| TRUMP: 'WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT LAND … POWER PLANTS': President Donald Trump expressed confidence he can bring the war in Ukraine to a close, telling reporters on Air Force One this morning that many of the details of a potential peace deal were sorted out in weekend meetings at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump said he plans to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow and indicated that some significant aspects of a settlement are coming together. "We’ll be talking about land, it's a lot of land. It's a lot different than it was before the war, you know. And we’ll be talking about power plants. You know, that's a big question," Trump said. "But I think we have a lot of it already discussed, very much by both sides, Ukraine and Russia. We’re already talking about that, dividing up certain assets." "We'll see if we have something to announce, maybe by Tuesday," Trump said. "A lot of work has been done over the weekend. We wanna see if we can bring that war to an end. Maybe we can, maybe we can’t, but I think we have a very good chance." Over the weekend, Trump said he was getting "some pretty good vibes coming out of Russia." TRUMP AND PUTIN TO TALK ON TUESDAY ABOUT ENDING UKRAINE WAR STILL NO CONCESSIONS FROM RUSSIA: Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, just back from Moscow, called his more than three-hour face-to-face meeting with Putin "a positive, solution-based discussion." And on CNN, he dodged a question about whether the Russian president was sticking to his "maximalist" demands, including Ukraine's surrender in Kursk, limits on its military, a halt to Western military aid, and a ban on foreign peacekeepers. "I would not call your description entirely accurate," Witkoff told CNN's Jake Tapper. "Nobody expected progress this fast. This is a highly, very complicated situation, and yet we’re bridging the gap between two sides," Witkoff said. "We’re going to have teams, United States negotiators meeting with the Ukrainians this week and discussions with them this week. Same thing will happen with the Russians. And I think, as the president said, he really expects there to be some sort of deal in the coming weeks, maybe." "Russian officials have given no public indications that they are willing to make concessions on their territorial or security demands of Ukraine," the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment of the state of play. "Putin likely remains committed to securing a return for Russia’s investment in the war, which he regards as sufficient. Putin and Kremlin officials have been regularly broadcasting their demands for Ukrainian territorial and security concessions beyond the current frontlines to the Russian people, underscoring how unlikely Putin is to abandon his ambitions in Ukraine even after a ceasefire." MIKE WALTZ INSISTS US 'KNOWS WHO WE'RE DEALING WITH' IN RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR Good Monday 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 HAPPENING TODAY: The U.S. Central Command says its punishing airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, ordered by President Trump are continuing "to defend American interests, deter enemies, and restore freedom of navigation." "The Houthis have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence and terrorism against American ships, aircraft and drones," Trump posted Saturday on his Truth Social platform. "Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom. No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World." "To all Houthi terrorists," he wrote in all caps, "YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON'T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!" Trump also included a threat to Iran: "Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People … If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable, and we won't be nice about it!" The attacks were carried out by fighter jets from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the northern Red Sea and by Air Force attack planes and armed drones launched from bases in the region. HEGSETH: THE HOUTHI CAPITAL FELT LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE': In an appearance on Fox News, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the large-scale military operation in contrast to the Biden administration's tit-for-tat response to the Houthi campaign to disrupt international shipping, which he described as "four years of deferred maintenance." "When you talk about the Houthis, they were allowed over 100 times to shoot at U.S. ships, to shoot at commercial shipping," Hegseth told Fox host Maria Bartiromo. "Four months ago, when we sent a ship through, it was shot at 17 times. Ships haven’t been able to go through for over a year without being shot at. Freedom of navigation is basic. It’s a core national interest. And President Trump has said, we will restore that, and we will be unrelenting." "We’re doing the world a favor," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on CBS, also distinguishing the "retaliation" strikes conducted under President Biden. "This is not a message. This is not a one-off. This is an effort to deny them the ability to continue to constrict and control shipping." "We got the reports last night … The Houthi capital felt like an earthquake, dozens and dozens of precision heavy munitions dropping precisely on the targets that we wanted to hit, sending a very clear message," Hegseth said. "I want to be very clear. This campaign is about freedom of navigation and restoring deterrents. The minute the Houthis say, 'We will stop shooting at your ships, we will stop shooting at your drones,' this campaign will end. But, until then, it will be unrelenting.” TRUMP ORDERS STRIKES ON HOUTHIS IN YEMEN, DEMANDS IRAN STOP FUNDING TERRORISTS VOA GOES SILENT: The entire staff of Voice of America and various Radio Liberty channels has been placed on administrative leave as the fate of a legendary broadcast service that spreads fact-based news from an American perspective worldwide remains uncertain. "I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced," Michael Abramowitz, the director of VOA, said in a post on Facebook. "I learned this morning that virtually all of the staff of Voice of America — more than 1300 journalists, producers, and support staff — has been placed on administrative leave today. So have I." The shutdown comes after a Friday executive order from Trump called the storied news service with a reputation for straightforward journalism a "hook for radical propaganda." A White House statement quoted Dan Robinson, who it identified as a "34-year veteran of Voice of America and its former White House correspondent," as writing last year, "I have monitored the agency's bureaucracy along with many of its reporters and concluded that it has essentially become a hubris-filled rogue operation often reflecting a leftist bias aligned with partisan national media." "VOA promotes freedom and democracy around the world by telling America's story and by providing objective and balanced news and information, especially for those living under tyranny," Abramowitz wrote in his Facebook post. "VOA needs thoughtful reform, and we have made progress in that regard. But today's action will leave Voice of America unable to carry out its vital mission … Even if the agency survives in some form, the actions being taken today by the Administration will severely damage Voice of America's ability to foster a world that is safe and free and, in doing so, is failing to protect U.S. interests." OPINION: REFORM VOICE OF AMERICA, DON'T KILL IT THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Trump and Putin to talk on Tuesday about ending Ukraine war Washington Examiner: Trump-Putin call expected this week, Witkoff says Washington Examiner: Mike Waltz insists US 'knows who we're dealing with' in Russia-Ukraine war Washington Examiner: US-Europe security realignment could come with unintended consequences Washington Examiner: European defense manufacturers' futures look up as Trump's unpredictability makes allies uneasy Washington Examiner: Russia and China rally behind Iran's nuclear program Washington Examiner: Finnish court finds Russian mercenary guilty of war crimes in Ukraine Washington Examiner: Hamas says it agreed to exchanging last living American hostage, Edan Alexander Washington Examiner: Mark Carney takes office as Canadian prime minister Washington Examiner: NATO chief open to normal relations with Kremlin after peace: 'Russia will not go away' Washington Examiner: Trump administration using AI to revoke visas of 'pro-Hamas' students Washington Examiner: Senate passes HALT Fentanyl Act to crack down on drug epidemic Washington Examiner: Rubio signals ground raids on Houthis not necessary following successful US airstrikes Washington Examiner: Trump thanks El Salvador's Bukele for taking in MS-13, Tren de Aragua 'monsters' Washington Examiner: Trump administration rushed deportation flights out of US before judge blocked them: Report Washington Examiner: Kristi Noem announces expansion of border wall in Arizona Washington Examiner: Bondi condemns judge's order halting Trump's Tren de Aragua deportations Washington Examiner: Netanyahu seeks to dismiss Israel's internal security chief as power struggle boils over Wall Street Journal: Russia Overpowers Bold Ukrainian Military Venture in Kursk NBC News: Kremlin told U.S. it didn’t want Trump’s Ukraine-Russia envoy at peace talks AP: Zelensky names new chief of general staff to enhance Ukraine's combat effectiveness The Atlantic: Russia Is Losing the War of Attrition AP: New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks alliances in Europe as he deals with Trump CBC News: Canada Reconsidering F-35 Purchase amid Tensions with Washington, Says Minister Defense News: NATO to Ask Allies for 30% Capability Boost, Top Commander Says AP: Trump Signs a Bill Funding the Government for 6 Months, Avoiding a Shutdown Defense News: Senate Confirms Trump's Pick for Deputy Secretary of Defense Air & Space Forces Magazine: US Strikes Houthis as USAF Fighters Help Defend Navy Warships from Retaliation Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force U-2 Spy Planes Flying Along Southern Border CBS News: Drone Swarms Inside the US Could Be Spying—and the Ability to Detect, Track Them Is Lagging Breaking Defense: DIU Picks Four Companies, Including Two Ukrainian Teammates, for One-Way Drone Prototypes The War Zone: Our Best Look at North Korea's New Early-Warning Radar Plane SpaceNews: Intelligence and Dual-Use Commercial Satellites Launch on Transporter-13 Air & Space Forces Magazine: USAF, Japan Look to Share Maintenance on Common Aircraft Closer to the Fight Defense One: The Pentagon's Next Major Cloud Contract Is in the Works Air & Space Forces Magazine: Watchdog: Hurricane Hunters Short On People and Planes, But Needs Data to Quantify It THE CALENDAR: MONDAY | MARCH 17 1:30 p.m. — Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies virtual discussion: beginning at 1:30 p.m., on “The Future of Ukraine and the Future of NATO,” with Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at King’s College London; and Michael Leigh, academic director of SAIS Europe’s Masters of Arts in Global Risk and Master of Arts in European Public Policy https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events 3 p.m. — Georgetown University’s Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues discussion: “China’s Quest for Military Supremacy,” with Phillip Saunders, director of the National Defense University Institute for National Strategic Studies’ Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs; Maryanne Kivlehan-Wise, director of the Center for Naval Analyses China Studies Program; Joel Wuthnow, adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service; and Dennis Wilder, senior fellow at the Georgetown University https://uschinadialogue.georgetown.edu/events/china-s-quest-for-military-supremacy TUESDAY | MARCH 18 7:25 a.m. 1700 Richmond Highway, Arlington, Virginia — McAleese 16th Annual "Defense Programs" Conference. Full agenda and registration at https://mcaleese.com/conference-details 11 a.m. 1400 L St. NW — Atlantic Council’s Economic Statecraft Initiative book discussion: “Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare,” with author Edward Fishman, adjunct professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University; former U.S. Ambassador to Poland Daniel Fried, fellow at the Atlantic Council; Nazak Nikakhtar, chair of national security at Wiley Rein LLC and former acting undersecretary of industry and security at the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security; Adam Szubin, professor of practice at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and former acting Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence; and Kimberly Donovan, director of the Atlantic Council’s Economic Statecraft Initiative https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/the-age-of-economic-warfare WEDNESDAY | MARCH 19 12 p.m. 2000 H St. NW — George Washington University National Security Law Program and National Security Law Association discussion: “National Security Lawyering in the Intelligence Community,” with William Gade, deputy general counsel for intelligence at the Defense Department; and Katie Kedian, visiting associate professor and GW national security, cybersecurity and foreign relations law fellow https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/national-security-lawyering 2 p.m. — Washington Institute for Near East Policy virtual forum: “Bombing Iran’s Nuclear Program: Implications of Preventive Action,” with Richard Nephew, WINEP adjunct fellow; Holly Dagres, WINEP senior fellow; and Michael Eisenstadt, WINEP senior fellow https://washingtoninstitute-org.zoom.us/webinar/register 3:30 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW — Henry L. Stimson Center virtual discussion: “Security and Sovereignty: Exploring Canada’s Vision for Land Power,” with Lt. Gen. M.C. Wright, commander of the Canadian Army https://www.stimson.org/event/with-lieutenant-general-m-c-wright | 
Megyn Kelly -> Pete Hegseth responds to 2017 rape accusation. 🔥 vol. 3, issue 13 | December 6, 2024 Quick Hits All the news you need in...
No comments:
Post a Comment