1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:04,690 Good afternoon everyone , we are 2 00:00:04,690 --> 00:00:07,350 delighted to welcome dR Colin call the 3 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:09,582 undersecretary of Defense for policy of 4 00:00:09,582 --> 00:00:11,749 the Department of Defense . He's going 5 00:00:11,749 --> 00:00:13,971 to walk us through today's presidential 6 00:00:13,971 --> 00:00:16,640 drawdown authority . Great well , good 7 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:18,862 afternoon . It's it's great to join you 8 00:00:18,862 --> 00:00:20,696 all today to announce the latest 9 00:00:20,696 --> 00:00:22,751 military assistance authorization to 10 00:00:22,751 --> 00:00:24,973 support Ukraine in the face of Russia's 11 00:00:24,973 --> 00:00:26,640 premeditated , unprovoked and 12 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,290 unjustified invasion first . However , 13 00:00:29,290 --> 00:00:31,068 I'd like to share with you that 14 00:00:31,068 --> 00:00:33,179 Secretary Austin spoke with Ukrainian 15 00:00:33,179 --> 00:00:34,957 Minister of Defense Resnick Aww 16 00:00:34,957 --> 00:00:37,380 yesterday to discuss Ukraine's military 17 00:00:37,380 --> 00:00:39,720 requirements . As fighting continues in 18 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,200 Eastern Ukraine , Secretary Austin 19 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,367 highlighted the success of the Ukraine 20 00:00:44,367 --> 00:00:47,450 Contact group held on may 23rd and 21 00:00:47,450 --> 00:00:49,283 noted the unity of international 22 00:00:49,283 --> 00:00:51,117 community , of the international 23 00:00:51,117 --> 00:00:53,228 community in supporting Ukraine as it 24 00:00:53,228 --> 00:00:55,283 repels the Russian invasion Minister 25 00:00:55,283 --> 00:00:57,394 Reznikoff expressed his gratitude for 26 00:00:57,394 --> 00:00:59,450 US leadership on this effort and the 27 00:00:59,450 --> 00:01:01,672 two leaders outlined priorities for the 28 00:01:01,672 --> 00:01:03,728 next in person contact group planned 29 00:01:03,728 --> 00:01:05,561 for june in brussels And now for 30 00:01:05,561 --> 00:01:07,728 today's announcement today , President 31 00:01:07,728 --> 00:01:09,617 Biden directed the drawdown of an 32 00:01:09,617 --> 00:01:10,950 additional $700 million 33 00:01:10,950 --> 00:01:14,360 Inventories . 34 00:01:14,850 --> 00:01:16,906 The capabilities in this package are 35 00:01:16,906 --> 00:01:18,906 tailored to meet critical Ukrainian 36 00:01:18,906 --> 00:01:20,794 needs for today's fight including 37 00:01:20,794 --> 00:01:22,794 requirements for rocket artillery . 38 00:01:22,794 --> 00:01:25,017 This authorization is the 11th drawdown 39 00:01:25,017 --> 00:01:27,239 of equipment from D . O . D inventories 40 00:01:27,239 --> 00:01:30,370 for Ukraine since August of 2021 . The 41 00:01:30,370 --> 00:01:32,426 capabilities in this package include 42 00:01:32,426 --> 00:01:34,259 high mobility artillery , rocket 43 00:01:34,259 --> 00:01:36,520 systems or high maRS and guided 44 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,464 munitions with a range of up to 70 45 00:01:38,464 --> 00:01:40,790 kilometers five counter artillery 46 00:01:40,790 --> 00:01:43,330 radars to air surveillance radars , 47 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,410 1000 additional javelins and 50 Command 48 00:01:46,410 --> 00:01:50,240 launch units , 6000 anti armor weapons , 49 00:01:51,740 --> 00:01:54,270 15 15,005 millimeter artillery rounds , 50 00:01:54,540 --> 00:01:58,370 four M I 17 helicopters , 15 Tactical 51 00:01:58,370 --> 00:02:01,360 Vehicles and Spare Parts and Equipment . 52 00:02:02,660 --> 00:02:04,882 These are critical capabilities to help 53 00:02:04,882 --> 00:02:06,716 the Ukrainians repel the Russian 54 00:02:06,716 --> 00:02:08,827 offensive in the East . One such need 55 00:02:08,827 --> 00:02:10,938 is the high mobility artillery rocket 56 00:02:10,938 --> 00:02:13,104 system I just mentioned which responds 57 00:02:13,104 --> 00:02:15,660 to Ukraine's top priority . Ask . This 58 00:02:15,660 --> 00:02:17,493 system will provide Ukraine with 59 00:02:17,493 --> 00:02:19,549 additional precision in targeting at 60 00:02:19,549 --> 00:02:21,604 range . The Ukrainians have given us 61 00:02:21,604 --> 00:02:23,493 assurances that they will use the 62 00:02:23,493 --> 00:02:25,604 system for defensive purposes only in 63 00:02:25,604 --> 00:02:27,827 anticipation of this potential decision 64 00:02:27,827 --> 00:02:29,993 by President biden , the Department of 65 00:02:29,993 --> 00:02:31,993 Defense prepositioned the high MARS 66 00:02:31,993 --> 00:02:34,104 systems in europe to ensure that they 67 00:02:34,104 --> 00:02:35,993 could be rapidly delivered to the 68 00:02:35,993 --> 00:02:38,104 Ukrainians and put in place a plan so 69 00:02:38,104 --> 00:02:40,271 that we could start training Ukrainian 70 00:02:40,271 --> 00:02:42,438 forces immediately while ensuring they 71 00:02:42,438 --> 00:02:44,604 learn how to operate the system safely 72 00:02:44,604 --> 00:02:46,771 and effectively as well as to maintain 73 00:02:46,771 --> 00:02:48,604 the system . We will continue to 74 00:02:48,604 --> 00:02:50,771 closely consult with Ukraine and surge 75 00:02:50,771 --> 00:02:52,604 additional available systems and 76 00:02:52,604 --> 00:02:54,882 capabilities in support of its defense . 77 00:02:54,882 --> 00:02:56,938 I would also like to acknowledge and 78 00:02:56,938 --> 00:02:59,160 express our appreciation for the strong 79 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,327 bipartisan approval in Congress of $40 80 00:03:01,327 --> 00:03:03,780 billion us response in Ukraine . This 81 00:03:03,780 --> 00:03:06,370 additional support included $8 billion 82 00:03:06,380 --> 00:03:08,450 in additional presidential drawdown 83 00:03:08,450 --> 00:03:11,230 authority for security assistance . $6 84 00:03:11,230 --> 00:03:13,341 billion under D . O . D . S . Ukraine 85 00:03:13,341 --> 00:03:15,610 Security assistance initiative and $4 86 00:03:15,610 --> 00:03:17,610 billion in State Department foreign 87 00:03:17,610 --> 00:03:19,554 military financing for Ukraine and 88 00:03:19,554 --> 00:03:21,790 countries impacted by the situation in 89 00:03:21,790 --> 00:03:24,770 Ukraine . This is the first security 90 00:03:24,770 --> 00:03:26,937 assistance package announced since the 91 00:03:26,937 --> 00:03:29,048 additional supplemental was signed by 92 00:03:29,048 --> 00:03:31,270 President biden . The United States has 93 00:03:31,270 --> 00:03:33,103 now committed approximately $5.3 94 00:03:33,103 --> 00:03:36,950 billion Biden 95 00:03:36,950 --> 00:03:38,550 administration , including 96 00:03:38,550 --> 00:03:40,650 approximately $4.6 billion 97 00:03:40,650 --> 00:03:44,880 February 98 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,410 24 . Even as we continue to provide 99 00:03:47,410 --> 00:03:49,632 vital assistance , I would be remiss if 100 00:03:49,632 --> 00:03:51,743 I failed to recognize and commend our 101 00:03:51,743 --> 00:03:53,854 allies and partners from more than 40 102 00:03:53,854 --> 00:03:55,632 countries who have joined us to 103 00:03:55,632 --> 00:03:57,799 continue supporting Ukraine with heavy 104 00:03:57,799 --> 00:03:59,688 weapons munitions and other vital 105 00:03:59,688 --> 00:04:02,180 security assistance . Our support for 106 00:04:02,180 --> 00:04:04,291 Ukraine and that of the international 107 00:04:04,291 --> 00:04:06,670 community remains unwavering . And 108 00:04:06,670 --> 00:04:08,781 finally I want to thank our dedicated 109 00:04:08,781 --> 00:04:10,781 men and women are service members , 110 00:04:10,781 --> 00:04:12,837 civilians and contractors supporting 111 00:04:12,837 --> 00:04:14,726 the department's efforts from the 112 00:04:14,726 --> 00:04:17,280 individual basis , sourcing uh US 113 00:04:17,280 --> 00:04:19,391 equipment to transportation command , 114 00:04:19,391 --> 00:04:21,280 providing movement support to our 115 00:04:21,280 --> 00:04:23,502 service members on rotation and support 116 00:04:23,502 --> 00:04:25,724 of our enhanced presence across U . S . 117 00:04:25,724 --> 00:04:27,669 European command to our own policy 118 00:04:27,669 --> 00:04:29,724 professionals here at the pentagon . 119 00:04:29,780 --> 00:04:31,780 The department has come together in 120 00:04:31,780 --> 00:04:33,724 extraordinary ways to support this 121 00:04:33,724 --> 00:04:35,558 historic effort without our most 122 00:04:35,558 --> 00:04:37,613 valuable resource , the never ending 123 00:04:37,613 --> 00:04:39,836 dedication and support of our employees 124 00:04:39,836 --> 00:04:41,947 and contractors . This response would 125 00:04:41,947 --> 00:04:43,947 not have been possible and with all 126 00:04:43,947 --> 00:04:46,169 that . I'm happy to take your questions 127 00:04:46,169 --> 00:04:48,336 and I think we're slated to start with 128 00:04:48,336 --> 00:04:50,650 Ben Fox from ap Hey Ben , 129 00:04:52,540 --> 00:04:54,762 can you talk about how how many and how 130 00:04:54,762 --> 00:04:56,990 quickly you can get these H mars excuse 131 00:04:56,990 --> 00:04:59,480 me Hi mars into the hands of Ukrainian 132 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,860 forces . Obviously time is of a 133 00:05:01,870 --> 00:05:04,037 critical essence right now . Alright , 134 00:05:04,037 --> 00:05:06,203 so the initial tranche tranche of high 135 00:05:06,203 --> 00:05:08,426 MARS systems will be four . As I said , 136 00:05:08,426 --> 00:05:10,259 we've already pre positioned the 137 00:05:10,259 --> 00:05:12,410 systems in theater so that we can 138 00:05:12,420 --> 00:05:14,910 deliver them expeditiously . I think 139 00:05:14,910 --> 00:05:17,132 it's important to keep in mind though . 140 00:05:17,132 --> 00:05:19,077 Um these aren't turnkey . These of 141 00:05:19,077 --> 00:05:21,243 course are systems that the Ukrainians 142 00:05:21,243 --> 00:05:23,354 need to be trained on . We think that 143 00:05:23,354 --> 00:05:23,230 will take around three weeks and they 144 00:05:23,230 --> 00:05:25,900 don't need to uh no not just how to use 145 00:05:25,900 --> 00:05:27,733 the systems but of course how to 146 00:05:27,733 --> 00:05:29,622 maintain the system . So think of 147 00:05:29,622 --> 00:05:31,733 logistics , maintenance , things like 148 00:05:31,733 --> 00:05:34,010 that . So it'll be a number of of weeks 149 00:05:34,020 --> 00:05:36,860 until that training is complete , Mark . 150 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:39,710 Um Can I follow up on a couple of 151 00:05:39,710 --> 00:05:43,000 things , you mentioned that the 152 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,000 Ukrainians had committed that these 153 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,290 weapons would be defensive only , but 154 00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:50,840 you didn't say that they had promised 155 00:05:51,070 --> 00:05:53,280 not to strike targets inside Russia 156 00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:55,510 which they may believe is in the 157 00:05:55,510 --> 00:05:58,450 defense of their nation ? So my first 158 00:05:58,450 --> 00:06:00,506 question is , do you have a specific 159 00:06:00,506 --> 00:06:02,394 commitment that they won't strike 160 00:06:02,394 --> 00:06:05,960 inside Russia ? Can I follow up then on , 161 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,350 you said it's going to be three weeks 162 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,360 at least of training . Do do you feel 163 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:15,471 at this point given the Russian gains 164 00:06:15,471 --> 00:06:19,230 in the Donbas that uh the Ukrainians 165 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,060 can afford those three weeks . Can 166 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:26,180 how do you push back against the gains 167 00:06:26,180 --> 00:06:29,340 the Russians may make in that time and 168 00:06:29,550 --> 00:06:31,550 the administration is talking about 169 00:06:31,550 --> 00:06:33,606 this package in terms of putting the 170 00:06:33,606 --> 00:06:35,383 Ukrainians in the best possible 171 00:06:35,383 --> 00:06:37,890 position at the negotiating table , No 172 00:06:37,890 --> 00:06:40,057 longer . Hearing talk about , they may 173 00:06:40,057 --> 00:06:42,223 succeed in booting the Russians out of 174 00:06:42,223 --> 00:06:44,390 Ukraine . Is this three weeks going to 175 00:06:44,390 --> 00:06:47,810 be delay that prospect ? And is that 176 00:06:47,820 --> 00:06:50,190 even a reasonable prospect ? Sure . 177 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,144 Well , Barbara , as you know , the 178 00:06:52,144 --> 00:06:54,200 battlefield has changed a lot in the 179 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,422 last three months . So obviously in the 180 00:06:56,422 --> 00:06:58,589 first instance , the Russians tried to 181 00:06:58,589 --> 00:07:00,589 take over the entire country . They 182 00:07:00,589 --> 00:07:00,560 were defeated in the battle for Kiev . 183 00:07:00,940 --> 00:07:03,162 They've made some progress in the south 184 00:07:03,162 --> 00:07:05,107 and now they're trying to encircle 185 00:07:05,107 --> 00:07:06,996 Ukrainian forces in the Donbass . 186 00:07:06,996 --> 00:07:10,010 You're right in the last several days , 187 00:07:10,010 --> 00:07:12,232 the Russians have made some incremental 188 00:07:12,232 --> 00:07:14,630 progress uh in and around the Donbass , 189 00:07:14,940 --> 00:07:16,551 they have not had a decisive 190 00:07:16,551 --> 00:07:18,607 breakthrough . Uh and the Ukrainians 191 00:07:18,607 --> 00:07:20,718 are putting up a heck of a fight . Um 192 00:07:20,718 --> 00:07:22,607 and right now it's a concentrated 193 00:07:22,607 --> 00:07:24,800 artillery duel in the east . It's why 194 00:07:24,810 --> 00:07:26,930 we put so much emphasis on providing 195 00:07:26,980 --> 00:07:30,160 100 and eight M triple seven howitzers , 196 00:07:30,170 --> 00:07:32,910 uh and a couple of 100,000 rounds of , 197 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,260 of ammunition . Um Most of those 198 00:07:35,260 --> 00:07:37,316 howitzers are currently in the fight 199 00:07:37,316 --> 00:07:39,371 and they're doing uh they're helping 200 00:07:39,371 --> 00:07:41,482 the Ukrainians a great deal . Uh So I 201 00:07:41,482 --> 00:07:43,538 think we're not we're not seeing the 202 00:07:43,538 --> 00:07:45,760 Ukrainian defenses buckle there hanging 203 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:47,871 on . But it is a grinding fight . And 204 00:07:47,871 --> 00:07:49,704 we believe that these additional 205 00:07:49,704 --> 00:07:51,649 capabilities will arrive in a time 206 00:07:51,649 --> 00:07:53,704 frame that's relevant ? Uh and allow 207 00:07:53,704 --> 00:07:55,927 the Ukrainians to very precisely target 208 00:07:55,927 --> 00:07:58,600 the types of things they need for the 209 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:00,933 current fight just three weeks too late . 210 00:08:01,140 --> 00:08:03,060 I don't think so , Dude martin , 211 00:08:04,410 --> 00:08:08,330 defensive purposes only does that mean 212 00:08:08,340 --> 00:08:12,310 they cannot use the high mars to go 213 00:08:12,310 --> 00:08:15,060 on the offense and expel 214 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,462 the Russians from territory they hold . 215 00:08:18,940 --> 00:08:21,760 And you said four systems . How many , 216 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,850 how many rockets for those systems ? So 217 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,407 Ukraine is defending their territory . 218 00:08:28,407 --> 00:08:30,629 Anything they're doing on the territory 219 00:08:30,629 --> 00:08:32,518 of Ukraine is defensive . In this 220 00:08:32,518 --> 00:08:34,184 context , the only the formal 221 00:08:34,184 --> 00:08:36,407 assurances that they will not use these 222 00:08:36,407 --> 00:08:38,518 systems to target Russian territory . 223 00:08:38,518 --> 00:08:41,920 So just to clarify on that , go ahead 224 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,020 and get anything , anything they do 225 00:08:44,020 --> 00:08:46,580 with these weapons on their territory , 226 00:08:46,590 --> 00:08:48,534 they are defending , they have the 227 00:08:48,534 --> 00:08:50,646 right as a sovereign nation to defend 228 00:08:50,646 --> 00:08:52,646 their territory . They didn't start 229 00:08:52,646 --> 00:08:54,812 this war , the Russians did . Uh , and 230 00:08:54,812 --> 00:08:56,979 the Russians are on the offensive . If 231 00:08:56,979 --> 00:08:59,034 the Ukrainians are pushing them back 232 00:08:59,034 --> 00:09:01,240 from Ukrainian territory . Um , so for 233 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,407 example , they , that Ukraine's made a 234 00:09:03,407 --> 00:09:06,900 recent push into Kherson . Uh , if they 235 00:09:06,910 --> 00:09:09,730 push back along uh , the line of 236 00:09:09,730 --> 00:09:12,190 contact in the , in the Donbass , we 237 00:09:12,190 --> 00:09:15,000 would consider that defensive , the 238 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,222 number of systems I'm not gonna go into 239 00:09:17,222 --> 00:09:19,278 the total number of , of munitions I 240 00:09:19,278 --> 00:09:21,333 would emphasize . However , so there 241 00:09:21,333 --> 00:09:23,222 are four systems , but but we are 242 00:09:23,222 --> 00:09:25,278 providing them an initial tranche of 243 00:09:25,278 --> 00:09:27,444 munitions . It's important for them to 244 00:09:27,444 --> 00:09:29,333 get trained on the systems to get 245 00:09:29,333 --> 00:09:31,500 familiar with the systems . We will be 246 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:33,222 in a position to rapidly surge 247 00:09:33,222 --> 00:09:35,389 additional munitions as appropriate in 248 00:09:35,389 --> 00:09:37,556 the battlefield evolves . Just go over 249 00:09:37,556 --> 00:09:39,556 the phone real quickly . Jack dutch 250 00:09:39,556 --> 00:09:39,260 from foreign policy . 251 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:46,262 Jack , are you there now ? Can you hear 252 00:09:46,262 --> 00:09:50,260 me ? Hello ? Oh , 253 00:09:52,140 --> 00:09:54,196 uh , Ukrainians have been asking for 254 00:09:54,196 --> 00:09:56,307 the system for about two months now . 255 00:09:56,307 --> 00:09:58,584 I'm just curious why the decision took , 256 00:09:58,584 --> 00:10:02,040 took so long on the US side . Yeah , 257 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,207 well , so the conflict is earlier than 258 00:10:04,207 --> 00:10:06,262 the current stage of the conflict is 259 00:10:06,262 --> 00:10:08,373 about three months old and the nature 260 00:10:08,373 --> 00:10:10,429 of that conflict has shifted and the 261 00:10:10,429 --> 00:10:12,596 priorities the Ukrainians have had and 262 00:10:12,596 --> 00:10:11,650 what we've thought have been most 263 00:10:11,650 --> 00:10:13,706 relevant to enable the Ukrainians to 264 00:10:13,706 --> 00:10:15,928 push back has changed over time . So in 265 00:10:15,928 --> 00:10:17,928 the initial phase of the conflict , 266 00:10:17,928 --> 00:10:19,817 especially as the Ukrainians were 267 00:10:19,817 --> 00:10:21,983 trying to repel of the invasion in and 268 00:10:21,983 --> 00:10:24,206 around Kiev of the capital city , which 269 00:10:24,206 --> 00:10:26,372 was an existential fight for the , for 270 00:10:26,372 --> 00:10:28,483 the heart of of the country . Uh , we 271 00:10:28,483 --> 00:10:30,428 were really emphasizing anti armor 272 00:10:30,428 --> 00:10:32,650 systems like the javelin systems , anti 273 00:10:32,650 --> 00:10:34,706 air systems like stingers , but also 274 00:10:34,706 --> 00:10:36,594 other medium and longer range air 275 00:10:36,594 --> 00:10:38,650 defense systems alongside our allies 276 00:10:38,650 --> 00:10:40,872 and partners and that assistance proved 277 00:10:40,872 --> 00:10:43,300 decisive in stymieing the Russian 278 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,820 attempt to take Kiev . The Russians 279 00:10:46,820 --> 00:10:48,931 were defeated in Kiev as the conflict 280 00:10:48,931 --> 00:10:51,098 shifted to the east . As I said , it's 281 00:10:51,098 --> 00:10:52,820 become an artillery duel . The 282 00:10:52,820 --> 00:10:54,931 challenge that Ukrainians had is that 283 00:10:54,931 --> 00:10:57,370 they relied on soviet legacy systems 284 00:10:57,380 --> 00:10:59,491 and it , there was a certain point in 285 00:10:59,491 --> 00:11:01,436 which it became impossible for the 286 00:11:01,436 --> 00:11:03,436 United States even working with our 287 00:11:03,436 --> 00:11:05,910 allies and partners who also had soviet 288 00:11:05,910 --> 00:11:08,280 legacy equipment to resupply the 289 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:10,391 Ukrainians with the artillery systems 290 00:11:10,391 --> 00:11:12,558 and ammunition they were accustomed to 291 00:11:12,558 --> 00:11:14,669 using , which meant that the priority 292 00:11:14,669 --> 00:11:16,836 was to shift them towards , uh in this 293 00:11:16,836 --> 00:11:20,630 case 155 millimeter artillery systems , 294 00:11:20,630 --> 00:11:22,797 we've been providing them the M triple 295 00:11:22,797 --> 00:11:25,960 seven howitzers . Uh , so that was as 296 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,127 the , as the , as the fight shifted to 297 00:11:28,127 --> 00:11:30,349 an artillery duel , the first thing was 298 00:11:30,349 --> 00:11:32,460 to get these howitzers into the fight 299 00:11:32,460 --> 00:11:32,360 and now we're shifting to hammers 300 00:11:33,140 --> 00:11:35,029 Kourtney . One quick thing on the 301 00:11:35,029 --> 00:11:37,470 training , you said it was about three 302 00:11:37,470 --> 00:11:39,637 weeks to train . Does that include the 303 00:11:39,637 --> 00:11:41,526 full training for maintaining the 304 00:11:41,526 --> 00:11:43,637 systems or is that just for operating 305 00:11:43,637 --> 00:11:45,637 them training ? You know , it's not 306 00:11:45,637 --> 00:11:47,581 always the same Ukrainians who are 307 00:11:47,581 --> 00:11:49,692 being trained to operate and maintain 308 00:11:49,692 --> 00:11:48,930 so you can do them both at the same 309 00:11:48,930 --> 00:11:51,530 time . So it's roughly three weeks to 310 00:11:51,530 --> 00:11:53,697 train them how to use the system . And 311 00:11:53,697 --> 00:11:55,863 maybe a couple of additional weeks for 312 00:11:55,863 --> 00:11:58,030 the maintainers . But that that's what 313 00:11:58,030 --> 00:11:57,760 we're talking about here and then one 314 00:11:57,770 --> 00:12:01,760 more on the use of it . The so is is 315 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,260 it that the the US sees that if Russia 316 00:12:04,260 --> 00:12:06,610 is , is striking at Ukraine from inside 317 00:12:06,610 --> 00:12:09,610 Russian territory that the Ukrainians 318 00:12:09,610 --> 00:12:11,832 cannot strike back inside Russia ? That 319 00:12:11,832 --> 00:12:13,721 that's how is that not considered 320 00:12:13,721 --> 00:12:15,721 defensive . And if Ukraine does use 321 00:12:15,721 --> 00:12:17,721 these weapons in what they see as a 322 00:12:17,721 --> 00:12:20,054 defensive way by striking inside Russia , 323 00:12:20,054 --> 00:12:22,110 are there any repercussions for them 324 00:12:22,110 --> 00:12:24,221 violating this agreement that they've 325 00:12:24,221 --> 00:12:26,443 made ? It is true that the Russians are 326 00:12:26,443 --> 00:12:28,277 engaged in a number of stand off 327 00:12:28,277 --> 00:12:30,277 attacks from Russian territory . So 328 00:12:30,277 --> 00:12:32,680 think long range missile systems or air 329 00:12:32,680 --> 00:12:34,847 launched cruise missiles , those those 330 00:12:34,847 --> 00:12:36,736 types of things . The core of the 331 00:12:36,736 --> 00:12:38,958 battle though right now is on Ukrainian 332 00:12:38,958 --> 00:12:41,360 territory in the east . The systems 333 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:43,527 that we're providing the high mars and 334 00:12:43,527 --> 00:12:45,749 the guided munitions that go along with 335 00:12:45,749 --> 00:12:47,804 them will allow Ukraine to range any 336 00:12:47,804 --> 00:12:49,971 target they need for that fight inside 337 00:12:49,971 --> 00:12:51,804 Ukrainian territory . Um , these 338 00:12:51,804 --> 00:12:53,693 systems would not be particularly 339 00:12:53,693 --> 00:12:55,638 useful to hit . You know , Russian 340 00:12:55,638 --> 00:12:57,860 bomber launching an air launched cruise 341 00:12:57,860 --> 00:12:57,630 missile , you know , hundreds and 342 00:12:57,630 --> 00:12:59,852 hundreds of kilometers away anyway . So 343 00:12:59,852 --> 00:13:01,574 we think we're giving them the 344 00:13:01,574 --> 00:13:03,741 capability they need for this stage of 345 00:13:03,741 --> 00:13:05,686 the fight . If they violate that , 346 00:13:05,686 --> 00:13:07,852 they've given us their assurances that 347 00:13:07,852 --> 00:13:10,019 they're not going to use these systems 348 00:13:10,019 --> 00:13:12,241 for striking Russian territory . And we 349 00:13:12,241 --> 00:13:12,120 trust the Ukrainians will live up to 350 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:14,760 those assurances . Thank you , Thank 351 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:17,650 you for doing this . So we heard before 352 00:13:17,660 --> 00:13:21,610 the US delivered the howitzer uh , that 353 00:13:21,620 --> 00:13:23,564 this will make a difference in the 354 00:13:23,564 --> 00:13:25,731 battlefield . However , we've seen the 355 00:13:25,731 --> 00:13:27,898 Russians making advances in the Donbas 356 00:13:27,898 --> 00:13:29,898 regardless of how you assess this . 357 00:13:29,898 --> 00:13:29,760 These advances . Now we're talking 358 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:31,982 about four systems . I believe each one 359 00:13:31,982 --> 00:13:34,890 can carry six rockets , I think . So 360 00:13:34,890 --> 00:13:37,001 how much of a difference do you think 361 00:13:37,001 --> 00:13:38,950 four systems will make in the 362 00:13:38,950 --> 00:13:42,210 battlefield ? And especially with the 363 00:13:42,210 --> 00:13:43,988 Russians capability of actually 364 00:13:43,988 --> 00:13:45,810 targeting them and then on the 365 00:13:45,810 --> 00:13:48,510 timeframe of providing these systems . 366 00:13:48,510 --> 00:13:50,890 So between training and maintenance and 367 00:13:50,890 --> 00:13:53,168 fielding , what are we looking at here ? 368 00:13:53,168 --> 00:13:56,410 How many weeks ? Thank you . So on the 369 00:13:56,410 --> 00:13:58,632 last question , I'm not gonna speculate 370 00:13:58,632 --> 00:14:00,743 beyond what I've already said , which 371 00:14:00,743 --> 00:13:59,980 is , it will take a few weeks to train 372 00:13:59,980 --> 00:14:02,310 them on how to use them and at the same 373 00:14:02,310 --> 00:14:04,143 time you're training a subset of 374 00:14:04,143 --> 00:14:06,366 Ukrainians on how to maintain them . We 375 00:14:06,366 --> 00:14:08,254 have prepositioned the systems in 376 00:14:08,254 --> 00:14:10,477 europe already , so they should be able 377 00:14:10,477 --> 00:14:12,477 to be delivered expeditiously . But 378 00:14:12,477 --> 00:14:14,643 beyond that , I'm not going to go into 379 00:14:14,643 --> 00:14:16,588 uh , timing , you know , look , no 380 00:14:16,588 --> 00:14:18,810 system is going to turn the war right . 381 00:14:18,810 --> 00:14:20,921 This is a battle of national will you 382 00:14:20,921 --> 00:14:23,199 have uh , you know , tens of thousands , 383 00:14:23,199 --> 00:14:25,088 hundreds of thousands of uh , men 384 00:14:25,088 --> 00:14:27,199 mobilized on on each side . It is a , 385 00:14:27,199 --> 00:14:30,230 it is a grinding hard conflict and it's 386 00:14:30,230 --> 00:14:32,286 likely to be a conflict , we've said 387 00:14:32,286 --> 00:14:34,508 many times that will stretch on for for 388 00:14:34,508 --> 00:14:36,730 a long time . Over the entire course of 389 00:14:36,730 --> 00:14:38,786 the war . The Russians have not done 390 00:14:38,786 --> 00:14:38,480 particularly well . There certainly off 391 00:14:38,490 --> 00:14:41,050 plan They had anticipated , uh , you 392 00:14:41,050 --> 00:14:43,050 know , taking over the country in a 393 00:14:43,050 --> 00:14:45,217 matter of days . At the outset , maybe 394 00:14:45,217 --> 00:14:47,383 30 days . Uh , they are far off plan . 395 00:14:47,383 --> 00:14:49,590 So I would say based on kind of the 396 00:14:49,590 --> 00:14:51,423 general expectations for how the 397 00:14:51,423 --> 00:14:53,534 conflict would be going . I think the 398 00:14:53,534 --> 00:14:55,646 Ukrainians have done an extraordinary 399 00:14:55,646 --> 00:14:57,757 job and we have of course uh . try to 400 00:14:57,757 --> 00:14:59,646 do our part in providing them the 401 00:14:59,646 --> 00:15:01,701 assistance they need to defend their 402 00:15:01,701 --> 00:15:03,923 country alongside allies and partners . 403 00:15:03,923 --> 00:15:03,840 What the high mars will allow them to 404 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:05,850 do is to get greater standoff . So 405 00:15:05,860 --> 00:15:08,070 right now the howitzers we provided 406 00:15:08,070 --> 00:15:10,590 them have about a 30 kilometer range . 407 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:12,822 The hammers have more than twice that , 408 00:15:12,822 --> 00:15:14,933 which will allow them even with fewer 409 00:15:14,933 --> 00:15:16,878 systems greater standoff . And the 410 00:15:16,878 --> 00:15:19,044 other thing that distinguishes this is 411 00:15:19,044 --> 00:15:21,211 an extraordinary amount of precision . 412 00:15:21,211 --> 00:15:23,433 So this is not something that where you 413 00:15:23,433 --> 00:15:25,267 launch off , you know , multiple 414 00:15:25,267 --> 00:15:27,433 despite being a multiple launch rocket 415 00:15:27,433 --> 00:15:27,010 system , you actually don't want to 416 00:15:27,010 --> 00:15:29,580 launch launch off multiple rockets at a 417 00:15:29,580 --> 00:15:31,469 time . These are precision guided 418 00:15:31,469 --> 00:15:33,980 systems with extended range and so for 419 00:15:33,980 --> 00:15:36,202 high value targets that that allow them 420 00:15:36,202 --> 00:15:38,202 to keep some of the pressure off of 421 00:15:38,202 --> 00:15:40,147 Ukrainian forces on the front . We 422 00:15:40,147 --> 00:15:42,480 think these systems will be very useful . 423 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:44,702 That's for yourself . I want to go back 424 00:15:44,702 --> 00:15:46,924 to a couple of things . You mentioned , 425 00:15:46,924 --> 00:15:49,147 you said that there would be an initial 426 00:15:49,147 --> 00:15:48,910 tranche before arriving in country . 427 00:15:48,910 --> 00:15:51,350 When do you anticipate everything will 428 00:15:51,350 --> 00:15:54,460 be in country ? Um , and on on the 429 00:15:54,460 --> 00:15:56,460 battlefield , I can start there . I 430 00:15:56,460 --> 00:15:58,460 think this is a version of the same 431 00:15:58,460 --> 00:16:00,460 question . So I we are shipping for 432 00:16:00,460 --> 00:16:02,516 Highmark systems to the Ukrainians . 433 00:16:02,516 --> 00:16:04,738 They won't initially go into Ukraine of 434 00:16:04,738 --> 00:16:04,010 course they have to be trained on the 435 00:16:04,020 --> 00:16:06,076 on the systems . So I'm not gonna go 436 00:16:06,076 --> 00:16:08,242 into the details about where they will 437 00:16:08,242 --> 00:16:10,353 be , where the training will happen . 438 00:16:10,353 --> 00:16:12,298 The training will take a couple of 439 00:16:12,298 --> 00:16:14,520 weeks , three weeks we thank for to get 440 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:16,353 the Ukrainians trained on how to 441 00:16:16,353 --> 00:16:18,576 operate the system . There will be some 442 00:16:18,576 --> 00:16:20,687 additional training for maintenance . 443 00:16:20,687 --> 00:16:22,798 So sometime in that timeframe you can 444 00:16:22,798 --> 00:16:25,020 start talking about getting the systems 445 00:16:25,020 --> 00:16:24,720 into the fight . So that's roughly a 446 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:27,240 month , a month . To what period that 447 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:29,184 is . There's how many trenches are 448 00:16:29,184 --> 00:16:31,184 there ? Well , we have $7.3 billion 449 00:16:31,184 --> 00:16:32,907 dollars of additional drawdown 450 00:16:32,907 --> 00:16:35,018 authority . So I think we need to see 451 00:16:35,018 --> 00:16:37,073 this kind of as a rolling process as 452 00:16:37,073 --> 00:16:39,073 the fight continues to change . The 453 00:16:39,073 --> 00:16:38,790 Ukrainians come to us with their 454 00:16:38,790 --> 00:16:40,401 priorities . We make our own 455 00:16:40,401 --> 00:16:42,457 assessments . We're always measuring 456 00:16:42,457 --> 00:16:44,623 and things against what the Ukrainians 457 00:16:44,623 --> 00:16:46,234 need , our assessment of the 458 00:16:46,234 --> 00:16:48,401 battlefield , but also things like the 459 00:16:48,401 --> 00:16:50,401 impact that it has on our own armed 460 00:16:50,401 --> 00:16:50,070 forces , especially when we're drawing 461 00:16:50,070 --> 00:16:52,940 things out of our own stockpiles . And 462 00:16:52,940 --> 00:16:55,051 so we think that as they are starting 463 00:16:55,051 --> 00:16:57,218 to get trained on the Highmore systems 464 00:16:57,218 --> 00:16:59,384 will continue to have the conversation 465 00:16:59,384 --> 00:17:01,607 with the Ukrainians about what the next 466 00:17:01,607 --> 00:17:01,310 tranche of security assistance will 467 00:17:01,310 --> 00:17:03,366 look like in the trench after that . 468 00:17:03,366 --> 00:17:05,477 And the trench after that . And we're 469 00:17:05,477 --> 00:17:07,810 grateful for Congress for appropriating , 470 00:17:07,810 --> 00:17:10,032 uh , you know , a sizable sum that will 471 00:17:10,032 --> 00:17:12,199 allow us to continue these tranches at 472 00:17:12,199 --> 00:17:14,310 fairly regular intervals based on the 473 00:17:14,310 --> 00:17:16,421 changes on the battlefield . I'd like 474 00:17:16,421 --> 00:17:18,477 to ask you about training us service 475 00:17:18,477 --> 00:17:20,643 members trained on similar systems are 476 00:17:20,643 --> 00:17:22,643 trained for months . Um , and I was 477 00:17:22,643 --> 00:17:21,780 wondering if you could walk me through 478 00:17:21,780 --> 00:17:23,447 how the three week period was 479 00:17:23,447 --> 00:17:25,558 determined . What are the limitations 480 00:17:25,558 --> 00:17:27,558 of that train ? Does that limit the 481 00:17:27,558 --> 00:17:29,502 ability of Ukrainian forces to use 482 00:17:29,502 --> 00:17:31,836 these systems at their maximum capacity ? 483 00:17:32,340 --> 00:17:34,562 Yeah , but I think first of all , we're 484 00:17:34,562 --> 00:17:36,340 going to train them uh , to the 485 00:17:36,340 --> 00:17:38,451 standard that is required for them to 486 00:17:38,451 --> 00:17:40,562 use these systems . I will say . Uh , 487 00:17:40,562 --> 00:17:42,562 the Ukrainians have proven time and 488 00:17:42,562 --> 00:17:44,396 time again to be extraordinarily 489 00:17:44,396 --> 00:17:46,630 ingenious uh , and quick learners . And 490 00:17:46,630 --> 00:17:48,630 so I think we've been able to speed 491 00:17:48,630 --> 00:17:50,820 things up in the training cycle based 492 00:17:50,820 --> 00:17:53,100 on how quickly the Ukrainians have 493 00:17:53,100 --> 00:17:54,933 learned systems and been able to 494 00:17:54,933 --> 00:17:57,100 integrate them into their activities . 495 00:17:57,100 --> 00:17:59,156 And so a special training course was 496 00:17:59,156 --> 00:18:01,156 put together specifically for these 497 00:18:01,156 --> 00:18:03,267 systems and the Ukrainians that would 498 00:18:03,267 --> 00:18:05,489 be trained in our current assessment is 499 00:18:05,489 --> 00:18:07,322 it's in the 33 weeks ish range . 500 00:18:07,322 --> 00:18:09,489 Anything from them . I mean , the only 501 00:18:09,489 --> 00:18:11,711 time will tell , but I don't think so . 502 00:18:11,711 --> 00:18:11,200 I'm just gonna go back to the phones , 503 00:18:11,940 --> 00:18:14,107 eric Schmidt from the new york Times . 504 00:18:14,107 --> 00:18:16,880 ErIC I have two questions . 12 part 505 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,102 question one is just at what level with 506 00:18:19,102 --> 00:18:21,380 these assurances given by the Ukrainian 507 00:18:21,380 --> 00:18:23,491 government ? Did these go all the way 508 00:18:23,491 --> 00:18:25,547 up to President Zelensky speaking to 509 00:18:25,547 --> 00:18:27,713 President biden and more broadly , can 510 00:18:27,713 --> 00:18:29,880 you give us a sense of how you now are 511 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,290 calibrating uh , sending these kind of 512 00:18:32,290 --> 00:18:35,390 advanced weapons into Ukraine without 513 00:18:35,390 --> 00:18:37,770 the fear of provoking Russia has been a 514 00:18:37,770 --> 00:18:40,490 constant concern throughout . So , the 515 00:18:40,490 --> 00:18:42,601 assurances had been given at multiple 516 00:18:42,601 --> 00:18:44,657 levels of the Ukrainian government . 517 00:18:45,210 --> 00:18:47,150 Secretary Austin has raised these 518 00:18:47,150 --> 00:18:49,094 issues with Minister Reznikoff and 519 00:18:49,094 --> 00:18:51,261 their numerous calls , they're they're 520 00:18:51,261 --> 00:18:53,372 talking to each other once or twice a 521 00:18:53,372 --> 00:18:55,372 week . That has been true since the 522 00:18:55,372 --> 00:18:57,428 beginning of the conflict . But this 523 00:18:57,428 --> 00:18:56,980 particular assurance goes all the way 524 00:18:56,980 --> 00:19:00,120 to the top of the Ukrainian government 525 00:19:00,130 --> 00:19:02,960 to include President Zelensky on on 526 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,360 escalation . Look , we are mindful of 527 00:19:05,360 --> 00:19:07,304 the escalation risk and everything 528 00:19:07,304 --> 00:19:09,249 we're doing associated with this . 529 00:19:09,249 --> 00:19:11,416 President biden has made clear we have 530 00:19:11,416 --> 00:19:13,510 no intention of coming into direct 531 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:15,742 conflict with Russia . We don't have an 532 00:19:15,742 --> 00:19:17,742 interest in the conflict in Ukraine 533 00:19:17,742 --> 00:19:19,909 widening to a to a broader conflict or 534 00:19:19,909 --> 00:19:22,131 evolving into World War Three . Um , so 535 00:19:22,131 --> 00:19:24,353 we've been mindful of that , but at the 536 00:19:24,353 --> 00:19:26,353 same time Russia doesn't get a veto 537 00:19:26,353 --> 00:19:28,464 over what we sent to the Ukrainians . 538 00:19:28,464 --> 00:19:30,631 The Ukrainians didn't start this war . 539 00:19:30,631 --> 00:19:32,520 The Russians did . The Ukrainians 540 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,687 didn't provoke this war . This war was 541 00:19:34,687 --> 00:19:36,853 unprovoked . The Russians can end this 542 00:19:36,853 --> 00:19:39,020 conflict anytime they want if they are 543 00:19:39,020 --> 00:19:41,242 wary of escalation they all it takes is 544 00:19:41,242 --> 00:19:43,590 one man to say stop and they can do it . 545 00:19:43,590 --> 00:19:46,070 So we are mindful of the escalation 546 00:19:46,070 --> 00:19:48,014 risk . But in the first instance , 547 00:19:48,014 --> 00:19:49,959 we're focused on what we think the 548 00:19:49,959 --> 00:19:52,181 Ukrainians need for the current fight . 549 00:19:52,181 --> 00:19:54,292 Thanks eric , we've got time for just 550 00:19:54,292 --> 00:19:56,260 two more oh , 551 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:00,896 I want to get back to the escalation 552 00:20:00,896 --> 00:20:02,840 question , you know , with each of 553 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,450 these , we've seen more advanced 554 00:20:05,460 --> 00:20:07,960 weapons since being given to Ukraine . 555 00:20:08,540 --> 00:20:10,490 At what point does it become too 556 00:20:10,490 --> 00:20:13,330 advanced ? And you kind of risk running 557 00:20:13,330 --> 00:20:15,552 that escalation where you might provoke 558 00:20:15,552 --> 00:20:17,163 Russia . And then secondly , 559 00:20:17,163 --> 00:20:19,274 specifically on the high mars and you 560 00:20:19,274 --> 00:20:21,441 said the first four going to Ukraine , 561 00:20:21,441 --> 00:20:23,274 how many systems do you envision 562 00:20:23,274 --> 00:20:25,163 sending to Ukraine ? What are the 563 00:20:25,163 --> 00:20:27,630 limitations there ? So on the on the 564 00:20:27,630 --> 00:20:29,741 ladder , we'll just have to see we're 565 00:20:29,741 --> 00:20:31,908 providing this initial tranche that'll 566 00:20:31,908 --> 00:20:33,852 allow for training Familiarization 567 00:20:33,852 --> 00:20:36,074 start to get the systems in the fight . 568 00:20:36,074 --> 00:20:38,241 Um It'll also be uh you know , we need 569 00:20:38,241 --> 00:20:39,908 to get information to and the 570 00:20:39,908 --> 00:20:42,130 Ukrainians to about how useful they are 571 00:20:42,130 --> 00:20:44,241 and how they're being and how they're 572 00:20:44,241 --> 00:20:46,297 being used on the battlefield . That 573 00:20:46,297 --> 00:20:45,640 will give us an assessment and then an 574 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:47,473 assessment about what additional 575 00:20:47,473 --> 00:20:49,696 systems or capabilities they they might 576 00:20:49,696 --> 00:20:51,362 need in terms of , you know , 577 00:20:51,362 --> 00:20:53,362 hypothetically what assets we , you 578 00:20:53,362 --> 00:20:55,418 know , our systems we may provide in 579 00:20:55,418 --> 00:20:57,029 the future and how we manage 580 00:20:57,029 --> 00:20:59,084 escalations . I'm not gonna get into 581 00:20:59,084 --> 00:21:01,196 hypotheticals , I'll just say that we 582 00:21:01,196 --> 00:21:03,418 are constantly assessing this but we're 583 00:21:03,418 --> 00:21:05,307 not the ones provoking Russia and 584 00:21:05,307 --> 00:21:07,196 Ukraine is not the ones provoking 585 00:21:07,196 --> 00:21:09,630 Russia . The Russians uh engaged in 586 00:21:09,630 --> 00:21:11,770 this further invasion of Ukraine 587 00:21:11,770 --> 00:21:14,350 completely unprovoked based on a set of 588 00:21:14,350 --> 00:21:16,950 fabricated uh largely fabricated 589 00:21:16,950 --> 00:21:19,172 grievances against the Ukrainians and a 590 00:21:19,172 --> 00:21:21,570 denial that Ukraine even deserves to 591 00:21:21,570 --> 00:21:24,200 exist . So the onus is on Russia to 592 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,033 deescalate . They can deescalate 593 00:21:26,033 --> 00:21:29,290 anytime they want . We are mindful that 594 00:21:29,300 --> 00:21:31,467 we don't want to take steps that widen 595 00:21:31,467 --> 00:21:33,356 the conflict . And so some of the 596 00:21:33,356 --> 00:21:35,522 assurances that we've asked for in the 597 00:21:35,522 --> 00:21:37,744 context of these particular systems are 598 00:21:37,744 --> 00:21:39,800 mindful of that of not wanting these 599 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:41,856 systems to be used to attack Russian 600 00:21:41,856 --> 00:21:43,800 territory . But the Ukrainians are 601 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:45,967 defending their land , their territory 602 00:21:45,967 --> 00:21:48,133 against an unprovoked aggressor . They 603 00:21:48,133 --> 00:21:47,830 have the right to defend that land . 604 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:51,130 Follow up on the number of high mars 605 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:53,320 beyond the four . Can you give us a 606 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:55,653 ballpark sense of the capacity of the U . 607 00:21:55,653 --> 00:21:58,600 S . Has to send additional systems . I 608 00:21:58,610 --> 00:22:00,832 don't want to go into too much detail . 609 00:22:00,832 --> 00:22:02,666 We have we have a fair amount of 610 00:22:02,666 --> 00:22:04,721 capacity . We certainly have room to 611 00:22:04,721 --> 00:22:06,610 grow . Um , but let's see how the 612 00:22:06,610 --> 00:22:08,832 battlefield evolves . one last question 613 00:22:08,832 --> 00:22:10,943 next year from PBS . Thanks very much 614 00:22:10,943 --> 00:22:12,888 The Ukrainians as you know , we're 615 00:22:12,888 --> 00:22:15,166 asking for the longer range ammunition . 616 00:22:15,166 --> 00:22:17,332 So what difference does it make if the 617 00:22:17,332 --> 00:22:19,499 ammunition fires 40 miles or 170 miles 618 00:22:19,499 --> 00:22:21,666 if the Ukrainians are promising not to 619 00:22:21,666 --> 00:22:23,666 fire it across the board ? Yeah , I 620 00:22:23,666 --> 00:22:23,110 mean we had a bunch of , we had back 621 00:22:23,110 --> 00:22:25,332 and forth with them nick on this . Uh , 622 00:22:25,332 --> 00:22:27,700 and as we looked at the at the targets 623 00:22:27,700 --> 00:22:30,120 that they were looking to be able to go 624 00:22:30,120 --> 00:22:32,760 after on Ukrainian territory . Um and 625 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:35,340 also have some additional standoff . We 626 00:22:35,340 --> 00:22:37,340 thought that the high Mars with the 627 00:22:37,340 --> 00:22:39,507 with the gamblers rounds . He's guided 628 00:22:39,507 --> 00:22:42,300 long range rounds with about 70 km 629 00:22:42,300 --> 00:22:44,300 range could service any target that 630 00:22:44,300 --> 00:22:46,950 they needed precisely . Um , and so we 631 00:22:46,950 --> 00:22:49,330 settled on the , on the high mars with 632 00:22:49,330 --> 00:22:51,840 the , with the Gilmore gimlets round as 633 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,062 the appropriate round at this time , We 634 00:22:54,062 --> 00:22:56,062 don't assess that they need systems 635 00:22:56,062 --> 00:22:58,284 that range out hundreds and hundreds of 636 00:22:58,284 --> 00:23:00,507 kilometers for the current fight . Um , 637 00:23:00,507 --> 00:23:00,300 and so that's how we settled on it . 638 00:23:00,380 --> 00:23:02,380 And then we resumed our question to 639 00:23:02,380 --> 00:23:04,350 what end are these weapons being 640 00:23:04,350 --> 00:23:06,183 provided ? Obviously we've asked 641 00:23:06,183 --> 00:23:08,406 versions of these questions and various 642 00:23:08,406 --> 00:23:10,517 agencies in the last couple of days . 643 00:23:10,517 --> 00:23:12,628 But if you don't think that high mars 644 00:23:12,628 --> 00:23:14,683 in particular or some magic weapon , 645 00:23:14,683 --> 00:23:16,683 suddenly evict Russia from occupied 646 00:23:16,683 --> 00:23:18,794 Harrison or changed the battlefield . 647 00:23:18,794 --> 00:23:20,906 What is the vision from this building 648 00:23:20,906 --> 00:23:23,290 on how these increasingly modern 649 00:23:23,290 --> 00:23:25,570 weapons can help Ukraine either on the 650 00:23:25,580 --> 00:23:28,610 battlefield or whether diplomatic venue 651 00:23:28,610 --> 00:23:31,990 starts . What is that ? Well , first of 652 00:23:31,990 --> 00:23:34,157 all , I think the president was pretty 653 00:23:34,157 --> 00:23:36,323 articulate about that today in today's 654 00:23:36,323 --> 00:23:38,546 new york times op ed . So I'd encourage 655 00:23:38,546 --> 00:23:40,657 you all , even if you're from a rival 656 00:23:40,657 --> 00:23:43,080 media institution to read , uh , uh , 657 00:23:43,090 --> 00:23:45,201 read the , read the new york times op 658 00:23:45,201 --> 00:23:47,368 ed . Today , I'll just say this in the 659 00:23:47,368 --> 00:23:49,423 first instance , um , the Ukrainians 660 00:23:49,423 --> 00:23:51,534 will decide what success looks like . 661 00:23:51,534 --> 00:23:53,757 But we all have a vested interest , the 662 00:23:53,757 --> 00:23:55,979 entire free world has a vested interest 663 00:23:55,979 --> 00:23:58,146 in ensuring that Ukraine survives as a 664 00:23:58,146 --> 00:23:59,979 sovereign territorial democratic 665 00:23:59,979 --> 00:24:02,312 country . This is an assault on Ukraine , 666 00:24:02,312 --> 00:24:04,423 but it's also an assault on the rules 667 00:24:04,423 --> 00:24:06,257 based international order . It's 668 00:24:06,257 --> 00:24:06,180 important that a sovereign , 669 00:24:06,180 --> 00:24:08,013 independent , democratic Ukraine 670 00:24:08,013 --> 00:24:10,690 endures , it's important that Russia 671 00:24:10,700 --> 00:24:13,550 pays a cost in excess to the benefits 672 00:24:13,550 --> 00:24:15,550 that they perceive from this act of 673 00:24:15,550 --> 00:24:17,217 aggression . Not just because 674 00:24:17,217 --> 00:24:19,217 aggression should be punished , but 675 00:24:19,217 --> 00:24:21,439 because we don't want Vladimir Putin to 676 00:24:21,439 --> 00:24:23,550 do this again and we don't want other 677 00:24:23,550 --> 00:24:25,717 would be aggressors to draw the lesson 678 00:24:25,717 --> 00:24:27,606 that aggression won't be met with 679 00:24:27,606 --> 00:24:29,772 significant costs . Now , the military 680 00:24:29,772 --> 00:24:31,939 component of that is part of it . Um , 681 00:24:31,939 --> 00:24:34,380 it is obviously a very important part 682 00:24:34,380 --> 00:24:36,530 in in enabling Ukraine to defend its 683 00:24:36,530 --> 00:24:39,650 sovereign territory and to maintain its 684 00:24:39,650 --> 00:24:41,706 independence . But it's not the only 685 00:24:41,706 --> 00:24:43,539 thing that we're doing . There's 686 00:24:43,539 --> 00:24:45,650 obviously a massive diplomatic effort 687 00:24:45,650 --> 00:24:47,761 to isolate Russia diplomatically , to 688 00:24:47,761 --> 00:24:49,872 impose crippling economic sanctions , 689 00:24:49,872 --> 00:24:51,880 to put in place technology export 690 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:53,824 controls , which will make it very 691 00:24:53,824 --> 00:24:55,824 difficult for Russia to rebuild the 692 00:24:55,824 --> 00:24:57,991 military . It is rapidly retreating in 693 00:24:57,991 --> 00:25:00,213 this conflict . So we are imposing uh , 694 00:25:00,213 --> 00:25:02,120 significant costs on Russia , not 695 00:25:02,120 --> 00:25:04,250 because we have animus towards Russia 696 00:25:04,250 --> 00:25:06,306 or the Russian people , because this 697 00:25:06,306 --> 00:25:08,528 was an act of unprovoked aggression and 698 00:25:08,528 --> 00:25:10,639 there has to be a cost for that . But 699 00:25:10,639 --> 00:25:12,806 in terms of the final in state , we'll 700 00:25:12,806 --> 00:25:14,806 see , you know , the Ukrainians are 701 00:25:14,806 --> 00:25:16,917 going to determine what success looks 702 00:25:16,917 --> 00:25:19,139 like and it's our job to enable them to 703 00:25:19,139 --> 00:25:21,361 do well on the battlefield and position 704 00:25:21,361 --> 00:25:23,306 themselves well at the negotiating 705 00:25:23,306 --> 00:25:25,417 table . Thanks everyone . If you have 706 00:25:25,417 --> 00:25:27,528 follow up questions or you didn't get 707 00:25:27,528 --> 00:25:29,639 your question answered the press team 708 00:25:29,639 --> 00:25:29,100 is available to take your questions . 709 00:25:29,100 --> 00:25:29,670 Thanks for coming .