810 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:43,258 cease these provocations and we 811 00:31:43,258 --> 00:31:47,090 consider them provocations uh and uh to 812 00:31:47,090 --> 00:31:49,146 be willing to sit down in good faith 813 00:31:49,340 --> 00:31:51,507 and have a diplomatic discussion about 814 00:31:51,507 --> 00:31:54,180 how we denuclearize the korean 815 00:31:54,180 --> 00:31:57,220 peninsula which remains our goal . In 816 00:31:57,220 --> 00:31:59,930 the meantime we have significant 817 00:31:59,940 --> 00:32:03,140 security commitments in the on the 818 00:32:03,140 --> 00:32:05,307 peninsula as well as in the region . I 819 00:32:05,307 --> 00:32:07,560 mean the Republic of Korea is a treaty 820 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:09,890 ally . So was Japan . So the 821 00:32:09,890 --> 00:32:13,020 Philippines who are meeting with today 822 00:32:13,030 --> 00:32:14,752 and we have significant treaty 823 00:32:14,752 --> 00:32:16,419 obligations and we take those 824 00:32:16,419 --> 00:32:18,641 obligations seriously . Um you just saw 825 00:32:18,641 --> 00:32:21,320 I think uh today kicked off a command 826 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:23,940 post exercise that was a semiannual one . 827 00:32:23,940 --> 00:32:26,051 This command post , no live fire , no 828 00:32:26,051 --> 00:32:28,218 live movement of forces . But but it's 829 00:32:28,218 --> 00:32:30,450 a semi annual command post training 830 00:32:30,450 --> 00:32:32,561 event that we just kicked off today . 831 00:32:32,561 --> 00:32:34,672 That that that that's like a tangible 832 00:32:34,672 --> 00:32:36,894 representation of how seriously we take 833 00:32:36,894 --> 00:32:38,950 our responsibilities there and we're 834 00:32:38,950 --> 00:32:38,850 going to continue to do that going 835 00:32:38,850 --> 00:32:40,906 forward . The other thing . The last 836 00:32:40,906 --> 00:32:42,628 thing I'll say is we have said 837 00:32:42,628 --> 00:32:44,683 repeatedly that we're willing to sit 838 00:32:44,683 --> 00:32:47,880 down with Pyongyang no preconditions to 839 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:49,880 begin to have discussions about the 840 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:51,991 denuclearization of the peninsula and 841 00:32:51,991 --> 00:32:53,860 today rather than showing any 842 00:32:53,860 --> 00:32:55,971 willingness to sit down in good faith 843 00:32:55,971 --> 00:32:57,693 and negotiate and talk and use 844 00:32:57,693 --> 00:33:00,010 diplomacy . The North continues to 845 00:33:00,020 --> 00:33:02,550 conduct tests again on this latest one , 846 00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:04,782 we're still analyzing it . I just don't 847 00:33:04,782 --> 00:33:08,590 have any more details come 848 00:33:08,590 --> 00:33:10,950 up and talking with the United States . 849 00:33:11,340 --> 00:33:14,060 How can you make it ? North Korea's 850 00:33:14,070 --> 00:33:17,730 denuclearization ? We still 851 00:33:17,730 --> 00:33:19,563 believe here's the Department of 852 00:33:19,563 --> 00:33:21,786 Defense that the best way to pursue the 853 00:33:21,786 --> 00:33:23,841 denuclearization of the peninsula is 854 00:33:23,841 --> 00:33:25,730 through diplomacy . And the biden 855 00:33:25,730 --> 00:33:27,897 administration has made it clear we're 856 00:33:27,897 --> 00:33:27,170 willing to sit down without 857 00:33:27,170 --> 00:33:29,170 preconditions to try to effect that 858 00:33:29,170 --> 00:33:31,490 outcome . And Pyongyang has answered 859 00:33:31,490 --> 00:33:35,340 only with more tests not work . I'm 860 00:33:35,340 --> 00:33:37,562 not going to talk about hypotheticals . 861 00:33:37,562 --> 00:33:39,673 We believe diplomacy is the best path 862 00:33:39,673 --> 00:33:41,673 forward here . In the meantime , we 863 00:33:41,673 --> 00:33:43,729 have serious security commitments to 864 00:33:43,729 --> 00:33:45,618 our South korean allies and we're 865 00:33:45,618 --> 00:33:47,840 meeting those we're making we're making 866 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:50,118 them tangible , we're making them real . 867 00:33:50,118 --> 00:33:52,340 This command post exercises just kicked 868 00:33:52,340 --> 00:33:54,451 off today is a good example of that . 869 00:33:54,451 --> 00:33:54,960 Okay , thanks , everybody gotta go