Defense secretary explains ‘main part’ of Putin’s Ukraine strategy

Even as we surge support into Israel, we remain focused on Ukraine. Nearly 20 months into Putin's failed campaign of conquest, the Russian military has been badly weakened. Ukraine's brave forces have taken back more than half of the territory seized by Russian invaders since since February 2022. And that was made possible by bipartisan and principle U.S. leadership in our coalition of some 50 allies and partners in both Israel and Ukraine. Democracies are fighting ruthless foes who are out to a

nnihilate them. We will not let Hamas or Putin win. Today's battles against aggression and terrorism will define global security for years to come, and only firm American leadership can ensure that tyrants and thugs and terrorists worldwide are not emboldened to commit more aggression and more atrocities So our actions today will shape the world that our children and grandchildren inherit. And that's why we've submitted an urgent supplemental budget request to help fund America's national securi

ty needs and to stand by our partners and to invest in our defense industrial base. Some of my colleagues in the House and the few in the Senate are pushing to provide only the emergency military funding for Israel and not the rest to the president's request in the security supplemental. Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin, I would like each of you to address this question. Why is it so important that we provide supplemental funding for Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific and humanitarian assistance in

addition to military aid to Israel? And Secretary Blinken, I'll begin with you. Thank you very much, Chair. I think it's very important to understand that the elements of this request work together as a package. As you know, the defense industrial base operates in a complex way. It's an interdependent unit. Making these investments together allows us to do what's needed to strengthen the defense industrial base and to seize the benefits and efficiencies that come from making these investments t

ogether rather than making them piecemeal. We also know as you've heard, that increasingly Russia and Iran are working together to challenge our leadership, to hem us and globally to pose a growing threat to our own security. As well as to that of our allies and partners. They've been partners in a devastating war in Syria. And now we have Iranian proxies firing missiles from Syria in northern Israel, Russia could stop this, but it doesn't. Instead, to the contrary, its government is hosting Ham

as for talks in Moscow. Iran is sending waves to Russia to attack Ukrainian civilians. So we're seeing the profound connections here. What happens in Ukraine? What happens in the Middle East also matters for the Indo-Pacific beyond Europe. We know that our allies, as well as our adversaries as well as our competitors are watching that conflict. They're watching our response to the global impacts of Russia's unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, further stressed the importance of ensuring

that the Indo-Pacific does not learn the wrong lessons from these conflicts. So the funding request that we've put before you is vital to securing a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of mounting challenges in that region to threaten to undermine the international rules based order, including things like freedom of navigation. In other words, to put it succinctly, for our adversaries, be they states or non states. This is all one fight, and we have to respond in a way that recognizes that i

f we start to peel off pieces of this package, they'll see that they'll understand that we are playing Whack-A-Mole while they cooperate increasingly and pose an ever greater threat to our security, as well as to that of allies and partners. And one final thing. I think when it comes to the humanitarian assistance and we can come back to this is first and foremost vital because this is who we are. We know that when it comes down to it, in each and every one of these conflicts, people are sufferi

ng men, women and children, parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents and I think it's profoundly who we are to want to do everything we can to assist them to try to lift some of the horrific burden that they're bearing from being caught in the midst of conflict. At the same time, it's vitally important as a strategic proposition that we provide the assistance that we can to help people in need. We've seen Hamas and other groups play the siren song of nihilism to try to attract peo

ple to their perverted cause. We want to make sure that we have a better response, that we have a better answer across the board. That's part of the strategic proposition, as well as one that's profoundly humanitarian. Thank you, Austin. Thanks for your memory. I think it's important to remind ourselves that what happens in Ukraine and what happens in Israel matters, not just Ukraine and Israel. It matters to us. It affects our national security as well. We also have to remind ourselves that the

se countries are in a fight they're fighting every day and there are people dying every day. And in Ukraine, Putin continues to attack civilians and commit war crimes that are are despicable. And so these these countries need urgently need the resources to ensure that they can continue to defend their sovereign territory. In Ukraine, Putin has felt that he could wait us out. And that's part of his strategy is the main part of his strategy. He feels that the West will get tired of of supporting U

kraine and he'll soon have his way. If that's the case, if we don't support Ukraine and Putin wins. But Putin will not stop in Ukraine. We know that. We all know that. And so I think it's important to do what's necessary to support Ukraine and Israel and to help them defend their sovereign territory. But as the secretary said, as Secretary Blinken said, this is also an investment in our defense industrial base. It helps us replenish our stockpiles and gives us additional depth and agility that h

elps us do what we have done over the years. Over the centuries. Over the decades, excuse me, around the world. And so I think this is very important that we provide the support. And it's important that we provide the support now to both in both cases. Mr. Secretary, it can't be a coincidence that Putin would invite the head of the Hamas terrorist organization to Moscow just days after the October 7th attack, the terrible massacre which you described in some detail. And I heard so many depiction

s. So do you believe there is an allied effort between Putin's cause and the cause? Of the Hamas terrorists? Putin is very much trying to take advantage of the Hamas attack on Israel in the hopes that it will distract us, that it will divert our focus away from Ukraine and away from his aggression in Ukraine, and that it will result in the United States pulling back, pulling back its resources, pulling back its support. And at the same time, he's allied with the exact elements that are trying to

wreak havoc in Israel. So we see these things as being very much joined, which is one of the reasons our request is a joint request.