1 00:00:00,340 --> 00:00:02,050 over there seats are 2 00:00:04,540 --> 00:00:07,630 really , so now we're complaining about 3 00:00:07,630 --> 00:00:10,240 our seats . Yeah , 4 00:00:12,340 --> 00:00:14,507 well I think it's actually good for us 5 00:00:14,507 --> 00:00:16,562 to make you a little uncomfortable . 6 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:19,718 Okay , I did something to this already . 7 00:00:19,718 --> 00:00:22,450 Yeah , I mean I don't know what I 8 00:00:22,450 --> 00:00:24,561 touched you saw , I just put paper on 9 00:00:24,561 --> 00:00:26,940 top of it . I think he just , I think I 10 00:00:26,940 --> 00:00:29,660 just hit something thanks 11 00:00:31,230 --> 00:00:33,286 and I've got it on paper anyway , at 12 00:00:33,286 --> 00:00:35,620 least the I got some some opening 13 00:00:35,620 --> 00:00:38,500 statements here , so just bear with me 14 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:39,822 as I get through them 15 00:00:41,140 --> 00:00:44,910 first and certainly most importantly on 16 00:00:44,910 --> 00:00:47,021 behalf of the Secretary and everybody 17 00:00:47,021 --> 00:00:49,420 here at the Department of Defense , uh 18 00:00:49,430 --> 00:00:52,090 I'd like to express the deepest of 19 00:00:52,090 --> 00:00:54,370 condolences to the people of the United 20 00:00:54,380 --> 00:00:56,491 Arab Emirates on the passing of their 21 00:00:56,491 --> 00:00:58,824 president and our friend , his highness , 22 00:00:58,824 --> 00:01:00,880 Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan , 23 00:01:01,340 --> 00:01:04,520 his highness was a visionary leader for 24 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:06,687 not just this country but actually for 25 00:01:06,687 --> 00:01:08,750 the entire region and we're grateful 26 00:01:08,750 --> 00:01:10,528 for his steadfast commitment to 27 00:01:10,528 --> 00:01:12,583 regional stability and security . Um 28 00:01:12,583 --> 00:01:14,583 and we continue to honor his legacy 29 00:01:14,583 --> 00:01:17,310 through what is and what we know will 30 00:01:17,310 --> 00:01:18,921 remain a very strong defense 31 00:01:18,921 --> 00:01:21,660 partnership with the U . A . E . Um 32 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,096 secondly , this morning , I think as 33 00:01:24,096 --> 00:01:26,040 you've all likely seen , Secretary 34 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,590 Austin Held a phone call with his 35 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:30,489 Russian counterpart , Minister of 36 00:01:30,489 --> 00:01:32,750 Defense Sergei Shoigu was the first 37 00:01:32,750 --> 00:01:34,972 conversation they've had since February 38 00:01:34,972 --> 00:01:38,030 18 and the Secretary urged an end to 39 00:01:38,030 --> 00:01:39,752 the conflict in Ukraine and he 40 00:01:39,752 --> 00:01:41,363 emphasized the importance of 41 00:01:41,363 --> 00:01:43,474 maintaining communication . Thank you 42 00:01:43,474 --> 00:01:45,586 guys to also that we put our read out 43 00:01:45,586 --> 00:01:47,697 of that now , as you know , we remain 44 00:01:47,697 --> 00:01:49,430 keenly focused on the evolving 45 00:01:49,430 --> 00:01:51,319 situation in Ukraine and Russia's 46 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,567 aggression in the region in the United 47 00:01:53,567 --> 00:01:55,622 States continues its course to stand 48 00:01:55,622 --> 00:01:57,844 shoulder to shoulder with our allies to 49 00:01:57,844 --> 00:01:59,622 maintain a strong deterrent and 50 00:01:59,622 --> 00:02:01,622 defensive posture on NATO's eastern 51 00:02:01,622 --> 00:02:04,340 flank . As such , Secretary Austin has 52 00:02:04,340 --> 00:02:06,562 ordered the deployment of approximately 53 00:02:06,562 --> 00:02:08,940 10,500 personnel in the coming months 54 00:02:09,310 --> 00:02:12,830 to replace previously deployed US Army 55 00:02:12,830 --> 00:02:15,060 units serving in the european theater 56 00:02:15,060 --> 00:02:18,260 of operations . These deployments are 57 00:02:18,260 --> 00:02:21,510 one for 1 Unit replacements , which 58 00:02:21,510 --> 00:02:23,732 will leave our overall force posture in 59 00:02:23,732 --> 00:02:26,960 the region . Approximately 100,000 60 00:02:27,540 --> 00:02:30,670 unchanged . The units being replaced 61 00:02:30,670 --> 00:02:32,559 will return to their home station 62 00:02:32,559 --> 00:02:34,810 following an appropriate turnover of 63 00:02:34,810 --> 00:02:38,250 responsibilities . And these 64 00:02:38,260 --> 00:02:41,860 turnovers will occur over coming weeks 65 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,407 uh in the next couple of months . Even 66 00:02:44,407 --> 00:02:46,629 it'll go into the summer and it will be 67 00:02:46,629 --> 00:02:50,540 a rotation over time . Specifically 68 00:02:50,540 --> 00:02:52,096 the 101st Airborne Division 69 00:02:52,096 --> 00:02:53,873 headquarters from Fort Campbell 70 00:02:53,873 --> 00:02:55,873 Kentucky will deploy to replace the 71 00:02:55,873 --> 00:02:58,100 82nd Airborne Division headquarters uh 72 00:02:58,110 --> 00:02:59,800 in the in the Yukon area of 73 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:01,578 responsibility and that's about 74 00:03:01,578 --> 00:03:04,950 approximately 500 soldiers . The Second 75 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,650 Infantry Brigade , Combat Team , 101st 76 00:03:08,660 --> 00:03:10,716 Airborne Division from Fort Campbell 77 00:03:10,716 --> 00:03:13,990 Kentucky will deploy approximately 4200 78 00:03:13,990 --> 00:03:16,610 soldiers to replace the third Infantry 79 00:03:16,610 --> 00:03:19,010 Brigade Combat Team , 82nd Airborne 80 00:03:19,010 --> 00:03:22,970 Division in Poland , The third armored 81 00:03:22,970 --> 00:03:24,970 Brigade , Combat Team First Cavalry 82 00:03:24,970 --> 00:03:27,390 Division from Fort Hood Texas will 83 00:03:27,390 --> 00:03:29,790 deploy approximately 4200 soldiers to 84 00:03:29,790 --> 00:03:32,620 replace the first armored brigade , 3rd 85 00:03:32,630 --> 00:03:36,120 Infantry Division in Germany And the 86 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,287 First Armored Division Combat Aviation 87 00:03:38,287 --> 00:03:40,287 Brigade consisting of approximately 88 00:03:40,287 --> 00:03:42,342 1800 service members from Fort Bliss 89 00:03:42,342 --> 00:03:44,700 Texas . We'll replace the first air 90 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,510 cavalry brigade uh in support of the 91 00:03:47,510 --> 00:03:49,566 United States commitment to atlantic 92 00:03:49,566 --> 00:03:51,677 resolves . I want to stress on just a 93 00:03:51,677 --> 00:03:53,510 stop on that one and remind that 94 00:03:53,510 --> 00:03:55,343 atlantic resolve is a rotational 95 00:03:55,343 --> 00:03:57,660 deployment scheme for the U . S . Army 96 00:03:57,670 --> 00:04:01,590 since 2014 . So the first armored 97 00:04:01,590 --> 00:04:04,700 Division combat aviation brigade that 98 00:04:04,700 --> 00:04:06,922 will come in from Fort Bliss . This was 99 00:04:06,922 --> 00:04:09,820 a long standing replacement in place . 100 00:04:09,820 --> 00:04:12,260 I mean the the first air cavalry 101 00:04:12,270 --> 00:04:14,214 brigade that that's there has been 102 00:04:14,214 --> 00:04:16,270 there for like nine months . So like 103 00:04:16,270 --> 00:04:18,603 this is this is the time for them to go . 104 00:04:18,603 --> 00:04:20,548 Uh This was something that was pre 105 00:04:20,548 --> 00:04:22,492 scheduled lastly like our previous 106 00:04:22,492 --> 00:04:25,040 announcements . These are not permanent 107 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,950 moves . These moves are designed to 108 00:04:28,070 --> 00:04:29,848 respond to the current security 109 00:04:29,848 --> 00:04:31,959 environment . Moreover , these forces 110 00:04:31,959 --> 00:04:33,959 are not going to fight in Ukraine , 111 00:04:34,990 --> 00:04:37,046 they are going to support the robust 112 00:04:37,046 --> 00:04:39,440 defense of NATO allies . Those are the 113 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:41,440 force posture announcements that we 114 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:43,440 have for you today will continue to 115 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:43,420 keep you informed and remain 116 00:04:43,420 --> 00:04:45,531 transparent about our support for our 117 00:04:45,531 --> 00:04:48,640 european allies and partners . Um and 118 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,751 when there's additional announcements 119 00:04:50,751 --> 00:04:52,751 or rotations , just talk to , we'll 120 00:04:52,751 --> 00:04:54,862 talk to it but that's all we have for 121 00:04:54,862 --> 00:04:57,310 today . Um And then lastly , just a 122 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,220 little house cleaning on monday the 123 00:05:00,220 --> 00:05:02,520 16th of May and then thursday the 19th 124 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,631 of May , there's gonna be an increase 125 00:05:04,631 --> 00:05:06,687 in helicopter activity in and around 126 00:05:06,687 --> 00:05:08,742 the pentagon in the national capital 127 00:05:08,742 --> 00:05:10,798 region ? This is part of a regularly 128 00:05:10,798 --> 00:05:10,730 scheduled exercise and I just wanted to 129 00:05:10,740 --> 00:05:13,210 get that out there now before you start 130 00:05:13,210 --> 00:05:15,099 seeing a lot more helicopters and 131 00:05:15,099 --> 00:05:17,210 asking me what's going on , it's just 132 00:05:17,210 --> 00:05:19,321 an exercise long planned , nothing to 133 00:05:19,321 --> 00:05:21,321 be alarmed about . Uh and with that 134 00:05:21,321 --> 00:05:23,650 we'll take questions leader , you're on 135 00:05:23,650 --> 00:05:27,070 the phone . Hi , thanks , john uh two 136 00:05:27,070 --> 00:05:30,490 things . One , just on the deployments , 137 00:05:30,500 --> 00:05:32,800 you made it clear these are not 138 00:05:32,810 --> 00:05:35,800 permanent . But can you say whether or 139 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,440 not discussions about any more 140 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:42,520 permanent changes to the force posture 141 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,050 in EUCOM are still under discussion and 142 00:05:45,050 --> 00:05:48,540 whether uh we can expect any 143 00:05:48,540 --> 00:05:50,770 announcements on anything like that in 144 00:05:50,770 --> 00:05:52,770 the near future . And then I have a 145 00:05:52,770 --> 00:05:54,826 second question , I would not expect 146 00:05:54,826 --> 00:05:56,680 any announcements on permanent 147 00:05:56,690 --> 00:05:59,170 footprint changes anytime in the near 148 00:05:59,170 --> 00:06:01,490 future . Leader . Um as as you've heard 149 00:06:01,490 --> 00:06:03,690 us say , the secretary knows that the 150 00:06:03,690 --> 00:06:05,746 security environment has now changed 151 00:06:05,746 --> 00:06:08,810 based on what Mr Putin has done and so 152 00:06:08,810 --> 00:06:10,866 we expect that , that we're going to 153 00:06:10,866 --> 00:06:12,754 have to take a look at the at the 154 00:06:12,754 --> 00:06:15,120 permanent footprint uh in europe and 155 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,120 make an assessment about that , you 156 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,064 know , in the future . But there's 157 00:06:19,064 --> 00:06:21,950 nothing in the offing right now . Um My 158 00:06:21,950 --> 00:06:25,200 second question is on the drawdown 159 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,970 funding , the letter last week made it 160 00:06:27,970 --> 00:06:30,248 clear that that the secretary believes , 161 00:06:30,248 --> 00:06:32,780 um it's important for Congress to act 162 00:06:32,780 --> 00:06:34,891 quickly on the dry down funding , can 163 00:06:34,891 --> 00:06:37,002 you talk just a little bit about um , 164 00:06:37,002 --> 00:06:40,250 if there is a delay , continued delay 165 00:06:40,260 --> 00:06:43,420 um , by the Senate to move the bill , 166 00:06:43,430 --> 00:06:45,770 what impact does that have ? Is there 167 00:06:45,770 --> 00:06:48,620 enough equipment in the pipeline that a 168 00:06:48,620 --> 00:06:51,200 delay of a week or two won't make much 169 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,311 difference . Can you just put that in 170 00:06:53,311 --> 00:06:56,030 perspective ? We We got about $100 171 00:06:56,030 --> 00:06:57,808 million dollars left in current 172 00:06:57,808 --> 00:06:59,641 authority um , that has not been 173 00:06:59,641 --> 00:07:03,530 allocated or announced . Um um , and 174 00:07:03,540 --> 00:07:07,040 as the Secretary made clear that that 175 00:07:07,050 --> 00:07:10,130 that we really would like to get uh the 176 00:07:10,130 --> 00:07:12,130 approval for additional authorities 177 00:07:12,130 --> 00:07:14,300 before the third week of this month so 178 00:07:14,300 --> 00:07:16,467 that we can continue uninterrupted the 179 00:07:16,467 --> 00:07:19,370 flow of aid and assistance into Ukraine . 180 00:07:19,380 --> 00:07:22,550 Um , so obviously we continue to urge 181 00:07:22,740 --> 00:07:25,400 the Senate to act as quickly as 182 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:29,090 possible so that so that we don't get 183 00:07:29,100 --> 00:07:31,510 to the end of May and and not have any 184 00:07:31,510 --> 00:07:33,870 additional authorities to to draw back 185 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:36,720 to to draw upon . But we believe with 186 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,030 the , with the authorities we have left 187 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,000 $100 million we have left at that . Um , 188 00:07:42,010 --> 00:07:45,250 that that that will help us get 189 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:49,080 more assistance into Ukraine . Uh , you 190 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,820 know , by about the third week of the 191 00:07:51,830 --> 00:07:53,886 third week of this month towards the 192 00:07:53,886 --> 00:07:55,997 end of the month . So we really would 193 00:07:55,997 --> 00:07:58,052 like to get this approved quickly so 194 00:07:58,052 --> 00:08:00,219 that again , we can continue to source 195 00:08:00,219 --> 00:08:02,052 additional drawdown packages and 196 00:08:02,052 --> 00:08:03,941 without interruption , we've been 197 00:08:03,941 --> 00:08:07,250 moving at a a fairly fast clip here , 198 00:08:07,260 --> 00:08:10,410 both in terms of the the individual 199 00:08:10,410 --> 00:08:12,466 packages that have been approved and 200 00:08:12,466 --> 00:08:14,632 how fast that stuff is getting on into 201 00:08:14,632 --> 00:08:16,910 Ukrainian hands and we would literally , 202 00:08:16,910 --> 00:08:19,130 every day , there are things going in 203 00:08:19,130 --> 00:08:20,908 and we would like to be able to 204 00:08:20,908 --> 00:08:22,963 continue that pace for as long as we 205 00:08:22,963 --> 00:08:25,186 can Courtney . So the third week of May 206 00:08:25,186 --> 00:08:27,297 is next week . So does that mean that 207 00:08:27,297 --> 00:08:29,440 If the funding is not approved by 208 00:08:29,450 --> 00:08:31,506 Monday , that means that could there 209 00:08:31,506 --> 00:08:33,680 could actually be a stop it , will you 210 00:08:33,680 --> 00:08:35,902 stop delivering things ? You don't have 211 00:08:35,902 --> 00:08:38,124 enough ? I think , I think specifically 212 00:08:38,124 --> 00:08:40,347 we said something like May 19 is was is 213 00:08:40,347 --> 00:08:42,780 the day we really with without 214 00:08:42,790 --> 00:08:44,957 additional authorities . You know , we 215 00:08:44,957 --> 00:08:47,060 we'd uh , we'd begin to not have the 216 00:08:47,060 --> 00:08:49,160 ability to send new stuff in . So no 217 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,160 decision yet on the 100 million . I 218 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,216 don't , I think the decision will be 219 00:08:53,216 --> 00:08:55,271 coming soon on that . Um , and as we 220 00:08:55,271 --> 00:08:57,549 urge the congress to , to , to , to to , 221 00:08:57,549 --> 00:08:59,660 you know , that , that by the 19th of 222 00:08:59,660 --> 00:09:01,993 May , that we're gonna start , you know , 223 00:09:01,993 --> 00:09:03,993 start impacting our ability to , to 224 00:09:03,993 --> 00:09:06,160 provide aid uninterrupted . It doesn't 225 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,382 mean that on May 20th nothing goes in . 226 00:09:08,382 --> 00:09:10,438 I mean , because we're still filling 227 00:09:10,438 --> 00:09:13,510 out , um , the last package is still 228 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:15,576 arriving . So it doesn't mean that , 229 00:09:15,576 --> 00:09:18,510 you know , come 1920 May , everything 230 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,180 everything stops , but what we want 231 00:09:21,180 --> 00:09:23,347 from the last night . That's correct . 232 00:09:23,347 --> 00:09:25,730 But we do want court , we would like to 233 00:09:25,730 --> 00:09:29,220 have the the cushion of being able to 234 00:09:29,220 --> 00:09:31,109 fill out additional packages in a 235 00:09:31,109 --> 00:09:33,276 completely uninterrupted way ? Because 236 00:09:33,276 --> 00:09:35,980 eventually , um if you don't get those 237 00:09:35,980 --> 00:09:37,924 authorities soon , if we don't get 238 00:09:37,924 --> 00:09:39,980 those authorities soon , I mean , uh 239 00:09:39,980 --> 00:09:41,980 it's possible that there could be a 240 00:09:41,980 --> 00:09:44,091 bubble , a period of time which , you 241 00:09:44,091 --> 00:09:46,258 know , there's just nothing moving and 242 00:09:46,258 --> 00:09:48,620 we want to make sure we avoid or did 243 00:09:48,620 --> 00:09:50,842 you have a question ? I was gonna ask a 244 00:09:50,842 --> 00:09:52,731 non Ukraine question . I was just 245 00:09:52,731 --> 00:09:52,600 wondering , given the current tensions 246 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:54,656 in Jerusalem , if there had been any 247 00:09:54,656 --> 00:09:56,544 contact between the US and Israel 248 00:09:56,550 --> 00:09:58,590 either on the US assisting with the 249 00:09:58,590 --> 00:10:00,590 investigation into the shooting and 250 00:10:00,590 --> 00:10:03,980 killing of the journalist or um as the 251 00:10:03,980 --> 00:10:06,091 US functioned as a liaison between us 252 00:10:06,091 --> 00:10:08,313 and Palestinian security forces . Given 253 00:10:08,313 --> 00:10:10,202 the tensions , I I don't have any 254 00:10:10,202 --> 00:10:12,424 conversations to read out today . Um we 255 00:10:12,424 --> 00:10:16,340 have observed that um that the Israelis 256 00:10:16,340 --> 00:10:18,618 have said they're going to investigate , 257 00:10:18,618 --> 00:10:20,729 that we obviously encourage that that 258 00:10:20,729 --> 00:10:22,618 investigation be as robust and as 259 00:10:22,618 --> 00:10:24,729 transparent as possible , but I don't 260 00:10:24,729 --> 00:10:24,080 have any additional conversations . 261 00:10:24,940 --> 00:10:26,718 They refused to conduct a joint 262 00:10:26,718 --> 00:10:28,940 investigation . They , the Israelis and 263 00:10:28,940 --> 00:10:31,162 Palestinians , have you tried to bridge 264 00:10:31,162 --> 00:10:31,010 that gap ? And that would be a question 265 00:10:31,010 --> 00:10:33,177 for the State Department ? The Defense 266 00:10:33,177 --> 00:10:35,121 Department has not taken a role in 267 00:10:35,121 --> 00:10:37,121 brokering the investigative process 268 00:10:37,180 --> 00:10:39,690 injuries , Ukraine earlier today , 269 00:10:39,700 --> 00:10:41,811 Turkish president Erdogan said he was 270 00:10:41,811 --> 00:10:44,120 not in favor of Finland and Sweden 271 00:10:44,130 --> 00:10:46,750 joining NATO firstly , if there had 272 00:10:46,750 --> 00:10:49,140 been any mid or senior level contacts 273 00:10:49,140 --> 00:10:51,307 between the pentagon and their Turkish 274 00:10:51,307 --> 00:10:54,530 counterparts since And secondly , the 275 00:10:54,530 --> 00:10:56,586 secretary often have a reaction with 276 00:10:56,586 --> 00:10:58,586 the disappointed . Was he happy ? I 277 00:10:58,586 --> 00:11:00,586 mean , does he have a reaction to a 278 00:11:00,586 --> 00:11:02,641 NATO ally saying no thanks . I would 279 00:11:02,641 --> 00:11:04,808 say we're working to clarify to better 280 00:11:04,808 --> 00:11:06,974 understand Turkey's position here . Um 281 00:11:06,974 --> 00:11:09,141 and we're referring to the Turks to to 282 00:11:09,141 --> 00:11:11,790 speak to President Erdogan's comments 283 00:11:12,010 --> 00:11:14,232 just just a bit further on that without 284 00:11:14,232 --> 00:11:16,399 going into the specific comments given 285 00:11:16,399 --> 00:11:18,399 that they have been made . Does the 286 00:11:18,399 --> 00:11:20,399 Secretary believe Turkey is still a 287 00:11:20,399 --> 00:11:22,621 helpful NATO ally ? Or are they causing 288 00:11:22,621 --> 00:11:24,843 more problems ? And of course Turkey is 289 00:11:24,843 --> 00:11:26,954 a valued NATO ally that that that has 290 00:11:26,954 --> 00:11:29,066 not changed there ? There there there 291 00:11:29,066 --> 00:11:31,890 there there a NATO ally . And look , 292 00:11:31,890 --> 00:11:34,450 they've been they've been involved and 293 00:11:34,450 --> 00:11:36,672 helpful in trying to get dialogue going 294 00:11:36,672 --> 00:11:39,520 here between Russia and Ukraine . Um 295 00:11:39,530 --> 00:11:41,490 and um and they have provided 296 00:11:41,500 --> 00:11:44,960 assistance to Ukraine . So um 297 00:11:44,970 --> 00:11:47,430 nothing changes about their uh their 298 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,329 their standing in the in the NATO 299 00:11:49,329 --> 00:11:51,496 alliance and we're like I said , we're 300 00:11:51,496 --> 00:11:53,496 working to to to better clarify the 301 00:11:53,496 --> 00:11:57,000 position here . Yeah . Uh Christina 302 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,040 going Uh so there's cake in the hallway 303 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:02,910 down here at C2 is having a birthday 304 00:12:02,950 --> 00:12:05,360 1st . Birthday . Is there any update on 305 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:07,471 how that's coming together ? I didn't 306 00:12:07,471 --> 00:12:09,600 get any invitation to eat cake . 307 00:12:11,340 --> 00:12:13,173 Is that what you're asking about 308 00:12:13,173 --> 00:12:15,340 whether I have an update on the cake ? 309 00:12:16,100 --> 00:12:18,530 I don't I would refer it to the to the 310 00:12:18,530 --> 00:12:20,620 joint staff to speak to that 311 00:12:20,620 --> 00:12:22,731 specifically . But but happy birthday 312 00:12:22,731 --> 00:12:26,500 to jesse too . Um let's see 313 00:12:26,510 --> 00:12:29,960 uh Poonam 314 00:12:30,340 --> 00:12:34,110 from my question has been 315 00:12:34,110 --> 00:12:35,388 answered . Thank you . 316 00:12:37,450 --> 00:12:40,190 Somebody should go get us some cake I 317 00:12:40,190 --> 00:12:42,357 think friday and everything . I'll bet 318 00:12:42,357 --> 00:12:44,357 you they can't eat all the cake out 319 00:12:44,357 --> 00:12:47,960 there , paul , Hanley from FT Hi john 320 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,960 hi john , can you hear me hear me ? 321 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:54,360 You 322 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,773 alright , paul , we'll come back to you . 323 00:13:04,773 --> 00:13:08,570 Uh Let's see . Uh let's 324 00:13:08,570 --> 00:13:11,290 see uh Anson from Asahi . 325 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,410 Hello , I think 326 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,750 high . I don't know , I ? M mute and 327 00:13:18,750 --> 00:13:20,972 then it gets muted . Sorry about that . 328 00:13:20,972 --> 00:13:23,028 I'm sorry , can I can I can I ask my 329 00:13:23,028 --> 00:13:26,560 question ? Hello 330 00:13:27,940 --> 00:13:31,460 paul . You got me . Yeah , if you can 331 00:13:31,460 --> 00:13:34,580 hear me . I wanted to ask uh what was 332 00:13:34,580 --> 00:13:36,747 minister Shoigu ? But what did he have 333 00:13:36,747 --> 00:13:38,890 to say about the issue of Finland and 334 00:13:38,890 --> 00:13:42,040 Sweden joining NATO ? Yeah , look I we 335 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:43,873 gave a read out of it and I just 336 00:13:43,873 --> 00:13:46,040 reiterated that I'm not going to go in 337 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,580 any more detail than than what than 338 00:13:48,580 --> 00:13:50,747 what we provided . Um I think I'm just 339 00:13:50,747 --> 00:13:54,650 gonna leave it there . Uh Anson 340 00:13:55,140 --> 00:13:56,060 Secretary . 341 00:14:02,540 --> 00:14:05,370 What paul ? I think paul had a follow 342 00:14:05,370 --> 00:14:06,350 up . Sorry . 343 00:14:08,940 --> 00:14:12,600 Um Okay uh thank you for taking my 344 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,190 question . I had two quick questions . 345 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:16,960 Um Previously a senior defense 346 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,127 officials said that there is anecdotal 347 00:14:19,127 --> 00:14:21,293 evidence of ground troops and officers 348 00:14:21,293 --> 00:14:23,516 not following orders . I was curious if 349 00:14:23,516 --> 00:14:25,738 what kind what instances are you seeing 350 00:14:25,738 --> 00:14:27,627 these officers failing to disobey 351 00:14:27,627 --> 00:14:29,960 orders and then have a follow up . Yeah . 352 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,127 Look , I I I'm just not gonna get into 353 00:14:32,127 --> 00:14:34,404 much more detail at the tactical level . 354 00:14:34,404 --> 00:14:36,910 Uh in terms of uh you know Russian 355 00:14:36,910 --> 00:14:39,800 units um on the ground 356 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,250 we continue to have 357 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:45,870 indications that the Russians have not 358 00:14:45,870 --> 00:14:48,037 overcome their command and control and 359 00:14:48,037 --> 00:14:50,490 their unit cohesion issues . Um and yes 360 00:14:50,490 --> 00:14:52,850 we have indications that morale um 361 00:14:52,860 --> 00:14:55,082 continues to be an issue inside certain 362 00:14:55,082 --> 00:14:56,970 Russian units . We don't have a 363 00:14:56,970 --> 00:14:59,320 fingertip feel of everyone , but I'm 364 00:14:59,330 --> 00:15:01,441 just simply not going to go into more 365 00:15:01,441 --> 00:15:04,260 detail than that . Okay . Uh And then 366 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:06,862 also a senior defense official recently 367 00:15:06,862 --> 00:15:08,640 stated that there are about 105 368 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,390 operational D TGS in Ukraine , given 369 00:15:11,390 --> 00:15:14,060 the extensive losses sustained by the 370 00:15:14,060 --> 00:15:16,227 Russians . The Institute for the Study 371 00:15:16,227 --> 00:15:18,338 of War has said that the measuring of 372 00:15:18,338 --> 00:15:20,393 the number of B T G s is no longer a 373 00:15:20,393 --> 00:15:22,171 viable metric for Russian force 374 00:15:22,171 --> 00:15:24,116 presence . What is the D . O . D . 375 00:15:24,116 --> 00:15:26,060 Assessment on the average range of 376 00:15:26,060 --> 00:15:29,510 troops per BTG has gone down from the 377 00:15:29,510 --> 00:15:31,343 average 800 troops that had been 378 00:15:31,343 --> 00:15:33,677 previously seen per BTG . Thanks . Look , 379 00:15:33,677 --> 00:15:37,610 look , we uh we still the average 380 00:15:37,610 --> 00:15:39,666 size of a Russian battalion tactical 381 00:15:39,666 --> 00:15:43,110 groups between 800 1000 troops 382 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,660 depending on the mission of The BTG . 383 00:15:46,670 --> 00:15:49,310 But a BTG can still be operational and 384 00:15:49,310 --> 00:15:51,477 have less than 800 . I mean it depends 385 00:15:51,477 --> 00:15:53,650 on what is being asked to do and where 386 00:15:53,650 --> 00:15:55,830 it is in the fighting . Um and I don't 387 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,290 I'm not gonna get into again a blow by 388 00:15:58,290 --> 00:16:00,512 blow of every single battalion tactical 389 00:16:00,512 --> 00:16:02,846 group that the Russians have in Ukraine . 390 00:16:02,846 --> 00:16:04,901 The point is that they still have an 391 00:16:04,901 --> 00:16:06,790 awful lot of firepower and forces 392 00:16:06,790 --> 00:16:08,901 available to them as they continue to 393 00:16:08,901 --> 00:16:10,734 prosecute this war now on a more 394 00:16:10,734 --> 00:16:12,901 confined space in the Donbass region . 395 00:16:12,901 --> 00:16:14,790 I think I'll leave it at that . I 396 00:16:14,790 --> 00:16:17,123 already got you jim , no , no , no , no , 397 00:16:17,123 --> 00:16:19,179 no , no . You already got your gym . 398 00:16:19,179 --> 00:16:21,760 Yeah . So which belies the problem ? 399 00:16:21,770 --> 00:16:25,400 The Ukrainians have been fighting hard 400 00:16:25,410 --> 00:16:28,960 for a long time against a lot of 401 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,600 Russians and how are they still 402 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,790 combat effective ? I mean , what's the 403 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:36,800 what's the assessment of that ? The 404 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,022 Ukrainians ? Yes , yes , of course they 405 00:16:39,022 --> 00:16:41,244 are . I mean they're they're putting up 406 00:16:41,244 --> 00:16:43,467 a very stiff resistance in the Don boss 407 00:16:43,467 --> 00:16:45,570 and in the south they have prevented 408 00:16:45,570 --> 00:16:47,730 the Russians from achieving virtually 409 00:16:47,750 --> 00:16:49,917 any of their strategic objectives thus 410 00:16:49,917 --> 00:16:51,972 far in the , in the war . Now look , 411 00:16:51,972 --> 00:16:54,194 both sides have taken casualties . Both 412 00:16:54,194 --> 00:16:56,250 sides have lost capabilities whether 413 00:16:56,250 --> 00:16:58,510 that's actual hardware or or or 414 00:16:58,510 --> 00:17:02,150 defensive systems , that's it's a 415 00:17:02,150 --> 00:17:05,770 war . Um and again , that's why we're 416 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:08,673 trying so hard to make sure that 417 00:17:08,673 --> 00:17:11,140 Ukraine continues to have available to 418 00:17:11,140 --> 00:17:13,460 it , the materials , the systems , the 419 00:17:13,460 --> 00:17:15,127 weapons to continue to defend 420 00:17:15,127 --> 00:17:18,460 themselves . Um , I certainly would not . 421 00:17:18,470 --> 00:17:21,380 Nor have we ever gotten into a detailed 422 00:17:21,380 --> 00:17:23,713 discussion of Ukrainian order of battle . 423 00:17:23,713 --> 00:17:25,769 And you know , I don't think that we 424 00:17:25,769 --> 00:17:27,991 want to get that into the Bloodstream , 425 00:17:27,991 --> 00:17:30,213 but they they absolutely are mounting a 426 00:17:30,213 --> 00:17:33,930 stiff um and an effective resistance 427 00:17:33,930 --> 00:17:35,810 to the Russians . I think it's 428 00:17:35,810 --> 00:17:38,390 important to remember that the Russians , 429 00:17:38,390 --> 00:17:40,390 as I said just a little bit ago the 430 00:17:40,390 --> 00:17:43,420 Russians still have a lot of their 431 00:17:43,420 --> 00:17:45,587 available combat power still available 432 00:17:45,587 --> 00:17:47,420 to them . Yes they have suffered 433 00:17:47,420 --> 00:17:49,531 casualties . Some of their units have 434 00:17:49,531 --> 00:17:51,642 been depleted . No question they have 435 00:17:51,642 --> 00:17:53,809 they have lost weapons and systems and 436 00:17:53,809 --> 00:17:56,031 platforms but they still but they still 437 00:17:56,031 --> 00:17:58,142 have an awful lot available to them . 438 00:17:58,142 --> 00:18:00,364 And this is an area of of Ukraine where 439 00:18:00,364 --> 00:18:02,420 that that that that the Russians are 440 00:18:02,420 --> 00:18:02,340 not unfamiliar with the Donbass 441 00:18:02,340 --> 00:18:05,550 particularly . Okay that's good for a 442 00:18:05,550 --> 00:18:07,550 friday and hope you all have a good 443 00:18:07,550 --> 00:18:08,670 weekend .