1 00:00:02,190 --> 00:00:04,560 Good evening everyone and thank you for 2 00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:06,727 being here today . It's my pleasure to 3 00:00:06,727 --> 00:00:08,840 introduce Secretary of Defense Lloyd 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:10,940 Austin the third and Chairman of the 5 00:00:10,940 --> 00:00:12,884 Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark 6 00:00:12,884 --> 00:00:15,107 Milley . The secretary and the chairman 7 00:00:15,107 --> 00:00:17,218 will each deliver opening remarks and 8 00:00:17,218 --> 00:00:19,162 then we'll have time to take a few 9 00:00:19,162 --> 00:00:21,051 questions . I will moderate those 10 00:00:21,051 --> 00:00:23,162 questions and call on journalists and 11 00:00:23,162 --> 00:00:25,329 would ask that we limit follow ups due 12 00:00:25,329 --> 00:00:27,440 to our tight schedule . Thank you for 13 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,000 your assistance with that . Thank you 14 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,460 all for joining us today at Ramstein . 15 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,820 We've just concluded the 8th Ukraine 16 00:00:35,820 --> 00:00:38,550 Defense Contact Group Meeting and it 17 00:00:38,550 --> 00:00:40,640 was great to start the new year by 18 00:00:40,650 --> 00:00:44,020 deepening our coordination as we work 19 00:00:44,020 --> 00:00:47,670 together for Ukraine's self defense . 20 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,940 As president biden has said , this is a 21 00:00:51,950 --> 00:00:55,740 decisive decade for the world and 22 00:00:55,750 --> 00:00:57,990 this is a decisive moment for Ukraine's 23 00:00:57,990 --> 00:01:01,580 struggle to defend itself . So this 24 00:01:01,580 --> 00:01:03,524 contact group will not slow down . 25 00:01:04,510 --> 00:01:06,570 We're gonna continue to dig deep and 26 00:01:06,570 --> 00:01:08,792 based upon the progress that we've made 27 00:01:08,792 --> 00:01:11,370 today . I'm confident that Ukraine's 28 00:01:11,370 --> 00:01:15,070 partners from around the globe are 29 00:01:15,070 --> 00:01:19,020 determined to meet this moment . United 30 00:01:19,020 --> 00:01:22,280 States remains committed to leading in 31 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:24,810 this coordinated effort and this 32 00:01:24,810 --> 00:01:27,470 morning , I was pleased to announce 33 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,410 another major round of U . S . Security 34 00:01:30,410 --> 00:01:34,040 assistance designed to meet Ukraine's 35 00:01:34,050 --> 00:01:37,440 urgent battlefield requirements . And 36 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,140 this $2.5 billion dollar package 37 00:01:41,150 --> 00:01:44,490 is one of our largest yet it helps 38 00:01:44,490 --> 00:01:47,480 Ukraine meet its air defense needs with 39 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,030 additional May SAM's munitions And 40 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,710 eight Avenger Air Defense Systems . And 41 00:01:54,710 --> 00:01:57,380 this package also helps tackle 42 00:01:57,380 --> 00:01:59,450 Ukraine's urgent need for armor and 43 00:01:59,450 --> 00:02:03,330 combat vehicles . It includes 59 44 00:02:03,340 --> 00:02:05,396 additional Bradley infantry fighting 45 00:02:05,396 --> 00:02:09,100 vehicles and 90 stryker armoured 46 00:02:09,100 --> 00:02:13,090 personnel carriers , 53 m reps 47 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,850 350 up armored Humvees 48 00:02:19,010 --> 00:02:21,120 and it will provide thousands and 49 00:02:21,130 --> 00:02:23,270 thousands more rounds of artillery . 50 00:02:25,150 --> 00:02:27,380 Now we were honored to hear this 51 00:02:27,380 --> 00:02:29,324 morning from President Zelensky of 52 00:02:29,324 --> 00:02:33,270 Ukraine . Let me also thank several 53 00:02:33,270 --> 00:02:35,159 other brave Ukrainian leaders for 54 00:02:35,159 --> 00:02:39,030 joining us today . And that includes my 55 00:02:39,030 --> 00:02:41,630 good friend , Minister Alexey Resnick 56 00:02:41,630 --> 00:02:45,300 Aww , the Minister of Defense and 57 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:48,680 Lieutenant General Marchuk , the Deputy 58 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:52,660 Chief of Defense . Their presentations 59 00:02:52,660 --> 00:02:56,620 gave us a first hand account what 60 00:02:56,620 --> 00:02:59,120 Ukraine's military and citizens are 61 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:03,110 facing today's meeting focused 62 00:03:03,110 --> 00:03:05,300 on Ukraine's needs for air , defense 63 00:03:05,300 --> 00:03:08,470 and armor . We also pushed hard on how 64 00:03:08,470 --> 00:03:11,540 to synchronize those donations and turn 65 00:03:11,540 --> 00:03:13,490 them into fully operational 66 00:03:13,490 --> 00:03:17,070 capabilities and that means 67 00:03:17,910 --> 00:03:21,580 every step from donation to training to 68 00:03:21,580 --> 00:03:24,340 maintenance and then to sustain it . 69 00:03:26,180 --> 00:03:27,958 We also focused hard on how our 70 00:03:27,958 --> 00:03:30,680 collective and individual training 71 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,070 efforts would be prosecuted so 72 00:03:36,150 --> 00:03:38,372 as you heard , President biden recently 73 00:03:38,372 --> 00:03:41,040 announced the latest US training 74 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,890 initiative And it builds on 75 00:03:44,900 --> 00:03:47,390 us programs to train Ukrainian troops 76 00:03:47,390 --> 00:03:50,020 dating back to 2014 77 00:03:51,420 --> 00:03:53,476 other countries are stepping up with 78 00:03:53,476 --> 00:03:55,420 their own initiatives and many are 79 00:03:55,420 --> 00:03:57,570 joining the european Union's Military 80 00:03:57,570 --> 00:04:01,250 Assistance mission . Meanwhile , we're 81 00:04:01,250 --> 00:04:03,139 also continuing to strengthen our 82 00:04:03,139 --> 00:04:06,160 defense industrial basis through the 83 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:07,882 work of the national armaments 84 00:04:07,882 --> 00:04:10,910 directors under the auspices of this 85 00:04:10,910 --> 00:04:14,360 contact group and all of these efforts 86 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,220 underscore how much we've deepened our 87 00:04:17,220 --> 00:04:20,030 cooperation since the contact group 88 00:04:20,030 --> 00:04:21,830 began last april 89 00:04:23,950 --> 00:04:26,140 our work shows how much nations of 90 00:04:26,140 --> 00:04:28,520 goodwill can achieve when we work 91 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,850 together and it shows our long term 92 00:04:31,850 --> 00:04:33,920 commitment to supporting Ukraine 93 00:04:34,510 --> 00:04:38,300 against Russia's unprovoked 94 00:04:38,300 --> 00:04:42,110 aggression . Now , as we 95 00:04:42,110 --> 00:04:44,810 saw again just days ago in knee , pro 96 00:04:46,170 --> 00:04:48,720 Russia continues its assault on Ukraine 97 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,640 civilian and and critical 98 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:54,550 infrastructure and Russia continues 99 00:04:54,550 --> 00:04:57,710 to bombard Ukraine's cities with cruise 100 00:04:57,710 --> 00:05:01,650 missiles and drones . But 101 00:05:01,650 --> 00:05:04,240 the Ukrainian people stand defiant and 102 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,350 strong and Ukrainian troops are bravely 103 00:05:07,350 --> 00:05:09,380 defending their country and their 104 00:05:09,380 --> 00:05:12,870 fellow citizens as 105 00:05:12,870 --> 00:05:16,860 Russia's cruelty deepens the resolve of 106 00:05:16,860 --> 00:05:20,480 this contact group grows and that's 107 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,702 clear from the announcements that we've 108 00:05:22,702 --> 00:05:24,813 heard today and I'll start with their 109 00:05:24,813 --> 00:05:26,924 defense . Several countries have come 110 00:05:26,924 --> 00:05:28,980 forward with key donations that will 111 00:05:28,980 --> 00:05:31,550 help protect Ukraine skies and cities 112 00:05:31,550 --> 00:05:34,560 and citizens France Germany and the 113 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,650 UK have all donated air defense systems 114 00:05:37,650 --> 00:05:40,750 to Ukraine and that includes a 115 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,720 patriot battery from Germany and that's 116 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,100 especially important coming alongside 117 00:05:47,110 --> 00:05:49,060 our own contribution of a patriot 118 00:05:49,060 --> 00:05:52,150 system and the Netherlands is also 119 00:05:52,150 --> 00:05:54,480 donating patriot missiles and launchers 120 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,800 and training . Meanwhile , Canada has 121 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:01,060 procured an assam system and associated 122 00:06:01,060 --> 00:06:04,100 munitions for Ukraine and so these air 123 00:06:04,100 --> 00:06:05,822 defense systems will help save 124 00:06:05,822 --> 00:06:09,150 countless innocent lives . We're also 125 00:06:09,150 --> 00:06:10,872 pushing hard to meet Ukraine's 126 00:06:10,872 --> 00:06:13,010 requirements for tanks and other 127 00:06:13,010 --> 00:06:16,480 armored vehicles . The UK has announced 128 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,536 a significant donation of Challenger 129 00:06:18,536 --> 00:06:21,620 two tanks for Ukraine . This is the 130 00:06:21,620 --> 00:06:23,760 first introduction of Western main 131 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,280 battle tanks into Ukraine . I also 132 00:06:27,280 --> 00:06:29,550 commend our british allies for for 133 00:06:29,550 --> 00:06:33,010 making this decision and Sweden 134 00:06:33,010 --> 00:06:35,880 announced it's donating CB- 90 infantry 135 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,050 fighting vehicles and an additional 136 00:06:39,050 --> 00:06:42,540 donation soon of Archer Howard Sirs . 137 00:06:43,790 --> 00:06:46,012 We've also heard inspiring an important 138 00:06:46,012 --> 00:06:48,234 new donation announcements from several 139 00:06:48,234 --> 00:06:50,234 other countries . And that includes 140 00:06:50,234 --> 00:06:51,957 Denmark , which will donate 19 141 00:06:51,957 --> 00:06:54,068 Howitzers and Latvia is donating more 142 00:06:54,068 --> 00:06:56,012 stingers and helicopters and other 143 00:06:56,012 --> 00:06:58,790 equipment . And Estonia is providing 144 00:06:58,790 --> 00:07:01,210 Ukraine with a significant new package 145 00:07:01,220 --> 00:07:04,240 of much needed 155 millimeter howitzers 146 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,970 and munitions . Now , all of today's 147 00:07:07,970 --> 00:07:11,890 announcements are are direct results of 148 00:07:11,890 --> 00:07:15,030 our work at the contact group and these 149 00:07:15,030 --> 00:07:17,160 important new commitments demonstrate 150 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,271 the ongoing resolve of our allies and 151 00:07:19,271 --> 00:07:22,090 partners to help Ukraine defend itself . 152 00:07:22,980 --> 00:07:25,370 Because this isn't just about Ukraine's 153 00:07:25,370 --> 00:07:28,790 security . It's also about european 154 00:07:28,790 --> 00:07:32,280 security and it's about global security . 155 00:07:34,420 --> 00:07:37,010 It's about the kind of world that we 156 00:07:37,010 --> 00:07:40,220 want to live in and it's about the 157 00:07:40,220 --> 00:07:42,550 world that we want our Children and 158 00:07:42,550 --> 00:07:46,430 grandchildren to inherit . The members 159 00:07:46,430 --> 00:07:48,810 of this contact group are standing up 160 00:07:50,350 --> 00:07:54,240 where rules matter and where 161 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,400 rights matter and where sovereignty is 162 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,430 respected and where people can choose 163 00:08:00,430 --> 00:08:04,050 their own path free from tyranny and 164 00:08:04,050 --> 00:08:07,460 aggression . And I'm confident that 165 00:08:07,460 --> 00:08:10,210 this group will remain united 166 00:08:11,330 --> 00:08:13,497 and we'll continue to build momentum , 167 00:08:13,810 --> 00:08:16,410 will support Ukraine against Russian 168 00:08:16,410 --> 00:08:19,410 aggression for the long haul . And 169 00:08:19,410 --> 00:08:21,466 we'll continue to work toward a free 170 00:08:21,466 --> 00:08:24,360 and security rate . Ukraine in a stable 171 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,780 and decent world . And with that , let 172 00:08:26,780 --> 00:08:29,100 me turn it over to the chairman for his 173 00:08:29,100 --> 00:08:31,790 comments . Good afternoon everyone and 174 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:33,911 thank you , Secretary Austin for your 175 00:08:33,911 --> 00:08:36,480 leadership in this uh eighth Ukrainian 176 00:08:36,490 --> 00:08:38,790 contact group and supportive uh 177 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,250 Ukrainian freedom . And thanks as well 178 00:08:41,250 --> 00:08:43,472 to all the ministers and the chargers , 179 00:08:43,472 --> 00:08:45,583 the Chiefs of Defense that we're here 180 00:08:45,583 --> 00:08:47,750 who represented 54 different countries 181 00:08:47,750 --> 00:08:50,020 today . A special thank you also to 182 00:08:50,030 --> 00:08:53,880 Ukrainian Minister Defense Research and 183 00:08:53,890 --> 00:08:56,580 Deputy Chief of Defense . General Music . 184 00:08:57,110 --> 00:08:59,166 I had recently had an opportunity to 185 00:08:59,166 --> 00:09:02,530 meet with General Kaluzny uh in Poland 186 00:09:02,540 --> 00:09:04,800 and General Music was here representing 187 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,160 him . Uh They all represent the 188 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,216 exceptional bravery of the Ukrainian 189 00:09:09,216 --> 00:09:11,370 army and most importantly uh the 190 00:09:11,370 --> 00:09:13,870 Ukrainian people uh this week after 191 00:09:13,870 --> 00:09:15,759 meeting General Solution , had an 192 00:09:15,759 --> 00:09:17,759 opportunity uh to visit some of the 193 00:09:17,759 --> 00:09:19,926 training and the mech infantry that we 194 00:09:19,926 --> 00:09:22,037 are doing at Grafton Beer here in the 195 00:09:22,037 --> 00:09:24,092 training area in Germany also had an 196 00:09:24,092 --> 00:09:26,092 opportunity to do some coordination 197 00:09:26,092 --> 00:09:28,314 meetings in Baden And then attended the 198 00:09:28,314 --> 00:09:30,481 NATO Chad's Military Committee meeting 199 00:09:30,481 --> 00:09:32,314 where all the members of all the 200 00:09:32,314 --> 00:09:34,314 charges of NATO , an opportunity to 201 00:09:34,314 --> 00:09:36,314 meet with one of the primary topics 202 00:09:36,314 --> 00:09:38,481 being support to Ukraine . And then of 203 00:09:38,481 --> 00:09:40,481 course uh this week ending it today 204 00:09:40,481 --> 00:09:42,426 this week with uh with the contact 205 00:09:42,426 --> 00:09:44,370 group . Um I think that over my 43 206 00:09:44,370 --> 00:09:46,537 years in uniform , uh this is the most 207 00:09:46,537 --> 00:09:48,592 unified I've ever seen NATO and I've 208 00:09:48,592 --> 00:09:50,703 dipped in and out of NATO over many , 209 00:09:50,703 --> 00:09:52,814 many years . The war has evolved over 210 00:09:52,814 --> 00:09:55,390 the last 11 months . But the mission of 211 00:09:55,390 --> 00:09:57,530 this group . This contact group under 212 00:09:57,530 --> 00:09:59,419 General Austin's leadership under 213 00:09:59,419 --> 00:10:01,308 Secretary Austin's leadership has 214 00:10:01,308 --> 00:10:03,474 remained the same . We are effectively 215 00:10:03,474 --> 00:10:05,650 committed to support Ukraine with 216 00:10:05,650 --> 00:10:07,761 capabilities to defend itself against 217 00:10:07,761 --> 00:10:09,840 the illegal and unprovoked Russian 218 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,890 aggression . In the words of President 219 00:10:12,890 --> 00:10:15,740 Biden , Secretary Austin and many other 220 00:10:15,740 --> 00:10:18,650 national leaders as much as it takes 221 00:10:18,660 --> 00:10:20,830 for as long as it takes in order to 222 00:10:20,830 --> 00:10:23,890 keep Ukraine free , independent and 223 00:10:23,890 --> 00:10:26,450 sovereign . These contact group 224 00:10:26,450 --> 00:10:29,000 meetings play an important role as we 225 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:31,111 support Ukraine in the defense of its 226 00:10:31,111 --> 00:10:33,320 territory and they are a clear 227 00:10:33,330 --> 00:10:36,020 unambiguous demonstration of the unity 228 00:10:36,020 --> 00:10:38,580 and resolve of the allied nations . 229 00:10:39,300 --> 00:10:41,950 Yesterday as Secretary Austin just 230 00:10:41,950 --> 00:10:44,006 mentioned , President Biden released 231 00:10:44,006 --> 00:10:46,660 our 30th security assistance package 232 00:10:46,660 --> 00:10:49,160 signifying our continued commitment to 233 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:51,290 Ukraine . This package combined with 234 00:10:51,290 --> 00:10:54,280 our previous one , includes combined 235 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:56,100 arms maneuver capabilities with 236 00:10:56,100 --> 00:10:58,670 supporting artillery equivalent to at 237 00:10:58,670 --> 00:11:01,430 least two combined arms maneuver 238 00:11:01,430 --> 00:11:04,340 brigades or six mech infantry 239 00:11:04,340 --> 00:11:07,630 battalions , 10 motorized infantry 240 00:11:07,630 --> 00:11:10,700 battalions and four artillery 241 00:11:10,700 --> 00:11:12,867 battalions , along with a lot of other 242 00:11:12,867 --> 00:11:14,920 equipment . This package , this us 243 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,530 package along with the allied donations 244 00:11:17,540 --> 00:11:19,762 that were indicated today , signify our 245 00:11:19,762 --> 00:11:22,730 collective resolve in our commitment to 246 00:11:22,730 --> 00:11:24,730 Ukraine to protect their population 247 00:11:25,100 --> 00:11:27,322 from the indiscriminate Russian attacks 248 00:11:27,322 --> 00:11:29,570 and to provide the armor necessary to 249 00:11:29,570 --> 00:11:32,650 go on the offensive to liberate Russian 250 00:11:32,650 --> 00:11:35,500 occupied Ukraine . Additionally , this 251 00:11:35,500 --> 00:11:38,250 week in Germany we began battalion and 252 00:11:38,250 --> 00:11:40,417 brigade collective training that I had 253 00:11:40,417 --> 00:11:42,639 an opportunity to visit at the combined 254 00:11:42,639 --> 00:11:44,750 arms maneuver training center here in 255 00:11:44,750 --> 00:11:46,472 Grafton Beer in support of the 256 00:11:46,472 --> 00:11:49,570 Ukrainian army . That training in 257 00:11:49,570 --> 00:11:51,292 addition to the equipment will 258 00:11:51,292 --> 00:11:53,181 significantly increase Ukrainians 259 00:11:53,181 --> 00:11:55,403 capability to defend itself and further 260 00:11:55,403 --> 00:11:57,970 Russian attacks and to go on the 261 00:11:57,970 --> 00:12:00,530 tactical and operational offensive to 262 00:12:00,530 --> 00:12:03,580 liberate the occupied areas with the 263 00:12:03,580 --> 00:12:05,802 training that the United States and our 264 00:12:05,802 --> 00:12:07,802 partners are doing . The Ukrainians 265 00:12:07,802 --> 00:12:09,969 will advance their command and control 266 00:12:09,969 --> 00:12:11,691 their tactics , techniques and 267 00:12:11,691 --> 00:12:13,913 procedures , their ability to integrate 268 00:12:13,913 --> 00:12:16,080 fires with maneuver and they will more 269 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:18,024 effectively synchronize all of the 270 00:12:18,024 --> 00:12:19,913 combined arms in order to execute 271 00:12:19,913 --> 00:12:23,310 maneuver based operations . The support 272 00:12:23,310 --> 00:12:25,532 that we discussed today in this contact 273 00:12:25,532 --> 00:12:27,588 group meeting , the training that we 274 00:12:27,588 --> 00:12:29,588 discussed today and the way ahead . 275 00:12:29,588 --> 00:12:31,810 It's really an extension of what's been 276 00:12:31,810 --> 00:12:34,270 going on since 2014 and today signifies 277 00:12:34,270 --> 00:12:37,760 a very real and tangible difference in 278 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,790 the Ukraine's efforts to defend itself . 279 00:12:41,470 --> 00:12:43,870 International aggression where large 280 00:12:43,870 --> 00:12:46,350 countries use military force to attack 281 00:12:46,350 --> 00:12:48,910 small countries and change recognized 282 00:12:48,910 --> 00:12:51,870 borders cannot be allowed to stand . 283 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,180 Eventually , President Putin 284 00:12:56,190 --> 00:12:59,210 Russia will realize the full extent of 285 00:12:59,210 --> 00:13:01,650 their strategic miscalculation , but 286 00:13:01,650 --> 00:13:04,760 until Putin ends this war , his war of 287 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,690 choice , the nations of this contact 288 00:13:07,690 --> 00:13:09,634 group will continue to support the 289 00:13:09,634 --> 00:13:12,260 defense of Ukraine in order to uphold 290 00:13:12,270 --> 00:13:14,381 the rules based international order . 291 00:13:14,381 --> 00:13:16,548 Thank you and welcome your questions . 292 00:13:16,548 --> 00:13:18,770 Thank you . Mr Secretary Chairman . Our 293 00:13:18,770 --> 00:13:22,500 first question will go to from A R . D . 294 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,950 Hello , Mr Secretary of Defense . My 295 00:13:25,950 --> 00:13:28,640 question is , many of us thought that 296 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:30,940 today we will have a breakthrough in 297 00:13:30,940 --> 00:13:33,960 the discussion about heavy battle tanks . 298 00:13:33,970 --> 00:13:36,680 You didn't mention that at all . We 299 00:13:36,690 --> 00:13:39,380 didn't talk about the apart to or 300 00:13:39,390 --> 00:13:42,010 Abrams Thanks So did you talk about 301 00:13:42,010 --> 00:13:45,970 that today ? Um I think you 302 00:13:45,970 --> 00:13:47,970 heard you may have heard the german 303 00:13:47,970 --> 00:13:50,160 Minister of Defense say earlier that 304 00:13:50,170 --> 00:13:52,640 they've not made a decision on the 305 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:56,350 provision of leopard tanks . Uh , we're 306 00:13:56,350 --> 00:14:00,220 really focused on is making sure 307 00:14:00,220 --> 00:14:04,200 that uh , Ukraine has the capability 308 00:14:04,210 --> 00:14:06,870 uh , that it needs to be successful 309 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,670 right now . So we have a window of 310 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:12,210 opportunity here , uh , you know , 311 00:14:12,210 --> 00:14:14,560 between now and the spring when I , you 312 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:17,420 know , whenever they commence , uh , 313 00:14:17,430 --> 00:14:19,208 their operation , their counter 314 00:14:19,208 --> 00:14:21,374 offensive , uh , and that's not a long 315 00:14:21,374 --> 00:14:23,486 time and we have to pull together the 316 00:14:23,486 --> 00:14:25,652 right capabilities . And you heard the 317 00:14:25,652 --> 00:14:27,541 Chairman walk through some of the 318 00:14:27,541 --> 00:14:30,280 substantial combat power that we and 319 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,224 and some of our allies have , have 320 00:14:32,224 --> 00:14:34,670 offered , offered to provide . Uh , 321 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,990 there are tanks in that , in that uh , 322 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,167 those offerings Poland , for example , 323 00:14:40,167 --> 00:14:42,222 it continues to offer tanks and will 324 00:14:42,222 --> 00:14:44,333 provide tanks in other countries will 325 00:14:44,333 --> 00:14:47,240 offer some tank capability as well . I 326 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:49,462 don't have any announcements to make on 327 00:14:49,462 --> 00:14:51,518 em ones . And you heard the uh , the 328 00:14:51,518 --> 00:14:53,796 German Minister of Defense say that uh , 329 00:14:53,796 --> 00:14:56,129 they've not made a decision on leopards . 330 00:14:56,129 --> 00:14:58,790 So thank you . Next question will go to 331 00:14:58,790 --> 00:15:00,270 idris ali , Reuters , 332 00:15:02,340 --> 00:15:04,850 Mr Secretary over the past week . A 333 00:15:04,850 --> 00:15:06,739 number of european countries have 334 00:15:06,739 --> 00:15:09,710 publicly pleaded with Germany to allow 335 00:15:09,710 --> 00:15:11,766 the transfer of their tanks you made 336 00:15:11,766 --> 00:15:14,043 with your german counterpart yesterday . 337 00:15:14,043 --> 00:15:16,099 And like you said today , they still 338 00:15:16,099 --> 00:15:17,850 have not made a decision you 339 00:15:17,860 --> 00:15:20,160 disappointed in the german position . 340 00:15:20,170 --> 00:15:23,100 And how can Germany still be seen as a 341 00:15:23,100 --> 00:15:25,630 reliable ally given what is widely 342 00:15:25,630 --> 00:15:27,741 perceived as them dragging their feet 343 00:15:27,741 --> 00:15:29,686 on something so simple and for the 344 00:15:29,686 --> 00:15:32,430 chairman , um is there any prohibition 345 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:34,551 on the use of american weapons by the 346 00:15:34,551 --> 00:15:37,110 Ukrainians in Crimea currently ? And 347 00:15:37,110 --> 00:15:39,332 you've talked about how this war , like 348 00:15:39,332 --> 00:15:41,166 many others has to end through a 349 00:15:41,166 --> 00:15:43,510 negotiated settlement is now the time 350 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:45,742 for the Russians and Ukrainians to come 351 00:15:45,742 --> 00:15:49,650 to the table to talk about that . Um 352 00:15:49,660 --> 00:15:53,330 Thanks idris first , let me say that uh 353 00:15:54,670 --> 00:15:56,690 This isn't really about one single 354 00:15:56,690 --> 00:16:00,050 platform . Uh and so our 355 00:16:00,060 --> 00:16:02,004 goal and I think we've been fairly 356 00:16:02,004 --> 00:16:04,116 successful at doing this and bringing 357 00:16:04,116 --> 00:16:06,830 together capability is to is to provide 358 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,062 the capability that Ukraine needs to be 359 00:16:09,062 --> 00:16:11,620 successful in the near term . And so 360 00:16:11,620 --> 00:16:13,660 you've heard us talk about uh two 361 00:16:13,660 --> 00:16:16,640 battalions of Bradley infantry fighting 362 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:20,340 vehicles , very capable platform , um 363 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,700 three battalions or brigades worth of 364 00:16:23,710 --> 00:16:26,150 strikers . Uh you add that up , that's 365 00:16:26,150 --> 00:16:28,150 that's two brigades of combat power 366 00:16:28,150 --> 00:16:30,150 that the US is providing along with 367 00:16:30,150 --> 00:16:32,372 enablers and other things . So you look 368 00:16:32,372 --> 00:16:35,040 at Sweden providing a battalion of CV 369 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,207 ninety's , that's an armored personnel 370 00:16:37,207 --> 00:16:39,373 carrier . Uh The Germans are providing 371 00:16:39,373 --> 00:16:42,550 martyrs . The uh the polls are 372 00:16:42,550 --> 00:16:45,690 providing uh battalion's worth of 373 00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:48,230 mechanized capability . Uh You heard 374 00:16:48,230 --> 00:16:50,600 the Chairman highlight four battalions 375 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,500 of uh of artillery , mechanized 376 00:16:53,500 --> 00:16:55,556 artillery that's being provided . So 377 00:16:55,556 --> 00:16:57,990 this is a this is a very , very capable 378 00:16:57,990 --> 00:17:01,500 package and they , you know , if if if 379 00:17:01,510 --> 00:17:04,180 employed properly , uh it will be , it 380 00:17:04,180 --> 00:17:06,513 will enable them to be successful . Now , 381 00:17:06,513 --> 00:17:08,680 we're going to ensure that we're doing 382 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:12,060 everything uh necessary uh to ensure 383 00:17:12,060 --> 00:17:14,282 that they have the ability to employ it 384 00:17:14,282 --> 00:17:16,227 properly . You heard us talk about 385 00:17:16,227 --> 00:17:18,449 training additional training that we're 386 00:17:18,449 --> 00:17:20,504 gonna do . This is something that we 387 00:17:20,504 --> 00:17:22,616 haven't been able to do in the past , 388 00:17:22,616 --> 00:17:24,893 so , you know , as we speak , you know , 389 00:17:24,893 --> 00:17:27,116 troops are being linked up with Bradley 390 00:17:27,116 --> 00:17:29,116 infantry fighting vehicles , uh and 391 00:17:29,116 --> 00:17:31,270 they'll train for weeks , not only on 392 00:17:31,270 --> 00:17:33,437 just how to operate the vehicles , but 393 00:17:33,437 --> 00:17:37,070 also on how to properly 394 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,340 set conditions for maneuver and then 395 00:17:39,340 --> 00:17:41,451 maneuver and then , you know , how to 396 00:17:41,451 --> 00:17:43,430 exploit uh opportunities , how to 397 00:17:43,430 --> 00:17:46,810 breach obstacles . Uh so I think this 398 00:17:46,810 --> 00:17:49,910 will be a really , really capable uh 399 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:51,976 package that we put together , and I 400 00:17:51,976 --> 00:17:54,660 really do believe that it will enable 401 00:17:54,660 --> 00:17:56,771 the Ukrainians to be successful going 402 00:17:56,771 --> 00:17:59,110 forward . So this is not dependent upon 403 00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:02,290 a single platform . This is uh this is 404 00:18:02,300 --> 00:18:05,000 uh combined arms effort that we brought 405 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,670 together that I truly believe is gonna 406 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:09,791 provide them the best opportunity for 407 00:18:09,791 --> 00:18:13,600 success . And there's the on your first 408 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,090 question uh typically , we're not going 409 00:18:16,090 --> 00:18:18,190 to discuss , I don't discuss either 410 00:18:18,190 --> 00:18:20,140 prohibitions or permissions , 411 00:18:20,150 --> 00:18:22,830 authorities on the use of weapons 412 00:18:22,830 --> 00:18:24,997 etcetera , that that that goes towards 413 00:18:24,997 --> 00:18:26,719 rules of engagement . We don't 414 00:18:26,719 --> 00:18:28,886 typically discuss those in in a public 415 00:18:28,886 --> 00:18:30,774 forum on the second question . Uh 416 00:18:30,774 --> 00:18:33,240 President biden presents Alinsky and 417 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:35,650 most of the leaders of europe have said 418 00:18:35,660 --> 00:18:38,000 that this war is likely to end in the 419 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,260 negotiation and and from a military 420 00:18:40,260 --> 00:18:42,204 standpoint , this is a very , very 421 00:18:42,204 --> 00:18:44,093 difficult fight . Uh , this fight 422 00:18:44,093 --> 00:18:46,316 stretches , uh , all the way from right 423 00:18:46,316 --> 00:18:48,538 now is the front line goes from all the 424 00:18:48,538 --> 00:18:50,593 way from Kharkiv Donna Courtesan and 425 00:18:50,593 --> 00:18:52,816 the significant fighting ongoing . Uh , 426 00:18:52,816 --> 00:18:54,871 and it's more or less a static front 427 00:18:54,871 --> 00:18:56,760 line right this minute , with the 428 00:18:56,760 --> 00:18:58,982 exception of Bachman and solid are with 429 00:18:58,982 --> 00:19:01,204 a significant offensive action going on 430 00:19:01,204 --> 00:19:03,316 really from both sides . The distance 431 00:19:03,316 --> 00:19:05,316 that for the United States , that's 432 00:19:05,316 --> 00:19:07,427 about from uh , I guess Washington dc 433 00:19:07,427 --> 00:19:09,538 to Atlanta . So that is a significant 434 00:19:09,538 --> 00:19:11,316 amount of territory and in that 435 00:19:11,316 --> 00:19:13,482 territory are still remaining a lot of 436 00:19:13,482 --> 00:19:15,427 Russian forces in Russian occupied 437 00:19:15,427 --> 00:19:17,149 Ukraine . So , from a military 438 00:19:17,149 --> 00:19:20,110 standpoint , I still maintain that for 439 00:19:20,110 --> 00:19:22,110 this year , it would be very , very 440 00:19:22,110 --> 00:19:24,430 difficult to militarily eject the 441 00:19:24,430 --> 00:19:26,580 Russian forces from all every inch of 442 00:19:26,580 --> 00:19:28,800 Ukrainian occupied or Russian occupied 443 00:19:28,810 --> 00:19:30,820 Ukraine . Uh , that doesn't mean it 444 00:19:30,820 --> 00:19:32,876 can't happen , doesn't mean it won't 445 00:19:32,876 --> 00:19:34,764 happen , but would be very , very 446 00:19:34,764 --> 00:19:36,931 difficult . I think what can happen is 447 00:19:36,931 --> 00:19:39,098 a , is a continued defense stabilizing 448 00:19:39,098 --> 00:19:41,320 the front . I think it's possible to to 449 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:43,264 clearly do that . And I think it's 450 00:19:43,264 --> 00:19:45,431 depending on the delivery and training 451 00:19:45,431 --> 00:19:47,542 of all of this equipment . I do think 452 00:19:47,542 --> 00:19:49,709 it's very , very possible to , for the 453 00:19:49,709 --> 00:19:51,876 Ukrainians to run a significant , uh , 454 00:19:51,876 --> 00:19:54,098 tactical or , or even operational level 455 00:19:54,098 --> 00:19:56,320 offensive operation to liberate as much 456 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:58,431 Ukrainian territory as possible . And 457 00:19:58,431 --> 00:20:00,764 then we'll then we'll see where it goes . 458 00:20:00,764 --> 00:20:02,820 But I do think at the end of the day 459 00:20:02,820 --> 00:20:04,931 this war , like many wars in the past 460 00:20:04,931 --> 00:20:04,640 will end at some sort of negotiating 461 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:06,807 table . And that will be determined in 462 00:20:06,807 --> 00:20:08,973 terms of timing by the leaders of both 463 00:20:08,973 --> 00:20:11,250 countries . Both both Russia and 464 00:20:11,250 --> 00:20:13,250 Ukraine . President Putin could end 465 00:20:13,250 --> 00:20:15,250 this war today . It's he started it 466 00:20:15,250 --> 00:20:17,472 it's his war of choice and he could end 467 00:20:17,472 --> 00:20:19,583 it today because it's turning into an 468 00:20:19,583 --> 00:20:21,472 absolute catastrophe for Russia , 469 00:20:21,472 --> 00:20:23,694 massive amounts of casualties , lots of 470 00:20:23,694 --> 00:20:25,639 other damage to the to the Russian 471 00:20:25,639 --> 00:20:27,861 military etcetera . Uh so he should and 472 00:20:27,861 --> 00:20:29,806 could end this war right now right 473 00:20:29,806 --> 00:20:31,917 today . Thank you . Our next question 474 00:20:31,917 --> 00:20:35,230 will go to Anselm stan zdf thank you 475 00:20:35,230 --> 00:20:37,410 very much . Mr Secretary is Germany 476 00:20:37,420 --> 00:20:39,970 doing enough in order to show real 477 00:20:39,970 --> 00:20:43,480 leadership in europe . Thank you . 478 00:20:44,120 --> 00:20:47,520 Yes . But we can all do more in uh you 479 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:49,687 know the United States and every other 480 00:20:49,687 --> 00:20:51,742 member of the U . D . C . Can can do 481 00:20:51,742 --> 00:20:53,409 more . You know , Germany has 482 00:20:53,409 --> 00:20:55,298 contributed a lot to this to this 483 00:20:55,298 --> 00:20:57,353 campaign . Uh you know from the very 484 00:20:57,353 --> 00:20:59,600 beginning we we saw them uh cycle in 485 00:20:59,610 --> 00:21:02,820 air defense capability . The get parts 486 00:21:02,830 --> 00:21:06,300 the patriots most recently RST 487 00:21:06,310 --> 00:21:08,560 uh they've stepped up and offered to 488 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:10,782 provide the martyrs . They will provide 489 00:21:10,782 --> 00:21:12,671 the those martyrs and conduct the 490 00:21:12,671 --> 00:21:15,770 training on those platforms . Uh and 491 00:21:15,780 --> 00:21:19,120 um we are 492 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:22,270 training Ukrainian soldiers on 493 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:25,620 maneuver and and other things uh and 494 00:21:25,630 --> 00:21:29,030 and specialty things uh here in Germany 495 00:21:29,030 --> 00:21:31,340 as well . So Germany's open continues 496 00:21:31,340 --> 00:21:33,510 to open its doors and and make the 497 00:21:33,510 --> 00:21:36,340 training areas and facilities available 498 00:21:36,340 --> 00:21:38,507 for us to continue to do the work that 499 00:21:38,507 --> 00:21:40,560 we need to do . And Germany is also 500 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,930 training troops and training battalion 501 00:21:43,930 --> 00:21:45,930 and brigade headquarters . So , you 502 00:21:45,930 --> 00:21:48,152 know , they have a big oar in the water 503 00:21:48,152 --> 00:21:50,486 like the rest of the contact group does . 504 00:21:50,486 --> 00:21:52,652 Uh , and uh , and they're working hand 505 00:21:52,652 --> 00:21:55,140 in hand with , with , with the rest of 506 00:21:55,140 --> 00:21:57,410 our colleagues here . So I think IDris 507 00:21:57,410 --> 00:22:00,180 asked me earlier 508 00:22:00,190 --> 00:22:03,960 if if if Germany 509 00:22:03,970 --> 00:22:06,970 was was a leader , was that the right 510 00:22:06,970 --> 00:22:08,581 question ? Their interests ? 511 00:22:09,050 --> 00:22:13,000 Oh , yeah , Okay , yeah . They 512 00:22:13,010 --> 00:22:15,066 are reliable ally . And they've been 513 00:22:15,066 --> 00:22:17,490 that way for , for a very , very long 514 00:22:17,490 --> 00:22:19,712 time and I truly believe that they will 515 00:22:19,712 --> 00:22:21,768 continue to be a reliable ally going 516 00:22:21,768 --> 00:22:25,520 forward . Uh , not to mention They 517 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,070 have uh , Germany is host to 518 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:32,060 39,000 of my troops and their families , 519 00:22:32,070 --> 00:22:35,000 uh , and also 10,000 civilians here . 520 00:22:35,010 --> 00:22:37,010 Uh , and , and so we've had a great 521 00:22:37,010 --> 00:22:39,510 relationship throughout over the years 522 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:42,380 and I will continue to have that great 523 00:22:42,380 --> 00:22:44,870 relationship and Germany will continue 524 00:22:44,870 --> 00:22:47,037 to exercise leadership going forward . 525 00:22:47,037 --> 00:22:49,810 So , thank you . Our next question will 526 00:22:49,810 --> 00:22:52,280 go to dan the moth Washington post . 527 00:22:53,220 --> 00:22:55,331 Good evening , gentlemen . Thanks for 528 00:22:55,331 --> 00:22:57,664 your time today . Uh , Secretary Austin , 529 00:22:57,664 --> 00:22:59,664 a number of lawmakers and observers 530 00:22:59,664 --> 00:23:01,887 have said that at this point , it makes 531 00:23:01,887 --> 00:23:04,053 sense to send a small number of Abrams 532 00:23:04,053 --> 00:23:06,276 tanks , if only to encourage Germany to 533 00:23:06,276 --> 00:23:08,520 unlock the leopard tanks that they have 534 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,980 not sent . Is that feasible , and if 535 00:23:10,980 --> 00:23:13,036 not why not ? And for the chairman , 536 00:23:13,036 --> 00:23:15,202 please , given the amount of armor the 537 00:23:15,202 --> 00:23:17,424 United States and allies are sending at 538 00:23:17,424 --> 00:23:19,647 this point , how confident are you that 539 00:23:19,647 --> 00:23:21,480 they can put together a coherent 540 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:23,840 offensive in the coming months ? Uh , 541 00:23:23,850 --> 00:23:26,450 to what extent uh to the extent you can 542 00:23:26,450 --> 00:23:28,450 what that what what might that look 543 00:23:28,450 --> 00:23:30,672 like and separately you just referenced 544 00:23:30,672 --> 00:23:32,540 referenced the large number of 545 00:23:32,540 --> 00:23:34,810 casualties . Uh , can you give us any 546 00:23:34,810 --> 00:23:37,032 update on on what you're seeing at this 547 00:23:37,032 --> 00:23:39,088 point for casualties on both sides ? 548 00:23:39,088 --> 00:23:42,550 Thanks . Um , I think you heard the 549 00:23:42,550 --> 00:23:45,440 german uh Minister of Defense say 550 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:47,960 earlier today , that there's no linkage 551 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:51,750 between um providing M 552 00:23:51,750 --> 00:23:55,300 ones and providing leopards . 553 00:23:55,310 --> 00:23:57,421 And I think he was pretty clear about 554 00:23:57,421 --> 00:24:00,020 that . So this notion of unlocking , 555 00:24:00,030 --> 00:24:02,510 you know , i in in in my mind is not 556 00:24:02,510 --> 00:24:04,121 it's not an issue . And more 557 00:24:04,121 --> 00:24:06,340 importantly in his mind as well . And 558 00:24:06,340 --> 00:24:09,330 in terms of providing capability , what 559 00:24:09,330 --> 00:24:11,910 we uh in the in the department always 560 00:24:11,910 --> 00:24:15,730 look at is , you know , providing 561 00:24:15,740 --> 00:24:18,250 credible combat capability . We we 562 00:24:18,250 --> 00:24:21,650 don't do things uh to or employ 563 00:24:21,660 --> 00:24:24,660 capabilities . That as a notion , you 564 00:24:24,660 --> 00:24:27,280 know , as as you know , for for 565 00:24:27,290 --> 00:24:29,860 anything other than providing credible 566 00:24:29,860 --> 00:24:32,270 combat capability . And that's where 567 00:24:32,270 --> 00:24:34,548 our focus will be in the in the future , 568 00:24:34,548 --> 00:24:36,714 whatever we do whatever we employ . So 569 00:24:37,670 --> 00:24:41,570 so dan on the in order to execute 570 00:24:41,570 --> 00:24:43,800 a successful offensive operation at the 571 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:45,911 tactical operational level , which is 572 00:24:45,911 --> 00:24:48,133 really what we're talking about here uh 573 00:24:48,133 --> 00:24:50,300 for the Ukrainians , you've got to not 574 00:24:50,300 --> 00:24:52,467 only man the unit which the Ukrainians 575 00:24:52,467 --> 00:24:54,689 have the personnel , uh , but they have 576 00:24:54,689 --> 00:24:54,580 to be trained and so they gotta be 577 00:24:54,590 --> 00:24:56,757 married up with the equipment and then 578 00:24:56,757 --> 00:24:58,980 they got to be trained . Um , and if 579 00:24:58,980 --> 00:25:01,091 you look at the weather and terrain , 580 00:25:01,091 --> 00:25:03,202 et cetera , um , you can see that you 581 00:25:03,202 --> 00:25:05,369 have a relatively short window of time 582 00:25:05,369 --> 00:25:07,591 to accomplish both those key tests . So 583 00:25:07,591 --> 00:25:09,647 that's very , very challenging to do 584 00:25:09,647 --> 00:25:11,702 that for all these different nations 585 00:25:11,702 --> 00:25:13,813 that we're here today to assemble all 586 00:25:13,813 --> 00:25:13,040 of the equipment , get it all 587 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:15,096 synchronized , get get the Ukrainian 588 00:25:15,096 --> 00:25:17,207 troops trained , etcetera . Uh , that 589 00:25:17,207 --> 00:25:19,650 will be a very , very heavy lift . So 590 00:25:19,660 --> 00:25:22,330 uh confident . Yes , I think it can be 591 00:25:22,330 --> 00:25:24,900 done . Uh , but I think that it'll be a 592 00:25:24,900 --> 00:25:27,011 challenge . There's no question about 593 00:25:27,011 --> 00:25:29,011 it . So we'll see , I don't want to 594 00:25:29,011 --> 00:25:31,178 predict one way or the other . But the 595 00:25:31,178 --> 00:25:33,289 Ukrainian forces so far have executed 596 00:25:33,289 --> 00:25:35,344 at least two . And perhaps even more 597 00:25:35,344 --> 00:25:37,456 than that . Very successful offensive 598 00:25:37,456 --> 00:25:39,511 operations . One up around Kharkiv , 599 00:25:39,511 --> 00:25:41,511 crossing the ask your river and and 600 00:25:41,511 --> 00:25:44,100 over into uh into uh , the Russian 601 00:25:44,100 --> 00:25:46,340 lines to the east of the of cardio . 602 00:25:46,590 --> 00:25:48,757 And then they've run a very successful 603 00:25:48,757 --> 00:25:50,868 operation down in Carson . Uh , so it 604 00:25:50,868 --> 00:25:52,479 remains to be seen , but the 605 00:25:52,479 --> 00:25:54,701 equipment's getting married up with the 606 00:25:54,701 --> 00:25:54,590 people , the people gotta get trained 607 00:25:54,590 --> 00:25:56,534 on the equipment and all of that's 608 00:25:56,534 --> 00:25:58,423 gonna have to get shipped in into 609 00:25:58,423 --> 00:26:00,534 Ukraine , etcetera , all put together 610 00:26:00,534 --> 00:26:02,757 inside of a coherent plan . Obviously , 611 00:26:02,757 --> 00:26:04,979 general jealousy and , and I and others 612 00:26:04,979 --> 00:26:07,040 have uh , discussed what his visions 613 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:09,530 are , not in executing level detail yet , 614 00:26:09,540 --> 00:26:11,762 but he's working on that . And uh , and 615 00:26:11,762 --> 00:26:13,762 we'll see which way it goes uh , in 616 00:26:13,762 --> 00:26:16,280 terms of casualties , you know , the 617 00:26:16,290 --> 00:26:18,510 numbers of casualties in war always 618 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:21,630 suspect . Uh , and uh , but I would 619 00:26:21,630 --> 00:26:23,686 tell you that the Russian casualties 620 00:26:23,686 --> 00:26:26,019 last time I reported out on it publicly , 621 00:26:26,019 --> 00:26:28,019 I said it was well over 100,000 , I 622 00:26:28,019 --> 00:26:30,186 would say it's significantly well over 623 00:26:30,186 --> 00:26:32,130 100,000 now . So the Russians have 624 00:26:32,130 --> 00:26:33,908 suffered a tremendous amount of 625 00:26:33,908 --> 00:26:36,241 casualties in their , in their military . 626 00:26:36,241 --> 00:26:38,408 Uh , and and that includes the regular 627 00:26:38,408 --> 00:26:40,519 military and also they're mercenaries 628 00:26:40,519 --> 00:26:42,686 in the Wagner group and And other type 629 00:26:42,686 --> 00:26:44,574 forces that are fighting with the 630 00:26:44,574 --> 00:26:46,741 Russians . They have really suffered a 631 00:26:46,741 --> 00:26:48,963 lot . Now you saw that the Russians did 632 00:26:48,963 --> 00:26:50,963 a call up of called out , I think , 633 00:26:50,963 --> 00:26:53,170 called up the mobilization 300,000 , I 634 00:26:53,170 --> 00:26:55,059 think they were able to get maybe 635 00:26:55,059 --> 00:26:57,170 250,000 , something that range . Uh , 636 00:26:57,170 --> 00:26:59,226 so they're replacing their losses in 637 00:26:59,226 --> 00:27:01,114 terms of manpower , but they have 638 00:27:01,114 --> 00:27:03,170 suffered a huge amount . Ukraine has 639 00:27:03,170 --> 00:27:05,392 also suffered tremendously . You know , 640 00:27:05,392 --> 00:27:04,860 that , uh , there's there's a 641 00:27:04,860 --> 00:27:06,582 significant amount of innocent 642 00:27:06,582 --> 00:27:08,638 civilians that have been killed as a 643 00:27:08,638 --> 00:27:10,693 result of the Russian actions . Uh , 644 00:27:10,693 --> 00:27:12,582 the Russians are hitting civilian 645 00:27:12,582 --> 00:27:14,360 infrastructure . Uh , there's a 646 00:27:14,360 --> 00:27:16,582 significant amount of economic damage , 647 00:27:16,582 --> 00:27:16,130 significant amount of damage to the 648 00:27:16,130 --> 00:27:18,352 energy infrastructure . And the Russian 649 00:27:18,352 --> 00:27:20,519 or the Ukrainian military has suffered 650 00:27:20,519 --> 00:27:22,463 a significant amount of casualties 651 00:27:22,463 --> 00:27:24,574 themselves . So this is a very , very 652 00:27:24,574 --> 00:27:26,519 bloody war and there's significant 653 00:27:26,519 --> 00:27:28,686 casualties on both sides . Uh and this 654 00:27:28,686 --> 00:27:31,250 is why I say that uh I think that uh 655 00:27:31,260 --> 00:27:33,371 sooner or later this is gonna have to 656 00:27:33,371 --> 00:27:35,427 get to the negotiating table at some 657 00:27:35,427 --> 00:27:37,482 point uh in order to bring this to a 658 00:27:37,482 --> 00:27:39,427 conclusion . And that will have to 659 00:27:39,427 --> 00:27:41,593 happen when the end state , which is a 660 00:27:41,593 --> 00:27:43,816 free sovereign independent Ukraine with 661 00:27:43,816 --> 00:27:45,871 his territory intact , is met . When 662 00:27:45,871 --> 00:27:48,093 that day comes then people sit down and 663 00:27:48,093 --> 00:27:47,950 negotiate an end to this . But there's 664 00:27:47,950 --> 00:27:50,172 been a huge amount of suffering on both 665 00:27:50,172 --> 00:27:52,339 sides . Ladies and gentlemen , that is 666 00:27:52,339 --> 00:27:54,506 all the time we have available today . 667 00:27:54,506 --> 00:27:56,617 Mr . Secretary General Milley , thank 668 00:27:56,617 --> 00:27:56,290 you both , gentlemen . This concludes 669 00:27:56,290 --> 00:27:57,600 our press briefing . Thank you .