| THE FINAL $500 MILLION? Compared to some previous U.S. aid packages for Ukraine, $500 million is fairly modest. However, it was the best the Pentagon could manage to assemble from existing weapons stocks before the Biden administration ends in eleven days. It's uncertain whether the incoming Trump administration will use the remaining several billion dollars in presidential drawdown authorities to continue pumping aid to Ukraine's frontline troops, or for that matter, whether the U.S. will continue to lead the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of some 50 donor nations that was the brainchild of outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. "Today marks my last contact group, and I am incredibly proud of what we've achieved together over the past few years," Austin said as the meeting opened this morning. "We've moved heaven and earth to get Ukraine the security assistance that it needs, and together, we've committed more than $122 billion worth of assistance." "The fundamental truth is that the Ukraine fight matters to all of us," Austin continued. "As I said here in Ramstein back in our first meeting in April 2022, Putin's war is a challenge to free people everywhere, and we all have a stake in ensuring that autocrats cannot place their imperial ambitions ahead of the bedrock rights of free and sovereign peoples." "Ukraine is waging a just war of self-defense, and it is one of the great causes of our time, and sharing this contact group has been one of the great honors of my life." UKRAINE IS ALIVE AND KICKING: Though facing a manpower shortage, Ukraine has nevertheless managed to hold its front lines against an unrelenting Russian offensive that is taking maximum casualties for minimal gains, dubbed by the Pentagon "the Russian way of war." "Ukraine continues to hold out against an extraordinary Russian set of assaults, air attacks on cities, critical infrastructure deep in Ukrainian territory, air attacks on the front lines trying to disrupt Ukrainian defenses, artillery barrages," a senior defense official told reporters in a background briefing Tuesday. "It has lost some ground, some limited ground at a tactical level, which of course is a matter for focus, in which the U.S. is focusing on the kinds of capabilities Ukraine needs to thwart Russia's efforts," the official said, noting that Ukraine is focusing on strikes against "enabling capabilities" including fuel supply depots and command and control nodes. To that end, the Institute for the Study of War notes in its latest assessment that on Tuesday, Ukrainian drones struck an oil storage facility, causing a large fire near Engels, Russia, where the country’s military aircraft are based. "The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the facility provides fuel for the Russian military's Engels-2 Air Base and noted that the strike will create logistical issues for Russia's strategic aircraft based at the airfield," the ISW said. And yesterday Ukrainian forces struck a command post of the Russian 8th Combined Arms Army in an occupied area of Donetsk. ZELENSKY: IT WOULD BE CRAZY TO DROP THE BALL NOW: Sitting next to Austin, in his trademark fatigues, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for his European partners not to give up on him, making a veiled reference to the fact that President-elect Donald Trump may not have the same commitment to keep the arms flowing. "It's clear that the new chapter starts for Europe and the entire world just eleven days from now," Zelensky said. "We have to cooperate even more, rely on one another even more, and achieve even greater results together." "In almost three years of full-scale war, we've shown that when we come and belong together, no one is too small to make a real impact on history," he continued. "And we've come such a long way that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball now." "We must stop Russia's terror, and you can do it," he said. "Our men and women on the front lines need to feel that the world has their back, and nothing proves that better than making sure they have what they need." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Good Thursday 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 (@chriswtremo). 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 HAPPENING TODAY: NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING: Today is a federal holiday as the nation mourns the death of former President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29 at age 100 in Plains, Georgia. President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver a eulogy at 10 a.m. funeral services at the Washington National Cathedral, where speakers include Steve Ford, delivering remarks written by late former President Gerald Ford; Ted Mondale, delivering comments written by the late former Vice President Walter Mondale; Stuart Eizenstat, Carter's chief White House domestic policy adviser; and Jason Carter, Carter's grandson. All living former presidents are expected to attend the state funeral, including President-elect Donald Trump, who paid his respects before Carter's casket yesterday. Following the ceremony, Carter's family and his casket will travel to Joint Base Andrews to board Special Air Mission 39 for a flight to Georgia, where Carter will be interred. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SCHEDULE OF JIMMY CARTER'S FUNERAL PROCESSION ALSO TODAY: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. hold a news conference from Ramstein, Germany, at 11 a.m., following Austin's final meeting as host of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group https://www.defense.gov/News/Live AID FOR LA FIRES: The federal government is working closely with the National Guard, which is deployed under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) state of emergency declaration. The California National Guard is adding two Modular Air Fire Fighting System units and two more are being readied by the Nevada National Guard. The Department of Defense has four additional MAFFSs that could be used. Additionally, the department is sending 10 Navy helicopters with water delivery buckets to immediately assist with aerial suppression. BIDEN ORDERS PENTAGON TO PROVIDE FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL AS LA BLAZES SPREAD REED: HEGSETH 'DID NOT RELIEVE MY CONCERNS': Trump's nominee for defense secretary is not winning many Democrat votes as he makes the rounds on Capitol Hill. The latest Democrat to express reservations is former Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, now ranking member Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI). "Today's meeting did not relieve my concerns about Mr. Hegseth's lack of qualifications and raised more questions than answers," Reed said in a statement. "As with any nominee for this critical position, Mr. Hegseth must undergo the same high level of scrutiny as prior Secretary of Defense nominees." McCAUL ON BIDEN MISSILE EXPORT RULES: As President Biden wraps up his term, among his final acts was to release updated guidance for implementing the Missile Technology Control Regime, which is designed to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons proliferation by limiting exports of missile delivery systems. "While this announcement takes a step in the right direction, it is still far too little too late," said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a statement. "Chairman Xi and his Chinese Communist Party are not slowing down in their malign agenda — and the U.S. and its allies must rise quickly to face that challenge." "The devil will be in the details of this new policy, which is why I will be closely monitoring its implementation under the new Trump administration. In the meantime, I look forward to working to advance the MTCR Act I co-led last Congress to strengthen the crucial AUKUS partnership and deter the CCP," McCaul said. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Biden orders Pentagon to provide firefighting personnel as LA blazes spread Washington Examiner: House Republican introduces bill paving way for Trump to retake Panama Canal Washington Examiner: European leaders rebuke Trump's refusal to rule out military force in Greenland Washington Examiner: Fetterman slams 'freakout' over Trump's Greenland purchase dreams Washington Examiner: Ruben Gallego joins Fetterman in sponsoring Laken Riley immigration bill Washington Examiner: Mother of woman killed by illegal immigrant says Laken Riley Act is not enough Washington Examiner: Trump downplays strategy fight after huddle with Senate Republicans: 'Great unity' Washington Examiner: H.R. McMaster says '100% chance' Israel targets Iran's nuclear facilities Washington Examiner: Pentagon files appeal to halt Guantanamo Bay 9/11 plea deals Washington Examiner: Man arrested for attempting to bring machete into Capitol Washington Examiner: Thune weighs Trump agenda challenge: Going big without overpromising Washington Examiner: Where pivotal Trump Cabinet nominations stand after delays and disagreements Washington Examiner: Michael Sobolik Opinion: Congress must cut the cronyism on China policy Washington Examiner: Michael Rubin Opinion: If Trump is serious about China, he can't ignore Africa Washington Examiner: John Bolton Opinion: Trump risks hamstringing Marco Rubio Washington Examiner: Tom Rogan Opinion: Will Trump get Kim Jong Un to deal? Washington Examiner: Sinan Ciddi Opinion: Trump can't leave Syria to others AP: Trump, the 'America First' candidate, has a new preoccupation: Imperialism THE CALENDAR: THURSDAY | JANUARY 9 | FEDERAL HOLIDAY 9 a.m. — Remains of former President Jimmy Carter depart the U.S. Capitol for the hour-long 10 a.m. state funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral in northwest Washington, after which Carter’s family and his casket travel to Joint Base Andrews and where Special Air Mission 39 will return Carter to Georgia for interment https://jtfncr.mdw.army.mil/statefunerals/ 9 a.m. — Brookings Institution virtual discussion: “What do people in Taiwan and the United States think about Taiwan’s security situation?” with Lu-Huei Chen, research fellow and director at National Chengchi University’s Election Study Center; Nathan Batto, associate research fellow and professor at Academia Sinica’s Institute of Political Science; Craig Kafura, director of public opinion and foreign policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs; and Ryan Hass, director of the Brookings Institution’s China Center, senior fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Asia Policy Studies and China Center and chair in Taiwan Studies at the Brookings Institution https://www.brookings.edu/events/what-do-people-in-taiwan-and-the-united-states-think 10 a.m. 201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “Georgia on Your Mind," with former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili; Rep. Joe Wilson, (R-SC); former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker; and Laura Thornton, senior director of global democracy programs at the McCain Institute https://www.hudson.org/events/georgia-our-mind-event FRIDAY | JANUARY 10 8:30 a.m. — Brookings Institution virtual discussion: “How will artificial intelligence impact security relations between the United States and China? U.S. and Chinese perspectives,” with Andrew Forrest, co-founder of the Minderoo Foundation; Qian Xiao, deputy director of the Tsinghua University Center for International Security and Strategy; Ting Dong, fellow at the Tsinghua University Center for International Security and Strategy; Chuanying Lu, nonresident fellow and professor at the Tsinghua University Center for International Security and Strategy and Tongji University; Jacquelyn Schneider, fellow and director of the Hoover Institution’s Hoover Wargaming and Crisis Simulation; Ryan Hass, director of the Brookings China Center; Colin Kahl, foreign policy scholar at the Brookings Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology; and Chris Meserole, former Brookings expert https://www.brookings.edu/events/how-will-artificial-intelligence-impact-security WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 15 7 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd. — Association of the U.S. Army day long Hot Topic discussion: "Connecting the Industrial Base to the Tactical Edge, with Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, acting commander, U.S. Army Materiel Command; Vic Ramdass, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy; Liz Miranda, executive deputy to the commanding general, U.S. Army Material Command; Maj. Gen. Michael Lalor, commander, U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command; Brig. Gen. Ronnie Anderson, commander, Joint Munitions Command; and Rich Martin, executive director of supply chain management at Army Materiel Command https://www.ausa.org/events/hot-topic/connecting-industrial-base-tactical-edge 9 a.m. 2401 M St. NW — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group coffee-conversation with Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith RSVP: [email protected] | | | | "We all have a stake in ensuring that autocrats cannot place their imperial ambitions ahead of the bedrock rights of free and sovereign peoples Ukraine is waging a just war of self-defense and it is one of the great causes of our time." | | Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, chairing his final meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Ramstein, Germany |
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