STAKES AND THE REALITIES ON THE GROUND.
REALITIES ON THE GROUND. WE'VE BEEN WATCHING
GROUND. WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS CONVOY THAT'S GOT
WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS CONVOY THAT'S GOT THE WORLD'S ATTENTION.
THIS CONVOY THAT'S GOT THE WORLD'S ATTENTION. IT WAS REPORTED IT WAS
THE WORLD'S ATTENTION. IT WAS REPORTED IT WAS STALLED.
IT WAS REPORTED IT WAS STALLED. SHOULD WE READ TOO
STALLED. SHOULD WE READ TOO MUCH INTO THAT?
SHOULD WE READ TOO MUCH INTO THAT? IS IT STILL A POTENT
MUCH INTO THAT? IS IT STILL A POTENT FIGHTING MACHINE?
IS IT STILL A POTENT FIGHTING MACHINE? >> THERE'S A LOT OF
FIGHTING MACHINE? >> THERE'S A LOT OF COMBAT POWER THAT THE
>> THERE'S A LOT OF COMBAT POWER THAT THE RUSSIANS STILL HAVE
COMBAT POWER THAT THE RUSSIANS STILL HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
RUSSIANS STILL HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM. SO THEY HAVE A NUMBER
AVAILABLE TO THEM. SO THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF OPTIONS GOING
SO THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF OPTIONS GOING FORWARD.
OF OPTIONS GOING FORWARD. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE
FORWARD. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS, BY THE WAY,
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS, BY THE WAY, LESTER, THAT PUTIN CAN
OPTIONS, BY THE WAY, LESTER, THAT PUTIN CAN CHOOSE IS HE CAN
LESTER, THAT PUTIN CAN CHOOSE IS HE CAN CHOOSE TO DE-ESCALATE,
CHOOSE IS HE CAN CHOOSE TO DE-ESCALATE, AND HE CAN CHOOSE TO
CHOOSE TO DE-ESCALATE, AND HE CAN CHOOSE TO PURSUE A DIPLOMATIC
AND HE CAN CHOOSE TO PURSUE A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION, AND WE HOPE
PURSUE A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION, AND WE HOPE HE DOES THAT.
SOLUTION, AND WE HOPE HE DOES THAT. >> I THINK THE WORLD
HE DOES THAT. >> I THINK THE WORLD HAS BEEN STUNNED.
>> I THINK THE WORLD HAS BEEN STUNNED. SOME PART OF THE WORLD
HAS BEEN STUNNED. SOME PART OF THE WORLD HAS BEEN INSPIRED BY
SOME PART OF THE WORLD HAS BEEN INSPIRED BY WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM
HAS BEEN INSPIRED BY WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM UKRAINIAN TROOPS AND
WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM UKRAINIAN TROOPS AND CIVILIANS WHO HAVE
UKRAINIAN TROOPS AND CIVILIANS WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL.
CIVILIANS WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL. BUT IS IT TIME, IS IT
ANSWERED THE CALL. BUT IS IT TIME, IS IT NECESSARY TO DO A
BUT IS IT TIME, IS IT NECESSARY TO DO A REALITY CHECK ON WHAT
NECESSARY TO DO A REALITY CHECK ON WHAT THEY'RE FACING, THE
REALITY CHECK ON WHAT THEY'RE FACING, THE SIZE OF THE RUSSIAN
THEY'RE FACING, THE SIZE OF THE RUSSIAN FORCE?
SIZE OF THE RUSSIAN FORCE? >> WE ARE ALL INSPIRED
FORCE? >> WE ARE ALL INSPIRED BY WHAT WE SEE FROM
>> WE ARE ALL INSPIRED BY WHAT WE SEE FROM NOT JUST THE UKRAINIAN
BY WHAT WE SEE FROM NOT JUST THE UKRAINIAN FORCES BUT THE
NOT JUST THE UKRAINIAN FORCES BUT THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.
FORCES BUT THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE. IT'S HARD TO PREDICT
UKRAINIAN PEOPLE. IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHICH WAY THINGS ARE
IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHICH WAY THINGS ARE GOING TO GO.
WHICH WAY THINGS ARE GOING TO GO. I'M SURE THAT RUSSIANS
GOING TO GO. I'M SURE THAT RUSSIANS WOULD HAVE NEVER
I'M SURE THAT RUSSIANS WOULD HAVE NEVER PREDICTED THAT THEY
WOULD HAVE NEVER PREDICTED THAT THEY WOULD BE IN A PLACE
PREDICTED THAT THEY WOULD BE IN A PLACE THAT THEY ARE IN.
WOULD BE IN A PLACE THAT THEY ARE IN. AT THIS POINT, OUR
THAT THEY ARE IN. AT THIS POINT, OUR FOCUS IS TO MAKE SURE
AT THIS POINT, OUR FOCUS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING
FOCUS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE AS
THAT WE DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE AS MUCH SUPPORT TO THE
POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE AS MUCH SUPPORT TO THE UKRAINIANS SO THAT
MUCH SUPPORT TO THE UKRAINIANS SO THAT THEY CAN DEFEND
UKRAINIANS SO THAT THEY CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES.
THEY CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES. >> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF
THEMSELVES. >> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THESE REPORTS OF
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THESE REPORTS OF RUSSIAN TROOPS SIMPLY
THESE REPORTS OF RUSSIAN TROOPS SIMPLY WALKING AWAY,
RUSSIAN TROOPS SIMPLY WALKING AWAY, SURRENDERING?
WALKING AWAY, SURRENDERING? CAN YOU CONFIRM THEM?
SURRENDERING? CAN YOU CONFIRM THEM? ARE YOU AWARE OF THEM?
CAN YOU CONFIRM THEM? ARE YOU AWARE OF THEM? >> WE DON'T HAVE
ARE YOU AWARE OF THEM? >> WE DON'T HAVE AIRCRAFT IN THE AIR
>> WE DON'T HAVE AIRCRAFT IN THE AIR OVER UKRAINE.
AIRCRAFT IN THE AIR OVER UKRAINE. WE ALSO DON'T HAVE ANY
OVER UKRAINE. WE ALSO DON'T HAVE ANY BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
WE ALSO DON'T HAVE ANY BOOTS ON THE GROUND. SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT
BOOTS ON THE GROUND. SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CONFIRM THINGS.
SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CONFIRM THINGS. BUT WHAT I WILL TELL
TO CONFIRM THINGS. BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT A
BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT A PROFESSIONAL MILITARY
YOU IS THAT A PROFESSIONAL MILITARY ALWAYS TAKES SERIOUSLY
PROFESSIONAL MILITARY ALWAYS TAKES SERIOUSLY THE ISSUE OF
ALWAYS TAKES SERIOUSLY THE ISSUE OF RECOVERING ITS FALLEN.
THE ISSUE OF RECOVERING ITS FALLEN. THIS IS A VERY
RECOVERING ITS FALLEN. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING NOT
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING NOT ONLY FOR MORALE, BUT
IMPORTANT THING NOT ONLY FOR MORALE, BUT IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT
ONLY FOR MORALE, BUT IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED.
IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED. >> AND WE'VE SEEN
BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED. >> AND WE'VE SEEN PICTURES AND VIDEO OF
>> AND WE'VE SEEN PICTURES AND VIDEO OF RUSSIAN SOLDIERS, THE
PICTURES AND VIDEO OF RUSSIAN SOLDIERS, THE BODIES OF RUSSIAN
RUSSIAN SOLDIERS, THE BODIES OF RUSSIAN SOLDIERS THAT
BODIES OF RUSSIAN SOLDIERS THAT APPARENTLY HAVE BEEN
SOLDIERS THAT APPARENTLY HAVE BEEN LEFT.
APPARENTLY HAVE BEEN LEFT. AS A GENERAL, AS A
LEFT. AS A GENERAL, AS A SOLDIER, DOES THAT
AS A GENERAL, AS A SOLDIER, DOES THAT SHOCK YOU?
SOLDIER, DOES THAT SHOCK YOU? >> I THINK THAT'S --
SHOCK YOU? >> I THINK THAT'S -- THAT'S BEYOND
>> I THINK THAT'S -- THAT'S BEYOND DISAPPOINTING.
THAT'S BEYOND DISAPPOINTING. IF THAT IS THE CASE,
DISAPPOINTING. IF THAT IS THE CASE, IT'S DISGUSTING FROM
IF THAT IS THE CASE, IT'S DISGUSTING FROM MY STANDPOINT.
IT'S DISGUSTING FROM MY STANDPOINT. YOU KNOW, I THINK
MY STANDPOINT. YOU KNOW, I THINK LEADERS OWE IT TO
YOU KNOW, I THINK LEADERS OWE IT TO THEIR TROOPS TO TAKE
LEADERS OWE IT TO THEIR TROOPS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AND, IF
THEIR TROOPS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AND, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO
CARE OF THEM AND, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THEM, TO RECOVER THEIR
SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THEM, TO RECOVER THEIR REMAINS.
THEM, TO RECOVER THEIR REMAINS. >> UKRAINIANS AND
REMAINS. >> UKRAINIANS AND OTHERS HAVE CALLED FOR
>> UKRAINIANS AND OTHERS HAVE CALLED FOR THIS IDEA OF A NO-FLY
OTHERS HAVE CALLED FOR THIS IDEA OF A NO-FLY ZONE TO BE PATROLLED
THIS IDEA OF A NO-FLY ZONE TO BE PATROLLED BY THE U.S. TO KEEP
ZONE TO BE PATROLLED BY THE U.S. TO KEEP THE RUSSIAN AIRPLANES
BY THE U.S. TO KEEP THE RUSSIAN AIRPLANES OUT OF THE SKY.
THE RUSSIAN AIRPLANES OUT OF THE SKY. IS THAT A NON-STARTER
OUT OF THE SKY. IS THAT A NON-STARTER FOR YOU?
IS THAT A NON-STARTER FOR YOU? >> PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS
FOR YOU? >> PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN CLEAR, LESTER,
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN CLEAR, LESTER, THAT, YOU KNOW, U.S.
BEEN CLEAR, LESTER, THAT, YOU KNOW, U.S. TROOPS WON'T -- WON'T
THAT, YOU KNOW, U.S. TROOPS WON'T -- WON'T FIGHT RUSSIA IN
TROOPS WON'T -- WON'T FIGHT RUSSIA IN UKRAINE.
FIGHT RUSSIA IN UKRAINE. AND IF YOU ESTABLISH A
UKRAINE. AND IF YOU ESTABLISH A NO-FLY ZONE, CERTAINLY
AND IF YOU ESTABLISH A NO-FLY ZONE, CERTAINLY IN ORDER TO ENFORCE
NO-FLY ZONE, CERTAINLY IN ORDER TO ENFORCE THAT NO-FLY ZONE,
IN ORDER TO ENFORCE THAT NO-FLY ZONE, YOU'LL HAVE TO ENGAGE
THAT NO-FLY ZONE, YOU'LL HAVE TO ENGAGE RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT.
YOU'LL HAVE TO ENGAGE RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT. AND, AGAIN, THAT WOULD
RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT. AND, AGAIN, THAT WOULD PUT US AT WAR WITH
AND, AGAIN, THAT WOULD PUT US AT WAR WITH RUSSIA.
PUT US AT WAR WITH RUSSIA. >> WE HEARD VLADIMIR
RUSSIA. >> WE HEARD VLADIMIR PUTIN'S WORDS ABOUT
>> WE HEARD VLADIMIR PUTIN'S WORDS ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
PUTIN'S WORDS ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS. HAVE YOU SEEN ANY
NUCLEAR WEAPONS. HAVE YOU SEEN ANY ACTIONS TO BACK UP
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY ACTIONS TO BACK UP THOSE WORDS, ANYTHING
ACTIONS TO BACK UP THOSE WORDS, ANYTHING THAT SUGGESTS A NEW
THOSE WORDS, ANYTHING THAT SUGGESTS A NEW POSTURE TOWARD THE
THAT SUGGESTS A NEW POSTURE TOWARD THE WEST?
POSTURE TOWARD THE WEST? >> ANY RHETORIC ABOUT
WEST? >> ANY RHETORIC ABOUT THE EMPLOYMENT OF
>> ANY RHETORIC ABOUT THE EMPLOYMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IS
THE EMPLOYMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IS DANGEROUS, AND I THINK
NUCLEAR WEAPONS IS DANGEROUS, AND I THINK WE SHOULD -- WE SHOULD
DANGEROUS, AND I THINK WE SHOULD -- WE SHOULD AVOID THAT IF AT ALL
WE SHOULD -- WE SHOULD AVOID THAT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
AVOID THAT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. I THINK IT CREATES A
POSSIBLE. I THINK IT CREATES A CLIMATE OR IT CREATES
I THINK IT CREATES A CLIMATE OR IT CREATES THE CONDITIONS FOR
CLIMATE OR IT CREATES THE CONDITIONS FOR GROSS MISCALCULATIONS,
THE CONDITIONS FOR GROSS MISCALCULATIONS, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T
GROSS MISCALCULATIONS, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT
AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. I AM VERY COMFORTABLE
HAPPEN. I AM VERY COMFORTABLE WITH OUR -- WITH OUR
I AM VERY COMFORTABLE WITH OUR -- WITH OUR POSTURE, AND I AM
WITH OUR -- WITH OUR POSTURE, AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE
POSTURE, AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN -- WE CAN DEFEND
CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN -- WE CAN DEFEND NOT ONLY OURSELVES BUT
CAN -- WE CAN DEFEND NOT ONLY OURSELVES BUT OUR ALLIES AND OUR
NOT ONLY OURSELVES BUT OUR ALLIES AND OUR PARTNERS.
OUR ALLIES AND OUR PARTNERS. >> MR. SECRETARY, YOU
PARTNERS. >> MR. SECRETARY, YOU AND I ARE BOTH
>> MR. SECRETARY, YOU AND I ARE BOTH CHILDREN OF THE COLD
AND I ARE BOTH CHILDREN OF THE COLD WAR.
CHILDREN OF THE COLD WAR. DOES IT FEEL BACK TO
WAR. DOES IT FEEL BACK TO THE FUTURE FOR YOU NOW
DOES IT FEEL BACK TO THE FUTURE FOR YOU NOW TO SEE THIS CONFLICT?
THE FUTURE FOR YOU NOW TO SEE THIS CONFLICT? >> WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T
TO SEE THIS CONFLICT? >> WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T ENVISION BEING HERE IN
>> WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T ENVISION BEING HERE IN 2022, YOU KNOW, IN
ENVISION BEING HERE IN 2022, YOU KNOW, IN EUROPE.
2022, YOU KNOW, IN EUROPE. AND WE DON'T HAVE TO
EUROPE. AND WE DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE
BE HERE. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE. THIS IS A CHOICE BY
HERE. THIS IS A CHOICE BY ONE MAN.
THIS IS A CHOICE BY ONE MAN. BUT, AGAIN, I THINK IT
ONE MAN. BUT, AGAIN, I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THE
BUT, AGAIN, I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THE RELEVANCE OF THE NATO
SPEAKS TO THE RELEVANCE OF THE NATO ALLIANCE.
RELEVANCE OF THE NATO ALLIANCE. I GOT TO TELL YOU IT'S
ALLIANCE. I GOT TO TELL YOU IT'S IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THE
I GOT TO TELL YOU IT'S IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THE WAY THAT COUNTRIES
IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THE WAY THAT COUNTRIES HAVE COME TOGETHER FOR
WAY THAT COUNTRIES HAVE COME TOGETHER FOR A COMMON CAUSE HERE.
HAVE COME TOGETHER FOR A COMMON CAUSE HERE. >> DEFENSE SECRETARY