| RUTTE: 'MORE MILITARY AID AND LESS TALK OF PEACE': As NATO foreign ministers gather in Brussels for two days of meetings, Secretary-General Mark Rutte is calling on allies to cut the red tape and surge weapons and ammunition to Ukraine to blunt the Russian advances in the east, and put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for when, or if, peace talks ever start. "I would now argue that Ukraine doesn’t need more ideas of what a peace process could look like," Rutte said at a news conference at NATO headquarters this morning. "I would say more military aid and less discussions on what a peace process could look like." Rutte welcomed recent announcements of more military aid by Germany, Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, and the United States, including a $725 million U.S. arms package drawn directly from Pentagon inventories, but called on allies to speed up deliveries. "The stronger our military support to Ukraine is now, the stronger their hand will be at the negotiating table." Rutte noted that Ukraine is losing ground, and its energy infrastructure is being decimated as the country heads into winter. "The focus has to be on strengthening Ukraine at the moment because as we speak the front is moving not from the west to the east, but from the east to the west," he said, while noting Russia is paying a high price for its battlefield gains, with total troop losses exceeding 700,000. "But still, the front is not moving eastwards. It is slowly moving backwards." WHAT RUTTE TOLD TRUMP: While Rutte said he wouldn't disclose what President-elect Donald Trump said during his Nov. 22 meeting with the president-elect in Mar-a-Lago, he tried to impress upon Trump the importance of not capitulating to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We should discuss the fact that Russia and China … also Iran and of course North Korea, they're all working together. Russia's paying for this, for example, missile technology, which is then being used by the North Koreans to threaten not only us or the Republic of Korea or South Korea and Japan but also the U.S. mainland. So this all is getting connected," Rutte said. "Whenever we get to a deal on Ukraine, it has to be a good deal because what you can never have is high-fiving Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping, and whoever else thinking that it is a bad deal because that might get other people to think about what they could do," Rutte said. "So this and this is crucial for our defense not only here in Europe but also the U.S. in the Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic." WHAT'S PUTIN THINKING? During the campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump repeatedly bragged he would end the war in Ukraine "within 24 hours," even before he took office. But in an interview in the Financial Times, a Russian oligarch close to Putin is predicting the Russian president is likely to reject Trump's peace overtures out of hand and threaten nuclear war. Konstantin Malofeyev, who FT describes as "a Russian tycoon who is subject to Western sanctions" is quoted as saying that Putin will likely snub retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who Trump has nominated as special envoy for the Ukraine-Russia conflict. "Kellogg comes to Moscow with his plan, we take it and then tell him to screw himself, because we don't like any of it. That'd be the whole negotiation," Malofeyev told FT's Max Seddon in an interview conducted in Dubai. Malofeyev argued Trump could end the conflict only if he reversed the Biden administration decision to allow the use of U.S.-supplied long-range weapons by Ukraine and forced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to step down. "The world is on the brink of nuclear war," Malofeyev warned, repeating and amplifying Putin's running threats to use a tactical nuclear weapon to bring the conflict to a devastating end, as part of Russia's "escalate to deescalate" doctrine. "There will be a radiation zone nobody will ever go into in our lifetime," he said. "And the war will be over." Meanwhile Russian state television is cheering Trump's Cabinet picks, as reported by long-time Russia watcher and Daily Beast columnist Julia Davis. "State TV host Vladimir Solovyov — whose programs Putin likes to watch — rejoiced about Trump's picks: 'What an excellent team is coming along with Trump! If they are allowed to get in, they will quickly dismantle America, brick by brick. They are so great!'" Davis posted on X. TRUMP PICKS LT. GEN. KEITH KELLOGG TO SERVE AS SPECIAL ENVOY FOR UKRAINE-RUSSIA Good Tuesday morning, and welcome to Jamie McIntyre's Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn't work, shoot us an email, and we'll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE NOTE TO READERS: Daily on Defense will be on Christmas break from Monday, Dec. 23 through Wednesday, Jan. 1. THE RACE TO SURGE AID TO UKRAINE: The latest tranche of U.S. military aid being rushed to Ukraine is part of the "surge in security assistance" that President Joe Biden announced on Sept. 26. It is being provided under what's known as "Presidential Drawdown Authority," which means it comes directly out of the Pentagon's existing inventory. A listing on the Pentagon's website shows the $725 million package includes: - Munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS)
- Stinger missiles
- Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) munitions
- Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
- 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
- Non-persistent land mines
- Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles
- Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems
- Small arms and ammunition
- Demolitions equipment and munitions
- Equipment to protect critical national infrastructure
- Spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation
The aid is still a small fraction of the remaining $6.8 billion in presidential drawdown authority, as well as another $2.21 billion in longer-term aid from the congressionally authorised Security Assistance Initiative. The Pentagon is racing to try to get as much of that assistance in the pipeline before Trump takes office and potentially turns off the spigot. "So the bottom line is at the president’s direction, we will spend every dollar that Congress has appropriated for Ukraine and to replenish our stockpiles," spokesman Maj. Gen Pat Ryder told reporters at the Pentagon Monday. "We understand the urgent situation in Ukraine and the president’s direction and will continue to do everything we can to ensure that Ukraine is getting the aid that it needs. NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS FROM TRUMP'S FIRST TERM QUESTION TULSI GABBARD PICK SYRIA IN FLUX: Russian airstrikes in support of the army of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appeared to have helped slow the advances of the rebel forces that captured Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, in a surprise offensive earlier this week. "Regime forces reportedly deployed from eastern Hama province near Rusafa to Hama City on December 2, demonstrating that the regime continues to reinforce its defensive lines there," the Institute for the Study of War reported in its latest update. "Syrian opposition forces appear to be slowing their advance into regime-controlled areas of northwest Syria after encountering Syrian Arab Army defensive lines north of Hama City." "Iran is coordinating with Syria and Russia to counter the rebel offensive," the ISW said. "Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also reiterated Iran's support for Syria in a phone call with Syrian counterpart Hammouda Sabbagh on December 2." The U.S. has some 900 troops in Syria, who are continuing the mission to battle ISIS remnants in the country, but the Pentagon says they are far from the current fighting. "These forces are primarily in what I would describe eastern or northeastern Syria as they’ve been for a while," Ryder said at yesterday's briefing. "So no proximity to what’s going on in northwestern Syria near Aleppo and down near Hama. But again, we’ll continue to monitor that closely." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: National security officials from Trump's first term question Tulsi Gabbard pick Washington Examiner: Trump warns Hamas there will be 'HELL TO PAY' if hostages are not released before inauguration Washington Examiner: Trump has not decided whether to discharge transgender military members: Official Washington Examiner: British Special Forces join drone hunt at RAF Lakenheath Washington Examiner: Opinion: Putin's nuclear brinkmanship and Potemkin's village AP: US will send Ukraine $725 million more in counter-drone systems, anti-personnel land mines Washington Post: Biden surges arms to Ukraine, fearing Trump will halt U.S. aid The Daily Beast: The Kremlin Celebrates Trump's Cabinet Picks New York Times: Israel Builds Bases in Central Gaza, a Sign It May Be There to Stay Washington Post: Syrian forces regroup with help from Iran, Russia after shock rebel advance Wall Street Journal: How a Syrian Rebel Went From an American Jail to Seizing Aleppo Defense One: New AI Tool for Air Defense Takes on Advanced Missiles and Drone Swarms Politico: The Drone Rangers: Trump World Declares War on Fighter Pilots Reuters: China Blasts U.S. Arms Sale To Taiwan, President Lai’s U.S. Transit Wall Street Journal: China Tensions Prompt U.S. Navy Race To Reload Missiles At Sea Stars and Stripes: US Stealth Fighters Will Arrive in Northern Japan in 2026, Local Official Says AP: Stealth Destroyer To Be Home For First Hypersonic Weapon On U.S. Warship The Hill: Taiwan President Speaks with US Officials from Hawaii as China Condemns Visit Military.com: Family of Airman Killed in Japan Osprey Crash Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Air & Space Forces Magazine: Allvin: USAF Force Design Maps Out Plan to Scale Up—or Down The War Zone: Stand-In Attack Missile Released from Fighter for First Time in USAF Test Air & Space Forces Magazine: Space Force Adds $196 Million More for Its Long-Delayed GPS Control System Space News: US Air Force Awards Varda $48 Million to Test Payloads on Reentry Capsules Breaking Defense: Global Defense Revenues Grew in 2023 amid Ukraine, Middle East Conflicts: SIPRI Report Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Moves to Streamline Officer Recruiting with New Accessions Center THE CALENDAR: TUESDAY | DECEMBER 3 4:30 a.m. — Brussels, Belgium — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte press conference ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, which begins Tuesday and ends Wednesday Livesteam at https://www.nato.int 8 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia — Association of the U.S. Army “AUSA Hot Topic" forum: "Land-Based Fires in Large Scale Combat Operations,” with Army Maj. Gen. Winston “Phil” Brooks, commanding general of the Fires Center for Excellence; and Army Maj. Gen. Brett Sylvia, commanding general of the 101st Division; https://www.ausa.org/events/hot-topics/land-based-fires 10 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “How the Trump Administration Can Reform the Foreign Service,” with former Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Tibor Nagy, Texas Tech University professor; Drew Peterson, University of Pittsburgh adjunct professor; Simon Hankinson, Heritage Foundation senior research fellow; and Matthew Boyse, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute’s Center on Europe and Eurasia https://www.hudson.org/events/how-trump-administration-can-reform-foreign-service 2 p.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Wilson Center Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies book discussion: Putin’s Revenge: Why Russia Invaded Ukraine, with author Lucian Kim, former fellow at the International Crisis Group; and Fiona Hill, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center on the U.S. and Europe https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/book-talk-putins-revenge 3 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW — Henry L. Stimson Center discussion: “In Competition, Crisis, and Conflict: Building America’s Warfighting Navy,” with Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations; retired Adm. Michelle Howard, former commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples; and Brian Finlay, president and CEO of the Stimson Center https://www.stimson.org/event/building-americas-warfighting-navy 3 p.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “Moldova’s Euro-Atlantic Future,” with Moldova Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi; and Igor Grosu, president of the Moldovan Parliament https://www.hudson.org/events/moldovas-euro-atlantic-future 3:30 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: “Protecting Intellectual Property for National Security,” with Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX); and Andrei Iancu, CSIS senior adviser and former director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office https://www.csis.org/events/protecting-intellectual-property 5 p.m. — Atlantic Council special panel discussion: “The Future of Ukraine,” with former Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba; former Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, senior vice president of global public policy at Boeing; Minna Alander, research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs; Assia Ivantcheva, senior director for Europe at the National Endowment for Democracy; Genevieve Zubrzycki, professor of sociology at the University of Michigan; and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/special-pane WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 4 10 a.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Wilson Center Global Europe Program 2024 Ahtisaari Symposium: “Finland’s Decision to Join NATO,” with former Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/2024-ahtisaari-symposium 12:30 p.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “The State of Israel’s War Against the Resistance Axis,” with former Israeli Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi, founder and chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum https://www.hudson.org/events/state-israels-war-against-resistance-axis 1 p.m. N St NW — Aspen Security Forum DC Edition half-day event with Kurt Campbell, deputy secretary of state; Stephen Hadley, former national security adviser; former Rep. Jane Harmon (D-CA), chairwoman, Susan Rice, former national security adviser, Susan Glasser, staff writer, The New Yorker https://www.aspensecurityforum.org/2024-asf-dc 1:30 p.m. 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discussion: “Project Sapphire at 30: U.S.-Kazakh Cooperation to Reduce Nuclear Threats,” with Kazakhstan Ambassador to the U.S. Yerzhan Ashikbayev; Andy Weber, senior fellow at the Council on Strategic Risks; David Hoffman, author of The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and its Dangerous Legacy; and Togzhan Kassenova, nonresident fellow at the CEIP Nuclear Policy Program https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2024/11/project-sapphire-at-30 THURSDAY | DECEMBER 5 9 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual discussion: "How the Global Strike Command is evolving in an era of peer competition,” with Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/an-gen-thomas-a-bussiere/ 9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Examining People’s Republic of China Activities in the Arctic,” with Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Arctic and Global Resilience Iris Ferguson; and Matthew Funaiole, vice president of iDeas Lab https://www.csis.org/events/examining-prc-activities-arctic 11 a.m. — Hudson Institute virtual discussion: “Taiwan’s Security Needs for the Next U.S. Administration,” with Miles Yu, director of the Hudson Institute’s China Center; Jason Hsu, Hudson Institute visiting fellow; and Riley Walters, Hudson Institute senior fellow https://www.hudson.org/events/taiwans-security-needs 2:30 p.m. — Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe hearing: “The Role of Belarus in Russia’s Crimes,” with Matvei Kupreichyk, BELPOL public representative; Acting Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis; and Kateryna Rashevska, legal expert at the Regional Center for Human Rights https://www.youtube.com/live/zv3sfwRbv98 4 p.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: " Russo-Ukrainian war," with former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko; and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/a-conversation-with-former-president-of-ukraine FRIDAY | DECEMBER 6 11:30 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Brookings Institution and the Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: “Where Are US-China Relations Headed?” with House Intelligence ranking member Jim Himes (D-CN) https://www.brookings.edu/events/where-are-us-china-relations-headed 1:30 p.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “Commanding the Alliance: Perspectives from SACEURs,” with retired Gen. Christopher Cavoli; retired Gen. Philip Breedlove; retired Gen. Wesley Clark; retired Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti; and former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary Colleen Bell https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/commanding-the-alliance 3:30 p.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual discussion: “Airpower and the Indo-Pacific,” with Gen. Kevin Schneider, commander of Pacific Air Forces and air component commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/an-gen-kevin-b-schneider-24/ | | | | "'What an excellent team is coming along with Trump! If they are allowed to get in, they will quickly dismantle America, brick by brick. They are so great!'" | | Russian state television host Vladimir Solovyov, as quoted by Julia Davis of the Daily Beast. |
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