| RUBIO: 'NO WAY UKRAINE IS GOING TO PUSH RUSSIA ALL THE WAY BACK': At his confirmation hearing Wednesday, Secretary of State nominee Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) laid out a grim scenario for ending the war in Ukraine, one which would leave a fifth of the country under permanent Russian occupation, and force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to make major concessions, while acceding to most of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demands. "It is important for everyone to be realistic," Rubio said, insisting concessions will have to be made by all sides, while describing an end that would require Ukraine giving up on any idea of recapturing significant territory from the Russian invaders. "It's also unrealistic to believe that somehow a nation the size of Ukraine, no matter how incompetent and no matter how much damage the Russian Federation has suffered in — and as a result of this invasion, there's no way Ukraine is also going to push these people all the way back to where they were on the eve of the invasion, just given the size dynamic," Rubio said in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rubio said that after three years of fighting the Ukraine and Russia are deadlocked in "a war of attrition, a stalemate of protracted conflict," and the only way out is a negotiated ceasefire, with some form of security guarantees for what would effectively leave Ukraine as a rump state. "It will be difficult to achieve this objective of a ceasefire, and ultimately, a peace settlement, unless both sides have leverage. Putin's goal now is to have maximum leverage so that he can basically impose neutrality on Ukraine, retrofit and come back and do this again in four or five years. And that's not an outcome I think any of us would favor," Rubio said. "By the same token, I think it's important that the Ukrainians have leverage, but they also will have to make concessions to reach this agreement. It's going to be very difficult." MARCO RUBIO SCORNS 'POSTWAR GLOBAL ORDER' AS 'OBSOLETE' IN SENATE HEARING KEIR STARMER: 'NEW 100-YEAR PARTNERSHIP': While Rubio was signaling to Putin the incoming Trump administration is ready to make a deal that includes his key demand that Russia keeps the nearly 20% of Ukraine it now controls, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived by train in Kyiv to meet with Zelensky and sign a historic "100-Year Partnership" with Ukraine. "I'm in Kyiv with a simple message to the people of Ukraine," Starmer posted on X. "Our 100-Year Partnership is a promise that we are with you, not just today or tomorrow, but for a hundred years — long after this war is over and Ukraine is free and thriving once again." The treaty "will bolster military collaboration on maritime security through a new framework to strengthen Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Azov Sea security and deter ongoing Russian aggression," the Prime Minister's office said ahead of the visit. The U.K. is one of Ukraine's biggest backers, having pledged $16 billion since the start of the war three years ago, and having trained more than 50,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil. ZELENSKY IN POLAND: While Zelensky has said he is anxious to meet with incoming President Donald Trump to discuss his "victory plan," he is also busy bolstering alliances with European allies in the event he must pursue his war goals without the backing of the United States. U.S. officials in both the Biden and Trump administrations argue Ukraine's biggest challenge at the moment is a shortage of troops, in part because Zelensky refuses to lower the draft age to 18 from 26. "The problem that Ukraine is facing is not that they're running out of money. It's that they're running out of Ukrainians," Rubio said in his congressional testimony. At a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw, Zelensky said Ukraine's military now numbers 880,000 compared to the estimated 600,000 troops Russia has deployed. Zelensky has cited this number before, and he acknowledges that Russia has a numerical advantage because its troops are concentrated in a smaller area. Tusk and Zelensky issued a joint statement in which Poland promised to support full membership for Ukraine in the European Union and to work together to stop the Russian war against Ukraine. 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: After a day of contentious exchanges between Democratic senators and Pam Bondi, Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, the Senate Judiciary Committee convenes for a second day of hearings at 10:15, this time to hear from a panel of outside witnesses. The panel includes Dave Aronberg, former State Attorney, Palm Beach County; Nicholas Cox, Office of Statewide Prosecution, Office of Florida Attorney General; Emery Gainey, former Alachua County Florida Sheriff; Lisa Gilbert, co-president, Public Citizen; and Mary McCord, executive director, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, Georgetown University Law Center. ALSO TODAY: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds a hearing on the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) as U.S. representative to the United Nations. WHO GETS CREDIT FOR THE CEASEFIRE DEAL: There is a palpable feeling of relief over the news yesterday that a ceasefire deal had been reached between Hamas and Israel, and that Hamas could soon free 33 hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The agreement has still not been approved by Israel's Cabinet, and this morning, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of reneging on parts of the deal in an attempt "to extort last-minute concessions." But that's not the only unresolved issue. Both the Biden and Trump camps, which worked together to secure the deal, are bickering on social media over how much credit should be apportioned to each president. In announcing the deal yesterday, and again in his farewell address last night, Biden stressed that the breakthrough came after "eight months of nonstop negotiation" by his administration, and was based on a proposal he made in May. "This plan was developed and negotiated by my team," Biden said. However, when it came time for congratulations, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office released a photo of Netanyahu thanking President-elect Donald Trump. When Biden was asked by a reporter, "Who gets credit for this, Mr. President? You or Trump?" Biden responded. "Is that a joke?" Meanwhile, at the State Department, spokesman Matthew Miller called the Trump team’s involvement "absolutely critical in getting this deal over the line." "I don’t know if it’s unprecedented to have envoys from an outgoing and an incoming administration sitting at the same table negotiating a ceasefire agreement of this kind, but if it’s not unprecedented, it’s certainly unusual, and we, of course, thank the Trump team for working with this, on this ceasefire agreement," Miller said. "Look, I don't think that the hostages and their families are worried about who's claiming or grabbing credit here," said John Kirby, White House national security communications adviser on CNN. "There's an awful lot of credit here to go around … and it's not just on the American side, but in the region. Prime Minister Netanyahu himself made some important compromises to move this forward. The Qataris, the Egyptians, very much involved in this." BIDEN CELEBRATES ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASEFIRE DEAL BUT DECLINES TO CREDIT TRUMP THE 'UNDENIABLE' TRUMP EFFECT: In an appearance on Fox News last night, incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz said there's no question that Trump's forceful statement that all hell would break loose if the hostages weren't freed was the decisive factor that prompted Hamas to make a deal they had resisted for so long. "Clearly, the entire world recognizes that this was the Trump effect. We are hearing that from Arab leaders that were involved. We are hearing that from the Israelis that were involved. And what Hamas knew was that Hezbollah wasn’t going to come save them," Waltz told Fox's Bret Baier. "They had no choice. And they believed President Trump when he said there would be all hell to pay and any deal that was on the table would only get worse once he was in office." On Trump's Truth social account, he posted that the Times of Israel reported the breakthrough came after Trump envoy Steve Witkoff's "intense meeting" with Netanyahu, "where he managed to persuade the PM in ways that Biden's administration could not." "This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November," Trump said in a separate post. "We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return." "Make no mistake, the Biden administration has made a mess of this," House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said on Sean Hannity's Fox show last night. "They appeased Iran, they failed to confront them, and that emboldened them and their proxies like Hamas while they undermined Israel. Hamas thought that the Israel-U.S. relationship was weakening. President Trump set that record straight." "This peace deal with Hamas and Israel, it would not have happened … without him having that firm hand." KEY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASEFIRE TURNER'S IGNOMINIOUS OUSTER: In a surprise move, House Speaker Mike Johnson relieved Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) from his chairmanship of the powerful House Intelligence Committee yesterday. Turner, whose pro-Ukraine stance and criticism of fellow Republicans who were parroting Russian talking points put him at odds with Trump, was told he was losing his post because of "concerns from Mar-a-Lago," according to a post on X from CBS Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan. However, Johnson denied that Trump had anything to do with it, citing the need for the "intelligence community and everything related" to the committee to get a "fresh start." It's a new Congress. We just need fresh horses," he said. "This is not a President Trump decision. This is a House decision, and this is no slight whatsoever to our outgoing chairman. He did a great job." "I'm very proud to have served on the House Intelligence Committee and as its chairman," Turner said in his own post on X. "As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have been and will continue to be a strong advocate for the military and our national defense." SPEAKER JOHNSON REMOVES MIKE TURNER AS HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Rubio warns China is 'most potent and dangerous' adversary for US Washington Examiner: Marco Rubio scorns 'postwar global order' as 'obsolete' in Senate hearing Washington Examiner: Biden celebrates Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal but declines to credit Trump Washington Examiner: Biden administration at odds on crediting Trump for Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal Washington Examiner: Key questions about the Israel-Hamas ceasefire Washington Examiner: Tom Rogan Opinion: Ceasefire deal is a win for Hamas but necessary for Israel Washington Examiner: Two key Republicans announce intentions to support Hegseth nomination Washington Examiner: Speaker Johnson removes Mike Turner as House Intelligence Committee chairman Washington Examiner: Lankford supporting Gabbard for DNI as her preferred 'changes' to FISA are set Washington Examiner: John Ratcliffe promises to prioritize China threat as CIA director Washington Examiner: Tom Rogan Opinion: China's sixth-generation jet is a strategic threat Washington Examiner: Austin transferred power after taking meds that could affect cognitive function Washington Examiner: Biden warns of 'dangerous' oligarchy in farewell White House address Bloomberg: Putin Would Demand Ukraine Never Join NATO in Any Trump Talks Stars and Stripes: Marine commandant says moving troops from Okinawa to Guam 'puts us going the wrong way' Breaking Defense: Chinese Military Delegation to Make Rare Visit to Japan, Experts See Pre-Trump Prep Breaking Defense: Calvelli's Biggest Regret: New GPS Ground System Still Non-Operational Air & Space Forces Magazine: New Pentagon Report: Troop Pay Is Competitive, but Allowance Formulas Need Updates SpaceNews: Slingshot Tracks Electronic Interference Targeting GPS Signals The War Zone: New Air-Launched Cruise Missile Teased by General Atomics Air & Space Forces Magazine: USAF Rejiggers T-7 Plan Again: New Test Aircraft, Delayed Production Air & Space Forces Magazine: Success With CCA Points Way to Greater Innovation, Board Says Aviation Week: Norway Air Force Flies F-35 On Sustainable Aviation Fuel Military Times: More Military Children Will Soon Have Access to DOD-Operated Schools Military.com: Widow of Air Force Missileer Who Died of Cancer Secures VA Benefits After Yearslong Fight The Cipher Brief: What will follow the year of ISIS' resurrection? The Cipher Brief: How Trump Could End the Ukraine War THE CALENDAR: THURSDAY | JANUARY 16 9 a.m. 342 Dirksen — Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on “Remain in Mexico" http://www.hsgac.senate.gov 10:15 a.m. 216 Dirksen — Day two of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Pam Bondi to be attorney general of the United States https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/ 10:30 a.m. 419 Dirksen — Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to be U.S. representative to the United Nations http://foreign.senate.gov 1 p.m. 1957 E St. NW — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs forum: “The Future of U.S. Policy and the Indo-Pacific.” https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/the-future-of-us-policy-and-the-indo-pacific 2 p.m. — Government Executive Media Group virtual discussion: “Attracting Gen Z to Civilian Military Careers,” with Brynt Parmeter, chief talent management officer at the Defense Department; Valerie Capers Workman, chief talent engagement officer at Handshake; and George Jackson, executive producer and host of GovExecTV https://events.govexec.com/attracting-gen-z-to-civilian-military-careers/ FRIDAY | JANUARY 17 8 a.m. — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group conversation with Steven Morani, acting assistant secretary of defense for sustainment RSVP: [email protected] 8 a.m. 7920 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, Virginia — Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Northern Virginia Chapter 2025 Army IT Day, with Danielle Moyer, executive director of the Army Contracting Command; Army CIO Leonel Garciga; and Steve Wallace, CTO of the Defense Information Systems Agency https://afceanova.swoogo.com/ArmyITDay2025 9 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “Righting the Ship: Strengthening U.S. Navy Shipbuilding and Ship Repair,” with Nickolas Guertin, assistant navy secretary for research, development, and acquisition; Glen Kim, director of naval affairs and strategy development, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries; Adam Beck, executive vice president of ship repair, Vigor Industrial; and Greg Little, senior counsel, Palantir Technologies https://www.hudson.org/events/righting-ship-strengthening-us-navy-shipbuilding-ship-repair-bryan-clark 12 p.m. — Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women discussion: “What to Expect from the Trump Administration,” with Sarah Bedford, investigations editor at the Washington Examiner https://web.cvent.com/event MONDAY | JANUARY 20 TBA — Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee markup to vote on the nominations of Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) to be Homeland Security secretary; and Russell Vought to be director of the Office of Management and Budget http://www.hsgac.senate.gov WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 29 7:15 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia — Association of the U.S. Army "Coffee Series" discussion with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy Georgehttps://www.ausa.org/events/coffee-series/gen-george | | | | "Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America, of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead … Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling the abuse of power. The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking. The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit." | | President Joe Biden, in his farewell address to the American people. |
|
| | 
Comments
Post a Comment