Kyiv begins to feel the war closing in as Russian bombardment reaches Ukrainian capital

“Almost all of Russia’s advances remain stalled,” a senior defense official told reporters at the Pentagon yesterday. “That one axis coming down toward the airport, Hostomel, we have seen no appreciable change in their progress over the weekend. They’re still right around the airport, somewhere around 15 or so kilometers from the city center.”

“We do see them trying to flow in forces behind the advance elements. That continues, but not at a great pace and difficult to quantify,” the official said, adding that the so-called convoy of Russian military vehicles, once described as 40 miles long, hasn’t moved. “The vaunted convoy … we still hold that it’s stalled and that they have not made any significant progress in unsticking it.”

‘HUGE’ EXPLOSIONS ROCK DOWNTOWN KYIV

ZELENSKY VOWS TO REBUILD: In a Facebook video recorded on a Kyiv street, President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to Ukrainians not to lose heart as the Russian military continues to rain destruction on the country.

“Russia continues to destroy our infrastructure, continues to beat our cities. But we will restore every street, every city, every house, the apartment of every Ukrainian,” Zelensky said, while in a separate video he appealed to Russia’s conscript soldiers to lay down their arms and surrender.

“We hear what you really think about this senseless war, about this disgrace and your state, your conversations with each other, your calls home. We hear it all,” Zelensky said. “Therefore, I offer you a choice. On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I give you a chance, a chance to survive. If you surrender to our forces, we will treat you the way people are supposed to be treated, as people decently, as you were not treated in your Army.”

ZELENSKY RALLIES RUSSIANS ‘NOT AFRAID’ TO PROTEST PUTIN’S INVASION

ZELENSKY TO ADDRESS CONGRESS: Tomorrow, Zelensky is scheduled to deliver a virtual address to the U.S. Congress at 9 a.m. that will be livestreamed for the public. House and Senate members will gather in the Capitol Visitor Center Congressional Auditorium.

“The Congress remains unwavering in our commitment to supporting Ukraine as they face Putin’s cruel and diabolical aggression, and to passing legislation to cripple and isolate the Russian economy as well as deliver humanitarian, security and economic assistance to Ukraine,” said a statement by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “We look forward to the privilege of welcoming President Zelensky’s address to the House and Senate and to convey our support to the people of Ukraine as they bravely defend democracy.”

TOP PUTIN ALLY SAYS UKRAINIAN INVASION IS NOT GOING ‘AS FAST AS WE WOULD LIKE’

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HAPPENING TODAY: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin departs today for Brussels, Belgium, for an in-person meeting of NATO defense ministers before visiting Slovakia and Bulgaria later in the week.

“He looks forward to having another discussion to talk with our NATO allies about all the things we’re doing as an alliance to bolster and support our deterrence capabilities on the eastern flank,” said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. Also under discussion will be how to get more lethal weaponry in the hands of Ukrainian forces.

“You saw that the president approved another $200 million drawdown package over the course of the weekend. I can tell you that experts here at the Pentagon have pen and paper in hand, and they’re working out how we would realize that … as quickly as we can,” Kirby said. “And as I’ve said before, we’re going to continue to provide as much as we can as fast as we can.”

At 10 a.m., NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg briefs reporters ahead of tomorrow’s meeting.

ALSO TODAY: At 2:15 p.m., President Joe Biden will sign into law H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, in the Indian Treaty Room in the White House. The bipartisan $1.5 trillion appropriation measure will unlock a more than $25 billion increase in defense spending authorized back in December for the Pentagon, plus $13.6 billion in emergency aid for Ukraine.

THE CASE AGAINST A NO-FLY ZONE: The Pentagon continues to argue that a U.S. or NATO-imposed no-fly zone over Ukraine is simply not practical, in particular, because Russia’s airspace borders Ukraine. And it cites Sunday’s attack at the Yavoriv military training center near the Polish border as an example of how little an air patrol could do.

At yesterday’s briefing by a senior defense official, the Pentagon said the strike was carried out by Russian long-range bombers flying in Russian airspace, which fired “a couple of dozen” air-launched cruise missiles, hitting at least seven structures at the base.

“For the advocates of a no-fly zone, I mean, this is an example of how a no-fly zone inside Ukraine would have had no effect on this particular set of strikes,” the official said.

The official said the skies over Ukraine remain contested, with Ukraine being “appropriately careful” with their limited air assets believed to number just over 50 fighter jets.

“The main takeaway is that the Russians, for all their inventory and for all the munitions that they have available to them and to their aircraft, they have still not achieved air superiority over the skies of Ukraine,” the official said. “They are flying more sorties. They have more aircraft. But they have not achieved air superiority.”

“The Ukrainians are still using very skillfully the air defense systems at their disposal, whether that’s surface-to-air missiles or MANPADS, they are using them very skillfully, and they have prevented the Russians from achieving air superiority over the whole country.”

‘COUPLE DOZEN’ ROCKETS USED IN RUSSIA ATTACK ON MILITARY BASE NEAR POLAND: PENTAGON

THE CASE FOR MiGS: The Pentagon continues to oppose the Polish proposal that it give its Soviet-era MiGs to the U.S. and that the U.S. in turn transfer them to Ukraine, but it continues to say that it has no problem if an individual country wanted to supply combat aircraft to Ukraine.

“We have long said, continue to say, these are national decisions that sovereign nations have to make, and if a sovereign nation wanted to provide additional assistance to Ukraine, that is for them to decide,” the senior official said.

There continues to be strong bipartisan support in Congress for finding some way to get additional fighter aircraft to Ukraine, if for no other reason than boosting morale.

“I think Ukrainians can win victory for Ukraine. What are we not doing? Let’s send in the MiGs. Let’s send in all the Soviet-era anti-aircraft missile systems that exist in former eastern bloc countries,” said South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham on Fox.

“We need to send the MiG fighters. [Sen.] Amy Klobuchar said over the weekend, a Democrat from Minnesota, that, don’t rule out that we will eventually send the MiGs,” Graham said. “If we could reverse course and actually send the fighters in, that would be a morale booster for the Ukrainians, and it would hurt Putin because it shows that we’re determined to stay in this fight.”

Klobuchar, in an interview with CNN Saturday, said, “I’d like to see the planes over there.”

“But, remember, things shift. As things become a target, because there’s so much public discussion about them, that can become an issue itself,” she said. “And so part of this is figuring out how you best get things — and it’s not always in public sight, because then they become themselves target … And I still don’t rule out having planes at some point.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The Rundown

Washington Examiner: Czech, Polish, and Slovenian prime ministers to visit Zelensky in Kyiv war zone

Washington Examiner: ‘Huge’ explosions rock downtown Kyiv

Washington Examiner: ‘Lying to you’: Russian TV employee interrupts news broadcast with anti-war sign

Washington Examiner: Russia may seek to stage ‘referendum’ in Kherson

Washington Examiner: Zelensky rallies Russians ‘not afraid’ to protest Putin’s invasion

Washington Examiner: Putin purges Russian intelligence as military elite suffer devastating losses

Washington Examiner: White House says there will be ‘consequences’ but no ‘red lines’ for Russia

Washington Examiner: White House expressed ‘deep concerns’ about China’s Russia ties in seven-hour meeting

Washington Examiner: Russian navy establishes blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea coast

Washington Examiner: Fox News journalist Benjamin Hall injured while reporting outside Kyiv

Washington Examiner: Top Putin ally says Ukrainian invasion is not going ‘as fast as we would like’

Washington Examiner: ‘Couple dozen’ rockets used in Russia attack on military base near Poland: Pentagon

Washington Examiner: Negotiators hint at progress before fourth round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks

Washington Examiner: ‘I’m a rudimentary soldier at best’: Ukrainian parliament member takes up arms

Washington Examiner: Pregnant woman photographed after Ukraine maternity hospital bombing dies with baby

Washington Examiner: Senate Republicans challenge Biden administration on Iran nuclear deal

New York Times: Despite Talks, Attacks Broaden And Devastation Mounts

Washington Post: How Kyiv’s Outgunned Defenders Have Kept Russian Forces From Capturing The Capital

AP: War in Ukraine disrupts key supply chains – and lives

AP: Ukraine war may lead to rethinking of US defense of Europe

New York Times: Beijing Sees One Victor In War: It’s China

Breaking Defense: Russia May Be Holding Cyber Capabilities In Reserve, So U.S. Must Keep Its Shields Up: Experts

Wall Street Journal: Kim Claims Launches Are Satellite Tests

Air Force Magazine: PACAF’s Wilsbach: China and Russia Cooperate but Are Not Interoperable—No One in Charge

Air Force Magazine: Germany to Buy F-35 and Typhoon Fighters as It Boosts Defense Spending

Air Force Magazine: Cyber Troops Stretched Thin in Ukraine Response as NATO Builds Common Air Picture

Defense News: Top Navy Official Says Service Needs A Larger Fleet And A Larger Share Of The Budget

USNI News: Navy Will Install Hypersonic Missiles Aboard Zumwalt Destroyers Without Removing Gun Mounts

Mother Jones: Leaked Kremlin Memo to Russian Media: It Is “Essential” to Feature Tucker Carlson

19fortyfive.com: Opinion: Russia’s War in Ukraine Is Now Officially a Disaster for Putin

19fortyfive.com: Russia’s Not-So-Secret Weapon Against NATO and the West: Refugees

19fortyfive.com: Opinion: Yes, Russia Is Really Bombing Hospitals in Ukraine On Purpose

19fortyfive.com: How to Prepare: North Korea Could Soon Test an ICBM or Nuclear Weapon

The Cipher Brief: Opinion: How Russians Can Bring an End to Putin’s Chekist State

The Cipher Brief: Opinion: China’s Chance to Lead a Humanitarian Effort in Ukraine

The Cipher Brief: Opinion: Putin Isn’t the First Dictator to Invade Ukraine

The Cipher Brief: Opinion: The Cornered Putin Problem

Calendar

TUESDAY | MARCH 15

8 a.m. — German Marshall Fund of the United States virtual discussion: “War in Ukraine: Implications for Japan and Security in Asia,” with former Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ichiro Fujisaki https://www.gmfus.org/event/war-ukraine-implications

9:30 a.m. G50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the posture of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Africa Command, with testimony from Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander, U.S.Central Command; and Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings

10 a.m. (3 p.m. Brussels) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg briefs reporters ahead of Wednesday’s “Extraordinary Meeting of NATO Ministers of Defense.” https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_193119.htm

10 a.m. — German Marshall Fund of the United States virtual discussion: “Russia’s Southern Game: NATO’s Southern Flank after the Ukraine Invasion,” with Pauline Bax, deputy program chief for Africa at the International Crisis Group; Mark Katz, professor at George Mason University; Andrew Lebovich, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations; and Kristina Kausch, senior fellow at the GMFUS Brussels office https://www.gmfus.org/event/russias-southern-game

10 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “The Future of the U.S.-UK Intelligence Alliance,” former Deputy Defense Undersecretary for Intelligence and Security Kari Bingen, chief strategy officer at HawkEye 360; James Danoy, former executive at the Defense Intelligence Agency; and Samantha Clark, general counsel at Rebellion Defense https://www.csis.org/events/report-launch-future-us-uk-intelligence-alliance

10:30 a.m. — Henry Stimson Center virtual discussion: “The Ukraine Crisis and India’s Russia Conundrum,” with Tanvi Madan, director of the Brookings Institution’s India Project; Aleksei Zakharov, research fellow at HSE University’s School of International Affairs; Chirayu Thakkar, doctoral candidate in international relations at the National University of Singapore and former visiting fellow at the Stimson Center; and Akriti Vasudeva, fellow in the Stimson Center’s South Asia Program https://www.stimson.org/event/russias-invasion-of-ukraine-indias-stakes

2 p.m. — Hudson Institute virtual discussion: “The U.S. Army in the Indo-Pacific Region,” with Army Secretary Christine Wormuth; and Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-event-the-us-army-in-the-indo-pacific

5:15 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual conversation: “Aiding Ukraine: How the U.S. Can Give Ukrainians the Means to Fight,” with Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas; and Eliot Cohen, CSIS Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy https://www.csis.org/events/aiding-ukraine

WEDNESDAY | MARCH 16

9 a.m. — NATO defense ministers meet in-person at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg talks to reporters beforehand, and conducts a full briefing afterward. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_193007.htm

10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: “National Security Challenges and U.S. Military Activity in Europe,” with testimony from Celeste Wallander, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs; and Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, commander, U.S. European Command https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

10 a.m. — Washington Post Live virtual discussion on Ukraine with Marie Yovanovitch, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. https://worldstagemarch16.splashthat.com

11:30 a.m. — Organization of Iranian American Communities virtual media briefing with a bipartisan group of senators and prominent former officials to discuss Iran policy and nuclear talks. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register

1:30 p.m. — Washington Post Live virtual discussion with Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live

2 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “NATO On The Line: The Views of Four Former SACEURs,” with retired Supreme Allied Commanders Europe Gen. Philip Breedlove; Gen. Joseph Ralston; Gen. James Jones; and Gen. Wesley Clark https://www.csis.org/events/nato-line-views-four-former-saceurs

2 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Readiness hearing: “Energy, Installations, and Environment Program Update” with testimony from Paul Cramer, acting assistant secretary of defense, energy, installations, and environment; Paul Farnan, acting assistant secretary of the Army, energy, installations, and environment; Meredith Berger, assistant secretary of the Navy, energy, installations, and the environment; and Edwin Oshiba, acting secretary of the Air Force, energy, installations, and the environment https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

3 p.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel hearing on health effects of exposure to airborne hazards, including toxic fumes from burn pits, with testimony from Dr. Terry Rauch, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for health readiness policy and oversight; Dr. Raul Mirza, division chief, occupational and environmental medicine clinical public health and epidemiology, U.S. Army Public Health Center; Col. Adam Newell, commander, Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center; Capt. Brian Feldman, commander, Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center; Dr. Anthony Szema, director, International Center of Excellence in Deployment Health and Medical Geosciences, Northwell Health Foundation; Tom Porter, executive vice president government affairs, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Rosie Torres, Executive Director Burn Pits 360; and Steven Patterson, former environmental science officer, Combined Joint Task Force 101 Headquarters, Afghanistan, 2008-2009 https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings

3 p.m. — Heritage Foundation virtual lecture with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific. https://www.heritage.org/asia/event

THURSDAY | MARCH 17

8 a.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: “Consequences of the War in Ukraine on the Middle East,” Emma Beals, non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute; Paul Stronski, senior fellow in Carnegie’s Russia and Eurasia Program; Sinan Ulgen, visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe in Brussels; Maha Yahya, director of the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center; and Jihad Yazigi, visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations https://events.ceip.org/consequencesofthewarinukraineo

8:30 a.m. — German Marshall Fund of the United States virtual discussion: “China’s Russia Strategy: The Ukraine Crisis and Beyond,” with Evan Medeiros, Asian studies chair and senior fellow in U.S.-China Relations at Georgetown University; Akio Takahara, professor of contemporary Chinese politics at the University of Tokyo; Mathieu Duchatel, director of the Institut Montaigne Asia program; and Bonnie Glase, director of the GMFUS Asia Program https://sites-gmf.vuturevx.com/38/7893/landing-pages/rsvp-blank.asp

9 a.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “A Force Multiplier? China and Russia’s Relationship in the Middle East,” with Li-Chen Sim, associate professor at Khalifa University; Jonathan Fulton, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council; and David Shullman, senior director at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/a-force-multiplier

9:30 a.m. — Woodrow Wilson Center virtual discussion: “The Ukraine Crisis and the Balkans: What Changes, and What Doesn’t,” with Arian Starova, president of the Atlantic Council of Albania and former deputy minister of defense (Albania); Srecko Latal, contributor, for Balkan Insight and researcher for Balkans Crossroads (Bosnia-Herzegovina); Plamen Pantev, professor at Sofia University (Bulgaria); Jasmina Kuzmanovic, correspondent for Bloomberg News (Croatia); Ioannis Armakolas, senior research fellow at Eliamep (Greece); Lulzim Peci, executive director of KIPRED (Kosovo); Srdjan Darmanovic, professor at the University of Montenegro and former foreign minister (Montenegro); Zlatko Vujovic, assistant professor at the University of Montenegro (Montenegro); Ognen Vangelov, professor at University American College, Skopje (North Macedonia); Oana Popescu-Zamfir, director of Global Focus (Romania); Milena Lazarevic, program director for the European Policy Centre (Serbia); and Jan Cingel, CEO of Strategic Analysis (Slovakia) https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/ukraine-crisis-and-balkans

10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: “National Security Challenges and U.S. Military Activities in the Greater Middle East and Africa,” with testimony from Celeste Wallander, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs; Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command; and Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander, U.S. Central Command https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

10 a.m. 106 Dirksen — Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe hearing to examine the Baltics under pressure, with Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.

11 a.m. — Woodrow Wilson Center’s Middle East Program virtual discussion: “Will Iran Build the Bomb?” John Mearsheimer, professor of political science at the University of Chicago; Mahsa Rouhi, research fellow at the National Defense University’s Center for Strategic Research; and Tytti Erasto, senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s Nuclear Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-proliferation Program https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/will-iran-build-bomb

12 p.m. — Vandenberg Coalition virtual discussion: “The future of U.S.-China competition and how the China Challenge is reshaping U.S. foreign policy,” with former Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Pottinger, chairman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ China Program https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register

1:30 p.m. — Washington Post Live virtual discussion with Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live

3 p.m. — Washington Post Live “World Stage: Ukraine with Mikko Hautala, Finnish Ambassador to the United States,” with Washington Post national security reporter Missy Ryan https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live

4 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations hearing: “Defense Intelligence Posture to Support the Warfighters and Policy Makers,” with testimony Ronald Moultrie, undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security; Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander, U.S. Cyber Command; and director, National Security Agency; and Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director, Defense Intelligence Agency https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

FRIDAY | MARCH 18

10 a.m. — Brookings Institution virtual discussion: “the new geopolitics of state fragility,” with Alexandre Marc, member of the Institute for Integrated Transitions; and Lina Benabdallah, assistant professor of politics and international affairs at Wake Forest University https://www.brookings.edu/events/the-new-geopolitics-of-fragility/

11 a.m. — Washington Post Live ‘World Stage: Ukraine with Julianne Smith, United States Ambassador to NATO https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live