ZELENSKY ‘MAKING LITTLE NASTY ASPERSIONS’: As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has the most important meetings of his visit to the United States, first with President Joe Biden and then with presidential hopeful Kamala Harris this afternoon at the White House, there is one important voice who has no interest in hearing about Zelensky’s “Plan for Victory” over Russia — the potential next president, Donald Trump .
While Zelensky has been pleading his case before the U.N. General Assembly in New York for more weapons and support, Trump has been on the campaign trail trashing Zelensky at every stop, accusing the war-time president of fleecing the American taxpayers while pursuing a futile victory that he argues is impossible to achieve against mighty Russia.
“That's what they do, is they fight wars. As somebody told me the other day, they beat Hitler, they beat Napoleon. That's what they do,” Trump said Tuesday at a rally in Savannah, Georgia. “Biden and Kamala got us into this war in Ukraine, and now they can't get us out. They can't get us out. I watched him. We will win, we will. He's been saying that for three years. Every time Zelensky comes to the United States, he walks away with $100 billion. I think he's the greatest salesman on earth. But we're stuck in that war unless I'm president. I'll get it done. I'll get it negotiated. I'll get out.”
Zelensky was hoping to meet with Trump in New York today, but after Trump took offense at Zelenky’s pushback on running mate J.D. Vance’s position on Ukraine as “too radical,” in a New Yorker interview , Trump canceled the meeting. “The president of Ukraine is in our country and he’s making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president, me.”
Several times in recent weeks, Trump has alluded to one of his guiding principles in politics: “When they don't like me, I don't like them, okay? It sounds childish,” he said in Pennsylvania. “That's the way it is. Call it a personality defect.”
And Trump has clearly decided Zelensky doesn’t like him. “He wants them to win this election so badly,” he said referring to the Democrats. “I will work out peace before I'm even president-elect. If I win this election the first thing I'm going to do is call up Zelensky and call up President Putin and I'm gonna say, ‘You gotta make a deal this is crazy.’”
TRUMP: UKRAINE ‘HAS BEEN OBLITERATED’: Yesterday, Trump, at a North Carolina event billed as an economic speech, ramped up the anti-Zelensky rhetoric to new heights, repeating what critics say are talking points right out of the playbook of Russian President Vladimir Putin . Rather than summarize, here’s the verbatim:
“It’s not Ukraine anymore. You can never replace those cities and towns and you can never replace the dead people — so many dead people. Any deal, even the worst deal would have been better than what we have right now. If they made a bad deal it would have been much better. They would have given up a little bit, and everybody would be living, and every building would be built, and every tower would be aging for another 2000 years. And we’ll only get worse with these people, with Kamala, doesn’t even — she doesn’t know what she’s doing. More people will die, more cities will fall. The ones that fell will continue to receive more and more bombs. They’ll be broken up asunder worse than they are right now. Nothing is standing. The crops are dying. There’s really nothing for the Ukrainian people to move back to.”
“And it didn’t need to happen. Those buildings are down, those cities are gone, they’re gone and we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal. Zelensky, there was no deal that he could have made that wouldn’t have been better than the situation you have right now. You have a country that has been obliterated, not possible to be rebuilt. It’ll take hundreds of years to rebuild it. There’s not enough money to rebuild it if the whole world got together.”
“They’re not going to be satisfied until they send American kids over to Ukraine and that’s what they’re trying to do. And the moms and dads of America don’t want their kids fighting Ukraine and Russia and we’re not going to have our soldiers die across the ocean.”
PUTIN’S LATEST NUCLEAR THREAT: Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a modification to his country’s doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons that appeared to be a direct response to Ukraine’s increasingly effective drone attacks inside Russia.
“Over the last year, specialists from the Defence Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Security Council Office, and other agencies have made an in-depth and comprehensive analysis and evaluated the need for adjusting our approaches to a possible use of nuclear forces. Based on the results of this work, a number of updates have been proposed in terms of defining the conditions for using nuclear weapons,” Putin said at a meeting with his Russian Security Council, according to the official Kremlin transcript .
“The updated version of the document is supposed to regard an aggression against Russia from any nonnuclear state but involving or supported by any nuclear state as their joint attack against the Russian Federation,” Putin said. “We will consider such a possibility once we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack weapons and their crossing our state border. I mean strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs, hypersonic and other aircraft.”
Given that Ukraine is a nonnuclear state that is getting military support from the United States and other nuclear-armed countries, the threat appears aimed at dissuading President Joe Biden from granting Zelensky’s request to use U.S.-supplied missiles against targets deep inside Russia.
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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 . 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 .
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HAPPENING TODAY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting with President Joe Biden is set for 1:45 p.m. in the Oval Office. Vice President Kamala Harris and Zelensky will make statements to the press at 3:05 p.m., before their private meeting in the vice president’s ceremonial office at 3:25 p.m.
At 4:45 p.m., Biden and Harris are scheduled to deliver remarks on addressing gun violence in America. https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/
ALSO TODAY: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in London this morning for a meeting of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States coalition known as AUKUS. The defense chiefs are expected to discuss the development of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, hypersonic weapons, advanced cyber operations, and electronic warfare.
Austin, British Defense Secretary John Healey , and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles are scheduled to hold a press conference at 9:45 a.m. EDT.
SHUTDOWN AVERTED: Once again, it took Democrats to pass the bipartisan “clean” continuing resolution to keep the government funded until Dec. 20, thus averting a shutdown that former President Trump demanded in an attempt to win passage of a new proof-of-citizenship election registration law pushed by House Republicans.
“It would be political malpractice to shut the government down,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said. “I think everyone understands that.”
The temporary funding measure, which freezes federal spending at current levels, sailed through the House 341-82 and the Senate 78-18, with the only no votes coming from Republicans. Here’s a list of all the Republicans who voted no in the House, and here’s a list of the Senate no votes.
The bill contained one add-on, $231 million for the Secret Service, which has been stretched to the limit with the current threats against former President Donald Trump. “This bipartisanship is a good outcome for America,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said before the vote. “I hope it sets the tone for more constructive, bipartisan work when we return in the fall.”
JOHNSON DEMANDS FIRING OF UKRAINE AMBASSADOR: In an angry letter House Speaker Mike Johnson is demanding Volodymyr Zelensky fire Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova “immediately” over what he claims was “clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats,” at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant Sunday.
Markarova arranged the tour so Zelensky could thank workers at the U.S. government-owned, contractor-operated plant for churning out the 155 mm artillery rounds that Ukraine desperately needs in its war with Russia.
“The facility was in a politically contested battleground state, was led by a top political surrogate for Kamala Harris and failed to include a single Republican because — on purpose — no Republicans were invited.” Johnson wrote in the letter to Zelensky. “Support for ending Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to be bipartisan, but our relationship is unnecessarily tested and needlessly tarnished when candidates at the top of the Republican presidential ticket are targeted in the media by officials in your government.”
The Army, which controls the facility, said invitations are routinely extended to House and Senate members representing the factory’s district. The local mayor, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro , Sen. Bob Casey , and the district’s Rep. Matt Cartwright all attended. All are Democrats, and the plant is located in Scranton, Biden’s hometown.
Zelensky made no political remarks, and neither Trump nor Harris were mentioned during the tour of the plant.
FULL TRANSCRIPT: Here is a complete, unexpurgated transcript of Tuesday’s House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on “The State Department's Withdrawal from Afghanistan by America's Top Diplomat”:
Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX): Committee on Foreign Affairs will come to order. Pursuant to committee rules, all members may have five days to submit statements, questions, and extraneous materials for the record subject to the length limitations. Purpose of today's hearing is to hear directly from Secretary Blinken, America's top diplomat, and get his assessment of the State Department's withdrawal from Afghanistan. Unfortunately, our witness, the Secretary of State Antony Blinken, is not present today.
On September 18, 2024, I served a subpoena for him to appear in front of this committee. Because Secretary Blinken has chosen not to appear and to willfully defy the subpoena, under Article I of the Constitution, I hereby adjourn this hearing and intend to proceed with a markup to begin the formal process of holding the secretary in contempt of Congress. Without objection, the committee stands adjourned.
EDITOR’S NOTE : Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in New York Tuesday, attending the U.N. General Assembly session
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THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner : Biden and other world leaders call for three-week ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah
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Washington Examiner : Iranian president tells UN Israeli attacks in Lebanon ‘cannot go unanswered’
Washington Examiner : China test-launches ICBM into Pacific Ocean
Washington Examiner : US concerned about alleged Russia drone manufacturing project in China
Washington Examiner : House report finds US funded research helped advance Chinese military interests
Washington Examiner : Pentagon breaks ground on transportable nuclear reactor project
Washington Examiner : Navy replenishment ship damaged in Middle East
Washington Examiner : Judge greenlights Jack Smith’s 180-page evidence filing in Trump Jan. 6 case
Washington Examiner : Dems enlist ex-Watergate prosecutor to slam Trump ruling
Washington Examiner : Top takeaways from Kamala Harris’s interview with MSNBC
Washington Examiner : Biden defends Afghanistan withdrawal in final UN speech
Washington Examiner : GOP launches investigation into DOJ intent behind releasing Ryan Routh manifesto
Military Times : What Will the Surge of US Forces to the Middle East Cost the Military?
Defense One : ‘Every Lever of Statecraft’ Needed to Overcome Pacific threats, Commander Says
Soldier of Fortune : A Nuclear Blast Would Bring Hell on Earth: Blinding Light, Searing Heat, and Intense Winds
Air & Space Forces Magazine : Senate Confirms Nordhaus as National Guard Boss; Air Guard Nominee Still Waiting
Military.com : The Air Force Unveiled an Ambitious Reorganization Plan. Can It Survive a Presidential Election?
SpaceNews : Space Force Eyes Commercial Antennas to Boost Satellite Control Capacity
Air & Space Forces Magazine : Faced with New and Growing Demands, Military Propulsion Needs More Support: Experts
DefenseScoop : MDA Taps Northrop Grumman to Move Forward in Glide Phase Interceptor Program
Air & Space Forces Magazine : Air Combat Command Activates 3 New Air Task Forces; 5 of 6 Now Open
Inside Defense : Wittman, Stefanik Call on Air Force to Quit Relying on Chinese Suppliers
The Cipher Brief : Odesa’s War — and What Comes After
National Security Journal : T-14 Armata vs. M1 Abrams: How These Tanks Could Clash in Ukraine
National Security Journa l: Britain’s Astute-Class: The Best Fast Attack Submarine in the World?
National Security Journal : Project 33: The U.S. Navy’s Plan to Beat China in a War?
National Security Journal : The B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Looks Like an ‘Expensive’ Success
National Security Journal : F-35: The Backbone of the U.S. Air Force, Like It or Not
Air & Space Forces Magazine : One-and-Only Air Force PJ Dog Prepares to Wrap Historic Career
THE CALENDAR:
THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 26
8:30 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “Defense Innovation and the New Cold War,” with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK); Joe Londsdale , cofounder, Palantir Technologies; Shyam Sankar , chief technology officer, Palantir Technologies; Nadia Schadlow , senior fellow, Hudson Institute; Mackenzie Eaglen , senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute; Richard Berger , budget director, Senate Armed Services Committee; Rebeccah Heinrichs , senior fellow and director, Keystone Defense Initiative, Hudson Institute; and Morgan Ortagus , founder, Polaris National Security and former State Department spokesperson https://www.eventbrite.com/e/defense-innovation-and-the-new-cold-war
9 a.m. S-207 U.S. Capitol — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with bipartisan Senators
9:15 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave NW — Hudson Institute virtual discussion: “Preserving a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” with Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Hudson Japan Chair K enneth Weinstein https://www.eventbrite.com/e/preserving-a-free-and-open-indo-pacific
9:45 a.m. London — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin holds a joint media briefing UK Secretary of State for Defense John Healey and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles , following the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) Defense Ministerial Meeting https://www.defense.gov/News/Live-Events
9:30 a.m 1100 Longworth — House of Representatives Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump hearing: “The Ongoing Investigation of the Butler, Pennsylvania Security Failure: The Secret Service's Reliance on State and Local Law Enforcement,” with testimony from Edward Lenz , sergeant in the Adams Township Police Department and commander of the Butler County Emergency Services Unit; Drew Blasko , patrolman in the Butler Township Police Department; John Herold , lieutenant in the Pennsylvania State Police; Patrick Sullivan , former U.S. secret service agent; and Ariel Goldschmidt, medical examiner for Allegheny County https://taskforce.house.gov/
9:30 a.m. — American Enterprise Institute virtual discussion: “China’s Comprehensive Threat to American Security,” with Robert O’Brien , former national security adviser to President Donald Trump; Dan Blumenthal , senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute; Robert Doar , president, American Enterprise Institute https://www.aei.org/events/chinas-comprehensive-threat-to-american-security
10 a.m. 2172 Rayburn — House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee hearing: "Foreign Policy, Interrupted: How Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Blunt America's Impact Abroad," with testimony from Cardell Richardso n, State Department inspector general; Paul Martin , U.S. Agency for International Development inspector general; and Anthony Zakel , U.S. International Development Finance Corporation inspector general http://foreignaffairs.house.gov
10 a.m. — Middle East Institute virtual discussion: "Is There a 'Day After'? The Future of Post-War Gaza," with Tahani Mustafa , senior analyst for Palestine at the International Crisis Group; Joe Saba , chairman of the board of directors of American Near East Refugee Aid; Mohammed Samhouri , former senior economic adviser to the Palestinian Authority; Muhammed Shehadeh , chief of programs and communications at the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor; and Khaled Elgindy , MEI senior fellow https://www.mei.edu/events/there-day-after-future-post-war-gaza
10:30 a.m. — Foundation for Defense of Democracies virtual discussion: “Axis of Aggressors: H.R. McMaster on Defending America’s Interests,” with Bradley Bowman , senior director, FDD Center on Military and Political Power https://www.fdd.org/events/2024/09/26/axis-of-aggressors
1:45 p.m. — President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House to discuss his “Victory Plan.” Vice President Kamala Harris meets separately with Zelensky at the White House afterward
3 p.m. 1200 South Hayes St., Arlington, Virginia — RAND Corporation discussion: "All Elements of National Power: The Way Ahead for the Next National Defense Strategy," with former Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Tx); former Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), chair of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy; Eric Edelman , vice chair of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy; Andrew Hoehn , RAND senior vice president of research and analysis; and David Ochmanek , RAND senior international/defense researcher https://www.rand.org/events/2024/09/the-next-national-defense-strategy
TUESDAY | OCTOBER 1
3 a.m. Brussels, Belgium — Ceremony to mark the transitions from Jens Stoltenberg to new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte , former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, at NATO Headquarters https://www.nato.int/
WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 2
1 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Brookings Institution 2024 Knight Forum on Geopolitics, with Arati Prabhakar , director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Mara Karlin , visiting fellow, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; Jeffrey Feltman , John C. Whitehead visiting fellow in International Diplomacy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; Samantha Gross , fellow and director, Energy, Security, and Climate Initiative, Brookings; Danielle Resnick , nonresident fellow, Global Economy and Development, Brookings; Valerie Wirtschafter , fellow, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative, Brookings; Alexander Noyes, fellow, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; Fiona Hill, senior fellow, Center on the U.S. and Europe, Brookings; Colin Kahl , Sydney Stein, Jr. Scholar in Residence, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; Lynn Kuok , fellow and Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asia Studies, Brookings; Suzanne Maloney , vice president and director, Foreign Policy, Brookings; Melanie Sisson , fellow, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; retired Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford , former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Marine Corps Commandant; and Michael O'Hanlon , senior fellow, Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy, and director, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings https://connect.brookings.edu/register
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