WEBVTT 00:04.019 --> 00:05.963 Well , good afternoon , ladies and 00:05.963 --> 00:07.963 gentlemen , thank you very much for 00:07.963 --> 00:10.186 being here today . It is my pleasure to 00:10.186 --> 00:12.241 introduce Secretary of Defense Lloyd 00:12.241 --> 00:14.408 Austin , the third and chairman of the 00:14.408 --> 00:16.575 Joint Chiefs of Staff General CQ Brown 00:16.575 --> 00:18.575 Jr , the secretary and the chairman 00:18.575 --> 00:20.686 will deliver opening remarks and then 00:20.686 --> 00:22.686 have time to take a few questions . 00:22.686 --> 00:24.852 Please note that I will moderate those 00:24.852 --> 00:26.852 questions and call on reporters and 00:26.852 --> 00:29.075 would just ask you to limit your follow 00:29.075 --> 00:31.241 up so that we can give your colleagues 00:31.241 --> 00:33.130 a chance to ask their questions . 00:33.130 --> 00:32.959 Mister Secretary over to you , sir . 00:33.279 --> 00:35.389 Thanks . Well , good afternoon , 00:35.400 --> 00:37.400 everybody . Thanks for joining us , 00:38.310 --> 00:40.532 General Brown and I have just come from 00:40.532 --> 00:42.860 another highly productive meeting of 00:42.869 --> 00:45.540 the Ukraine defense contact group and 00:45.549 --> 00:49.259 this was our 23rd meeting . And every 00:49.270 --> 00:52.900 time we gather , I am impressed by the 00:52.909 --> 00:55.950 resolve of the more than 50 countries 00:55.959 --> 00:57.900 helping to support Ukraine's self 00:57.970 --> 01:01.069 defense . Today , the contact group 01:01.080 --> 01:04.470 heard directly about the battlefield 01:04.480 --> 01:06.970 situation from Minister Umarov and his 01:06.980 --> 01:09.819 delegation . Ukraine's forces are 01:09.830 --> 01:11.900 holding the line in the face of 01:12.180 --> 01:15.650 Russia's assault near Kharkiv and 01:15.660 --> 01:17.716 Ukrainian troops continue to inflict 01:17.716 --> 01:19.709 significant costs on the Kremlin's 01:19.720 --> 01:23.230 invaders after President Biden 01:23.239 --> 01:25.209 signed . The national security . 01:25.220 --> 01:28.949 Supplemental . Renewed us . 01:28.959 --> 01:31.379 Assistance is reaching Ukraine at a 01:31.389 --> 01:34.389 steady pace . And last week , President 01:34.400 --> 01:36.122 Biden announced a new security 01:36.122 --> 01:38.160 assistance package through another 01:38.169 --> 01:41.779 drawdown from our stocks . And this 22 01:41.800 --> 01:45.709 h this $225 million package provides 01:45.720 --> 01:47.489 Ukraine with more air defense 01:47.500 --> 01:51.400 interceptors , armored vehicles , anti 01:51.440 --> 01:54.319 tank weapons and artillery systems and 01:54.330 --> 01:57.480 munitions . And Ukraine's partners 01:57.489 --> 01:59.600 around the world continue to stand up 01:59.600 --> 02:02.980 to Putin's aggressions . This coalition 02:02.989 --> 02:04.779 remains steadfast and strong 02:07.120 --> 02:08.787 and the contact group remains 02:08.787 --> 02:10.787 determined to meet Ukraine's urgent 02:10.787 --> 02:12.842 capability needs and to help Ukraine 02:12.842 --> 02:15.089 deter Russian aggression for decades to 02:15.100 --> 02:18.449 come . Contact group members continue 02:18.460 --> 02:21.300 to step up and to get Ukraine what it 02:21.309 --> 02:24.669 needs and when it needs it , air 02:24.679 --> 02:26.957 defense remains Ukraine's top priority . 02:28.320 --> 02:30.460 I applaud those who have dug deep to 02:30.470 --> 02:32.359 find more air defense systems and 02:32.359 --> 02:34.360 interceptors . For example , the 02:34.369 --> 02:36.091 Netherlands is leading a smart 02:36.091 --> 02:39.369 initiative to assemble and deliver a 02:39.410 --> 02:42.529 patriot air defense system . The Dutch 02:42.539 --> 02:45.130 government has committed to contribute 02:45.139 --> 02:48.029 many core components and parts from its 02:48.039 --> 02:50.600 own stocks and has called on Ukraine's 02:50.610 --> 02:52.721 other friends to help with the rest . 02:53.690 --> 02:56.210 And meanwhile , Sweden recently 02:56.220 --> 02:58.387 announced its largest military package 02:58.387 --> 03:00.669 for Ukraine that includes 03:00.679 --> 03:04.580 155155 millimeter artillery shells , 03:05.860 --> 03:08.270 am missiles and armored vehicles . 03:09.369 --> 03:12.419 Sweden is also providing airborne early 03:12.429 --> 03:15.139 warning and control aircraft which will 03:15.149 --> 03:17.149 help Ukraine with both airborne and 03:17.149 --> 03:20.630 maritime targets . And Italy announced 03:20.639 --> 03:23.570 that it will send a second Sam T Air 03:23.580 --> 03:27.050 defense system to Ukraine . And so our 03:27.059 --> 03:29.660 allies are also committing to long term 03:29.669 --> 03:33.179 military aid packages . More and more 03:33.190 --> 03:34.912 countries are enshrining these 03:34.912 --> 03:36.857 commitments in long term bilateral 03:36.857 --> 03:39.360 agreements with Ukraine . And I'm 03:39.369 --> 03:41.313 pleased that the United States and 03:41.313 --> 03:43.313 Ukraine will sign our own bilateral 03:43.313 --> 03:45.949 security agreement today . Together , 03:45.960 --> 03:47.793 we're working to forge long term 03:47.793 --> 03:50.589 security for Ukraine and I continue to 03:50.600 --> 03:53.139 be impressed by the work of the contact 03:53.149 --> 03:56.199 group's capability coalitions . Today , 03:56.210 --> 03:58.380 we heard an update from the drone 03:58.410 --> 04:01.779 coalition and let me thank Latvia and 04:01.789 --> 04:03.733 the UK for their leadership of the 04:03.733 --> 04:06.639 drone coalition . This capability 04:06.649 --> 04:08.500 coalition is helping to expand 04:08.509 --> 04:10.429 Ukraine's asymmetric asymmetric 04:10.440 --> 04:13.020 capabilities and that's especially 04:13.029 --> 04:16.679 important as Putin relies on Iranian 04:16.690 --> 04:19.609 uavs to target Ukrainian cities and 04:19.619 --> 04:23.519 civilians . This is just one of the 04:23.529 --> 04:26.220 eight capability coalitions and they're 04:26.230 --> 04:28.850 doing outstanding work together . We're 04:28.859 --> 04:30.890 helping Ukraine build a formidable 04:30.899 --> 04:33.390 future force , one that can deter 04:33.399 --> 04:36.170 aggression over the long haul . We 04:36.179 --> 04:38.235 remain determined to keep supporting 04:38.235 --> 04:40.459 Ukraine while ensuring our own military 04:40.470 --> 04:42.637 readiness at this challenging moment . 04:43.350 --> 04:45.294 And that includes a robust defense 04:45.294 --> 04:47.660 industrial base . So we spent time 04:47.670 --> 04:49.670 today discussing ways to expand the 04:49.670 --> 04:51.726 production of critical munitions and 04:51.726 --> 04:54.019 systems and to deepen our coordinations 04:54.250 --> 04:57.970 through the capability coalitions . Now , 04:58.130 --> 05:00.570 I just want to be clear about why I've 05:00.579 --> 05:02.850 convened this group , this contact 05:02.859 --> 05:04.690 group 23 times . Now , 05:06.670 --> 05:09.649 Putin thinks that he gets to determine 05:09.660 --> 05:12.609 which countries are real and which 05:12.619 --> 05:14.675 countries can be wiped off the map . 05:15.859 --> 05:18.359 That's incredibly radical and 05:18.369 --> 05:21.410 incredibly dangerous . So let's be 05:21.420 --> 05:25.239 clear , Putin started this war by 05:25.250 --> 05:28.959 invading his peaceful neighbor , a 05:28.970 --> 05:31.730 permanent member of the UN Security 05:31.739 --> 05:35.309 Council is trying to deny democracy 05:35.929 --> 05:38.380 to more than 43 million people . 05:39.799 --> 05:41.688 And the Kremlin's war of imperial 05:41.688 --> 05:44.329 aggression has horrified countries 05:44.339 --> 05:48.010 around the world . Ukraine 05:48.019 --> 05:50.241 matters to the United States and to the 05:50.241 --> 05:53.480 entire world . If Ukraine falls under 05:53.489 --> 05:56.660 Putin's boot , Europe would fall under 05:56.670 --> 06:00.230 Putin's shadow . If Putin travels , 06:00.239 --> 06:02.239 Ukraine , he would be emboldened to 06:02.239 --> 06:05.329 commit more acts of aggression and the 06:05.339 --> 06:07.283 world would enter a far , far more 06:07.283 --> 06:10.269 dangerous stage . So we understand the 06:10.279 --> 06:13.190 stakes and the outcome of the war in 06:13.200 --> 06:15.367 Ukraine will help set a trajectory for 06:15.367 --> 06:17.478 global security for decades to come . 06:18.429 --> 06:20.809 And this contact group will continue to 06:20.820 --> 06:24.559 defend Ukraine's sovereignty in 06:24.570 --> 06:27.829 all of our security . So we will 06:27.839 --> 06:29.617 continue to stand up to Putin's 06:29.617 --> 06:32.250 aggression and atrocities . We will 06:32.260 --> 06:34.450 continue to find new options to get 06:34.459 --> 06:37.010 Ukraine the air defenses that it needs 06:37.019 --> 06:40.269 to defend its guys and we will continue 06:40.279 --> 06:42.501 to move heaven and earth to get Ukraine 06:42.501 --> 06:44.668 what it needs to live in freedom . And 06:44.668 --> 06:46.835 with that General Brown on the floor . 06:46.835 --> 06:48.835 Is yours , sir ? Well , thank you , 06:48.835 --> 06:50.835 Mister Secretary . Good afternoon , 06:50.835 --> 06:53.209 everyone . Just last week on the June 06:53.220 --> 06:55.387 6th , I was on the beaches of Normandy 06:55.589 --> 06:57.311 to , to commemorate the eighth 06:57.311 --> 06:59.311 anniversary of the D DAY invasion . 07:00.200 --> 07:02.100 We're alongside President Biden , 07:02.119 --> 07:04.380 Secretary , Austin and other world 07:04.390 --> 07:06.910 leaders . We honor some of the last 07:06.920 --> 07:09.253 living veterans who fought in World War . 07:09.253 --> 07:12.559 I I our greatest generation on the 07:12.570 --> 07:15.679 evening of 6 June 1944 President 07:15.690 --> 07:17.910 Franklin D Roosevelt provided a public 07:17.920 --> 07:19.864 statement describing the brave man 07:19.864 --> 07:23.130 funding a world away . He said they 07:23.140 --> 07:25.196 fight not for the lust of conquest . 07:25.820 --> 07:28.410 The fight to end conquest , they fight 07:28.420 --> 07:31.250 to liberate , they fight to let justice 07:31.260 --> 07:34.709 arise and tolerance and goodwill will 07:34.720 --> 07:38.679 among all thy people . D day showed us 07:39.209 --> 07:41.670 the power of cooper operation . He 07:41.679 --> 07:43.735 showed us that liberty prevails over 07:43.735 --> 07:45.846 aggression when nations come together 07:45.846 --> 07:48.600 for just cause . Now we find ourselves 07:48.609 --> 07:51.450 in another crux of history . This is 07:51.459 --> 07:53.670 the driving force of this Ukraine 07:53.679 --> 07:56.929 defense contact group to come together 07:57.869 --> 08:00.529 united for the cause of Ukraine for the 08:00.540 --> 08:02.899 cause of our nations and for the cause 08:02.910 --> 08:05.529 of the future . Once again , I want to 08:05.540 --> 08:07.318 thank Secretary Austin for your 08:07.318 --> 08:09.373 steadfast leadership in guiding this 08:09.373 --> 08:11.484 international coalition . I also want 08:11.484 --> 08:13.540 to thank the Defense Minister Umarov 08:13.540 --> 08:16.230 who joined us today and for his 08:16.239 --> 08:18.128 continued leadership of Ukraine's 08:18.128 --> 08:20.989 military forces and to all the nations 08:21.000 --> 08:23.000 are represented here today . I also 08:23.000 --> 08:25.167 want to thank them their contributions 08:25.167 --> 08:27.389 to support Ukraine's effort to maintain 08:27.389 --> 08:29.950 its sovereignty . Russia's war in 08:29.959 --> 08:32.015 Ukraine tests the very foundation of 08:32.015 --> 08:35.090 security on which the world relies . 08:36.039 --> 08:37.928 Russell's unprovoked aggression , 08:37.928 --> 08:39.595 challenges , the security and 08:39.595 --> 08:41.761 prosperity of all nations as I've said 08:41.761 --> 08:43.928 before , might , does not make right , 08:44.619 --> 08:47.840 but might does shape outcomes through 08:47.849 --> 08:50.071 this contact group's collective support 08:50.071 --> 08:52.238 of Ukraine . We are aligning the might 08:52.238 --> 08:54.293 of this world . With what is right . 08:54.479 --> 08:56.257 The global response to Russia's 08:56.257 --> 08:58.201 unprovoked aggression has degraded 08:58.201 --> 09:00.423 their power and prestige , forcing them 09:00.423 --> 09:03.130 to further into isolation and our unity 09:03.140 --> 09:06.179 only grows stronger even so Russia 09:06.190 --> 09:08.190 continues their attempts to advance 09:08.190 --> 09:10.859 across multiple battlefronts to include 09:10.869 --> 09:12.758 their recent assault on Kharkiv . 09:13.559 --> 09:15.781 Russia is conjuring fire and attempting 09:15.781 --> 09:17.615 to target Ukrainian resupply and 09:17.950 --> 09:20.739 reinforcement abilities . Ukraine's 09:20.750 --> 09:22.528 ability to search firepower and 09:22.528 --> 09:24.306 reposition troops has countered 09:24.306 --> 09:26.472 Russia's offensive and disrupted their 09:26.472 --> 09:29.260 attack . Ukraine continues to hold 09:29.270 --> 09:31.450 strong and with this group's 09:31.460 --> 09:33.404 contributions , the Ukrainians are 09:33.404 --> 09:35.404 exacting heavy costs on the Russian 09:35.404 --> 09:37.479 aggressors . It's why our ongoing 09:37.489 --> 09:40.210 support is so critical . Sustaining 09:40.219 --> 09:42.330 Ukraine's ability to defend itself is 09:42.330 --> 09:44.650 both a present and long term effort . 09:45.539 --> 09:47.706 This group's work in providing Ukraine 09:47.706 --> 09:50.539 with the necessary systems , munitions 09:50.549 --> 09:53.190 and capabilities has been remarkable to 09:53.200 --> 09:55.780 be effective . Fighting forces need 09:55.919 --> 09:57.530 continued access to military 09:57.530 --> 10:00.049 capabilities and supplies and our 10:00.059 --> 10:02.059 support combined with the Ukrainian 10:02.059 --> 10:04.909 will to fight . Has proven time and 10:04.919 --> 10:07.409 time again that Ukraine will not bend 10:08.330 --> 10:11.510 their fighting spirit is ironclad . The 10:11.520 --> 10:14.169 will itself is not enough , which is 10:14.179 --> 10:16.390 why we remain focused and dedicated to 10:16.400 --> 10:19.250 these efforts . Just last week as 10:19.260 --> 10:21.038 Secretary Austin mentioned , we 10:21.038 --> 10:23.204 announced the 59th drawdown package of 10:23.204 --> 10:25.204 military capabilities for Ukraine . 10:25.969 --> 10:28.289 This was just part of an incredible 10:28.299 --> 10:31.809 contributions recently made by some 50 10:31.820 --> 10:35.020 nations of this coalition . And an 10:35.030 --> 10:37.030 example of how this caution remains 10:37.030 --> 10:39.650 dedicated to supplying Ukraine with the 10:39.659 --> 10:41.603 tools they need to counter ongoing 10:41.603 --> 10:45.039 Russian aggression outside of Ukraine's 10:45.049 --> 10:47.271 courageous people and the resent combat 10:47.271 --> 10:49.719 forces . The unwaver support of the 10:49.729 --> 10:51.951 nations gathered here today remains one 10:51.951 --> 10:54.489 of their greatest assets . These 10:54.500 --> 10:56.390 nations are committed to working 10:56.400 --> 10:58.456 together to help Ukraine address the 10:58.456 --> 11:00.678 challenges ahead . We are stronger when 11:00.678 --> 11:03.729 we work together . This solidarity is 11:03.739 --> 11:05.906 rooted in a shared history of security 11:06.770 --> 11:08.659 and fostered by the principles of 11:08.659 --> 11:10.929 democracy , sovereignty and 11:10.940 --> 11:13.520 international law . For the past 30 11:13.530 --> 11:15.820 years , these principles have preserved 11:15.830 --> 11:17.869 peace among the nations that uphold 11:17.880 --> 11:20.599 them . This contact group united by 11:20.609 --> 11:22.809 these ideals stands firm against any 11:22.820 --> 11:25.049 challenge . Demonstrating the true 11:25.059 --> 11:27.226 power resides in a co-operative effort 11:27.226 --> 11:29.226 by like-minded nations fighting for 11:29.226 --> 11:31.659 freedom or or two taught us that 11:31.669 --> 11:33.780 unchecked aggression spreads conflict 11:33.780 --> 11:35.960 to the rest of the world . It is in 11:35.969 --> 11:38.619 these moments as President Roosevelt 11:38.630 --> 11:41.250 said that brave men and women must 11:41.260 --> 11:44.969 fight in conquest to liberate and 11:44.979 --> 11:48.109 to let justice arise . The brave 11:48.119 --> 11:50.210 sorcerers of the allied nations came 11:50.219 --> 11:52.840 together 80 years ago and executed 11:52.849 --> 11:56.190 operation overlord knowing that freedom 11:56.400 --> 11:58.289 and sovereignty depended on their 11:58.289 --> 12:02.219 success today . Peace and security are 12:02.229 --> 12:04.173 not only achieved through military 12:04.173 --> 12:07.340 readiness of individual nations . They 12:07.349 --> 12:09.516 are achieved through collective effort 12:09.650 --> 12:11.594 through aligning our resources and 12:11.594 --> 12:13.559 abilities and support of defending 12:13.570 --> 12:16.729 Ukraine , defending democracy and 12:16.739 --> 12:18.961 defending sovereignty . Thank you and I 12:18.961 --> 12:21.128 look forward to your questions . Thank 12:21.128 --> 12:23.239 you both gentlemen . First question , 12:23.239 --> 12:24.850 we'll go to Politico Laura . 12:27.580 --> 12:30.260 Thank you . Uh Thanks for doing this . 12:30.270 --> 12:33.090 Um Secretary Austin President Zelensky 12:33.099 --> 12:35.099 has specifically asked for more air 12:35.099 --> 12:37.266 defenses . Uh Germany has announced an 12:37.266 --> 12:38.988 additional patriot . Italy has 12:38.988 --> 12:41.489 announced a CMT will the US answer that 12:41.500 --> 12:43.667 call and deliver an additional patriot 12:43.667 --> 12:45.722 to Ukraine ? And if you can't answer 12:45.722 --> 12:47.722 that or if the answer is no today , 12:47.722 --> 12:49.667 what is the hold up ? And then for 12:49.667 --> 12:51.889 General Brown , Ukraine has said it has 12:51.889 --> 12:53.889 30 pilots ready to go through pilot 12:53.889 --> 12:56.000 training for F-16 , but there are not 12:56.000 --> 12:58.278 enough spots at in the US to take that . 12:58.349 --> 13:00.405 Is that true from your perspective ? 13:00.405 --> 13:02.349 And if so , are you looking at 13:02.359 --> 13:04.940 expanding that training pipeline or are 13:04.950 --> 13:07.006 you confident that Ukraine will have 13:07.006 --> 13:09.117 enough pilots and maintainers trained 13:09.117 --> 13:11.228 on the planes by the time they arrive 13:11.228 --> 13:13.506 this summer ? Thank you . Thanks Laura , 13:13.510 --> 13:16.429 regarding patriots and 13:17.479 --> 13:19.646 you know , air defense has been at the 13:19.646 --> 13:22.719 top of my agenda for a long time and 13:22.729 --> 13:24.951 for month after month , you've heard me 13:24.951 --> 13:28.599 emphasize the importance of providing 13:28.609 --> 13:30.720 Ukraine additional air defenses . You 13:30.720 --> 13:32.831 know that we've provided a patriot to 13:32.831 --> 13:36.789 them already , but not only that me 13:36.799 --> 13:39.700 and President Biden and Jake Sullivan 13:39.710 --> 13:41.950 and Tony Blinken spent a great deal of 13:41.960 --> 13:45.520 our time encouraging others to , to 13:45.530 --> 13:47.530 provide additional capabilities and 13:47.530 --> 13:49.586 it's not just patriots , it's , it's 13:49.586 --> 13:53.070 nass , it's , it's ST it's , it's , you 13:53.080 --> 13:56.030 know , a number of capabilities that , 13:56.609 --> 13:59.039 that Ukraine needs and they need the 13:59.049 --> 14:01.299 interceptors to complement the 14:01.309 --> 14:03.369 platforms . I don't have any 14:03.380 --> 14:05.799 announcements on uh on Patriot 14:05.809 --> 14:08.000 batteries today . But what I can tell 14:08.010 --> 14:10.121 you is that I continue to work this . 14:10.280 --> 14:12.530 Uh and uh and I'm in constant contact 14:12.539 --> 14:15.729 with my Ukrainian counterpart and we're 14:15.739 --> 14:17.850 going to do everything we can to make 14:17.850 --> 14:20.072 sure that they have the capability that 14:20.072 --> 14:22.183 they need and they would get it there 14:22.183 --> 14:25.429 as quickly as we can . No , we have an 14:25.440 --> 14:27.551 Air Force capability coalition . It's 14:27.551 --> 14:29.718 one of the eight capability coalitions 14:29.718 --> 14:32.190 that's focused on in this case , 14:32.200 --> 14:34.144 working with the Ukrainians to get 14:34.144 --> 14:36.367 their , their fourth generation fighter 14:36.367 --> 14:38.422 capability up and running the United 14:38.422 --> 14:40.644 States is one of the co-lead associated 14:40.644 --> 14:42.811 with that . And so not only do we help 14:42.811 --> 14:44.811 provide training for their pilots , 14:44.811 --> 14:44.580 there's other countries that are also 14:44.599 --> 14:47.330 supporting the training as well . So 14:47.340 --> 14:51.219 there is capacity for training both in 14:51.229 --> 14:53.451 the United States but also with some of 14:53.451 --> 14:55.562 their partners as part of that , that 14:55.562 --> 14:57.562 cap league coalition . And so we'll 14:57.562 --> 14:59.673 continue to work with them , but it's 14:59.673 --> 14:58.940 not just the policy you have to have 14:58.950 --> 15:01.117 and having not only flown the F-16 but 15:01.119 --> 15:03.286 understanding that maintenance is also 15:03.286 --> 15:05.119 a key part of that and train the 15:05.119 --> 15:07.619 maintainers and we're working digitally 15:07.630 --> 15:09.741 to make sure that the Ukrainians have 15:09.741 --> 15:11.963 what they need . And the goal is to get 15:11.963 --> 15:15.599 them those F-16s this summer . Ok . 15:15.609 --> 15:18.159 Next question , we'll go to a Sa Mattia . 15:21.750 --> 15:24.229 Yes . Hi , national news agency . 15:26.000 --> 15:28.750 It's just a follow up question to my 15:28.760 --> 15:31.369 colleague because we have been reading 15:31.380 --> 15:34.419 the press about this new Extra Patriot 15:34.429 --> 15:37.049 system . There is no announcement today 15:37.640 --> 15:39.640 but what I would like to ask you is 15:39.640 --> 15:42.169 that we know that the US is the biggest 15:42.179 --> 15:44.235 holder of these patriot systems . So 15:44.530 --> 15:47.330 what , what is the reason why you are 15:47.340 --> 15:49.451 holding the background is operational 15:49.451 --> 15:53.179 system reasons . You can move 15:53.190 --> 15:55.390 kit from one theater to the other . It 15:55.669 --> 15:57.869 is just for us to understand . And 15:57.880 --> 16:00.047 secondly , for you , general , what is 16:00.047 --> 16:02.269 your assessment on the ongoing military 16:02.269 --> 16:04.436 campaign in Kharkiv ? Do the Ukrainian 16:04.436 --> 16:06.739 forces have enough now to resist and 16:06.750 --> 16:09.539 possibly regain the initiatives ? And 16:09.549 --> 16:11.660 do you see other critical risks along 16:11.669 --> 16:13.979 the front right now ? Thank you 16:16.390 --> 16:18.460 again , air defense remains a top 16:18.469 --> 16:20.580 priority and we are working this on a 16:20.580 --> 16:23.210 daily basis and 16:25.000 --> 16:27.167 you know , I've seen some of the press 16:27.167 --> 16:30.799 reporting . Um what I will tell you is 16:30.809 --> 16:34.619 that um there will be 16:34.679 --> 16:37.940 no change in our patriot coverage uh in , 16:37.950 --> 16:39.894 in Poland . I know that that was a 16:39.894 --> 16:42.006 component of a previous story there , 16:42.006 --> 16:44.117 but there is no change in our patriot 16:44.117 --> 16:46.061 coverage today . We're going to do 16:46.061 --> 16:48.117 everything we can to uh uh to get uh 16:49.039 --> 16:51.229 Ukraine what it needs . We're going to 16:51.239 --> 16:53.406 encourage others , we're going to work 16:53.406 --> 16:55.350 with others to get Ukraine what it 16:55.350 --> 16:57.461 needs as quickly as we can . And this 16:57.461 --> 16:59.517 is not something that the Ukrainians 16:59.517 --> 17:01.628 are guessing at . I'm talking to them 17:01.628 --> 17:04.420 on a daily basis . Reference your 17:04.430 --> 17:06.729 question regarding Kharkiv , what I 17:06.739 --> 17:08.517 would tell you the situation is 17:08.517 --> 17:10.572 somewhat more stabilized now than it 17:10.572 --> 17:12.683 was over the past several weeks . And 17:12.683 --> 17:14.795 one of the things that the Ukrainians 17:14.795 --> 17:16.739 have been focused on over the past 17:16.739 --> 17:18.628 several months , going into 24 is 17:18.628 --> 17:20.795 building out their defensive lines and 17:20.795 --> 17:22.650 they've been fairly effective in 17:22.660 --> 17:24.827 building those defensive lines , which 17:24.827 --> 17:26.930 has created a bit of stability . You 17:26.939 --> 17:29.106 know , one of the challenges though is 17:29.106 --> 17:31.849 that when with that , the movement by 17:31.859 --> 17:33.970 the Russians to Kharkiv , it actually 17:33.970 --> 17:36.219 pulls away focus and capability from 17:36.229 --> 17:38.173 other areas for the Ukrainians and 17:38.173 --> 17:40.396 spreads their , their offenses a little 17:40.396 --> 17:42.562 bit more . But what we've seen is that 17:42.562 --> 17:44.396 Ukraine's have been very good at 17:44.396 --> 17:46.396 holding their defensive lines and I 17:46.396 --> 17:48.562 think they will be able to continue to 17:48.562 --> 17:48.489 do that there in Kharkiv as well . 17:49.329 --> 17:51.551 Thank you . Next question . We'll go to 17:51.551 --> 17:52.890 Voice of America Carla 17:56.229 --> 17:58.619 chairman , I first to you , Mister 17:58.630 --> 18:00.574 Secretary , I'd like a question to 18:00.574 --> 18:02.630 clarify us policy . The Pentagon has 18:02.630 --> 18:04.640 said that Ukraine can strike inside 18:04.650 --> 18:06.817 Russian territory near the border with 18:06.817 --> 18:08.983 Kharkiv to , to prevent attacks on the 18:08.983 --> 18:12.099 Kharkiv area . But if Russia launches 18:12.109 --> 18:14.859 attacks on Ukrainian forces that aren't 18:14.869 --> 18:16.925 in Kharkiv from a military base deep 18:16.925 --> 18:19.619 inside Russia , can Ukraine strike that 18:19.630 --> 18:23.060 military target ? And if not , why not ? 18:23.400 --> 18:25.622 And then mister Chairman , I would like 18:25.622 --> 18:27.622 to , you know , extend the question 18:27.622 --> 18:29.733 that my colleague asked and just more 18:29.733 --> 18:31.789 broadly , how would you describe the 18:31.789 --> 18:33.956 fight now between Russia and Ukraine ? 18:33.956 --> 18:36.178 You mentioned that Ukraine continues to 18:36.178 --> 18:38.067 hold strong , but is this still a 18:38.067 --> 18:41.420 stalemate ? Thanks Carla , 18:41.949 --> 18:45.040 as you know , Ukraine requested 18:45.050 --> 18:48.250 permission to conduct counter fire in 18:48.260 --> 18:51.339 the Kharkiv area using us weapons . And 18:51.349 --> 18:55.310 President Biden granted them permission 18:55.319 --> 18:59.300 to do that . And so that our 18:59.709 --> 19:03.439 policy in using long-range 19:03.449 --> 19:05.859 strike capabilities to conduct strikes 19:05.869 --> 19:07.702 deep into Russia that that's not 19:07.702 --> 19:10.829 changed . So , but but the ability to 19:10.839 --> 19:13.219 conduct counter fire in this close 19:13.229 --> 19:15.469 fight in the Kharkiv region is , is 19:15.479 --> 19:17.312 what this is all about . And the 19:17.312 --> 19:19.670 Ukrainians , my my expectation is that 19:19.680 --> 19:21.569 they'll put that to good use . So 19:22.469 --> 19:24.636 Carter , what you know , I would share 19:24.636 --> 19:26.747 with you if you , if you go back over 19:26.747 --> 19:29.050 the course of this , this conflict with 19:29.060 --> 19:31.227 the Ukraine's been being able to do to 19:31.227 --> 19:32.949 regain greater than 50% of the 19:32.949 --> 19:35.060 territory that was first taken by the 19:35.060 --> 19:37.282 Russians to be able to regin that . But 19:37.282 --> 19:39.449 at the same time , the support of this 19:39.449 --> 19:41.338 contact group to help divide them 19:41.338 --> 19:43.338 capability to defend themselves . I 19:43.338 --> 19:45.449 mentioned earlier about the defensive 19:45.449 --> 19:47.560 lines , they've been able to hold the 19:47.560 --> 19:47.439 defensive lines . But what we don't 19:47.449 --> 19:49.560 talk about is the amount of attrition 19:49.560 --> 19:51.560 that the Ukrainians are able to put 19:51.560 --> 19:53.616 against the Russians , although they 19:53.616 --> 19:56.530 are outnumbered the way the Russians 19:56.540 --> 20:00.540 have lost personnel but also 20:00.550 --> 20:04.530 lost the platforms , is 20:04.540 --> 20:07.099 pretty traumatic from a number 20:07.109 --> 20:09.276 standpoint and the Ukraine's have done 20:09.276 --> 20:11.498 an effective job of holding those lines 20:11.498 --> 20:15.410 and continue to do so . We have now we 20:15.420 --> 20:17.642 have time for one more question . Let's 20:17.642 --> 20:20.119 go to Reuters . Sabine policy hasn't 20:20.160 --> 20:23.069 changed . Let's go to the final 20:23.079 --> 20:24.079 question here , 20:27.229 --> 20:29.130 several allies lifted some of the 20:29.140 --> 20:31.084 restrictions placed on the donated 20:31.084 --> 20:33.196 weapons about two weeks ago . Can you 20:33.196 --> 20:35.540 tell us what kind of an impact that has 20:35.550 --> 20:37.606 had on the battlefield so far ? Have 20:37.606 --> 20:39.439 you seen progress ? What kind of 20:39.439 --> 20:41.550 progress or isn't it going far enough 20:41.550 --> 20:44.410 for you ? Thank you . You know , I 20:44.420 --> 20:48.280 can't speak for what allies , 20:50.530 --> 20:53.119 what weapons have been used or not used 20:53.130 --> 20:55.186 and what effects that's had . What I 20:55.186 --> 20:57.408 can speak to though is what I'm looking 20:57.408 --> 20:59.989 at in the Kharkiv region . The intent 21:00.000 --> 21:02.030 of allowing them to conduct counter 21:02.060 --> 21:05.109 fire was to , was to help them address 21:05.119 --> 21:06.969 the issue of Russians conducting 21:06.979 --> 21:10.709 staging , building , staging areas 21:10.800 --> 21:13.380 in just on the other side of the border 21:13.390 --> 21:16.290 and attacking from those staging areas . 21:16.800 --> 21:20.439 So they have the ability to engage 21:20.449 --> 21:23.390 Russians just across the border now and , 21:23.560 --> 21:26.349 and I'll leave it to the Ukrainians to 21:26.359 --> 21:28.415 talk about the specific effects that 21:28.415 --> 21:32.030 they've , they've seen . But what I see 21:32.040 --> 21:35.010 is a slowing of the Russians advance 21:35.209 --> 21:39.109 and , and a stabilizing of the , 21:39.119 --> 21:41.469 of that particular piece of the front . 21:41.619 --> 21:43.859 Now , I think we'll see incremental 21:43.869 --> 21:46.010 gains and we'll see puts and takes 21:46.199 --> 21:49.599 going forward . But again , a couple of 21:49.609 --> 21:51.800 weeks ago , there was concern that we 21:51.810 --> 21:55.109 would see a significant breakthrough on 21:55.119 --> 21:57.063 the part of the Russians . I don't 21:57.063 --> 21:59.230 think we'll see that going forward . I 21:59.230 --> 22:01.739 don't think I don't see a large 22:01.750 --> 22:04.219 exploitation force that could take 22:04.229 --> 22:07.609 advantage of a breakthrough and what I 22:07.619 --> 22:09.890 do see is , as the chairman has 22:09.900 --> 22:12.699 described , the Ukrainians have done a 22:12.709 --> 22:14.739 lot to fortify their defensive 22:14.750 --> 22:16.861 positions and they're making good use 22:16.869 --> 22:20.199 of , of the weapons that and munitions 22:20.209 --> 22:22.510 that they're being provided and more of 22:22.520 --> 22:25.290 that will continue to flow in . And so 22:25.300 --> 22:27.078 they , in my view , they'll get 22:27.078 --> 22:29.930 stronger , uh as uh as you know , time 22:29.939 --> 22:32.359 progresses , uh they're also doing 22:32.369 --> 22:36.140 things to uh to mobilize more people 22:36.239 --> 22:38.380 and train more people . And so the 22:38.390 --> 22:40.390 combination of those things I think 22:40.390 --> 22:43.459 will have a pretty substantial effect 22:43.469 --> 22:45.580 on the battlefield , but it will take 22:45.580 --> 22:47.802 some time to kind of play out . But the 22:47.802 --> 22:49.969 good news is that we have the means to 22:49.969 --> 22:52.191 continue to provide security assistance 22:52.191 --> 22:54.413 and you'll see it continue to flow in , 22:54.413 --> 22:57.030 in a very meaningful way . So ladies 22:57.040 --> 22:58.984 and gentlemen , that concludes our 22:58.984 --> 23:01.040 press briefing . Thank you very much 23:01.040 --> 23:00.949 for attending . Thank you , gentlemen .