1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,262 thanks for coming this afternoon . In a 2 00:00:02,262 --> 00:00:04,429 moment . I'm gonna turn the microphone 3 00:00:04,429 --> 00:00:06,540 over to Secretary Austin . But just a 4 00:00:06,540 --> 00:00:08,484 couple of administrative remarks . 5 00:00:08,484 --> 00:00:10,318 Secretary will have some opening 6 00:00:10,318 --> 00:00:12,484 comments . Uh and then we'll have time 7 00:00:12,484 --> 00:00:14,596 for a few questions . I will moderate 8 00:00:14,596 --> 00:00:16,651 those questions from here . I will I 9 00:00:16,651 --> 00:00:18,873 will call on the journalists and if you 10 00:00:18,873 --> 00:00:21,040 could limit your your follow ups uh if 11 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,020 possible . So we've got we got a bit of 12 00:00:24,020 --> 00:00:26,076 a tight timeline this afternoon . So 13 00:00:26,076 --> 00:00:28,300 with that Mr Secretary , Well , thanks 14 00:00:28,300 --> 00:00:31,750 john , good afternoon everybody . It's 15 00:00:31,750 --> 00:00:33,860 been an important day in a highly 16 00:00:33,860 --> 00:00:37,020 constructive one . We've had some great 17 00:00:37,030 --> 00:00:39,086 discussions in the hall and a lot of 18 00:00:39,086 --> 00:00:41,080 rich interactions among leaders 19 00:00:41,090 --> 00:00:44,640 throughout the day . So let me 20 00:00:44,650 --> 00:00:46,970 again thank thank all of the Ministers 21 00:00:46,970 --> 00:00:49,650 and the Chiefs of Defense and your 22 00:00:49,650 --> 00:00:52,460 teams for joining us today . Especially 23 00:00:52,940 --> 00:00:55,980 my good friend , Ukraine's Minister of 24 00:00:55,980 --> 00:00:59,470 Defense Minister Reznikoff and his 25 00:00:59,470 --> 00:01:01,526 delegation . It's great to see him . 26 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:05,651 We're all coming away with a 27 00:01:05,651 --> 00:01:09,000 transparent and shared understanding of 28 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,167 the challenge that the Ukrainians face 29 00:01:12,140 --> 00:01:14,640 and I know that we're all determined to 30 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,190 help Ukraine win today and build 31 00:01:18,190 --> 00:01:21,430 strength for tomorrow . The work that 32 00:01:21,430 --> 00:01:23,597 we've done together in record time has 33 00:01:23,597 --> 00:01:25,750 made a huge difference on the 34 00:01:25,750 --> 00:01:28,800 battlefield . President Zelensky made 35 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:32,360 that clear when we met sunday in Kiev 36 00:01:33,940 --> 00:01:36,162 and countries all around the world have 37 00:01:36,162 --> 00:01:38,500 been stepping up to meet Ukraine's 38 00:01:38,510 --> 00:01:42,060 urgent needs and I wanted to especially 39 00:01:42,070 --> 00:01:44,310 welcome a major decision by our german 40 00:01:44,310 --> 00:01:47,660 host as Minister Lambrecht 41 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,207 announced just today that Germany will 42 00:01:50,207 --> 00:01:54,140 send Ukraine some 50 cheetah anti 43 00:01:54,140 --> 00:01:57,760 aircraft systems . And yesterday , of 44 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:59,982 course the british government announced 45 00:01:59,982 --> 00:02:01,927 that it would provide Ukraine with 46 00:02:01,927 --> 00:02:04,320 additional anti aircraft capabilities 47 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:08,130 as well . And today Canada announced 48 00:02:08,130 --> 00:02:09,960 that it will send Ukraine eight 49 00:02:09,970 --> 00:02:12,710 armoured vehicles and so that's 50 00:02:12,710 --> 00:02:15,510 important progress . We're seeing more 51 00:02:15,510 --> 00:02:18,020 every day and I applaud all the 52 00:02:18,020 --> 00:02:21,200 countries that have risen in a rising 53 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,700 to meet this demand . But we don't have 54 00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:28,030 any time to waste the briefings today 55 00:02:28,030 --> 00:02:30,141 laid out clearly why the coming weeks 56 00:02:30,141 --> 00:02:33,920 will be so crucial for Ukraine . So 57 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:36,142 we've got to move at the speed of war . 58 00:02:36,940 --> 00:02:39,870 And I know that all the leaders leave 59 00:02:39,870 --> 00:02:42,790 today more resolved than ever to 60 00:02:42,790 --> 00:02:45,840 support Ukraine in his fight against 61 00:02:45,850 --> 00:02:49,110 Russian aggression and atrocities . 62 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,140 And I know that we're all determined to 63 00:02:53,140 --> 00:02:56,920 do even more to better coordinate 64 00:02:56,930 --> 00:02:59,930 our efforts . So I was especially glad 65 00:02:59,930 --> 00:03:01,986 to hear general Walters encourage us 66 00:03:01,986 --> 00:03:04,860 all to make more determined use of you 67 00:03:04,860 --> 00:03:07,550 comment coordination mechanism 68 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,660 now that to ensure that we continue to 69 00:03:11,670 --> 00:03:13,837 build on our progress , we're going to 70 00:03:13,837 --> 00:03:16,580 extend this forum beyond today . I'm 71 00:03:16,580 --> 00:03:18,302 proud to announce that today's 72 00:03:18,302 --> 00:03:21,610 gathering will become a monthly contact 73 00:03:21,610 --> 00:03:25,550 group on Ukraine's self defense And 74 00:03:25,550 --> 00:03:27,870 the contact group will be a vehicle for 75 00:03:27,870 --> 00:03:30,890 nations of goodwill to intensify our 76 00:03:30,900 --> 00:03:33,760 efforts and coordinate our assistance 77 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,280 and focus on winning today's fight and 78 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,050 the struggles to come . The monthly 79 00:03:40,050 --> 00:03:42,900 meetings maybe in person , virtual or 80 00:03:42,900 --> 00:03:45,420 mixed and they all extend the 81 00:03:45,420 --> 00:03:48,520 transparency the integration and the 82 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,210 dialogue that we saw today and let 83 00:03:52,210 --> 00:03:54,360 me underscore another key point . 84 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,151 We have an important session today on 85 00:03:58,151 --> 00:04:00,151 the long term support for Ukraine's 86 00:04:00,151 --> 00:04:04,060 defenses , including what 87 00:04:04,060 --> 00:04:06,300 that will take from our defense 88 00:04:06,310 --> 00:04:09,510 industrial basis . And that means 89 00:04:09,510 --> 00:04:11,920 dealing with the tremendous demand that 90 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,920 we're facing for munitions in weapons 91 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:18,890 platforms and giving our stunt support 92 00:04:18,890 --> 00:04:22,040 to Ukraine while also meeting our own 93 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,870 requirements and those of our allies 94 00:04:24,870 --> 00:04:27,720 and partners . But it also means 95 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:29,580 redoubling our common efforts to 96 00:04:29,580 --> 00:04:31,900 strengthen Ukraine's military for the 97 00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:35,530 long haul . And I look forward to to 98 00:04:35,530 --> 00:04:37,586 our discussions in the contact group 99 00:04:38,340 --> 00:04:40,340 and elsewhere about how to get that 100 00:04:40,340 --> 00:04:44,030 done right . Let me again , thank all 101 00:04:44,030 --> 00:04:45,974 of the countries who came together 102 00:04:45,974 --> 00:04:49,660 today . They've done crucial work 103 00:04:50,530 --> 00:04:53,570 and they sent a powerful signal . We're 104 00:04:53,570 --> 00:04:56,710 going to build on today's progress and 105 00:04:56,710 --> 00:04:58,710 continue to reach out to nations of 106 00:04:58,710 --> 00:05:01,360 goodwill to help Ukraine defend itself 107 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:03,940 and we'll continue working 108 00:05:03,940 --> 00:05:06,920 transparently and urgently with our 109 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,220 allies and partners and we'll continue 110 00:05:10,220 --> 00:05:13,670 pushing to support and strengthen the 111 00:05:13,670 --> 00:05:15,614 Ukrainian military for the battles 112 00:05:15,614 --> 00:05:17,940 ahead . So we leave tonight , 113 00:05:17,940 --> 00:05:21,060 strengthen and so does Ukraine . 114 00:05:22,140 --> 00:05:24,362 Thank you And I'll be glad to take your 115 00:05:24,362 --> 00:05:26,529 questions . Thank you . Mr Secretary . 116 00:05:26,529 --> 00:05:28,751 Our first question today will come from 117 00:05:28,751 --> 00:05:30,862 Sylvia went home a F . P . You have a 118 00:05:30,862 --> 00:05:34,360 microphone . Thank you 119 00:05:34,630 --> 00:05:37,250 Mr Secretary . Actually , I have a 120 00:05:37,260 --> 00:05:41,190 double question for you . Um Moldova is 121 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:44,620 stepping up its security measures after 122 00:05:44,620 --> 00:05:48,140 a series of explosions in a separatist 123 00:05:48,150 --> 00:05:51,740 region of Transnistria ? Do you think 124 00:05:51,740 --> 00:05:53,740 there is a risk of spillover of the 125 00:05:53,740 --> 00:05:57,190 conflict to Moldova ? And my second 126 00:05:57,190 --> 00:05:59,520 question is after this big meeting 127 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,960 about arming Ukraine ? Are you aren't 128 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,780 you concerned that Putin may 129 00:06:06,780 --> 00:06:09,800 become restless 130 00:06:09,810 --> 00:06:13,380 and threatened again to use a 131 00:06:13,380 --> 00:06:14,350 nuclear weapon ? 132 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,180 Well , on the issue of spillover to 133 00:06:20,190 --> 00:06:22,760 Moldova because of what we've seen here , 134 00:06:23,270 --> 00:06:27,150 the reporting of recent violence , 135 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,340 we're still looking to the cause of 136 00:06:29,340 --> 00:06:31,507 that . That's still , you know , still 137 00:06:31,507 --> 00:06:33,890 doing an analysis there . So I'm not 138 00:06:33,890 --> 00:06:36,640 really sure what what that's all about , 139 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:38,862 but well , that's something that will , 140 00:06:38,862 --> 00:06:40,690 will stay focused on . Uh , and 141 00:06:40,690 --> 00:06:43,950 certainly we don't want to see any 142 00:06:43,950 --> 00:06:46,860 stole over . And , and uh , and again , 143 00:06:47,340 --> 00:06:50,250 um , it's important to make sure that 144 00:06:50,250 --> 00:06:52,930 we do everything that we can to ensure 145 00:06:52,930 --> 00:06:55,380 that Ukraine is successful and that's 146 00:06:55,380 --> 00:06:58,680 the best way to to address that . And 147 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:00,958 your second part of the question there , 148 00:07:00,958 --> 00:07:01,958 Sylvie was , 149 00:07:08,940 --> 00:07:11,220 well , you know , you you heard uh us 150 00:07:11,220 --> 00:07:13,870 say a number of times that that kind of 151 00:07:13,870 --> 00:07:16,280 rhetoric is very dangerous and 152 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:20,210 unhelpful . Um , nobody wants 153 00:07:20,210 --> 00:07:22,266 to see a nuclear war happen happen . 154 00:07:22,266 --> 00:07:24,530 It's a war that , you know , or all 155 00:07:24,530 --> 00:07:27,750 sides lose . And so , uh , rattling of 156 00:07:27,750 --> 00:07:31,430 sabers , sabers and and uh , you know , 157 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,820 dangerous rhetoric is clearly unhelpful 158 00:07:34,830 --> 00:07:37,560 and something that we won't engage in . 159 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,430 Our next question goes to Susan gale 160 00:07:42,430 --> 00:07:43,860 hard from zdf , 161 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,960 you love . MR Secretary , what military 162 00:07:50,970 --> 00:07:53,081 aid do you now expect from the german 163 00:07:53,081 --> 00:07:54,970 government ? And do you think the 164 00:07:54,970 --> 00:07:56,860 delivery of jeopardy tanks is 165 00:07:56,860 --> 00:07:58,960 sufficient , in your opinion . 166 00:08:01,340 --> 00:08:03,618 You mean cheetahs , which is what Yeah , 167 00:08:04,340 --> 00:08:07,390 um let me just say that And I think 168 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,289 you've probably heard me say this 169 00:08:09,289 --> 00:08:11,150 before as I visited Germany , I 170 00:08:11,150 --> 00:08:13,880 consider Germany to be a great friend 171 00:08:13,890 --> 00:08:16,600 and an ally . Uh and uh you know , 172 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:18,711 we've served , I've served in Germany 173 00:08:18,711 --> 00:08:21,190 as a as an officer and and worked with 174 00:08:21,190 --> 00:08:23,780 german forces and and i it's it's 175 00:08:23,780 --> 00:08:26,740 always been a real pleasure to uh to 176 00:08:26,740 --> 00:08:29,160 work alongside our german partners here . 177 00:08:29,740 --> 00:08:31,850 Now . I think it's it's significant 178 00:08:31,850 --> 00:08:34,600 that , You know , Germany announced 179 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,100 that it was gonna provide 50 cheetah 180 00:08:37,100 --> 00:08:39,300 systems . I think that those systems 181 00:08:39,300 --> 00:08:41,810 will provide real capability to for 182 00:08:41,810 --> 00:08:44,590 Ukraine . And in terms of what else 183 00:08:44,590 --> 00:08:47,020 Germany will do going forward again , 184 00:08:47,020 --> 00:08:49,187 that's a that's a sovereign decision . 185 00:08:49,187 --> 00:08:51,076 One that you're , that the german 186 00:08:51,076 --> 00:08:53,298 leadership will make . And I don't want 187 00:08:53,298 --> 00:08:55,409 to speculate on that . I just believe 188 00:08:55,409 --> 00:08:57,464 that just based upon everything that 189 00:08:57,464 --> 00:09:00,080 I've seen in my interaction with the 190 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,480 Minister of Defense and how intently 191 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:04,647 she's been focused on making sure that 192 00:09:04,647 --> 00:09:06,758 she can do everything that she can to 193 00:09:06,758 --> 00:09:09,100 help and work alongside her partners 194 00:09:09,100 --> 00:09:11,580 and allies , that she will continue to 195 00:09:11,580 --> 00:09:15,370 look for ways to be uh to be relevant 196 00:09:15,380 --> 00:09:19,030 and and provide good capability to the 197 00:09:19,030 --> 00:09:20,970 Ukrainians as they continue to 198 00:09:21,210 --> 00:09:24,380 prosecute this fight . The next 199 00:09:24,380 --> 00:09:26,436 question goes to john Ismay new york 200 00:09:26,436 --> 00:09:30,220 times Mr Secretary 201 00:09:30,230 --> 00:09:32,341 yesterday , you mentioned that one of 202 00:09:32,341 --> 00:09:34,508 the United States has goals in Ukraine 203 00:09:34,508 --> 00:09:37,110 now was to see Russia weakened ? Can 204 00:09:37,110 --> 00:09:39,280 you explain more fully what that means 205 00:09:39,290 --> 00:09:41,457 and specifically , what do you want to 206 00:09:41,457 --> 00:09:43,290 weaken and how you would measure 207 00:09:43,290 --> 00:09:47,000 success in that regard ? Yeah , john , 208 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,700 so I think we've been pretty clear from , 209 00:09:49,710 --> 00:09:53,640 from the outset , um , we do wanna 210 00:09:53,650 --> 00:09:56,540 make it harder for Russia to threatened 211 00:09:56,540 --> 00:09:59,280 his neighbors and and leave them less 212 00:09:59,290 --> 00:10:01,457 able to do that . Now . If you look at 213 00:10:01,457 --> 00:10:04,590 what's transpired here in this 62 days 214 00:10:04,590 --> 00:10:08,480 or so that that Ukraine and Russia 215 00:10:08,490 --> 00:10:10,670 have been have been involved in this 216 00:10:10,670 --> 00:10:13,940 struggle here . Russia has , in terms 217 00:10:13,940 --> 00:10:16,400 of its land forces , land forces have 218 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,750 been a treated in a very significant 219 00:10:18,750 --> 00:10:21,310 way , casualties are , are are pretty 220 00:10:21,310 --> 00:10:23,850 substantial . They've lost a lot of a 221 00:10:23,860 --> 00:10:26,600 lot of equipment . Um , they've used a 222 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,500 lot of precision guided munitions . Um , 223 00:10:29,510 --> 00:10:32,200 they've lost a major surface combatant . 224 00:10:32,210 --> 00:10:34,740 And so they are in fact , in terms of 225 00:10:34,740 --> 00:10:37,300 military capability weaker than when it 226 00:10:37,300 --> 00:10:39,522 started . And , you know , john , it'll 227 00:10:39,522 --> 00:10:41,689 be harder for them for them to replace 228 00:10:41,689 --> 00:10:43,633 some of this capability as they go 229 00:10:43,633 --> 00:10:45,690 forward because of the sanctions and 230 00:10:45,690 --> 00:10:47,801 the trade restrictions that have been 231 00:10:47,801 --> 00:10:50,110 placed on them . And , and so we would 232 00:10:50,110 --> 00:10:52,670 like to make sure again that they don't 233 00:10:52,670 --> 00:10:56,190 have the same type of capability to 234 00:10:56,190 --> 00:10:58,412 bully their neighbors that we , that we 235 00:10:58,412 --> 00:11:00,301 saw at the outset of this of this 236 00:11:00,301 --> 00:11:03,820 conflict . Next question goes to 237 00:11:03,830 --> 00:11:06,550 uh , what's spongy burger from a . R . 238 00:11:06,550 --> 00:11:06,860 D . 239 00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:14,890 Hello , how can we guarantee a safe and 240 00:11:14,890 --> 00:11:17,770 secure Ukraine in future ? Is it 241 00:11:17,780 --> 00:11:20,120 possible that Ukraine becomes a member 242 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:24,000 of NATO ? That's a again that'll 243 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,260 be a sovereign decision . I think that 244 00:11:28,100 --> 00:11:31,470 NATO , I will always stand by his 245 00:11:31,470 --> 00:11:33,748 principles of maintaining an open door . 246 00:11:33,748 --> 00:11:37,140 So , uh I don't want to speculate on 247 00:11:37,140 --> 00:11:39,740 what what could come . I do believe 248 00:11:39,740 --> 00:11:43,110 that , you know , in the 249 00:11:43,110 --> 00:11:45,640 future , if the possibility exists , I 250 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:48,860 think Ukraine will will seek to uh once 251 00:11:48,860 --> 00:11:51,380 again apply to become a member of NATO . 252 00:11:51,380 --> 00:11:54,250 But but again , that's that's probably 253 00:11:54,250 --> 00:11:55,917 a bit down the road . And and 254 00:11:55,917 --> 00:11:58,070 speculation at this point is not very 255 00:11:58,070 --> 00:12:01,630 helpful . I think the first step is to 256 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:04,960 is to end this conflict . And I think 257 00:12:06,540 --> 00:12:09,030 the you know , what needs to happen to 258 00:12:09,030 --> 00:12:11,550 cause the conflict to come to an end is 259 00:12:11,560 --> 00:12:14,200 Mr Putin needs to make a decision to 260 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,250 end this conflict . He's the person 261 00:12:16,250 --> 00:12:18,840 that started it , It was unjustified . 262 00:12:19,010 --> 00:12:22,680 And uh and of course uh it'll be his 263 00:12:22,680 --> 00:12:25,610 decision to deescalate and then uh and 264 00:12:25,610 --> 00:12:27,721 then go back to the negotiating table 265 00:12:27,721 --> 00:12:29,721 and we really all would like to see 266 00:12:29,721 --> 00:12:31,832 that house . Okay , the last question 267 00:12:31,832 --> 00:12:34,740 today , mindful of our time is goes to 268 00:12:34,750 --> 00:12:37,460 you've addressing from TV two , Denmark . 269 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:42,660 Thanks Mr Secretary , the Russian 270 00:12:42,670 --> 00:12:44,750 foreign Minister has warned that 271 00:12:44,750 --> 00:12:47,330 there's a danger of of the third World 272 00:12:47,330 --> 00:12:49,430 War and there's a real danger of 273 00:12:49,630 --> 00:12:52,060 nuclear weapons being used in the 274 00:12:52,060 --> 00:12:54,227 present situation ? Are you not afraid 275 00:12:54,227 --> 00:12:57,100 that the conflict will somehow spin out 276 00:12:57,100 --> 00:12:59,160 of control and we will have this 277 00:12:59,170 --> 00:13:02,850 nuclear confrontation ? Well , 278 00:13:03,070 --> 00:13:06,330 we I certainly will do everything 279 00:13:06,340 --> 00:13:09,910 within our power . And within Ukraine , 280 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,087 Ukraine will have the same approach to 281 00:13:12,087 --> 00:13:14,198 everything within their power to make 282 00:13:14,198 --> 00:13:16,198 sure it doesn't spin out of control 283 00:13:16,198 --> 00:13:18,253 international communities focused on 284 00:13:18,253 --> 00:13:20,476 that as well . Again , I think this any 285 00:13:20,476 --> 00:13:22,309 bluster about the use of nuclear 286 00:13:22,309 --> 00:13:24,420 possibility of use of nuclear weapons 287 00:13:24,460 --> 00:13:26,460 is very dangerous and unhelpful , 288 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:28,840 nobody wants to see a nuclear war , 289 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,140 nobody can win that . Uh and as we do 290 00:13:31,140 --> 00:13:34,180 things and as we uh , you know , take 291 00:13:34,180 --> 00:13:37,180 actions were always mindful of making 292 00:13:37,180 --> 00:13:39,402 sure that we have the right balance and 293 00:13:39,402 --> 00:13:41,569 we're taking the right approach . So , 294 00:13:41,569 --> 00:13:43,520 um there's always a , you know , a 295 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:45,742 possibility that a number of things can 296 00:13:45,742 --> 00:13:48,490 happen . But but , you know , again , I 297 00:13:48,490 --> 00:13:50,510 think it's uh it's unhelpful and 298 00:13:50,510 --> 00:13:53,660 dangerous uh for to rattle 299 00:13:53,660 --> 00:13:57,540 sabers and speculate about the use 300 00:13:57,540 --> 00:14:00,480 of nuclear weapons . Thanks , thank you 301 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:02,591 all . That's all the time we have for 302 00:14:02,591 --> 00:14:04,647 today's press conference . We really 303 00:14:04,647 --> 00:14:04,460 appreciate you all coming . Thank you . 304 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:11,080 Thanks guys .