WEBVTT 00:08.940 --> 00:12.940 Good afternoon . Good to see 00:12.940 --> 00:15.820 everyone . We'll go ahead and get 00:15.820 --> 00:18.600 started as you all know . Earlier today 00:18.600 --> 00:20.100 in Geneva we concluded the 00:20.100 --> 00:22.490 extraordinary session of the bilateral 00:22.490 --> 00:24.657 strategic stability dialogue where the 00:24.657 --> 00:26.434 US delegation was led by Deputy 00:26.434 --> 00:29.000 Secretary of State Wendy R Sherman and 00:29.000 --> 00:31.300 candid substantive discussions that 00:31.300 --> 00:33.680 lasted nearly eight hours . The United 00:33.680 --> 00:35.569 States came with several ideas of 00:35.569 --> 00:37.791 reciprocal actions that the U . S . And 00:37.791 --> 00:39.847 Russia can take that would be in our 00:39.847 --> 00:41.847 security interest and would improve 00:41.847 --> 00:44.780 strategic stability . These preliminary 00:44.780 --> 00:47.002 ideas , as you've heard from the deputy 00:47.002 --> 00:49.250 included included missile placement in 00:49.250 --> 00:51.530 the future of certain missile systems 00:51.530 --> 00:53.586 in europe along the lines of the now 00:53.586 --> 00:56.300 defunct I . N . F . Treaty between the 00:56.300 --> 00:59.390 US and Russia . We also shared that we 00:59.390 --> 01:01.570 are open to discussing ways we can set 01:01.570 --> 01:04.230 reciprocal limits on the size and scope 01:04.240 --> 01:06.550 of military exercises into improving 01:06.550 --> 01:09.050 transparency around those exercises . 01:09.060 --> 01:12.680 Again on a on a reciprocal basis . We 01:12.680 --> 01:15.130 were firm however , in pushing back on 01:15.130 --> 01:17.130 security proposals we've heard from 01:17.130 --> 01:19.297 Moscow that are simply nonstarters for 01:19.297 --> 01:21.880 the United States . We will not for 01:21.880 --> 01:24.960 example , allow anyone to slam close 01:24.960 --> 01:27.460 NATO's open door policy which has 01:27.470 --> 01:29.620 always been central to the NATO 01:29.620 --> 01:32.000 alliance . We also will not forgo 01:32.000 --> 01:34.056 bilateral cooperation with sovereign 01:34.056 --> 01:35.944 States that wish to work with the 01:35.944 --> 01:38.450 United States and we will not make 01:38.450 --> 01:41.530 decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine 01:41.680 --> 01:44.750 about europe without europe or about 01:44.750 --> 01:47.680 NATO without NATO , as we say to our 01:47.690 --> 01:50.280 allies and partners . Nothing about you 01:50.320 --> 01:52.360 without you . The United States is 01:52.360 --> 01:54.450 committed to meaningful reciprocal 01:54.450 --> 01:56.690 dialogue with Russia . Just as we are 01:56.690 --> 01:58.246 committed to consulting and 01:58.246 --> 02:00.301 coordinating closely with our allies 02:00.301 --> 02:02.523 and partners . We are ready to continue 02:02.523 --> 02:04.746 discussions on the bilateral issues why 02:04.746 --> 02:06.634 we identified today as soon as is 02:06.634 --> 02:08.857 practical and we made that clear in the 02:08.857 --> 02:11.420 discussions today to that end tomorrow . 02:11.430 --> 02:13.652 Deputy Secretary Sherman will travel to 02:13.652 --> 02:15.708 brussels to brief the north atlantic 02:15.708 --> 02:17.541 Council and the Eu Political and 02:17.541 --> 02:19.652 Security Committee as well as to meet 02:19.652 --> 02:21.970 with the E U e a E a . S Secretary 02:21.970 --> 02:24.140 General Santino all ahead of the NATO 02:24.140 --> 02:26.084 Russia Council meeting planned for 02:26.084 --> 02:28.140 Wednesday morning . We have been and 02:28.140 --> 02:30.307 will continue to be moving in lockstep 02:30.307 --> 02:32.418 with our allies and partners at every 02:32.418 --> 02:34.529 level . Deputy Secretary Sherman will 02:34.529 --> 02:36.410 travel to brussels for continued 02:36.420 --> 02:40.380 consultations uh , ahead of those 02:40.390 --> 02:42.800 multilateral engagements with the 02:42.800 --> 02:45.800 Russian Federation that are slated for 02:45.810 --> 02:48.660 later this week . Russian officials 02:48.660 --> 02:50.493 have said that they want to move 02:50.493 --> 02:52.604 swiftly in the United States is ready 02:52.604 --> 02:54.980 to do so at the same time , negotiated 02:54.980 --> 02:56.980 negotiations on complex topics like 02:56.980 --> 02:59.091 arms control cannot be completed in a 02:59.091 --> 03:01.640 matter of days or even weeks . We must 03:01.640 --> 03:03.696 give diplomacy and dialogue the time 03:03.696 --> 03:06.610 and space required to make progress on 03:06.610 --> 03:09.880 such complex issues . So with that , 03:09.890 --> 03:12.060 happy to turn to your questions . 03:13.540 --> 03:16.120 Thanks , that's been a while since I've 03:16.130 --> 03:19.160 been in this room over over a month now . 03:19.960 --> 03:23.350 I'm sure you're thrilled . Um 03:24.040 --> 03:27.140 a couple of things on that . But I just 03:27.140 --> 03:28.696 want to start with 11 thing 03:28.696 --> 03:30.862 logistically , you guys just put out a 03:30.862 --> 03:33.000 statement uh Secretary comment on the 03:33.010 --> 03:36.270 chinese sanctions on on surf 03:36.280 --> 03:38.720 members . I mean , that happened over a 03:38.720 --> 03:41.800 month ago . It's an important , 03:42.130 --> 03:44.420 it was that important . Why didn't you 03:44.420 --> 03:46.642 react to it early ? I'm just curious as 03:46.642 --> 03:48.809 to why it took so long for you guys to 03:48.809 --> 03:51.290 come up with Matt . I think , you know , 03:51.290 --> 03:53.068 it's an important message . The 03:53.068 --> 03:55.234 Secretary wanted to be very clear that 03:55.234 --> 03:57.650 we view these actions as just another 03:57.650 --> 04:00.440 attempt on the part of the PRC to 04:00.440 --> 04:03.970 intimidate to suppress uh , those who 04:03.970 --> 04:06.620 are putting forward , wondering why it 04:06.920 --> 04:09.700 took so long since this happened in 04:09.700 --> 04:11.644 december . Well , as you know , we 04:11.644 --> 04:13.533 often issue for , we often issued 04:13.533 --> 04:15.700 formal statements after the fact we're 04:15.700 --> 04:17.867 always happy to discussed developments 04:17.867 --> 04:20.089 on a real time basis . As as you know , 04:20.089 --> 04:22.311 let's go to to the Russia to the Russia 04:22.311 --> 04:24.589 talks . Um , two things . One is there , 04:24.589 --> 04:26.640 was there any agreement on anything 04:26.650 --> 04:30.060 even to have another round of 04:30.440 --> 04:32.700 talks that was agreed to it 04:32.710 --> 04:36.400 uh in this uh , so matt as you 04:36.400 --> 04:39.860 know , uh these were discussions , they 04:39.860 --> 04:42.300 were preliminary discussions and the 04:42.300 --> 04:45.620 idea was for the United States uh and 04:45.630 --> 04:48.050 in our hope the Russian federation to 04:48.050 --> 04:51.940 come with viable practical reciprocal 04:51.940 --> 04:54.520 ideas to put those on the table and to 04:54.520 --> 04:56.520 see if there were the potential for 04:56.520 --> 04:58.742 progress . We did not intend this to be 04:58.742 --> 05:00.909 a forum where certainly decisions were 05:00.909 --> 05:03.790 reached or any breakthroughs could be 05:03.790 --> 05:05.957 achieved or really even contemplated . 05:05.957 --> 05:07.880 This wasn't as you heard from the 05:07.880 --> 05:09.950 deputy this morning , even what we 05:09.950 --> 05:12.890 would consider a negotiation it was I 05:12.890 --> 05:15.112 just want to know , I mean because this 05:15.112 --> 05:17.334 is the third round of these that you've 05:17.334 --> 05:19.390 had and in the previous rounds there 05:19.390 --> 05:21.612 has been an agreement that you would at 05:21.612 --> 05:23.723 some point at some level whether it's 05:23.723 --> 05:25.890 working group or whatever meet again . 05:25.890 --> 05:27.946 You're saying there wasn't even that 05:27.946 --> 05:30.112 what what what what I'm saying is that 05:30.112 --> 05:32.446 it was not intended to reach a decision . 05:32.446 --> 05:34.501 This was not a decisive session , It 05:34.501 --> 05:36.446 was intended to do . Was there any 05:36.446 --> 05:39.060 agreement at all to meet again ? As you 05:39.060 --> 05:42.080 heard as you heard from the Deputy Matt , 05:42.080 --> 05:44.247 What's going to happen over the course 05:44.247 --> 05:46.358 of this week tomorrow the deputy will 05:46.358 --> 05:48.469 travel to brussels , she'll meet with 05:48.469 --> 05:50.469 our NATO with our european allies . 05:50.469 --> 05:52.024 They in turn will then have 05:52.024 --> 05:53.913 multilateral discussions with the 05:53.913 --> 05:55.858 Russian Federation . And we expect 05:55.858 --> 05:58.024 there will be additional dialogue with 05:58.024 --> 06:00.080 the Russian Federation in the coming 06:00.080 --> 06:02.247 days regarding what the next iteration 06:02.247 --> 06:04.302 of this of this discussion will look 06:04.302 --> 06:06.524 like the bottom line is that they don't 06:06.524 --> 06:08.747 know there was no agreement to have not 06:08.747 --> 06:08.050 that you were expecting to have one , 06:08.050 --> 06:10.110 but there was no agreement to meet 06:10.110 --> 06:12.830 again at any other level in this 06:12.830 --> 06:14.670 bilateral format . There was an 06:14.670 --> 06:16.837 agreement that that we will talk again 06:16.837 --> 06:18.948 in the coming days to figure out what 06:18.948 --> 06:21.059 those next steps look like . And then 06:21.059 --> 06:23.170 lastly I just wanted to I want to you 06:23.170 --> 06:25.392 know , I asked Deputy Secretary Sherman 06:25.392 --> 06:27.614 this before in terms of what it is that 06:27.614 --> 06:29.781 the U . S . And its allies would would 06:29.781 --> 06:32.160 regard as significant or 06:33.760 --> 06:37.750 enough the escalation from the 06:37.750 --> 06:40.420 Russian side as it relates specifically 06:40.420 --> 06:43.190 to Ukraine . She suggested that that 06:43.190 --> 06:45.920 meant returning Russian troops that are 06:45.920 --> 06:48.300 now deployed on the border border to 06:48.300 --> 06:50.522 their barracks . But those barracks can 06:50.522 --> 06:53.040 be anywhere in Russia , they could be 06:53.040 --> 06:55.320 10 miles from where they are now . And 06:55.320 --> 06:57.264 so I want to bring this up again , 06:58.940 --> 07:01.320 understanding the context and the 07:01.320 --> 07:03.580 history of what Russian troop 07:03.580 --> 07:06.730 deployments might mean two countries 07:06.740 --> 07:08.750 along its border . These are still 07:08.760 --> 07:10.927 these are still troop movements within 07:10.927 --> 07:13.940 their own countries . They haven't gone 07:13.940 --> 07:16.540 anywhere else , at least not yet . 07:16.710 --> 07:20.290 These these so what is it that you guys 07:20.290 --> 07:22.430 are looking for in terms of de 07:22.430 --> 07:24.640 escalation , because if you're gonna 07:24.640 --> 07:27.850 try to bar countries from sending from 07:27.860 --> 07:30.070 moving troops around inside their own 07:30.070 --> 07:32.014 borders , you know , I don't think 07:32.014 --> 07:34.070 anyone's gonna no one's gonna go for 07:34.070 --> 07:36.181 that . Um Let me make a couple points 07:36.181 --> 07:38.403 on that map . There is a reason we have 07:38.403 --> 07:40.459 been talking about this . The United 07:40.459 --> 07:42.380 States has put this on the agenda 07:42.380 --> 07:44.970 really the center of our foreign policy 07:44.970 --> 07:47.170 agenda agenda and at the top of our 07:47.180 --> 07:49.291 messaging agenda in many ways for the 07:49.291 --> 07:51.458 past two months . That is because this 07:51.458 --> 07:54.200 build up of nearly 100,000 Russian 07:54.200 --> 07:57.400 troops in recent weeks . We've called 07:57.400 --> 08:00.320 it unusual . We've called it massive . 08:00.330 --> 08:03.190 We have called it concerning it is all 08:03.190 --> 08:05.460 of those things . That is why we are 08:05.460 --> 08:09.070 taking this with all due 08:09.080 --> 08:12.160 seriousness . You heard from the Deputy 08:12.170 --> 08:14.281 that what we have consistently called 08:14.281 --> 08:16.810 for is for these Russian troops to 08:16.820 --> 08:18.987 return to their barracks . You seem to 08:18.987 --> 08:21.209 suggest that It is completely normal in 08:21.209 --> 08:23.153 the course of business for 100,000 08:23.153 --> 08:25.487 troops to be on the border with Ukraine . 08:25.487 --> 08:27.653 That is not normal . That is why we've 08:27.653 --> 08:27.310 called it unusual . That's why we've 08:27.310 --> 08:29.366 been talking about this for the past 08:29.366 --> 08:31.477 two months . But what , what barracks 08:31.477 --> 08:33.310 do you want them to go to ? Some 08:33.310 --> 08:35.710 barracks and vladivostok ? I mean , I 08:35.720 --> 08:38.810 don't understand it . I get I get the 08:38.810 --> 08:41.560 concern , I get the , the , the history 08:41.570 --> 08:43.970 and I get the , you know , the fears in 08:43.970 --> 08:46.410 Ukraine and elsewhere about what the 08:46.410 --> 08:48.188 potential , you know , what the 08:48.188 --> 08:50.690 significance might be of these troops . 08:50.690 --> 08:53.500 But but who why is it for you to tell 08:53.500 --> 08:56.130 the Russians Where exactly they can 08:56.140 --> 08:58.320 house their own troops ? Where do you 08:58.320 --> 09:00.500 want to go to barracks ? Where back in 09:00.500 --> 09:04.030 Moscow and Yekaterinburg and where matt , 09:04.040 --> 09:06.280 these this build up started with the 09:06.280 --> 09:08.002 unusual movements that has now 09:08.002 --> 09:10.140 culminated in nearly 100,000 troops . 09:10.490 --> 09:13.030 It took movement to get to this build 09:13.030 --> 09:15.190 up , what we would like to see is for 09:15.190 --> 09:17.190 troops to return to their permanent 09:17.540 --> 09:19.873 Staging grounds , their permanent bases . 09:19.873 --> 09:21.984 If they were to do that , there would 09:21.984 --> 09:23.762 not be nearly 100,000 troops on 09:23.762 --> 09:25.818 Ukraine's border . I'll make another 09:25.818 --> 09:27.929 point . The Russians did this without 09:27.929 --> 09:30.262 any transparency without telling anyone . 09:30.262 --> 09:32.429 Now , of course we are going to notice 09:32.590 --> 09:34.840 100,000 troops probably far less . In 09:34.840 --> 09:37.020 terms of the build up , our allies are 09:37.020 --> 09:38.798 going to notice it . Commercial 09:38.798 --> 09:41.020 satellite companies are going to notice 09:41.020 --> 09:42.964 it . So it's not that the Russians 09:42.964 --> 09:45.470 sought to do this furtively or 09:45.470 --> 09:47.980 stealthily . Of course everyone is 09:47.980 --> 09:50.780 going to notice a massive build up on 09:50.780 --> 09:53.120 the order Of 100,000 troops . And 09:53.120 --> 09:55.880 that's really the point . The Russians 09:56.030 --> 09:59.590 knew that we would notice this . The 09:59.590 --> 10:01.940 Russians knew that the intimidating 10:01.940 --> 10:04.850 signals that they are very clearly 10:04.910 --> 10:08.170 intending to send to keith will be 10:08.170 --> 10:10.300 noticed not only in keith but in 10:10.300 --> 10:12.900 Washington and in brussels and in paris 10:12.910 --> 10:15.021 and London and Berlin and elsewhere . 10:15.021 --> 10:17.410 And that's certainly the case . You you 10:17.410 --> 10:20.370 raised the history but the history here 10:20.380 --> 10:22.680 is also important . Uh this is not a 10:22.680 --> 10:26.210 country where there is no and I'm glad 10:26.210 --> 10:28.432 you did . This is the and just just how 10:28.432 --> 10:30.599 far away from Ukraine's borders do you 10:30.599 --> 10:32.766 want these troops to go matt ? What we 10:32.766 --> 10:34.821 have called for is a return to their 10:34.821 --> 10:36.877 barracks . And if we see a return to 10:36.877 --> 10:39.043 their barracks , that is an indication 10:39.043 --> 10:41.043 of de escalation if these are truly 10:41.043 --> 10:42.821 exercises . And I think you can 10:42.821 --> 10:44.821 understand our skepticism as to why 10:44.821 --> 10:46.877 that might be the case we would like 10:46.877 --> 10:48.932 transparency . We would like to hear 10:48.932 --> 10:50.988 from the Russians what exactly it is 10:50.988 --> 10:52.710 they're exercising why they're 10:52.710 --> 10:54.877 exercising on this scale and when they 10:54.877 --> 10:56.877 intend to return to their permanent 10:56.877 --> 10:58.932 staging grounds . But just to finish 10:58.932 --> 10:58.130 the point I was making before and the 10:58.130 --> 11:00.870 point you you helpfully raised is that 11:00.880 --> 11:02.850 this is a country that has a track 11:02.850 --> 11:05.940 record here and we would be remiss not 11:05.940 --> 11:08.230 to point out that track record as we 11:08.230 --> 11:11.340 speak today . There are Russian forces 11:11.350 --> 11:14.930 and Russian backed forces on sovereign 11:15.030 --> 11:17.440 Ukrainian territory as we speak today , 11:17.480 --> 11:19.536 Russia , as we've just discussed has 11:19.536 --> 11:21.480 amassed tens of thousands , almost 11:21.480 --> 11:24.710 100,000 troops on Ukraine's borders and 11:24.710 --> 11:27.110 they've done so in a relatively short 11:27.120 --> 11:29.860 period of time . It was of course 11:29.860 --> 11:33.250 Russia that in 2014 sought to annex 11:33.250 --> 11:35.520 Crimea instigated a war in eastern 11:35.520 --> 11:37.700 Ukraine continues to fuel conflict 11:37.700 --> 11:40.660 there . It is Russia that over the 11:40.660 --> 11:44.010 years has invaded , has 11:44.020 --> 11:46.830 occupied , has fomented conflict 11:46.910 --> 11:49.860 against its neighbors and others . The 11:49.860 --> 11:51.916 list is long , I probably don't have 11:51.916 --> 11:53.971 time to go through all of them . But 11:53.971 --> 11:55.971 Ukraine and Georgia Moldova just to 11:55.971 --> 11:58.193 name a few . It is Russia that over the 11:58.193 --> 12:00.138 years has interfered in democratic 12:00.138 --> 12:02.193 elections , including our own but of 12:02.193 --> 12:04.360 course not limits limited to our own . 12:04.360 --> 12:06.304 They have used extra territorially 12:06.304 --> 12:08.060 chemical weapons . They have 12:08.070 --> 12:10.126 orchestrated cyber attacks . They've 12:10.126 --> 12:13.280 used energy as a weapon among other 12:13.280 --> 12:16.540 tactics . So again , you'll have to 12:16.740 --> 12:19.020 pardon and probably understand our 12:19.020 --> 12:21.070 skepticism when we hear from the 12:21.070 --> 12:23.240 Russians that these are just exercises 12:23.400 --> 12:25.511 that as we heard from them today that 12:25.511 --> 12:27.700 we shouldn't be concerned . Uh We hear 12:27.700 --> 12:31.050 that what we want to see our signs of 12:31.050 --> 12:33.161 de escalation and certainly a sign of 12:33.161 --> 12:35.383 de escalation would be for these troops 12:35.383 --> 12:37.494 to return to their to their permanent 12:37.494 --> 12:40.300 basis . Simon , I wonder if you could 12:40.300 --> 12:43.530 just clarify um You said that and the 12:43.530 --> 12:45.970 2nd Deputy Secretary said you're gonna 12:45.970 --> 12:48.192 talk to the Russians again , but at the 12:48.192 --> 12:50.414 end of the week , is that is that gonna 12:50.414 --> 12:50.100 be like another bilateral meeting in 12:50.100 --> 12:52.840 person ? Will that take place in Vienna 12:52.840 --> 12:54.951 I guess where people will still be at 12:54.951 --> 12:57.118 the end of the week ? Um You know , is 12:57.118 --> 12:59.284 there is there a set time and date for 12:59.284 --> 13:01.507 that meeting in place ? And secondly on 13:01.507 --> 13:03.562 the N . F . Treaty , I wonder if you 13:03.562 --> 13:05.784 could just tell us a bit more this sort 13:05.784 --> 13:07.673 of proposal or idea that we could 13:07.673 --> 13:10.060 return to um something along the lines 13:10.060 --> 13:12.227 of the I . N . F . Treaty . You know , 13:12.227 --> 13:15.320 is that would that mean um going back 13:15.330 --> 13:17.274 to , you know , obviously that's a 13:17.280 --> 13:19.500 that's a treaty that Moscow was found 13:19.500 --> 13:22.510 to have violated . Would that mean them 13:22.510 --> 13:26.230 going back two before those alleged 13:26.230 --> 13:28.490 violations ? Or you know , could there 13:28.490 --> 13:30.546 be new terms set on sort of facts on 13:30.546 --> 13:32.546 the ground now ? And you know , how 13:32.546 --> 13:35.670 exactly could you see a new version of 13:35.670 --> 13:38.010 that treaty being drawn up ? Sure . So 13:38.010 --> 13:40.340 in terms of what we expect later this 13:40.340 --> 13:43.370 week , I'm not in a position to preview 13:43.370 --> 13:45.537 any sort of formal engagement , but it 13:45.537 --> 13:47.790 is fair to say that we do expect to be 13:47.790 --> 13:49.846 in touch with the Russian federation 13:49.846 --> 13:51.957 again in the coming days to determine 13:51.957 --> 13:54.300 when and how this conversation will go 13:54.300 --> 13:56.550 forward . Uh That conversation at the 13:56.550 --> 13:58.717 end of this week or in the coming days 13:58.717 --> 14:00.772 will also be informed by what we and 14:00.772 --> 14:02.994 our allies and partners here in the two 14:02.994 --> 14:05.217 fora that are coming up this week , the 14:05.217 --> 14:07.400 NATO Russia Council uh and in the osc 14:07.520 --> 14:09.820 So of course , in all of this will 14:09.820 --> 14:12.280 compare notes with our allies and 14:12.290 --> 14:16.090 partners as we contemplate those next 14:16.090 --> 14:18.490 steps . I'll move your question on the 14:18.490 --> 14:20.601 I N . F in a second . But let me just 14:20.601 --> 14:22.420 spend a second moment on those 14:22.420 --> 14:24.740 consultations that we have undertaken 14:24.740 --> 14:26.962 really over the past couple of months , 14:26.962 --> 14:29.018 as I alluded to matt , just a moment 14:29.018 --> 14:31.129 ago , we have been talking about this 14:31.129 --> 14:34.030 really since november . Uh and so it is 14:34.030 --> 14:37.260 going on uh two months now and 14:37.270 --> 14:41.050 preliminary tally . We've had over 100 14:41.250 --> 14:44.360 engagements with our allies and 14:44.360 --> 14:46.360 partners in that period . The State 14:46.360 --> 14:50.090 Department has um undertaken 14:50.090 --> 14:52.510 most of those , more than 60 of them 14:52.520 --> 14:54.631 have come from the State Department , 14:54.631 --> 14:56.742 but just to give you a very broad and 14:56.742 --> 14:58.687 rough flavor , President biden has 14:58.687 --> 15:01.150 spoken to at least 16 european leaders . 15:01.160 --> 15:03.216 Secretary Blinken has held more than 15:03.216 --> 15:05.104 two dozen calls and meetings with 15:05.104 --> 15:07.216 foreign leaders and foreign ministers 15:07.216 --> 15:09.382 to discuss our coordinated response to 15:09.382 --> 15:11.549 Russia's military build up . He's also 15:11.549 --> 15:13.549 participated in meetings with the G 15:13.549 --> 15:17.230 seven NATO Osc e . He's engaged the EU 15:17.240 --> 15:19.296 and we will continue to do that . Uh 15:19.296 --> 15:21.330 Secretary Austin has spoken with a 15:21.330 --> 15:23.670 number of his counterparts and we are 15:23.680 --> 15:26.160 in regular , almost constant contact 15:26.240 --> 15:29.100 with our Ukrainian partners in the last 15:29.100 --> 15:31.211 few weeks alone , President biden has 15:31.211 --> 15:33.322 spoken to President Zelensky a couple 15:33.322 --> 15:35.544 of times . Second Secretary Blinken has 15:35.544 --> 15:37.767 spoken twice with President Zelensky as 15:37.767 --> 15:39.544 well and twice with the Foreign 15:39.544 --> 15:41.280 Minister . Mr culebra . Senior 15:41.290 --> 15:43.040 officials here at the Defense 15:43.040 --> 15:46.100 Department at the NSC are in regular 15:46.110 --> 15:48.890 contact with their Ukrainian partners . 15:48.890 --> 15:50.890 So this is just the very high level 15:51.340 --> 15:54.040 engagement at the wave tops . Obviously 15:54.070 --> 15:56.126 when it comes to the working level , 15:56.126 --> 15:58.292 there are dozens and dozens and dozens 15:58.292 --> 16:00.514 of more engagements with our Allies and 16:00.514 --> 16:03.750 partners because we are committed to 16:03.760 --> 16:06.060 the principle to the mantra , nothing 16:06.060 --> 16:08.227 about them without them . Whether it's 16:08.227 --> 16:10.449 europe , whether it's Ukraine , whether 16:10.449 --> 16:12.616 it's NATO and I think that's precisely 16:12.616 --> 16:14.671 why you heard from Secretary General 16:14.671 --> 16:16.870 Stoltenberg on friday , uh that uh the 16:16.870 --> 16:19.590 alliance deeply appreciates the 16:19.600 --> 16:21.822 concerted consultation and coordination 16:21.822 --> 16:24.450 that the United States has engaged in 16:24.460 --> 16:26.710 the Secretary General mentioned that 16:26.720 --> 16:29.160 Allies welcome our engagement with 16:29.160 --> 16:31.230 Russia in the course of the SSD the 16:31.230 --> 16:33.286 strategic stability dialogue . We've 16:33.286 --> 16:35.452 heard similar comments from individual 16:35.452 --> 16:37.508 european leaders including President 16:37.508 --> 16:40.180 Macron of France and and others when it 16:40.180 --> 16:43.760 comes to the I N . F . This 16:43.760 --> 16:45.927 was and you heard from the Deputy this 16:45.927 --> 16:48.030 morning ? This was an area that the 16:48.030 --> 16:50.790 Russians discussed this morning . Uh 16:50.800 --> 16:53.950 they put on the table and they 16:53.950 --> 16:56.870 discussed the concerns uh that led to 16:56.870 --> 16:59.037 the ultimate demise of the I . N . F . 16:59.037 --> 17:01.203 Treaty . And there was really one over 17:01.203 --> 17:03.314 overriding overarching concern in our 17:03.314 --> 17:05.481 in our mind and that was the fact that 17:05.481 --> 17:04.560 the Russians weren't adhering to it . 17:04.740 --> 17:06.851 They were cheating on the I . N . F . 17:06.851 --> 17:09.410 Uh So of course this wasn't a forum 17:09.420 --> 17:12.200 where we were going to reach any sort 17:12.200 --> 17:15.280 of agreement or come to a decision on I . 17:15.280 --> 17:17.510 N . F . Like provisions that may be 17:17.510 --> 17:21.480 viable going forward . But there are 17:21.490 --> 17:24.330 ongoing concerns on our part when it 17:24.330 --> 17:26.690 comes to intermediate range missiles . 17:26.700 --> 17:30.100 The Russians purport to have concerns 17:30.110 --> 17:31.943 on their part , that's what this 17:31.943 --> 17:33.999 dialogue was all about to put on the 17:33.999 --> 17:36.090 table into surface areas where there 17:36.090 --> 17:40.020 maybe ideas for reciprocal measures 17:40.030 --> 17:42.720 uh steps , we can take steps the 17:42.720 --> 17:44.887 Russian federation may be able to take 17:44.887 --> 17:46.776 as you heard from the Deputy this 17:46.776 --> 17:48.942 morning . That doesn't mean that these 17:48.942 --> 17:50.998 are identical steps on either side , 17:50.998 --> 17:52.664 but there are steps that on a 17:52.664 --> 17:54.720 reciprocal basis address some of our 17:54.720 --> 17:56.664 concerns as the Russians undertake 17:56.664 --> 17:58.887 these measures and the Russians in turn 17:58.887 --> 18:01.530 address um some of our concerns . So 18:01.530 --> 18:04.040 that is what we are seeking at least 18:04.040 --> 18:06.390 testing the proposition if there is 18:06.390 --> 18:08.800 room to come to some sort of 18:08.810 --> 18:10.977 arrangement there in full consultation 18:10.977 --> 18:12.921 and coordination with our with our 18:12.921 --> 18:15.460 partners and allies , they said that 18:15.460 --> 18:17.682 makes you think that they wouldn't just 18:17.682 --> 18:19.682 be in violation again ? Well , look 18:19.682 --> 18:21.849 again , I think we're gonna leave what 18:21.849 --> 18:24.071 was said in the room , the specifics of 18:24.071 --> 18:23.780 what was said in the room to the room . 18:23.960 --> 18:26.120 But I think we'll be mindful of the 18:26.120 --> 18:28.460 history of this . We will need our own 18:28.460 --> 18:32.050 assurances that any arrangements that 18:32.060 --> 18:35.030 were able to arrive at that there is 18:35.030 --> 18:38.520 transparency uh that we're not just 18:38.530 --> 18:41.460 trusting one another when it comes to 18:41.470 --> 18:43.748 what we're hearing , what we're saying , 18:43.748 --> 18:45.637 what we're doing when it comes to 18:45.637 --> 18:47.748 intermediate range missiles , weapons 18:47.748 --> 18:49.860 or any other any other area . Andrea 18:52.340 --> 18:54.620 given what the Deputy secretary said 18:54.620 --> 18:56.970 today about returning to their barracks 18:56.980 --> 18:59.830 would mean de escalation , does that 18:59.830 --> 19:02.900 mean that the US would take actions 19:02.910 --> 19:05.490 including sanctions if they do not 19:05.490 --> 19:08.620 return to their barracks absent move 19:08.620 --> 19:11.270 across the border ? We've been very 19:11.270 --> 19:13.890 clear that if the Russians were to go 19:13.890 --> 19:15.950 forward with an invasion , they will 19:15.950 --> 19:18.910 face massive consequences , 19:20.440 --> 19:23.750 Russian . Well , so I think the 19:23.750 --> 19:25.639 question of aggression versus the 19:25.639 --> 19:27.806 question of of an invasion , those are 19:27.806 --> 19:30.060 two separate issues . We will and we 19:30.060 --> 19:32.770 have uh and previous administrations 19:32.770 --> 19:35.160 have as well uh seek to hold the 19:35.160 --> 19:37.050 Russians to account for their 19:37.060 --> 19:39.260 aggressive actions , whether vis a vis 19:39.260 --> 19:41.460 Ukraine , whether vis a vis any other 19:41.740 --> 19:43.970 uh well , uh and this administration 19:43.970 --> 19:46.137 has done that we did that in the first 19:46.137 --> 19:48.137 weeks in office and we've done that 19:48.137 --> 19:51.510 sense on issues as disparate as 19:51.510 --> 19:53.454 election interference , the use of 19:53.454 --> 19:55.677 chemical weapons in the context of this 19:55.677 --> 19:57.843 disagreement . Now , in in the I would 19:57.843 --> 20:00.066 take issue with the idea that this is a 20:00.066 --> 19:59.920 disagreement . This is not a 19:59.920 --> 20:02.080 disagreement . One side has 100,000 20:02.080 --> 20:04.360 troops amassed on the border with 20:04.360 --> 20:06.582 Ukraine . Uh The other side is pointing 20:06.582 --> 20:10.430 that out in the other side is taking in 20:10.430 --> 20:12.597 the in the context , in the context of 20:12.597 --> 20:14.652 what we're seeing now . We have said 20:14.652 --> 20:17.330 that the strong unprecedented measures , 20:17.340 --> 20:19.562 measures that we very intentionally did 20:19.562 --> 20:21.673 not utilize the United States has not 20:21.673 --> 20:24.440 utilized up until now uh that they 20:24.440 --> 20:26.496 would be implemented in concert with 20:26.496 --> 20:28.662 our allies and partners if Russia were 20:28.662 --> 20:31.220 to uh invade Ukraine . Uh if it were 20:31.220 --> 20:34.960 continued if it were to um move forward 20:35.040 --> 20:37.290 with that aggression ? Now , that 20:37.290 --> 20:39.520 doesn't mean that even if Russia 20:39.580 --> 20:42.180 doesn't move forward with an invasion 20:42.360 --> 20:45.440 that we expect , Russia will turn into 20:45.440 --> 20:48.000 an entirely benign influence and actor . 20:48.270 --> 20:50.250 But we also have other means to 20:50.250 --> 20:53.020 continue to hold Russia to account for 20:53.020 --> 20:55.187 the types of activities it has engaged 20:55.187 --> 20:58.890 in as as in in recent 20:58.890 --> 21:01.070 years . But what we are talking about 21:01.070 --> 21:02.810 with these unprecedented , 21:02.810 --> 21:05.000 unprecedented strong measures that we 21:05.000 --> 21:06.889 would implement together with our 21:06.889 --> 21:08.778 allies and partners uh that is in 21:08.778 --> 21:10.722 response would be in response to a 21:10.722 --> 21:12.889 Russian invasion . So what actions are 21:12.889 --> 21:15.030 you are you prepared to take to get 21:15.040 --> 21:17.550 Russia to move the troops back from the 21:17.550 --> 21:19.717 border de escalate and back into their 21:19.717 --> 21:22.750 barracks ? Well , again , this is part 21:22.750 --> 21:24.694 of the reason why we're engaged in 21:24.694 --> 21:27.730 diplomacy with them . Whether it's 21:27.730 --> 21:29.786 through the SSD whether it is in the 21:29.786 --> 21:32.440 context of NATO , whether it's in the 21:32.440 --> 21:34.660 osc . The only point I would emphasize 21:34.660 --> 21:36.827 here uh and again , we're not going to 21:36.827 --> 21:39.160 put our entire playbook on the table 21:39.160 --> 21:41.382 for reasons that I'm sure are obvious . 21:41.382 --> 21:43.604 But the only point I would make here is 21:43.604 --> 21:45.216 that we aren't talking about 21:45.216 --> 21:47.327 concessions , We aren't talking about 21:47.327 --> 21:50.200 unilateral us steps or unilateral NATO 21:50.200 --> 21:52.330 steps or european steps . We are 21:52.330 --> 21:55.090 talking about reciprocal measures . Uh 21:55.100 --> 21:57.780 meaning that if we were to do something , 21:57.790 --> 22:00.540 the Russians would in turn have to do 22:00.540 --> 22:02.762 something whether it's in the bilateral 22:02.762 --> 22:05.520 context that um redound positively on 22:05.520 --> 22:07.860 our security concerns in the european 22:07.860 --> 22:10.480 context , which redounds positively on 22:10.480 --> 22:13.060 the transatlantic security concerns or 22:13.140 --> 22:15.580 uh NATO or when it comes to Ukraine . 22:15.590 --> 22:17.701 So that's what we'll be looking for . 22:17.701 --> 22:20.150 But again , that's the reason why we're 22:20.150 --> 22:22.330 engaged in this diplomacy to test the 22:22.330 --> 22:25.000 proposition that there are fruitful 22:25.000 --> 22:27.740 areas where we can arrive at these 22:27.740 --> 22:30.950 mutual reciprocal steps that would 22:30.950 --> 22:33.061 address the various security concerns 22:33.061 --> 22:35.228 that have been put on the table , Joel 22:37.820 --> 22:40.042 Andrea was asking how the space between 22:40.042 --> 22:42.420 aggression and invasion ? Um the 22:42.420 --> 22:44.476 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said 22:44.476 --> 22:46.698 today that it was clear from the things 22:46.698 --> 22:48.864 that the things that you guys declared 22:48.864 --> 22:52.620 to be non starters that that the US 22:52.630 --> 22:54.519 underestimates the seriousness of 22:54.519 --> 22:56.686 what's going on , which sort of states 22:56.686 --> 22:58.920 the obvious that the Russians see their 22:58.920 --> 23:01.031 pressure , their military pressure as 23:01.031 --> 23:03.142 leverage to get you guys to take them 23:03.142 --> 23:06.200 seriously and make moves . Um So I 23:06.200 --> 23:08.680 wonder do you do you anticipate that 23:08.680 --> 23:11.610 they will take some further escalatory 23:11.610 --> 23:13.666 step to try to shape your behavior ? 23:14.510 --> 23:18.070 And do you have any plan to to take 23:18.070 --> 23:20.014 such a step of your own during the 23:20.014 --> 23:21.903 talks to shape their sense of the 23:21.903 --> 23:23.737 seriousness of what's going on ? 23:23.737 --> 23:25.792 Because it seems like I think that's 23:25.792 --> 23:27.848 what kinda we've been asking about . 23:27.848 --> 23:29.848 There's an asymmetry here where you 23:29.848 --> 23:31.848 have the leverage that you have and 23:31.848 --> 23:33.959 they have the leverage they have . Um 23:33.959 --> 23:36.126 but it's much more convenient for them 23:36.126 --> 23:38.292 to use their leverage than the U . S . 23:38.292 --> 23:40.459 To use yours , Joel . What I would say 23:40.459 --> 23:42.237 is I wouldn't underestimate the 23:42.237 --> 23:44.459 leverage that the United States has the 23:44.459 --> 23:47.020 leverage that collectively we have and 23:47.020 --> 23:49.140 I think that's the point . Uh the 23:49.140 --> 23:51.310 United States has a lot of leverage 23:51.320 --> 23:53.653 when it comes to the Russian federation . 23:53.653 --> 23:55.820 We have a whole lot more leverage when 23:55.820 --> 23:57.820 it comes to the Russians when we're 23:57.820 --> 24:00.660 working in concert as we are with NATO 24:00.670 --> 24:03.980 as we are with the Eu as we are with 24:03.980 --> 24:06.350 other partners including uh Ukraine . 24:06.360 --> 24:08.480 So yes the Russians are the one with 24:08.530 --> 24:12.040 100,000 troops on the border . But 24:12.050 --> 24:14.940 the transatlantic alliance , the 24:14.950 --> 24:17.110 transatlantic alliance in tandem with 24:17.110 --> 24:20.270 our partners , we have forms of 24:20.270 --> 24:22.850 leverage many of which we have mapped 24:22.850 --> 24:25.420 out . Uh and we have discussed 24:25.420 --> 24:28.870 extensively in various fora with our 24:28.880 --> 24:31.430 european partners and allies and others 24:31.440 --> 24:35.190 that were prepared to use . So um the 24:35.200 --> 24:38.560 Russians uh there may be um 24:38.940 --> 24:40.996 the idea out there that the Russians 24:40.996 --> 24:42.996 are dealing with leverage , I think 24:42.996 --> 24:45.090 that misunderstands what we have 24:45.100 --> 24:47.322 available to us and what we're prepared 24:47.322 --> 24:49.660 to do uh if the Russians aren't willing 24:49.660 --> 24:52.460 to back down 24:52.940 --> 24:54.884 during the talks , you've outlined 24:54.884 --> 24:57.051 leverage that will do if they invade . 24:57.051 --> 24:59.273 I'm saying are you going to do anything 24:59.273 --> 25:01.329 because they seem to think that they 25:01.329 --> 25:03.440 can do things within the process that 25:03.440 --> 25:05.551 will that will change your behavior . 25:05.551 --> 25:05.050 Are you guys going to do anything 25:05.540 --> 25:08.380 practically militarily security 25:08.380 --> 25:10.547 assistance going , you know , over the 25:10.547 --> 25:12.491 next weeks , that will shape their 25:12.491 --> 25:14.602 their risk perception . Well , one of 25:14.602 --> 25:16.824 the most important things we've done is 25:16.824 --> 25:18.960 to make very clear what the 25:18.960 --> 25:21.660 consequences will be . Uh and of course 25:21.660 --> 25:24.980 that is um you know , part and parcel 25:24.980 --> 25:28.160 of our uh communications but it is also 25:28.160 --> 25:31.720 part of our strategy of deterrence . We 25:31.730 --> 25:35.310 have not shied away from the fact that 25:35.310 --> 25:37.400 the Russians will face these 25:37.400 --> 25:39.770 consequences if they go forward and 25:39.770 --> 25:41.937 that is to make very clear that we are 25:41.937 --> 25:43.826 serious about deterrence , we are 25:43.826 --> 25:46.270 serious about defense . So we have 25:46.280 --> 25:49.230 talked about the sanctions and an 25:49.230 --> 25:51.020 economic measures Uh that we're 25:51.020 --> 25:53.242 prepared to implement together with our 25:53.242 --> 25:55.298 allies and partners . We have talked 25:55.298 --> 25:58.440 about uh the defensive support that we 25:58.440 --> 26:00.820 are prepared to to provide Ukraine 26:00.830 --> 26:03.570 above and beyond what we are already 26:03.570 --> 26:06.610 providing to Kiev . And this year we 26:06.610 --> 26:08.832 have provided more defensive support to 26:08.832 --> 26:11.340 Ukraine than any year since 2014 . And 26:11.340 --> 26:13.750 we've also talked about the measures we 26:13.750 --> 26:17.640 are prepared to take to reinforce 26:17.690 --> 26:20.110 the eastern flank of NATO . These are 26:20.110 --> 26:23.160 all steps that we have made public we 26:23.160 --> 26:25.930 have undertaken as I alluded to before , 26:25.940 --> 26:28.480 a great deal of consultation and 26:28.480 --> 26:31.790 coordination in private too , discuss 26:31.790 --> 26:34.700 specific measures that would imposed , 26:34.740 --> 26:37.090 imposed unprecedented costs on the 26:37.090 --> 26:39.146 Russian federation . All with an eye 26:39.146 --> 26:41.312 towards deterrence and defense . Kylie 26:43.540 --> 26:45.762 kind of go back what India was saying . 26:45.762 --> 26:47.873 I'm I'm just wondering if the U . S . 26:47.873 --> 26:50.720 And allies are considering sanctions as 26:50.720 --> 26:53.550 a deterrent ? If Russia doesn't 26:53.550 --> 26:57.340 deescalate kylie , we believe that 26:57.340 --> 26:59.950 diplomacy has the means 27:00.420 --> 27:04.060 to de escalate to defuse the situation . 27:04.640 --> 27:07.900 Uh that's why we're engaging with the 27:07.900 --> 27:10.011 Russians together with our allies and 27:10.011 --> 27:12.122 partners in the S . S . D . Uh in the 27:12.122 --> 27:14.360 NRC , the NATO Russia Council uh in the 27:14.360 --> 27:17.080 O . S . C . E . P . C . Uh we wouldn't 27:17.080 --> 27:19.136 be doing this otherwise , we've been 27:19.136 --> 27:21.080 very clear , this is our preferred 27:21.080 --> 27:24.520 course to find a way diplomatically 27:25.130 --> 27:28.950 to address the security concerns 27:28.950 --> 27:31.440 that the United States that NATO , that 27:31.450 --> 27:33.617 europe that the Ukrainians have put on 27:33.617 --> 27:36.100 the table uh and to see if there are 27:36.100 --> 27:39.860 ways on a reciprocal basis to address 27:39.870 --> 27:42.630 some of the concerns that Moscow has 27:42.640 --> 27:44.584 put on the table . We've been very 27:44.584 --> 27:46.910 clear that and then the Russians have 27:46.910 --> 27:50.770 been very public about um 27:51.240 --> 27:54.760 the issues they have raised in their 27:54.770 --> 27:57.290 two treaties . We've been very clear 27:57.290 --> 28:00.500 that there are some areas of potential 28:00.500 --> 28:02.620 overlap when it comes to our security 28:02.620 --> 28:04.840 concerns . Uh And there's we've also 28:04.840 --> 28:07.007 been very clear , there are areas that 28:07.007 --> 28:09.173 are nonstarters for us . Uh And so the 28:09.173 --> 28:12.590 point of today , the point of Wednesday 28:12.600 --> 28:16.290 of thursday is to determine if there is 28:16.300 --> 28:19.360 uh enough in that Venn diagram of 28:19.370 --> 28:22.740 overlap for us to make 28:22.740 --> 28:25.450 progress going forward on a reciprocal 28:25.450 --> 28:28.260 basis . Now , again , I don't expect 28:28.270 --> 28:30.550 any breakthroughs will be reached on 28:30.550 --> 28:32.272 Wednesday . I don't expect any 28:32.272 --> 28:34.494 breakthroughs on thursday . This is the 28:34.494 --> 28:36.606 beginning of the diplomatic process . 28:36.606 --> 28:39.820 We are we welcome the fact that the 28:39.820 --> 28:42.850 Russian federation is taking part in 28:42.850 --> 28:44.906 this dialogue , we with with us , we 28:44.906 --> 28:47.460 think it's important uh again , it is 28:47.460 --> 28:49.670 our preferred course and we believe 28:49.670 --> 28:51.503 it's a viable course . And we're 28:51.503 --> 28:54.500 testing that now . Did Paul Whelan and 28:54.500 --> 28:56.389 Trevor reed come up at all in the 28:56.389 --> 28:59.050 discussions . I I will get back to you 28:59.050 --> 29:01.272 on that . As you know , we consistently 29:01.272 --> 29:03.217 raised the case of Paul Whelan and 29:03.217 --> 29:05.480 Trevor Reed uh when we have high level 29:05.480 --> 29:07.620 discussions with our Russian 29:07.620 --> 29:10.840 counterparts , uh their safe return . 29:10.850 --> 29:12.794 We have no higher priority when it 29:12.794 --> 29:16.410 comes to um when it comes to our 29:16.410 --> 29:18.860 engagement on that , john there 29:19.440 --> 29:22.170 something that agrees with you guys on 29:22.180 --> 29:24.291 after the readout , which is that you 29:24.291 --> 29:28.040 didn't offer concessions and that uh , 29:28.050 --> 29:30.520 there is not . Uh and that's a big 29:30.520 --> 29:33.280 problem from their perspective that 29:33.290 --> 29:35.780 they didn't , their concerns , their 29:35.780 --> 29:38.120 gravest concerns , NATO's open door 29:38.120 --> 29:40.620 policy were not taken seriously by the 29:40.620 --> 29:44.470 United States . Does that mean that the 29:44.470 --> 29:48.360 United States is more comfortable with 29:48.360 --> 29:50.840 Russia taking a small bite or a large 29:50.840 --> 29:53.070 bite out of Ukraine , then seriously 29:53.080 --> 29:56.580 revisiting the open door policy , john , 29:56.580 --> 29:59.580 we have been very clear and I am 29:59.580 --> 30:01.810 surprised frankly that the Russians 30:01.810 --> 30:04.990 would be surprised because we have been 30:04.990 --> 30:08.130 nothing but clear that there are some 30:08.130 --> 30:10.540 things that are not on the table . Well , 30:10.550 --> 30:12.717 let me say the Russians are welcome to 30:12.717 --> 30:14.883 put them on the table . There are some 30:14.883 --> 30:17.050 things we are not going to engage on . 30:17.050 --> 30:19.106 And one of those is NATO's open door 30:19.106 --> 30:21.630 policy . Uh , this is about one in the 30:21.630 --> 30:24.660 founding elements of the alliance , uh 30:24.670 --> 30:26.726 namely the idea that any country can 30:26.726 --> 30:29.480 aspire to meet the criteria by which 30:29.490 --> 30:32.530 admission to NATO can be granted , it's 30:32.530 --> 30:35.160 in the Founding Charter of NATO , it's 30:35.160 --> 30:37.880 been underscored and reiterated ever 30:37.880 --> 30:40.940 since . Uh , and the Russians to have 30:40.940 --> 30:43.410 at various times agreed to this same 30:43.410 --> 30:45.521 principle . So there is no going back 30:45.521 --> 30:47.577 on that principle . There's no going 30:47.577 --> 30:49.870 back on it because it is written into 30:49.880 --> 30:52.047 NATO as an alliance , but there's also 30:52.047 --> 30:54.102 a bigger point here , a larger point 30:54.102 --> 30:56.158 here . And in some ways it's a point 30:56.158 --> 30:58.440 that is larger than NATO . It's larger 30:58.440 --> 31:00.550 than Ukraine . It's larger than any 31:00.760 --> 31:02.649 international organization . It's 31:02.649 --> 31:05.060 larger than any one country and that is 31:05.060 --> 31:07.800 the idea that no country , no matter 31:07.800 --> 31:10.890 how big , no matter how powerful , no 31:10.890 --> 31:14.140 matter the size of their arsenal , no 31:14.140 --> 31:16.380 matter if they have nuclear weapons , 31:16.400 --> 31:18.344 no country can be in a position to 31:18.344 --> 31:20.880 dictate the foreign policy of another 31:20.880 --> 31:23.260 country . No country , no matter how 31:23.260 --> 31:26.180 large can bully or intimidate or seek 31:26.180 --> 31:28.236 to change internationally recognized 31:28.236 --> 31:30.580 borders of another country . These are 31:30.580 --> 31:33.340 basic tenants of the rules based 31:33.340 --> 31:35.340 international order and if we allow 31:35.340 --> 31:39.140 them to be eroded in this context or 31:39.150 --> 31:41.206 any other context . And we've talked 31:41.206 --> 31:43.261 about them here , we've talked about 31:43.261 --> 31:44.928 them in the indo pacific , it 31:44.928 --> 31:47.230 undermines the entire system upon which 31:47.240 --> 31:49.351 the international system has operated 31:49.351 --> 31:52.640 for the past seven or so decades , It 31:52.650 --> 31:55.140 undermines this system that has 31:55.150 --> 31:57.870 afforded really unprecedented levels of 31:57.870 --> 32:01.470 stability , of prosperity , of security 32:01.480 --> 32:04.400 the world over . So that is why we are 32:04.540 --> 32:08.290 making such a concerted point about 32:08.290 --> 32:10.860 this . Ukraine is incredibly important . 32:10.870 --> 32:13.037 Ukraine . Ukraine is a close partner . 32:13.037 --> 32:15.280 But what the Russians are seeking to do 32:15.280 --> 32:17.447 in this context , it's about more than 32:17.447 --> 32:19.930 Ukraine . It's about what underpins uh , 32:19.940 --> 32:21.960 the international system . Well , 32:23.450 --> 32:26.680 john's question because clearly natives 32:26.680 --> 32:29.040 activities are the big concern of 32:29.050 --> 32:31.328 Russia coming into this and , you know , 32:31.328 --> 32:33.106 they're looking at Sweden where 32:33.106 --> 32:35.106 Secretary Blinken just been whether 32:35.106 --> 32:36.939 it's which has never worked more 32:36.939 --> 32:36.560 closely with NATO . They're looking at 32:36.620 --> 32:38.842 Finland and the f 30 five's are looking 32:38.842 --> 32:41.064 at Ukraine , which they call a de facto 32:41.064 --> 32:42.898 NATO member . And I'm , what I'm 32:42.898 --> 32:45.009 wondering I guess is looking ahead to 32:45.009 --> 32:46.842 the Wednesday meeting . Is there 32:46.842 --> 32:49.009 anything , obviously that's a red line 32:49.009 --> 32:51.231 in terms of NATO member inclusion , But 32:51.231 --> 32:53.453 is there anything else NATO could do or 32:53.453 --> 32:55.342 would be willing to work with the 32:55.342 --> 32:57.342 Russians on that could provide some 32:57.342 --> 32:59.509 kind of some kind of gain or some kind 32:59.509 --> 33:01.731 of basis for agreement on what is their 33:01.731 --> 33:03.787 biggest basket of issues you exclude 33:03.787 --> 33:05.842 that ? Well , as you know , um these 33:05.842 --> 33:07.898 are questions for NATO , of course , 33:07.898 --> 33:10.009 the United States is a is a member of 33:10.009 --> 33:12.064 the alliance , a proud member of the 33:12.064 --> 33:14.287 alliance . The Secretary took part in a 33:14.287 --> 33:14.110 in the extraordinary knack , the north 33:14.110 --> 33:16.332 atlantic council meeting ministerial on 33:16.332 --> 33:18.110 friday where the ministers came 33:18.110 --> 33:19.999 together along with the Secretary 33:19.999 --> 33:22.170 general uh to talk about what this 33:22.170 --> 33:25.400 session on thursday uh will on 33:25.400 --> 33:27.567 Wednesday , excuse me , will look like 33:27.567 --> 33:30.230 uh so I will leave it to NATO as an 33:30.230 --> 33:34.010 alliance to speak to um how they're 33:34.010 --> 33:36.530 thinking about this . It is not for the 33:36.530 --> 33:38.500 United States uh to speak to that 33:38.500 --> 33:41.320 ourselves , but we are of course 33:41.320 --> 33:43.540 engaged with NATO as an alliance . The 33:43.540 --> 33:45.707 Secretary took part Uh in that meeting 33:45.707 --> 33:47.762 precisely so that we can ensure that 33:47.762 --> 33:50.370 all 30 NATO allies are on the same page , 33:50.370 --> 33:52.537 going into the set of discussions with 33:52.537 --> 33:55.620 Moscow on Wednesday , then we are not 33:55.620 --> 33:57.842 on the table . But then there are other 33:57.842 --> 33:59.842 things which are now on the table , 33:59.842 --> 34:02.120 such as limiting NATO and US exercises . 34:02.120 --> 34:03.953 And so it seems to me that those 34:03.953 --> 34:05.731 weren't in consideration before 34:05.731 --> 34:07.787 Russia's aggression . They are being 34:07.787 --> 34:09.898 given in a sense , as a concession to 34:09.898 --> 34:11.842 their aggression . If something is 34:11.842 --> 34:11.270 agreed . And I wonder what message that 34:11.270 --> 34:13.437 sends to anyone else who wants to just 34:13.437 --> 34:15.437 go out and make concessions and get 34:15.437 --> 34:17.437 concessions from the US Ben . To be 34:17.437 --> 34:19.740 very clear , we are not talking about 34:19.750 --> 34:22.550 concessions whatsoever . We are talking 34:22.550 --> 34:25.930 about seeking elements , seeking ideas , 34:25.930 --> 34:28.700 seeking proposals that are in our 34:28.710 --> 34:31.250 collective the collective we that are 34:31.250 --> 34:34.470 in our security interest . So again , 34:34.540 --> 34:36.651 uh these are not things that we would 34:36.651 --> 34:38.596 do unilaterally . Uh these are not 34:38.596 --> 34:40.818 things that we would do uh in an effort 34:40.818 --> 34:43.900 just to get Moscow to back down just to 34:43.900 --> 34:46.510 get Moscow to return its troops to 34:46.510 --> 34:48.580 their permanent bases . Uh These are 34:48.580 --> 34:50.840 things that ultimately would redound in 34:50.840 --> 34:53.940 favor of our collective security . Uh 34:53.940 --> 34:55.960 and there are areas that are 34:55.960 --> 34:58.182 potentially right for that . And you're 34:58.182 --> 35:00.349 right that we've talked about a few of 35:00.349 --> 35:02.740 them uh missiles is one uh 35:02.750 --> 35:06.630 reciprocal measures of transparency 35:06.640 --> 35:10.410 around exercises for 35:10.420 --> 35:13.920 example , and then broadly arms control , 35:13.930 --> 35:17.090 including strategic and what are called 35:17.100 --> 35:19.650 non strategic nuclear weapons . So , 35:19.660 --> 35:21.993 these are at least a few of those areas . 35:21.993 --> 35:24.049 There may be other areas , but to be 35:24.049 --> 35:26.327 very clear , these are not concessions . 35:26.327 --> 35:28.549 These are not favors , this is not with 35:28.549 --> 35:32.200 an eye to inducing Moscow to back down . 35:32.310 --> 35:34.421 These are measures that we would take 35:34.421 --> 35:36.330 uh for our security , for our 35:36.330 --> 35:38.386 collective security . You agree they 35:38.386 --> 35:40.386 wouldn't have been on the table had 35:40.386 --> 35:42.552 Russia not started this whole crisis . 35:42.552 --> 35:44.608 No , I've been to to to give you one 35:44.608 --> 35:46.886 example . There were elements of the I . 35:46.886 --> 35:49.080 N . F . Treaty that were certainly to 35:49.080 --> 35:51.247 our national security interests in the 35:51.247 --> 35:53.358 national security interests of NATO , 35:53.358 --> 35:55.636 of our european allies of our partners . 35:55.636 --> 35:57.969 Uh that that's what we're talking about . 35:57.969 --> 36:00.080 We would have liked to speak to those 36:00.080 --> 36:02.247 areas even before this . And in fact , 36:02.247 --> 36:02.060 that's the point of the strategic 36:02.060 --> 36:04.160 stability dialogue . I think the 36:04.170 --> 36:06.114 broader point here , the strategic 36:06.114 --> 36:08.226 stability dialogue , dialogue has met 36:08.226 --> 36:10.337 twice already . It met in july and it 36:10.337 --> 36:12.503 met in september this was a forum that 36:12.503 --> 36:14.503 President biden and President Putin 36:14.503 --> 36:16.580 agreed to uh to put together well 36:16.580 --> 36:19.720 before Russia moved tens of thousands , 36:19.720 --> 36:22.130 nearly 100,000 troops to Ukraine's 36:22.130 --> 36:24.186 borders . I think that speaks to the 36:24.186 --> 36:26.186 fact that arms control is something 36:26.186 --> 36:28.760 that we do wish to engage Russia on it 36:28.770 --> 36:31.340 is an area that will have a positive 36:31.340 --> 36:34.100 impact on our collective transatlantic 36:34.110 --> 36:36.820 security . So even in the absence of 36:36.820 --> 36:38.764 what we're seeing now on Ukraine's 36:38.764 --> 36:40.709 borders . Yes , it would be in our 36:40.709 --> 36:42.931 interest discussed limiting NATO and US 36:42.931 --> 36:45.042 exercises had this Russian aggression 36:45.042 --> 36:46.987 not taking place , then what we're 36:46.987 --> 36:49.153 talking about is transparency . Uh and 36:49.153 --> 36:51.098 what we're calling for now , um is 36:51.098 --> 36:53.264 transparency from the Russians . There 36:53.264 --> 36:55.153 are conventional forces in europe 36:55.153 --> 36:56.931 treaty , for example , that has 36:56.931 --> 36:59.209 measures of transparency built into it . 36:59.209 --> 37:01.209 Those are those are areas that will 37:01.209 --> 37:04.670 always um be welcome if they are 37:04.670 --> 37:06.980 arrived at on a reciprocal basis . If 37:06.980 --> 37:10.800 the Russians adhere to the transparency 37:10.800 --> 37:13.022 requirements , they will have a willing 37:13.022 --> 37:15.189 partner on the other side , whether it 37:15.189 --> 37:17.189 is the United States , whether it's 37:17.189 --> 37:19.350 NATO we believe that transparency , 37:19.430 --> 37:21.430 that confidence building measures , 37:21.430 --> 37:24.340 that arms control measures as well , 37:24.430 --> 37:26.763 all of these things work to our benefit . 37:26.763 --> 37:29.400 Uh and we are always looking for ways 37:29.400 --> 37:31.690 that we can advance these causes . Yes , 37:31.690 --> 37:34.890 Barbara have the Russians raised 37:34.890 --> 37:36.890 concerns about your transparency or 37:36.890 --> 37:38.946 about the transparency of the United 37:38.946 --> 37:41.290 States and military exercises . I mean , 37:41.300 --> 37:43.522 do they feel this is something that can 37:43.522 --> 37:45.689 they can gain from if if you're you're 37:45.689 --> 37:47.689 obviously wanting transparency from 37:47.689 --> 37:49.911 them , do they feel they're not getting 37:49.911 --> 37:51.856 enough transparency from you ? I I 37:51.856 --> 37:53.967 would I would leave that to Moscow to 37:54.630 --> 37:56.920 have see a result for themselves . If 37:56.930 --> 37:58.986 you feel that this is something that 37:58.986 --> 38:01.208 that I would I would leave it to Moscow 38:01.208 --> 38:03.097 to characterize how they view our 38:03.097 --> 38:05.263 transparency . What I will say for our 38:05.263 --> 38:08.400 part is that transparency uh confidence 38:08.400 --> 38:10.310 building measures arms control 38:10.320 --> 38:12.860 provision , all of these things have 38:12.860 --> 38:16.270 the potential to work to the advantage , 38:16.270 --> 38:19.280 not only of the security of the 38:19.280 --> 38:21.760 transatlantic alliance , but also um 38:21.770 --> 38:24.330 global security . These are things that 38:24.340 --> 38:26.118 have the potential to be in our 38:26.118 --> 38:28.229 interests . These are things that may 38:28.229 --> 38:30.007 have the potential to be in the 38:30.007 --> 38:32.173 interest of the Russian Federation and 38:32.173 --> 38:34.610 the task ahead of us tasks started 38:34.610 --> 38:38.070 today is to map out where those areas 38:38.070 --> 38:40.160 of overlap might be . Uh and once we 38:40.160 --> 38:42.271 have identified them to figure out if 38:42.271 --> 38:44.790 there is room to reach a 38:44.800 --> 38:47.490 reciprocal to come to agreement , in 38:47.490 --> 38:49.600 terms of reciprocal measures that we 38:49.600 --> 38:51.820 might both take , you might be giving 38:51.820 --> 38:53.709 them an answer to a question that 38:53.709 --> 38:55.980 they're not asking . Right , look , I 38:55.980 --> 38:58.202 will I will leave it to the Russians to 38:58.202 --> 39:00.480 characterize what it is that they seek . 39:00.480 --> 39:03.820 Uh Mr Ryabkov was uh answering 39:03.820 --> 39:05.876 questions to the press today . I saw 39:05.876 --> 39:08.042 some of the statements he made , but I 39:08.042 --> 39:10.153 will leave it to them to characterize 39:10.153 --> 39:12.264 what it is they seek in these in this 39:12.264 --> 39:14.600 diplomacy . Sean W Secretary Sherman 39:14.600 --> 39:16.760 also mentioned with Ukraine that 39:16.760 --> 39:18.871 there's the open door policy and that 39:18.871 --> 39:21.038 that the that no country can dictate , 39:21.038 --> 39:23.260 but what's the U . S . Position now and 39:23.260 --> 39:25.371 whether Ukraine should be a member of 39:25.371 --> 39:27.593 NATO , that , you know , that's been an 39:27.593 --> 39:26.780 issue that's been going on that's been 39:26.780 --> 39:28.724 going on for some years . What's a 39:28.724 --> 39:30.836 position at this point ? Our position 39:30.836 --> 39:32.947 on this has not changed . Uh NATO has 39:32.947 --> 39:35.760 an open door policy . Any country that 39:35.770 --> 39:38.950 aspires to join NATO should be able to 39:38.950 --> 39:42.470 do so , uh we are a partner to Ukraine . 39:42.480 --> 39:45.950 Uh We of course engage with them 39:45.950 --> 39:48.006 regularly , but our position on this 39:48.006 --> 39:50.228 has has not changed and it's consistent 39:50.228 --> 39:52.339 with NATO's open door policy really . 39:54.200 --> 39:57.840 Okay . Not the any country at all . 39:57.850 --> 40:01.000 The , the NATO charter spells out the 40:01.000 --> 40:03.290 requirements here . You should have at 40:03.290 --> 40:05.346 least some relevance to the actual , 40:05.346 --> 40:07.530 you know , founding doctors . I I will 40:07.530 --> 40:10.220 leave it to to the founding charter to 40:10.220 --> 40:12.442 speak to those requirements . But yes , 40:12.442 --> 40:14.498 but the leverage that you're talking 40:14.498 --> 40:16.664 about when you when you say presumably 40:16.664 --> 40:16.020 this is not new leverage , this is 40:16.020 --> 40:17.909 leverage that has been around for 40:18.110 --> 40:21.000 sometime . It didn't just appear 40:21.010 --> 40:23.121 magically over the course of the last 40:23.121 --> 40:25.920 year . So where was it with 40:26.310 --> 40:29.940 when with Crimea ? Where was it with 40:30.510 --> 40:33.140 South of such an Abkhazia ? Where was 40:33.140 --> 40:35.970 it ? And and , and , and and and if 40:35.970 --> 40:38.026 it's been used , it certainly hasn't 40:38.026 --> 40:40.248 had any impact . So why do you think it 40:40.248 --> 40:42.359 will have any impact now ? Well , I I 40:42.359 --> 40:44.581 would distinguish what we're seeing now 40:44.581 --> 40:46.692 from what we've seen in the past in a 40:46.692 --> 40:48.914 couple different ways . One , there's a 40:48.914 --> 40:50.914 very simple point that we have made 40:50.914 --> 40:52.880 repeatedly now that the types of 40:52.880 --> 40:55.680 measures that are on the table that 40:55.690 --> 40:58.900 have uh , firm support from 40:58.910 --> 41:01.550 our european allies and our and our 41:01.550 --> 41:03.661 partners as well . These are measures 41:03.661 --> 41:05.700 that we intentionally . I have four 41:05.710 --> 41:07.710 have have not pursued in the past . 41:07.710 --> 41:09.932 Okay , well , I guess my question is if 41:09.932 --> 41:12.099 this is that serious and if Crimea was 41:12.099 --> 41:14.210 the beginning of Georgia and Abkhazia 41:14.210 --> 41:16.430 and South west session Back in 2000 41:17.110 --> 41:20.150 78 , What were , you know , were the 41:20.150 --> 41:22.094 beginnings of this and are just as 41:22.094 --> 41:24.317 serious as what's going on now , if not 41:24.317 --> 41:26.594 more because they actually did move in . 41:27.510 --> 41:30.820 Why didn't you use them then ? And the 41:30.820 --> 41:33.690 punishment , the sanctions that were 41:33.690 --> 41:36.860 imposed afterwards clearly haven't made 41:36.860 --> 41:39.270 any difference . So what where do you 41:39.280 --> 41:42.020 where why do you think that this 41:42.030 --> 41:44.060 leverage that you claim to have is 41:44.060 --> 41:46.240 actually , you know , gonna gonna have 41:46.240 --> 41:48.330 any impact ? A couple points . One , 41:48.350 --> 41:50.517 it's difficult for me to speak to past 41:50.517 --> 41:52.739 administrations . I'm speaking for this 41:52.739 --> 41:54.961 administration and I will tell you that 41:54.961 --> 41:56.906 this administration has put on the 41:56.906 --> 41:58.961 table and we have heard uh broad and 41:58.961 --> 42:01.017 strong consensus from our allies and 42:01.017 --> 42:03.239 partners that they are behind this . We 42:03.239 --> 42:05.239 have put on the table measures that 42:05.239 --> 42:07.128 previous administrations have not 42:07.128 --> 42:09.239 pursued and have not pursued when you 42:09.239 --> 42:13.020 were at the NSC What what did 42:13.030 --> 42:14.974 what you know , why why didn't you 42:14.974 --> 42:16.752 pursue these measures after the 42:16.752 --> 42:20.110 annexation of Crimea 2014 and 2021 . 42:20.120 --> 42:22.231 There are some key differences here . 42:22.780 --> 42:24.502 There there there are some key 42:24.502 --> 42:27.450 differences . One of them is that we 42:27.450 --> 42:29.930 are now in January . We're now in 20 42:30.600 --> 42:34.590 2022 . We have been speaking about 42:34.590 --> 42:38.120 this since November Of 2021 . 42:38.600 --> 42:42.160 Uh and this is about more than public 42:42.160 --> 42:44.327 messaging . This is about deterrence . 42:44.327 --> 42:47.170 Uh This is about making very clear to 42:47.180 --> 42:50.830 Moscow that we know what they're up to . 42:50.840 --> 42:53.900 Uh we're concerned about it and we are 42:53.910 --> 42:57.640 prepared as an alliance as a 42:57.640 --> 43:01.460 trans atlantic community to take uh 43:01.470 --> 43:03.470 these steps that would have massive 43:03.470 --> 43:05.637 consequences for the Russian economy . 43:05.900 --> 43:08.930 We were not The Obama Biden 43:08.930 --> 43:11.290 administration was not in a position to 43:11.290 --> 43:14.730 do that in in in in 2014 . 43:15.200 --> 43:17.350 Well , it's but but if you saw the 43:17.360 --> 43:20.510 danger , what you see now , our claim 43:20.510 --> 43:22.343 is the danger and that the whole 43:22.343 --> 43:24.930 international system is at risk . Why , 43:24.930 --> 43:28.090 why why didn't you then again , that it 43:28.090 --> 43:29.868 is difficult for me to speak to 43:29.868 --> 43:31.646 previous administrations . It's 43:31.646 --> 43:33.646 difficult enough for me to come out 43:33.646 --> 43:35.757 here every day and cooperate with the 43:35.757 --> 43:37.868 sanctions . And are you worried about 43:37.868 --> 43:39.979 that this time ? So , I will take the 43:39.979 --> 43:39.760 second part of that question because 43:39.760 --> 43:41.760 again this is not this is not about 43:41.760 --> 43:43.816 history , this is not about previous 43:43.816 --> 43:43.810 administrations , that's about what 43:43.810 --> 43:45.921 we're doing , what we're seeing right 43:45.921 --> 43:48.100 now . We have heard very firmly in our 43:48.110 --> 43:51.800 in person consultations , in the 43:51.810 --> 43:53.870 calls that the Secretary that the 43:53.870 --> 43:56.450 President that others have undertaken , 43:56.450 --> 43:58.310 the Deputy Secretary now in her 43:58.310 --> 44:00.370 consultations uh in in the virtual 44:00.370 --> 44:03.070 engagements uh that we've had with NATO 44:03.080 --> 44:06.790 with the EU with uh the G seven which 44:06.800 --> 44:09.760 was in person uh last month . Uh We 44:09.760 --> 44:12.470 have heard a very strong consensus that 44:12.480 --> 44:15.640 our european allies are very much 44:15.640 --> 44:17.418 behind this . You have seen the 44:17.418 --> 44:19.751 statements that have come out from NATO , 44:19.751 --> 44:21.918 the statements that have come out from 44:21.918 --> 44:24.029 the European Council , the statements 44:24.029 --> 44:26.140 that the statement that came out from 44:26.140 --> 44:28.251 the G7 uh and all of these statements 44:28.251 --> 44:30.362 came out within a series of days . Uh 44:30.362 --> 44:32.529 and as has been pointed out in some of 44:32.529 --> 44:32.360 the coverage , some of what all of you 44:32.360 --> 44:35.170 have written the language and all of 44:35.170 --> 44:37.337 these statements . In addition to what 44:37.337 --> 44:39.503 have emanated from the United States , 44:39.503 --> 44:41.503 they're strikingly similar , if not 44:41.503 --> 44:43.670 identical . And so I think that speaks 44:43.670 --> 44:45.840 to the level of agreement , the level 44:45.840 --> 44:48.620 of strong consensus . There should be 44:48.630 --> 44:50.797 no doubt and certainly there should be 44:50.797 --> 44:52.950 no doubt if you're sitting in Moscow 44:52.960 --> 44:56.310 that the transatlantic community uh is 44:56.310 --> 45:00.000 prepared to take these strong decisive 45:00.000 --> 45:03.740 measures that we who to be able to 45:03.740 --> 45:06.150 avoid . It's not our preferred course 45:06.160 --> 45:09.380 are preferred course is diplomacy are 45:09.390 --> 45:12.730 preferred course is dialogue . Our 45:12.730 --> 45:14.786 preferred outcome is de escalation , 45:14.786 --> 45:18.660 but it would be irresponsible of us not 45:18.660 --> 45:20.827 to prepare for all contingencies . And 45:20.827 --> 45:23.049 that's why you've seen us so focused on 45:23.049 --> 45:25.070 deterrence and defense . Just as we 45:25.070 --> 45:27.870 test the proposition that diplomacy and 45:27.870 --> 45:29.981 dialogue is a viable means to achieve 45:29.981 --> 45:32.490 to achieve the escalation Andrea do you 45:32.490 --> 45:34.601 see anything threatening in Russia is 45:34.601 --> 45:37.720 sending more troops into Kazakhstan is 45:37.720 --> 45:39.776 the distinction there that they have 45:39.776 --> 45:41.980 been invited . Well look , I'm I don't 45:41.980 --> 45:44.340 want to conflate the two situations 45:44.340 --> 45:47.700 which of course are are very different . 45:48.790 --> 45:51.012 Let me since you raised Kazakhstan . Uh 45:51.012 --> 45:53.410 Let me just offer a couple of general 45:53.410 --> 45:55.577 points and I'll get to your question . 45:55.577 --> 45:58.210 We offer our deepest condolences to the 45:58.210 --> 46:00.210 people of Kazakhstan in the life of 46:00.210 --> 46:02.432 loss of life and the injuries that have 46:02.432 --> 46:04.730 been sustained in recent days . When it 46:04.730 --> 46:07.260 comes to Kazakhstan . Kazakhstan has 46:07.260 --> 46:10.270 been a valued partner to the United 46:10.270 --> 46:13.090 States . We believe in the resilience 46:13.340 --> 46:16.640 of the people of Kazakhstan uh and 46:16.640 --> 46:19.560 their ability to rebound from this 46:19.560 --> 46:21.838 crisis . As you've heard us say before , 46:21.838 --> 46:24.140 we're concerned by the ongoing State of 46:24.140 --> 46:26.610 emergency in Kazakhstan . We understand 46:26.610 --> 46:28.777 that a significant number of civilians 46:28.777 --> 46:30.943 have died in the fighting . We've seen 46:30.943 --> 46:32.943 some of those tallies emanate today 46:32.943 --> 46:34.999 from the Health Ministry . We remain 46:34.999 --> 46:37.110 concerned about the potential loss of 46:37.110 --> 46:39.166 life uh and the possibility of human 46:39.166 --> 46:40.832 rights abuses during security 46:40.832 --> 46:42.610 operations . And we call on the 46:42.610 --> 46:44.554 government to exercise restraint , 46:44.554 --> 46:46.332 including as you heard from the 46:46.332 --> 46:48.554 Secretary yesterday , to rescind the so 46:48.554 --> 46:50.666 called shoot without warning order to 46:50.666 --> 46:52.888 protect the people of Kazakhstan And to 46:52.888 --> 46:55.710 restore order . We also understand that 46:55.710 --> 46:58.630 approximately 8000 people have been 46:58.630 --> 47:02.410 detained uh there of course should be 47:02.420 --> 47:06.200 consequences for those found guilty of 47:06.210 --> 47:09.800 violence and rioting . But we call on 47:09.800 --> 47:11.950 authorities to respect legal 47:11.950 --> 47:14.130 protections and fair trial guarantees 47:14.140 --> 47:17.410 for those facing such charges . And we 47:17.420 --> 47:19.253 urge the release of any who were 47:19.253 --> 47:22.060 detained for exercising what is a 47:22.060 --> 47:25.010 universal right uh for exercising their 47:25.010 --> 47:26.954 right to freedom of expression and 47:26.954 --> 47:29.600 right to peaceful assembly . As you 47:29.600 --> 47:31.711 know , the the Secretary spoke to the 47:31.711 --> 47:33.920 Foreign Minister on thursday . He 47:33.920 --> 47:35.960 reiterated our full support for 47:35.980 --> 47:37.536 Kazakhstan's constitutional 47:37.536 --> 47:39.424 institutions in the importance of 47:39.424 --> 47:41.280 respecting human rights in media 47:41.280 --> 47:43.340 freedom . He also urged the Kazakh 47:43.340 --> 47:45.173 government to undertake a rights 47:45.173 --> 47:47.173 respecting resolution to the crisis 47:47.173 --> 47:49.440 that includes restoring internet access 47:49.440 --> 47:51.607 so that the people of Kazakhstan , you 47:51.607 --> 47:53.607 can have access to independent news 47:53.607 --> 47:57.340 sources um and access to a broad set 47:57.350 --> 48:01.090 of information now , um when 48:01.090 --> 48:05.060 it comes to the deployment of the 48:05.070 --> 48:07.280 Csto and the CSTO forces too , 48:07.280 --> 48:09.850 Kazakhstan , I believe I said this on 48:09.850 --> 48:12.980 friday . But um we have questions about 48:12.990 --> 48:15.100 the nature of this request . We have 48:15.100 --> 48:18.250 sought to learn more about it from the 48:18.260 --> 48:21.270 Kazakh government . We call on the Csto 48:21.270 --> 48:23.437 collective peacekeeping forces and law 48:23.437 --> 48:25.659 enforcement to respect human rights and 48:25.659 --> 48:27.670 support a peaceful resolution and 48:27.670 --> 48:29.726 importantly , to depart Kazakhstan , 48:29.730 --> 48:31.910 when the government of Kazakhstan 48:32.030 --> 48:34.690 requests it ? Mm hmm . 48:35.770 --> 48:38.080 Just one quick follow up during that 48:38.080 --> 48:40.024 conversation on thursday . Did the 48:40.024 --> 48:42.247 Secretary express any concern about the 48:42.247 --> 48:44.358 presence of the Russian troops ? If I 48:44.358 --> 48:48.010 recall the chronology correctly , Not 48:48.020 --> 48:50.380 go in , Look , we we issued a readout 48:50.380 --> 48:52.547 of this , but I will just note that if 48:52.547 --> 48:54.790 I recall the chronology directly , the 48:55.170 --> 48:59.050 the Csto um force had not yet 48:59.050 --> 49:01.272 gone in by the time the Secretary spoke 49:01.272 --> 49:03.383 to the Foreign Minister on thursday , 49:03.383 --> 49:05.439 was there any conversation about not 49:05.439 --> 49:07.661 having Russian troops in there ? Well , 49:07.661 --> 49:10.720 we you have heard us speak to 49:10.750 --> 49:13.690 the questions we have 49:14.070 --> 49:16.370 uh these are questions that were posing 49:16.370 --> 49:19.030 directly to the Kazakh government . 49:19.040 --> 49:21.040 What we have said very clearly , is 49:21.040 --> 49:23.340 that CSTO forces should leave when 49:23.350 --> 49:27.070 Kazakh authorities asked them to do 49:27.070 --> 49:28.792 just that . But look , we have 49:28.792 --> 49:32.620 questions because to the best of 49:32.620 --> 49:35.400 our knowledge , the Kazakh government 49:35.870 --> 49:38.180 is fully capable of maintaining law and 49:38.180 --> 49:40.650 order and defending its institutions in 49:40.650 --> 49:42.872 a way that respects individual's rights 49:42.872 --> 49:45.180 and addresses their concerns . And so 49:45.180 --> 49:48.800 that's why um the need , the nature of 49:48.810 --> 49:50.977 this request is something that we have 49:50.977 --> 49:53.088 sought to learn more about just as we 49:53.088 --> 49:55.460 call upon the Csto and security forces 49:55.460 --> 49:57.682 to respect international human rights , 49:57.682 --> 49:59.849 uphold a peaceful resolution and again 49:59.849 --> 50:02.270 promptly depart Kazakhstan . When the 50:02.270 --> 50:04.603 government of Kazakhstan requests . Yes , 50:04.603 --> 50:07.540 sir , here from the Russians , after 50:07.540 --> 50:09.596 his sunday show comments saying that 50:09.596 --> 50:11.707 once the Russians are in your house , 50:11.707 --> 50:13.651 it takes a long time for the gap . 50:13.651 --> 50:15.818 Russians hit back saying , well , once 50:15.818 --> 50:18.040 the United States are in Afghanistan or 50:18.040 --> 50:20.207 Iraq , it actually takes them a pretty 50:20.207 --> 50:22.373 long time to get out in any response . 50:22.373 --> 50:24.540 I'm we're not going to engage in a tip 50:24.540 --> 50:26.596 for tat with with Moscow on this . I 50:26.596 --> 50:28.980 think the Secretary's statement is uh 50:28.990 --> 50:32.010 informed by years and decades of 50:32.010 --> 50:34.177 historical experience . It's very hard 50:34.177 --> 50:36.270 to argue with with what with , with 50:36.270 --> 50:38.440 what he said . Yes , sir , R and D 50:38.440 --> 50:40.607 Germany back to the , to the Ukraine , 50:40.607 --> 50:42.607 I've got two questions on potential 50:42.607 --> 50:44.890 sanctions last week after his meeting 50:44.890 --> 50:46.834 with the german Foreign Minister , 50:46.834 --> 50:49.700 Burbach Secretary Blinken said that in 50:49.700 --> 50:51.644 the case of an invasion ? He could 50:51.644 --> 50:53.970 hardly imagine any gas flowing through 50:53.970 --> 50:56.430 the pipeline . So does that mean that 50:56.430 --> 50:58.541 North Stream two is definitely on the 50:58.541 --> 51:00.830 list of potential sanctions . And 51:00.830 --> 51:03.460 second , you're obviously 51:03.470 --> 51:06.630 considering increasing security 51:06.640 --> 51:08.751 assistance to the Ukraine in the case 51:08.751 --> 51:12.320 of an invasion . Um since you said 51:12.320 --> 51:14.320 there's a lot of consensus with the 51:14.320 --> 51:16.153 Europeans , would you expect the 51:16.153 --> 51:18.376 Europeans and especially the Germans to 51:18.376 --> 51:20.800 participate in this kind of security 51:20.800 --> 51:23.970 assistance to the Ukraine ? Um On your 51:23.970 --> 51:27.440 first question , the Secretary did say 51:27.440 --> 51:29.970 that about Nord Stream Two . Um just as 51:29.970 --> 51:32.026 importantly , his german counterpart 51:32.026 --> 51:34.690 has made very strong statements about 51:34.690 --> 51:37.300 Nord Stream Two and the eventuality of 51:37.300 --> 51:39.522 a Russian invasion and the implications 51:39.522 --> 51:41.633 that might hold for Nord Stream Two . 51:41.633 --> 51:43.800 So , um I know that the Foreign 51:43.800 --> 51:45.967 Minister , she has spoken Uh to this , 51:45.967 --> 51:48.022 but the German government as a whole 51:48.022 --> 51:50.810 has also spoken to this uh in July of 51:50.810 --> 51:52.866 last year , in July of 2021 , in the 51:52.866 --> 51:55.640 United States , together with Germany , 51:55.640 --> 51:57.807 we put out a joint statement that made 51:57.807 --> 52:00.570 very clear uh that Germany would take 52:00.570 --> 52:02.950 strong measures in the event of 52:02.950 --> 52:05.530 additional Russian aggression when it 52:05.530 --> 52:08.520 comes to Does't necessarily mean 52:08.520 --> 52:10.576 closing down there . There's there's 52:10.576 --> 52:12.520 there's some ambiguity to it and I 52:12.520 --> 52:14.760 think that is intentional , but the 52:14.760 --> 52:16.760 foreign minister has also made very 52:16.760 --> 52:19.530 strong statements about what additional 52:19.530 --> 52:21.586 Russian aggression in the form of an 52:21.586 --> 52:23.808 invasion against Ukraine would mean for 52:23.808 --> 52:26.050 Nord Stream two . You but let me make 52:26.050 --> 52:29.440 11 broader point and we've talked a lot 52:29.450 --> 52:31.450 in this briefing about the issue of 52:31.450 --> 52:33.061 leverage , I think there's a 52:33.061 --> 52:36.700 misperception that Nord Stream two is 52:36.700 --> 52:39.900 leverage for Vladimir Putin . Uh Nord 52:39.900 --> 52:41.900 Stream Two , there's no gas running 52:41.900 --> 52:44.067 through it right now . Uh And you have 52:44.067 --> 52:46.289 heard various statements including from 52:46.289 --> 52:48.456 the german foreign minister and others 52:48.456 --> 52:50.344 that would call into question the 52:50.344 --> 52:52.456 viability of a fully operational Nord 52:52.456 --> 52:54.456 Stream two if the Russians , if the 52:54.456 --> 52:56.567 Russians were to move forward with an 52:56.567 --> 52:58.678 invasion against uh Ukraine . So when 52:58.678 --> 53:00.789 we talk about the sources of leverage 53:00.789 --> 53:02.789 that we have and we've talked about 53:02.789 --> 53:04.789 them in the abstract , we've talked 53:04.789 --> 53:06.844 about some of them specifically , uh 53:06.844 --> 53:08.733 certainly Nord Stream Two has the 53:08.733 --> 53:10.900 potential to be an important source of 53:10.900 --> 53:12.844 leverage when it comes to european 53:12.844 --> 53:14.956 support for Ukraine . Look um Ukraine 53:14.956 --> 53:17.290 is a valued partner not only to the 53:17.290 --> 53:20.290 United States but also to our european 53:20.290 --> 53:22.401 allies . Different european countries 53:22.401 --> 53:24.623 are going to provide different forms of 53:24.623 --> 53:26.846 assistance to Ukraine and to go back to 53:26.846 --> 53:28.790 the joint statement that we signed 53:28.790 --> 53:30.901 together with Germany and 2020 21 mid 53:30.901 --> 53:33.890 2021 . That statement spelled out some 53:33.890 --> 53:35.834 of the steps the German government 53:35.834 --> 53:37.840 would uh and is undertaking to help 53:37.840 --> 53:39.951 Ukraine achieve energy independence . 53:39.951 --> 53:42.720 So there are uh there is defensive 53:42.720 --> 53:44.609 military support , there's energy 53:44.609 --> 53:46.942 independence , there's economic support , 53:46.942 --> 53:48.831 there's political support , their 53:48.831 --> 53:50.720 various forms of support that our 53:50.720 --> 53:53.420 european allies are demonstrating to 53:53.430 --> 53:55.597 Ukraine and affording to Ukraine , but 53:55.597 --> 53:57.708 we would leave it to them to speak to 53:57.708 --> 53:59.930 that to speak to the specifics . It was 53:59.930 --> 54:01.874 not related to any anything else . 54:01.874 --> 54:04.208 Before we take one final question . Mhm . 54:05.280 --> 54:05.730 Sure . 54:15.440 --> 54:17.607 We've we've we've seen those reports . 54:17.607 --> 54:21.440 Um what um what we call on is 54:21.440 --> 54:25.070 for our Kazakh partners to undertake 54:25.080 --> 54:27.700 a rights to seek a rights respecting 54:27.710 --> 54:29.660 resolution to this in a way that 54:29.660 --> 54:31.882 protects the human rights of the Kazakh 54:31.882 --> 54:33.827 people , in a way that restores uh 54:33.827 --> 54:37.080 internet access and in a way um 54:37.090 --> 54:40.470 that protects civilians . 54:40.480 --> 54:42.647 But I don't have a specific comment on 54:42.647 --> 54:46.070 that uh 54:46.080 --> 54:48.136 before we'll do two questions at the 54:48.136 --> 54:50.247 end . Do you have a final question on 54:50.247 --> 54:52.700 mine is on Taiwan Lithuania . Okay , 54:52.710 --> 54:56.480 Alright . I will take a few final quick 54:56.480 --> 54:59.360 questions . Matt . Okay . Sean 55:00.640 --> 55:02.640 directions to the conviction of the 55:02.640 --> 55:05.990 situation in the jail sentence . Um I 55:06.000 --> 55:09.520 do let me uh I'm sorry , let me 55:09.520 --> 55:11.576 actually come back to that . Sorry . 55:11.640 --> 55:14.730 Yes . So , um the Burmese military's 55:14.730 --> 55:17.390 regime , unjust arrests uh conviction 55:17.390 --> 55:20.550 and sentencing of is an affront to 55:20.550 --> 55:22.661 justice and the rule of law . We call 55:22.661 --> 55:24.828 on the regime to immediate release ahn 55:24.828 --> 55:26.828 Sang Soo Kai and all those unjustly 55:26.828 --> 55:28.328 detained , including other 55:28.328 --> 55:31.260 democratically elected leaders ? The 55:31.270 --> 55:33.430 regime's sham judicial processes to 55:33.430 --> 55:35.660 attack its political opponents , the 55:35.670 --> 55:37.837 rule of law , as well as its continued 55:37.837 --> 55:39.837 use of violence against the Burmese 55:39.837 --> 55:41.948 people only underscore the urgency of 55:41.948 --> 55:44.059 restoring Burma's path to democracy . 55:44.059 --> 55:46.114 The people of Burma . And we've seen 55:46.114 --> 55:48.337 this consistently continue to show that 55:48.337 --> 55:50.448 they do not want to spend another day 55:50.448 --> 55:52.448 under a military dictatorship , and 55:52.448 --> 55:54.614 we'll continue to support them and all 55:54.614 --> 55:56.614 those working peacefully to restore 55:56.614 --> 55:59.220 Burma's path to democracy . We continue 55:59.220 --> 56:01.210 to call on the regime to engage in 56:01.210 --> 56:03.488 constructive dialogue with all parties , 56:03.488 --> 56:05.543 to seek a peaceful resolution in the 56:05.543 --> 56:07.710 interest of the people as agreed to in 56:07.710 --> 56:10.350 the Asean five point consensus Ben 56:12.430 --> 56:14.374 the US of supporting Lithuania and 56:14.374 --> 56:16.390 their recognition of Taiwan . And I 56:16.390 --> 56:18.446 just wondered if that were true , if 56:18.446 --> 56:20.446 you have any comments , of course , 56:20.446 --> 56:19.740 china has banned imports from the 56:19.740 --> 56:21.462 country . They say that you're 56:21.462 --> 56:23.573 undermining the one china policy as a 56:23.573 --> 56:25.684 result is the US supporting Lithuania 56:25.684 --> 56:27.796 and its decision . Well , look , this 56:27.796 --> 56:29.907 was a sovereign Lithuanian decision . 56:29.907 --> 56:32.018 But we've always said that we welcome 56:32.018 --> 56:34.560 steps by Taiwan and Lithuania to deepen 56:34.560 --> 56:36.671 their cooperation , including through 56:36.671 --> 56:38.727 Taiwan's opening of a representative 56:38.727 --> 56:40.838 office in Vilnius and Lithuania plans 56:40.838 --> 56:43.060 to open a reciprocal office in Taipei . 56:43.060 --> 56:45.700 We do see this as an important step to 56:45.700 --> 56:47.250 expand Taiwan's meaningful 56:47.250 --> 56:49.194 participation in the international 56:49.194 --> 56:51.361 space and the opening of these offices 56:51.361 --> 56:53.028 will help expand economic and 56:53.028 --> 56:54.917 technological cooperation between 56:54.917 --> 56:57.670 Taiwan and Lithuania , Lithuania , as 56:57.670 --> 56:59.837 you know , and relevant to the broader 56:59.837 --> 57:02.170 conversation here is a valued NATO ally . 57:02.170 --> 57:04.281 It's a partner as well for the United 57:04.281 --> 57:06.059 States across a range of issues 57:06.059 --> 57:08.114 including our strong ties across the 57:08.114 --> 57:10.920 economic uh and defense realms uh and 57:10.920 --> 57:13.220 in terms of the promotion of democracy 57:13.220 --> 57:15.550 and human rights . We reaffirm our 57:15.550 --> 57:17.550 support for the Lithuania and we're 57:17.550 --> 57:19.440 working to expand and deepen our 57:19.450 --> 57:21.950 already robust bilateral relationship . 57:21.960 --> 57:25.270 One final question , Joel nope sticking 57:25.270 --> 57:29.160 with NATO . Um Denmark's 57:29.170 --> 57:31.059 foreign intelligence chief , Lars 57:31.059 --> 57:33.150 Svenson has been arrested . Uh 57:33.160 --> 57:35.930 according to danish media reports , the 57:35.940 --> 57:38.100 charges involve leaks of highly 57:38.100 --> 57:41.640 classified material . Have you received 57:41.640 --> 57:44.170 any kind of briefing or consultation ? 57:44.170 --> 57:46.040 Is there anything going on any 57:46.040 --> 57:48.540 conversations underway to see if any us 57:48.540 --> 57:50.320 or trans atlantic equities were 57:50.320 --> 57:52.431 affected in this case ? I would refer 57:52.431 --> 57:54.653 to our danish authorities to comment on 57:54.653 --> 57:56.876 that and as you know , we don't comment 57:56.876 --> 58:00.620 on matters of intelligence . Yes , Just 58:00.630 --> 58:03.330 extremely reflected your your your line 58:03.330 --> 58:05.497 on North Stream two and that that that 58:05.497 --> 58:07.650 you have , it's misrepresented that 58:08.320 --> 58:10.440 this is leverage that Putin has . Are 58:10.440 --> 58:12.496 you , are you really suggesting that 58:12.520 --> 58:14.798 the fact that the pipeline is complete ? 58:14.798 --> 58:16.964 But there's nothing going through . It 58:16.964 --> 58:19.187 yet gives you more leverage than if the 58:19.187 --> 58:21.298 pipeline hadn't ever been completed ? 58:21.298 --> 58:23.576 I'm not sure it gives us more leverage . 58:23.576 --> 58:26.120 My point is that it is a source , it is , 58:26.130 --> 58:28.130 it is currently , it is currently a 58:28.130 --> 58:29.963 source of leverage , not for the 58:29.963 --> 58:32.540 Russian Federation but for uh 58:34.020 --> 58:36.242 Germany and the transatlantic community 58:36.370 --> 58:39.660 source of leverage from europe europe 58:39.670 --> 58:43.440 Germans and particularly how is a 58:43.440 --> 58:46.230 non operational pipeline leverage for 58:46.370 --> 58:49.600 non existent pipeline . Not I'm not I'm 58:49.600 --> 58:51.656 not talking about a fantasy world in 58:51.656 --> 58:53.711 which nord Stream two didn't exist . 58:53.711 --> 58:55.544 I'm talking about The world , we 58:55.544 --> 58:57.711 inherited the world , we inherited the 58:57.711 --> 58:59.750 world we inherited in in January of 58:59.750 --> 59:01.806 2021 . When this administration came 59:01.806 --> 59:03.806 into office in North Stream two was 59:03.806 --> 59:06.600 more than 90% complete uh and want to 59:06.600 --> 59:09.080 get into this . So I this is are you 59:09.080 --> 59:11.358 familiar with the case of Hoda muthana ? 59:12.020 --> 59:14.242 uh this is this is a woman who went and 59:14.242 --> 59:16.840 joined ISIS back in 2014 , right . And 59:16.840 --> 59:18.896 then she was trying to get back into 59:18.896 --> 59:21.007 the country . She was born here . She 59:21.007 --> 59:22.840 had a US passport . Anyway . The 59:22.840 --> 59:25.350 Supreme Court today has declined to 59:25.350 --> 59:29.060 hear her her appeal of The 59:29.060 --> 59:31.490 2019 case , which now is I guess three 59:31.490 --> 59:34.410 years ago . Um But I'm just wondering 59:34.420 --> 59:36.960 has the State Department at all changed 59:36.960 --> 59:39.071 his position on whether or not she is 59:39.071 --> 59:42.000 in fact a citizen or is are you guys 59:42.010 --> 59:44.510 okay with letting the Supreme Court 59:44.510 --> 59:48.050 rejection of this stand ? I I am uh 59:48.060 --> 59:50.330 not uh immediately familiar with the 59:50.330 --> 59:52.330 implications of some of the Supreme 59:52.330 --> 59:54.552 Court ruling today , but we'll get back 59:54.552 --> 59:54.550 to you on that . Thank you all very 59:54.550 --> 59:54.950 much .