KEY TOWN RETAKEN: Ukraine forces say they have retaken the town of Makariv, about 40 miles west of Kyiv, as part of a counteroffensive aimed at blocking Russia’s attempt to encircle the Ukrainian capital and shell the city center, seizing the initiative as Russia’s group offensive stalled.
Videos released by the Ukrainian military show the town looking nearly deserted, but control of the strategic suburb effectively thwarts the efforts of Russian troops to surround Kyiv from the northwest by blocking access to the main highway.
“The Ukrainians are bravely defending their country,” said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby on CNN. “They are now in places and at times going on an offensive. They are going after Russians and pushing them out of places where the Russians have been in the past.”
“We have seen this now increase over the last few days,” he told CNN’s John Berman. “It’s a real testament to their ability to fight, to plan, to adapt and to, again, try to push Russian forces back out.”
UKRAINE SAYS IT RETOOK SUBURB NEAR KYIV PREVIOUSLY TAKEN OVER BY RUSSIAN TROOPS
RUSSIA IN DENIAL: In a separate interview with CNN, Dmitry Peskov, chief spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, admitted the monthlong invasion has yet to meet any of its strategic objectives.
“Not yet. He hasn’t achieved yet,” Peskov told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, while insisting that what he called the “special military operation” was on track. “It is going on strictly in accordance with the plans and with purposes that were established beforehand.”
Peskov reeled off a litany of claims that were at odds with the established facts on the ground, including that only military targets were being struck, that Ukrainian forces were killing people who were trying to flee cities under assault, that civilians were being used as human shields, and that Ukrainians were choosing to go to Russia voluntarily to escape the fighting.
Peskov dismissed reports of sagging morale among the Russian troops and forced relocation of Ukrainian citizens as fake. “You have to doubt it, and you have to think twice whether it is true or not,” he said. “It’s a fake. It’s a fake … We’re living in a severe informational war, in a war of fakes.”
On its Twitter account, NATO has pinned a video debunking what it says are “Kremlin lies.”
RUSSIAN MILITARY ‘INTENTIONALLY TARGETED CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE,’ PENTAGON SAYS
THE NUCLEAR THREAT: Asked by CNN if the world needs to fear that Putin might resort to nuclear weapons to achieve his goals in Ukraine, Peskov declined to rule anything out.
“Well, we have a concept of domestic security, and, well, it’s public,” he told Amanpour. “You can read all the reasons for nuclear arms to be used. So, if it is an existential threat for our country, then it can be used, in accordance with our concept.”
Peskov was referring to Russia’s military doctrine, updated in 2014, which states: “The Russian Federation shall reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction against it and/or its allies, as well as in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy.”
The doctrine, known in the West as “escalate to de-escalate,” is based on the idea that Russia could use a small nuclear weapon in a limited strike to shock an adversary in ending a war on Russia’s terms without triggering a retaliatory nuclear strike.
RUSSIA REFUSES TO RULE OUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN FACE OF ‘EXISTENTIAL THREAT’
‘WE TAKE IT AS SERIOUSLY AS ONE COULD’: “President Putin, in the early days of the conflict, actually raised the specter of the potential use of nuclear weapons,” said White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan at the White House. “It is something that we do have to be concerned about. “
“Based on our current analysis, we have not changed our nuclear posture to date,” he said. “But we are constantly monitoring for that potential contingency. And of course, we take it as seriously as one could possibly take it.”
While Russia’s doctrine calls for the offensive use of nuclear weapons only “when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy,” the problem is that Putin, in his public ramblings, has labeled Ukraine a direct threat to Russian national security.
PUTIN’S DANGEROUS NUCLEAR DOCTRINE: A LICENSE TO KILL
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HAPPENING TODAY: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg briefs reporters this morning at NATO headquarters in Brussels, ahead of tomorrow’s hastily called summit of NATO leaders. Stoltenberg’s press conference will be streamed live on the NATO website at 9 a.m. Washington time, 2 p.m. in Brussels.
BIDEN TO UNVEIL FURTHER SANCTIONS: President Joe Biden departs Washington at 9 a.m. and, with the seven-hour flight and five-hour time difference, arrives in Brussels at 9 p.m. local time.
Tomorrow, Biden will attend the NATO summit in the morning and then meet separately with leaders of the European Union and the Group of Seven, which includes the world’s richest democracies. “He will join our partners in imposing further sanctions on Russia and tightening the existing sanctions to crack down on evasion and to ensure robust enforcement,” said White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who is traveling with Biden.
In a press briefing yesterday, Sullivan said Biden will also “work with allies on longer-term adjustments to NATO force posture on the eastern flank” and “will announce joint action on enhancing European energy security and reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian gas at long last.”
PENTAGON COULD DEPLOY MORE TROOPS TO EUROPE AS RUSSIAN INVASION CONTINUES
DID JACKSON CALL BUSH AND RUMSFELD WAR CRIMINALS? There were a few points in yesterday’s second day of Senate confirmation hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson to be elevated to the Supreme Court when the questioning touched on national security matters.
Such as when Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn asked Jackson why she would label former President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld “war criminals” in a legal filing.
“I’m talking about when you were representing a member of the Taliban and the Department of Defense identified him as an intelligence officer for the Taliban. And you referred to the secretary of defense and the sitting president of the United States as war criminals. Why would you do something like that?”
Jackson said she didn’t remember making that reference and noted she was making arguments on behalf of her clients. “I did not intend to disparage the president or the secretary of defense.”
Later after a brief recess, Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Dick Durbin had looked into the incident and gave Jackson another chance to deny the allegation.
“During your service as a public defender, you filed several habeas petitions against the United States, naming former President Bush and former Secretary Rumsfeld in their official capacities. You were advocating on behalf of individuals who argued they were civilians wrongly classified as enemy combatants of the United States, and your filing was part of your professional responsibility to zealously advocate for your clients,” Durbin said. “Apparently, this is what Sen. Cornyn was referencing, so to be clear, there was no time where you called President Bush or Secretary Rumsfeld a, quote, ‘war criminal,’ closed quote.”
“That was correct,” Jackson replied.
DURBIN SLAPS DOWN CORNYN FOR CLAIMING KETANJI BROWN JACKSON CALLED BUSH A WAR CRIMINAL
GRAHAM’S LINE OF ATTACK: South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a former military lawyer, grilled Jackson on her defense of the rights of prisoners held by the U.S. under indefinite detention at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
“Is it your view that we can hold enemy combatants as long as they’re a threat to the United States?” Graham asked Jackson.
“I believe that’s what the Supreme Court has determined,” Jackson replied.
Graham said that Jackson had argued against that principle in an amicus, or “friend of the court,” brief during her time as a defense attorney. “You argued that the executive branch should not have the ability to hold an enemy combatant indefinitely. You need to try them through some process or release them.”
“Senator, my responsibility was to make my client’s arguments,” Jackson replied. “I was filing an amicus brief on behalf of clients, including the Rutherford Institute, the Cato Institute, and the Constitution Project.” And she insisted she was “not in a position to speak to the policy or the discretion of the executive branch regarding how they’re going to handle detainees.”
Graham promised to return to this line of questioning today, and he got in a heated argument with Durbin over whether Guantanamo detainees should be brought to the United States, where they would be subject to the U.S. judicial system.
“On the issue of Guantanamo, there are currently 39 Guantanamo detainees remaining. The annual budget for Guantanamo is $540 million per year, which means each of these detainees is being held at the expense of $12 million or $13 million per year,” said Dubin. “If they would be incarcerated at Florence, Colorado, the supermax prison, federal prison, the amount would be dramatically, dramatically less.”
An exasperated Graham got up and left the hearing after lashing out at Durbin and Jackson. “I’m suggesting the system has failed miserably, and advocates to change this system, like she was advocating, would destroy our ability to protect this country,” he said.
“As long as they’re dangerous, I hope they all die in jail if they’re going to go back and kill Americans. It won’t bother me one bit if 39 of them die in prison. That’s a better outcome than letting them go. And if it costs $500 million to keep them in jail, keep them in jail because they’re gonna go back to the fight,” Graham said. “Look at the friggin Afghan government. It’s made up of former detainees at Gitmo. This whole thing by the Left about this war ain’t working.”
GRAHAM WALKS OUT OF JACKSON’S HEARING AFTER RANT OVER INDEFINITE DETENTION AT GITMO
The Rundown
Washington Examiner: Ukraine says it retook suburb near Kyiv previously taken over by Russian troops
Washington Examiner: Pentagon unsure of what Russia’s ‘endgame is now’
Washington Examiner: Russian military ‘intentionally targeted civilian infrastructure,’ Pentagon says
Washington Examiner: Pentagon could deploy more troops to Europe as Russian invasion continues
Washington Examiner: Russia refuses to rule out nuclear weapons in face of ‘existential threat’
Washington Examiner: Ukrainian ambassador to US accuses Russia of ‘genocide’ during invasion
Washington Examiner: Russian forces attack five prisons in Ukraine
Washington Examiner: Journalist kidnapped and tortured for nine days by Russian forces, RSF says
Washington Examiner: Durbin slaps down Cornyn for claiming Ketanji Brown Jackson called Bush a war criminal
Washington Examiner: Graham walks out of Jackson’s hearing after rant over indefinite detention at Gitmo
Washington Examiner: ‘Cowboys for Trump’ leader found guilty in Capitol riot case
Washington Examiner: Family of man killed in botched US drone strike remains in Afghanistan
Washington Examiner: F-22 involved in landing ‘mishap’ at Florida Air Force base
Washington Post: Ukraine Defenses Hold Against Fierce Onslaught
New York Times: As Moscow’s Attack Stalls, Blame Game Starts
USNI News: New Videos Show Russian Navy Firing 8 Naval Cruise Missiles From The Black Sea
AP: Ukraine says Russia seized relief workers in Mariupol convoy
AP: Amid Russia’s new crackdowns, small signs of defiance emerge
Air Force Magazine: US Should Not Be Deterred by Putin, Should Send Aircraft to Ukraine, Former NATO Commander Says
Politico: Pentagon Scrambles To Replenish Weapons Stocks Sent To Ukraine
Air Force Magazine: Arctic Edge Brings Army’s Patriot, Avenger Systems to Alaska for the First Time
Air Force Magazine: Pentagon Acquisition Nominee Calls for ‘Much More Focus’ on Increasing Production Lines
USNI News: Pentagon Acquisition Chief Nominee Argues Navy Needs Larger, More Survivable Fleet
Defense News: U.S. Navy Considers Alternatives To Unmanned Boats With Missiles
Business Insider: The U.S. Navy Says Its New Carrier Only Needed A Fraction Of The Repairs Required The Last Time A Flattop Did ‘Shock Trials’ 34 Years Ago
Military Times: An Independent Commission Will Review The Military’s Suicide Prevention Efforts
19fortyfive.com: How China Could Help Russia’s Military Fight in Ukraine
19fortyfive.com: F-22 Raptor: The Stealth Fighter That Can Enforce a Ukraine No-Fly Zone
19fortyfive.com: Putin’s Hypersonic Missile Attacks on Ukraine: A Sign the Invasion Has Failed?
19fortyfive.com: Is America Ready if Russia Launches a Cyber Attack?
19fortyfive.com: Russia’s Tanks Are Dying in Ukraine Thanks to Elon Musk
19fortyfive.com: How Ukraine Could Get Its Hands on the S-400 Air Defense System
The Cipher Brief: Opinion: Putting Guard Rails Around the Nuclear Option
The Cipher Brief: Opinion: This is NATOs Casablanca Moment
Forbes: Biden Adm. Fumbles F-35, Free World’s Fighter, Despite War In Europe
Calendar
WEDNESDAY | MARCH 23
8 a.m. — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group virtual conversation with Sen. Jack Reed, chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee https://nationalsecuritymedia.gwu.edu
8:30 a.m. — Government Executive Media Group virtual workshop: “Defense Readiness,” with Col. Benjamin Ring, director of U.S. Cyber Command’s Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture Capability Management Office https://events.fcw.com/defense-readiness
9 a.m. Brussels, Belgium — Press conference by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of Wednesday’s summit of NATO leaders. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/events
9 a.m. 801 Mount Vernon Place N.W. — Access Intelligence Satellite Conference, with Umair Javid, chief counsel for FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel; and Acting Assistant Defense Secretary for Space Policy John Hill https://www.xpressreg.net/register
9 a.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: “U.S.-China Relations One Year Into the Biden Presidency,” with William Choong, senior fellow at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore; Sheena Chestnut Greitens, associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin; Tong Zhao, senior fellow at the CEIP Nuclear Policy Program; and Paul Haenle, chair at CEIP https://carnegieendowment.org/2022/03/23/u.s.-china-relations
10 a.m. — Center for the National Interest Zoom webinar “What Does the Ukraine War Mean for China and Taiwan?” with Paul Heer, distinguished fellow at the Center for the National Interest and a former national intelligence officer for East Asia; and Dov Zakheim, former undersecretary of defense, a senior fellow at the Center for Naval Analysis, and vice chairman of the board of the Center for the National Interest. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
10 a.m. — Woodrow Wilson Center’s Middle East Program virtual discussion: “The Changing Landscape of GCC Security,’ with Ellen Laipson, director of George Mason University’s Center for Security Policy Studies; David DesRoches, associate professor at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies; and former Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS James Jeffrey, chair of the WWC Middle East Program https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/changing-landscape-gcc-security
10:30 a.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “Previewing the NATO Summit,” with U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Julianne Smith on “Previewing the NATO Summit.” https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/previewing-the-nato-summit
11 a.m. (corrected time) — The Information Technology Industry Council virtual discussion: “Security in the Face of Rapidly Evolving Cyber Threats,” with Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich. https://bridgeforinnovation.org/security-in-the-face-of-rapidly-evolving-cyber-threats
1 p.m. — Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs virtual discussion: “Pondering the Nuclear Posture Review After Ukraine,” with James McKeon, program officer at the Nuclear Threat Initiative; Shannon Bugos, senior policy analyst at the Arms Control Association; and Maryann Cusimano-Love, associate professor at the Catholic University of America https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/events
2 p.m. — Atlantic Council Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security virtual discussion: “Future Foreign Policy: What Russia’s war means for European defense,” with Kelly Grieco, senior fellow in the New American Engagement Initiative – Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security; and Benjamin Haddad senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/future-foreign-policy Livestream at https://youtu.be
2:30 p.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities hearing to receive testimony on strategic competition and security cooperation in the Western Hemisphere, with Melissa Dalton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs; James Saenz, deputy assistant secretary of defense for counternarcotics and stabilization policy; and Brig. Gen. Frank Bradfield, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings
2:30 p.m. — U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom virtual briefing: “The Implications of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and the State of International Religious Freedom,” with Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J.; Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.; Matias Perttula, director of advocacy at International Christian Concern; Nadine Maenza, chair of USCIRF; Nury Turkel, vice chair of USCIRF; and Jason Morton, senior policy analyst at USCIRF https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/wn_bzbeegm2r-aupvbug0jvcw
6 p.m. — Aspen Institute Society of Fellows virtual discussion: “Defending the Digital World: A Survey of the Cybersecurity Risk Landscape,” with John Inglis, national cyber director and adviser to the president on cybersecurity; Dmitri Alperovitch, executive chairman at the Silverado Policy Accelerator and co-founder of CrowdStrike; Heather Adkins, senior director for security engineering at Google; and Ellen Nakashima, national security reporter at the Washington Post https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events
7 p.m. — Henry L. Stimson Center virtual discussion: “The Post-Cold War Transformation of the US-ROK Alliance: Implications and Future Cooperation,” with Richard Lawless, founder and principal at NMV International LLC; Clint Work, fellow at the Stimson Center’s 38 North Program; and Jenny Town, director of the Stimson Center’s 38 North Program https://www.stimson.org/event
THURSDAY | MARCH 24
TBA Brussels, Belgium — U.S. President Joe Biden joins 29 other NATO leaders for an in-person summit on Ukraine at NATO Headquarters. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news
9:30 a.m. G50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to receive testimony on the posture of U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command, with Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander, U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command; and Gen. Laura Richardson, commander, U.S. Southern Command https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings
9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “The U.S.-Republic of Korea Alliance,” with Christopher Del Corso, charge d’ affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul; and Sue Mi Terry, director of the Wilson Center’s Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy https://www.csis.org/events/capital-cable
10 a.m. — Government Executive Media Group virtual summit: “What Challenges Will the Intelligence Community Face in 2022 and Beyond?” with Space Force Maj. Gen. Leah Lauderback, director of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; Cynthia Bedell, director of communications and information sciences directorate at DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory; and Richard Naylor, senior cyber adviser to the director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency https://events.defenseone.com/intelligence-summit/registration/
11:30 a.m. — Washington Post Live virtual discussion: “The specter of a nuclear incident in Europe,” with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live
3 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies media conference call briefing: “Ukraine Update,” with Mark Cancian, senior adviser at the CSIS International Security Program; Emily Harding, deputy director of the CSIS International Security Program; James Andrew Lewis, director of the CSIS Strategic Technologies Program; Jacob Kurtzer, director of the CSIS Humanitarian Agenda; William Alan Reinsch, CSIS chair in international business; Gerard DiPippo, senior fellow at the CSIS Economics Program; and Bonny Lin, director of the CSIS China Power Project Contact Andrew Schwartz, 202-775-3242 for access
4 p.m. — Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Indiana Chapter virtual discussion: “The cyber-attacks hitting Ukraine,” with Chris Kubecka, HypaSec CEO /www.eventbrite.com/e/afcea-indiana-chapter-monthly-talk
FRIDAY | MARCH 25
11 a.m. — U.S. Energy Association virtual discussion: “The Ukrainian War Comes Home – Energy and Minerals in Crisis,” with Nick Akins, chairman, president & CEO of American Electric Power; Lori Esposito Murray, president of the Conference Board’s Committee for Economic Development; Peter Londa, president & CEO of Tantalus Systems; Linda Gasparello of PBS; Markham Hislop of Energi Media; Jennifer Hiller of The Wall Street Journal; Kostis Gerapoulos of New European; USEA Acting Executive Director Sheila Hollis; and Llewellyn King, creator, executive producer & host of White House Chronicle https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
WEDNESDAY | MARCH 30
1 p.m. — Air Force Association virtual conversation: “Air and Space Warfighters in Action” with Lt. Gen. David Nahom, Air Force deputy chief of staff for plans and programs; Lt. Gen. William Liquori, deputy chief of space operations, strategy, plans, programs, requirements, and analysis; and retired Lt. Gen. Bruce “Orville” Wright, AFA president https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“As long as they’re dangerous, I hope they all die in jail if they’re going to go back and kill Americans. It won’t bother me one bit if 39 of them die in prison. That’s a better outcome than letting them go … Look at the friggin Afghan government. It’s made up of former detainees at Gitmo.”
South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, arguing at Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing that detainees at Guantanamo should be subject to indefinite detention.
