| CONTINENTAL DIVIDE: Less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an angry, voices-raised exchange in the Oval Office, Zelensky was feted by America's closest European allies, who met in the U.K. amid the festering animosity between Trump and Zelensky. "Let me just say that you’re very, very welcome here in Downing Street," Keir Starmer told Zelensky, as the Ukrainian president arrived at the prime minister's residence Saturday to the sound of cheers of Londoners gathered on the street. "That is the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you, how much they support Ukraine, and our absolute determination to stand with you," Starmer said. "We stand with you, with Ukraine, for as long as it may take." As if Starmer's warm words were not enough, Zelensky was granted a one-on-one meeting and a photo op with King Charles at his private residence in Sandringham. Starmer originally called the London summit of 18 European leaders to devise a strategy for European countries to support an eventual peace agreement brokered by the United States between Kyiv and Moscow. However, with the shocking turn of events Friday, America's closest European ally found themselves in the role of mediator, hoping to help mend the fractious divide between Trump and Zelensky. To that end, Starmer unveiled a four-point plan aimed at creating a "coalition of the willing" to defend a peace deal once it is reached while calling on Europe to do the "heavy lifting." "To succeed, this effort must have strong U.S. backing," Starmer said. "We're working with the U.S. on this point, after my meeting with President Trump last week. And let me be clear — we agree with the president on the urgent need for a durable peace." EUROPEAN LEADERS RALLY BEHIND UKRAINE FOLLOWING TRUMP-ZELENSKY CLASH ZELENSKY CONTRITE, BUT NOT APOLOGETIC: After the dressing down by Trump in the Oval Office — which seemed to go off the rails when Zelensky began to argue that he needed security guarantees because Russian President Vladimir Putin can't be trusted — Zelensky was offered a chance to apologize in an interview on Fox News, which he did not take. "I think that we have to be very open and very honest, and I’m not sure that we did something bad," Zelensky said, insisting he was simply trying to reflect the reality that in 2019, when Trump was in office, Ukraine signed a ceasefire deal with Russia that Putin immediately broke. "I respect president, and I respect American people," he said. "Yes, we are partners. You know, we’re very close partners. We have to be fair. We have to be very free." During the Oval Office exchange, Trump was having none of it. "Putin went through a hell of a lot with me," Trump said, getting increasingly agitated with Zelensky's Putin bashing. "He might’ve broken deals with Obama and Bush, and he might have broken them with Biden — he did, maybe — maybe he didn’t. I don’t know what happened. But he didn’t break them with me. He wants to make a deal. I don’t know if you can make a deal." "Your people are very brave, but you’re either going to make a deal, or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out," Trump threatened. "But you don’t have the cards … But you’re not acting at all thankful, and that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest. That’s not a nice thing." ZELENSKY'S ARROGANCE CRASHES INTO TRUMP'S IGNORANCE IN OVAL OFFICE CALLS FOR ZELENSKY TO RESIGN: In the U.S. and around the world, Zelensky's performance before reporters in the Oval Office sharply divided opinions, with Democrats and most European allies lauding the wartime president for standing up for his country and Republicans and the Kremlin characterizing Zelensky as ungrateful and disrespectful. “I don't know if we can ever do business with Zelensky again,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told reporters after the meeting, adding he “either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change." "Lindsey Graham is a very good guy," Zelensky said in an interview over the weekend. "I can give him Ukrainian citizenship, then his voice will gain weight." Graham responded with a post on X: "Unfortunately, until there is an election, no one has a voice in Ukraine." "Something has to change," House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said on NBC's Meet the Press. "Either he needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country to do that." "Look, he’s clearly solely focused on believing he needs to fact-check and correct every nuance. You know, it’s like [an] ex-girlfriend that wants to argue, you know, everything that you said nine years ago, rather than moving the relationship forward," national security adviser Mike Waltz said on the SiriusXM radio show, Breitbart News Saturday. "It’s unclear whether President Zelensky, particularly after what we saw Friday, is ready to transition to Ukraine to an end to this war and to negotiate and have to compromise," Waltz said on CNN Sunday. "We need a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war. And if it becomes apparent that President Zelensky’s either personal motivations or political motivations are divergent from ending the fighting in his country, then I think we have a real issue on our hands." "The Europeans are piling on in support of Zelensky," Graham said in a separate appearance on Sirius XM, telling host Matt Boyle, "Here’s my message to the Europeans: Maybe it’s time for you to defend your continent. Maybe it’s time for you to stop hollowing out your military. And if you want to use tough rhetoric toward Putin, how about back it up with some muscle? When a European leader speaks, no bad guy listens. When Trump speaks, everybody’s on edge. I was never more proud of President Trump than I was yesterday. He stood up for America." LANKFORD DISAGREES WITH CALLS FOR ZELENSKY TO RESIGN: ‘WOULD SPIRAL UKRAINE INTO CHAOS’ 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: TIME TO WRITE YOUR FIVE BULLET POINTS: Late last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acquiesced to Elon Musk's "pulse check" assignment ostensibly aimed at finding out which federal workers are alive and capable of writing a short email. "I am now directing each member of the department's civilian federal workforce to provide five bullets of what they accomplished last week and comply with OPM's email directive," Hegseth said in a video message posted on X and the Pentagon's website. "You will receive an email Monday, March 3, 2025; reply to that email and cc your supervisor within 48 hours," Hegseth wrote in a memorandum to all Defense Department civilian employees on Friday. "Noncompliance will lead to further review." "It's a simple task, really, as Elon said, as the president recognized in our first Cabinet meeting, just a pulse check — 'Are you there out?' — to DOD civilians," Hegseth said in the video message, adding "We will take that into consideration, as we make sure we're being as focused and as tailored as possible in looking at how we streamline our workforce, to both meet the fiscal demands of the moment but also ensure we have the strongest, most viable fighting force in the world." MUSK CALLS FOR US TO WITHDRAW FROM NATO HEGSETH DISPATCHES MORE TROOPS TO THE BORDER: Roughly 5,000 additional troops will be sent to the U.S. border with Mexico later this month in the latest effort to add military muscle to President Donald Trump's orders to seal the southern border. An Army Stryker Brigade Combat Team along with a General Support Aviation Battalion will be deployed, Pentagon press secretary Sean Parnell announced over the weekend. "These forces will arrive in the coming weeks, and their deployment underscores the Department’s unwavering dedication to working alongside the Department of Homeland Security to secure our southern border and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States under President Trump’s leadership." The deployments will more than double the number of active duty and reserve troops now assigned to the border mission and come as the number of migrants crossing the U.S. southern border illegally has plunged to a level not seen in at least 25 years. "Last month, the Border Patrol recorded about 8,450 apprehensions of migrants who crossed into the country unlawfully between official entry points along the U.S.-Mexico border," according to preliminary government data obtained by CBS News. During the Biden administration, there were days when there were more than 8,000 apprehensions in a single day. PENTAGON SURGING MORE SOLDIERS, COMBAT VEHICLES TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER FIRE WHEN READY: The Pentagon has confirmed a Friday report from CBS News that President Trump has reinstated rules of engagement from his previous administration that give U.S. commanders more leeway in ordering airstrikes and special operation raids against suspected terrorists outside active war zones. The Biden administration imposed restrictions requiring commanders to obtain prior permission from the White House before conducting strikes. However, in a post on X, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed he signed off on the change last month while visiting the U.S. Africa Command in Germany. "Correct," Hegseth said in a post linking to the CBS report. TRUMP EASES REQUIREMENTS ON MILITARY RAIDS AND AIRSTRIKES THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: European leaders rally behind Ukraine following Trump-Zelensky clash Washington Examiner: Zelensky signals he's still ready to sign minerals deal after Oval Office meltdown Washington Examiner: UK, France, and Ukraine to develop ceasefire plan and present it to US Washington Examiner: UK's Starmer says Europe at crossroads in history as world leaders discuss ending war in Ukraine Washington Examiner: State Department pulls USAID aid from Ukraine power grid restoration Washington Examiner: Is Putin willing to end or pause the Ukraine war? Washington Examiner: Lankford disagrees with calls for Zelensky to resign: ‘Would spiral Ukraine into chaos’ Washington Examiner: Opinion: Zelensky's arrogance crashes into Trump's ignorance in Oval Office Washington Examiner: Musk calls for US to withdraw from NATO Washington Examiner: Trump eases requirements on military raids and airstrikes Washington Examiner: Pentagon surging more soldiers, combat vehicles to the southern border Washington Examiner: Immigrant activists decry Trump registry requirement: 'Terrorize people' Washington Examiner: ICE has not yet arrested children in school under Trump, education leaders say Washington Examiner: Tuberville calls for Pentagon to become the 'Trigon' Washington Examiner: Hegseth calls 'bulls***' on ACLU criticizing Trump's use of Guantanamo Bay Washington Post: Washington now 'largely aligns' with Moscow's vision, Kremlin says Wall Street Journal: Zelenskyy's Path Back to White House Would Confront Big Hurdles Washington Post: Uncertainty over Trump's plans for U.S. troops in Europe fuels anxiety New York Times: Hegseth Orders Pentagon to Stop Offensive Cyberoperations Against Russia AP: Iranian government official who was key to 2015 nuclear deal resigns under hard-liner pressure The War Zone: Cracks in KC-46 Tankers Halt All Deliveries Task & Purpose: Navy Carrier Group Visits South Korea After the North Tests New Missiles Air & Space Forces Magazine: USAF's Software Startup, Kessel Run, Pivots 'Back to the Future,' as Some Cry Foul Air Force Times: US Might Be Gearing Up for UK-Based Nuclear Program, Report Says Air & Space Forces Magazine: Navy Secretary Nominee Touts Service's NGAD, with Improved Range and Capacity SpaceNews: Air Force Selects Pacific Landing Sites to Test Space Cargo Deliveries Breaking Defense: Warren, Duckworth Probe Air Force Secretary Nominee on Dealings with Elon Musk Air & Space Forces Magazine: Will TJAG Firings Diminish the Import of Military Legal Advice? Military.com: Air Force Academy Investigating Nearly 100 Cadets for Cheating, Honor Code Violations Air & Space Forces Magazine: Defense Industry: Want Surge Capacity? Pay For It. Air & Space Forces Magazine: America Must Resource Its Spacepower Advantage THE CALENDAR: MONDAY | MARCH 3 9 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies media conference call briefing to preview China’s annual legislative gathering known as the ‘Two Sessions,” with Scott Kennedy, CSIS chair in Chinese business and economics; Brian Hart, deputy director of the CSIS China Power Project; and Ilaria Mazzocco, CSIS senior fellow https://csis.zoom.us/webinar/register 5:05 p.m. Aurora, Colo. — Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium: "The Threat is Now: Building the Force to Win,” with Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin; Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, commander of Space Systems Command https://www.afa.org/afa-warfare-symposium/ 7 p.m. 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, — Politics and Prose Bookstore book discussion: The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine, with author Alexander Vindman, former director for European affairs, National Security Council https://politics-prose.com/alexander-vindman TUESDAY | MARCH 4 9 a.m. 2401 M St., NW — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group coffee discussion: "An Exclusive, Advance Preview of the Reagan Institute's National Security Innovation Base Report Card for 2025," with Roger Zakheim, director, Ronald Reagan Institute; and Rachel Hoff, policy director, Ronald Reagan Institute RSVP: [email protected] 9:15 a.m. 390 Cannon — House (Select) Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party Committee hearing: “End the Typhoons: How to Deter Beijing’s Cyber Actions and Enhance America’s Lackluster Cyber Defenses.” https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov 9:30 a.m. 106 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the nomination of Elbridge Colby to be undersecretary of defense for policy. http://www.armed-services.senate.gov 10 a.m. 419 Dirksen — Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the nominations of Matthew Whitaker to be U.S. permanent representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization http://foreign.senate.gov 11:15 a.m. Aurora, Colorado — Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium: “The Threat is Now: Building the Force to Win,” with Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, commander, Air Combat Command; and Greg Ryckman, deputy director for global integration, Defense Intelligence Agency https://www.afa.org/afa-warfare-symposium/ 2 p.m. 310 Cannon — House Homeland Security Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subcommittee hearing: “The Digital Battlefield: How Terrorists Use the Internet and Online Networks for Recruitment and Radicalization.” http://homeland.house.gov 6 p.m. — Council on Foreign Relations virtual discussion: “Common Sense and Strategy in Foreign Policy,” with Margaret MacMillan, emeritus professor of history, University of Toronto https://www.cfr.org/event/leslie-h-gelb-memorial-event-common-sense-and-strategy 8 p.m. House Chamber, U.S. Capitol — President Donald Trump delivers an address to a joint session of Congress, with Vice President J.D. Vance; Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD); and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) 9:30 p.m. — Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) delivers the Democratic response to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress 9:40 p.m. — Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) delivers the Spanish language Democratic response to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress WEDNESDAY | MARCH 5 8 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia — Association of the U.S. Army seminar: “Holistic Health and the Resilient Soldier," with Army Chief of Chaplains Maj. Gen. William Green; and Lt. Gen. David Francis, commanding general of the Army Center for Military Training https://www.ausa.org/events/hot-topic/holistic-health-and-resilient-soldier 8:30 a.m. 850 18th St. NW — Reagan Institute Center for Peace Through Strength National Security Innovation Base Summit, with Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee; Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO); Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA); Rep. Chrissy Houlahan; (D-PA); Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE); former Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX); Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations; Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MI); Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA); and Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) https://www.reaganfoundation.org/events/2025-national-security-innovation-base-summit 9 a.m. — Wilson Center virtual discussion “Protecting Maritime Security and Stability in the Indo-Pacific: Challenges for the U.S. and Japan,” with Yurika Ishii, associate professor, National Defense Academy of Japan; Yasuhiro Matsuda, professor, University of Tokyo’s Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia; James Kraska, professor, Naval War College’s Center for International Law; and James Schoff, senior director of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation’s U.S.-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/protecting-maritime-security 9:15 a.m. 390 Cannon — House (Select) Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party Committee hearing: “End the Typhoons: How to Deter Beijing’s Cyber Actions and Enhance America’s Lackluster Cyber Defenses.” https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov 10 a.m. Aurora, Colorado — Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium: “The Threat is Now: Building the Force to Win,” with Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander, Air Force Global Strike Command and U.S. Strategic Command; and Navy Vice Adm. Richard Correll, deputy commander, U.S. Strategic Command https://www.afa.org/afa-warfare-symposium/ 10 a.m. 2154 Rayburn — House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing: "Sanctuary cities policies," with testimony from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D); Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D); Denver Mayor Michael Johnston (D); and New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) http://oversight.house.gov 10 a.m. 419 Dirksen — Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing: “Advancing American Interests in the Western Hemisphere,” with testimony from Joseph Ledford, fellow and assistant director of the Stanford University Hoover Institution’s Hoover History Lab, Stanford, Calif. http://foreign.senate.gov 10 a.m. 2167 Rayburn — House Transportation and Infrastructure Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee hearing: “America Builds: Coast Guard Acquisitions and Infrastructure.” http://transportation.house.gov 10 a.m. 310 Cannon — House Homeland Security Committee hearing: “Countering Threats Posed by the Chinese Communist Party to U.S. National Security.” http://homeland.house.gov 2:30 p.m. 106 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee hearing: “The Posture of the U.S. Transportation Command in Review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2026 and the Future Years Defense Program,” with testimony from Air Force Gen. Randall Reed, commander, U.S. Transportation Command http://www.armed-services.senate.gov THURSDAY | MARCH 6 6:30 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, Virginia — Association of the U.S. Army "Coffee Series" discussion with Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer https://www.ausa.org/events/coffee-series/sma-weimer 9:30 a.m. 1777 F St. NW — Council on Foreign Relations discussion: “Securing Ukraine’s Future," with Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg https://www.cfr.org/event/securing-ukraines-future 9:30 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “Rebuilding America’s Maritime Industrial Base,” with Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) https://www.hudson.org/events/rebuilding-americas-maritime-industrial-base 5:30 p.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “Iran on the Brink: Resistance, Repression, and Global Power Shifts,” with Mariam Memarsadeghi, founder and director of the Cyprus Forum for Iran’s Future; Ladan Boroumand, co-founder of the University of Parma’s Abdorrahman Boroumand Center; and Zineb Riboua, program manager, Hudson Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East https://www.hudson.org/events/iran-brink-resistance-repression FRIDAY | MARCH 7 9 a.m. 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — American Bar Association forum: "Air and Space Law," with former Deputy FAA Administrator Katie Thompson; Nikki Harding, deputy assistant TSA administrator for compliance; and Alex MacDonald, former NASA chief economist https://events.americanbar.org/event | | | | "Five hundred million Europeans are asking 300 million Americans to defend them against 140 million Russians … Europe today lacks the belief that we are truly a global force." | | Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, speaking before his flight to London for the European Ukraine summit. |
|
| | 
Comments
Post a Comment