KYIV.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
SO PUTIN CALLING ON HIS
NEIGHBORS IN UKRAINE NOT TO
EXACERBATE THE WAR THERE, WHICH
HE STARTED.
SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY
BLINKEN REPEATING A WARNING THAT
WE HEARD FROM NATO THAT THINGS
ARE ABOUT TO GET MUCH WORSE.
>> WE SAY IT IS LIKELY TO GET
WORSE.
UNFORTUNATELY BASED ON
EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW ABOUT
PRESIDENT PUTIN’S METHODS, WHEN
IT COMES TO SEEKING TO SUBJUGATE
ANOTHER COUNTRY TO HIS WILL.
>> Martha: WITH THAT, LET’S
BRING IN JOHN KIRBY FROM THE
PENTAGON.
GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WE’RE HEARING FROM OUR
REPORTERS ON THE GROUND OF A
SIGNIFICANT ESCALATION.
WE HAVE HEARD ANTONY BLINKEN
TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE KNOW MACRON SAID THAT IS WHAT
WAS COMING AFTER HIS 90-MINUTE
CONVERSATION WITH PUTIN
YESTERDAY.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS, HOW DOES
THAT CHANGE THE CALCULUS AND THE
PLAN AT THE PENTAGON?
>> WELL, WHAT -- IT’S MAKING IT
VERY CLEAR THAT WE HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SECURITY
ASSISTANCE TO THE UKRAINIAN
ARMED FORCES AND WE’RE DOING
THAT QUITE FRANKLY AS FAST AS WE
CAN.
WE HAVE SENT IN ALMOST ALL OF
THE 350 MILLION THAT THE
PRESIDENT JUST AUTHORIZED ABOUT
A WEEK AGO.
IT’S ALMOST ALL THERE.
WE’RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
ACCELERATE THAT.
SPEED IS AN ISSUE HERE AS WE SEE
THE RUSSIANS RAMP UP THEIR
ATTACKS AND BOMBARDMENT OF MAJOR
CITY CENTERS.
WE’RE TRYING TO GET MORE STUFF
THERE.
WE’RE ALSO TAKING A REAL HARD
LOOK AT HOW WE’RE BOLSTERING THE
NATO ALLIANCE.
MAKING SURE THAT WE’VE GOT WHAT
WE NEED IN PLACE THERE TO
PROTECT NATO TERRITORY.
THE OTHER THING HERE, MARTHA,
THAT WE DID, SET UP A
DECONFLICTION CHANNEL WITH THE
U.S. MILITARY AND THE RUSSIAN
MILITARY IN EUROPE SO WE CAN
HAVE MORE OPERATIONALLY FOCUS
WITH THE RUSSIANS REAL TIME TO
AVOID THE RISKS OF
MISCALCULATIONS.
>> Martha: YOU FEEL CONFIDENT
THAT THAT WILL WORK THAT WAY?
THAT’S THE HOT LINE THAT WE
MENTIONED.
DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE
RUSSIANS WILL DEAL HONESTLY ON
THAT HOTLINE?
>> IT’S NOT ABOUT TRUSTING
WHETHER THEY’RE HONEST.
IT’S MAKING SURE THAT WE’VE GOT
A COMMUNICATION LINE SET UP AND
THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE LINE.
WE HAVE TESTED IT WITH THEM.
THEY TESTED IT, TOO.
SO WE KNOW THAT THEY KNOW IT’S
THERE AND WE KNOW THAT THEY KNOW
IT’S WORKING.
WE JUST HOPE THAT THEY WILL
PARTICIPATE IN A DIRECT AND
FORTHRIGHT WAY.
AGAIN, THIS REALLY IS NOT ABOUT
COORDINATION.
IT’S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE A WAY TO COMMUNICATE IF
THINGS GET RAISED TO A LEVEL
WHERE WE FEEL LIKE SOME SORT OF
LEVEL OF DECONFLICTION IS
NECESSARY AND IF WE’RE TRYING TO
REDUCE THE RISK OF AN INCIDENT
OR MISCALCULATION.
>> Martha: WAS THAT PROMPTED BY
PUTIN’S TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
OF PUTTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS AT
HIGHER ALERT?
>> NO.
THE REAL PRECIPITATING THINGS
FOR US WITH ARE RESPECT TO THIS
DECONFLICTION CHANNEL, IT’S NOT
UNUSUAL.
WE HAVE ONE IN SYRIA.
WE HAVE ONE ELSEWHERE AROUND THE
WORLD.
THE DEGREE TO WHICH UKRAINIAN
AIRSPACE BAKE DETECTED.
THE UKRAINIANS ARE LAUNCHING
MISSILES AND DEFENDING
THEMSELVES.
MOST OF THE AIR STRIKE THAT
WE’RE SEEING ARE BEING LAUNCHED FROM INSIDE UKRAINE.
FROM INSIDE UKRAINE.
SO THAT BUTTRESSES UP AGAINST
THE EASTERN FLANK.
THAT’S WHAT MADE US FEEL THIS IS
THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO DO.
A DECONFLICTION CHANNEL WAS
IMPORTANT FOR THAT.
>> ARE YOU ENCOUNTERING
DIFFICULTIES IN GETTING AMERICAN
MILITARY WEAPONS IN TO THE
UKRAINE THAT HAVE BEEN PROMISED
TO THEM?
HOW ARE THE CHANNELS GOING?
>> IT’S WORKING WELL WITHOUT
GETTING INTO DETAIL.
WE DON’T WANT TO PUT TOO MUCH
INFORMATION OUT THERE IN PUBLIC.
WE KNOW THAT THE MATERIAL WE’RE
SENDING AND IT’S NOT JUST US, 14
OTHER NATIONS ARE SENDING
MATERIAL.
WE KNOW THAT IT’S GETTING INTO
THE HANDS OF THE UKRAINIAN ARMED
FORCES.
SECRETARY AUSTIN SPOKE WITH THE
MINISTER OF DEFENSE AND THE
MINISTER MADE IT CLEAR HE WAS
GRATEFUL FOR THAT SUPPORT AND
MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT WAS IN
FACT GETTING IN TO THE RIGHT
HANDS AND BEING USED.
>> Martha: DOES THE PENTAGON
HAVE NUMBERS ON HOW MANY RUSSIAN
SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN
THIS BATTLE SO FAR?
THEY’RE SAYING SOUTH OF 500.
IS THAT NUMBER ACCURATE?
>> WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF RANGES
HERE.
IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW WITH
GREAT SPECIFICITY EXACTLY WHAT
THE TOLL IS IN TERMS OF KILLED
AND WOUNDED BY THE RUSSIANS.
WE’RE TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM
ESTIMATES HERE AT THE PENTAGON.
WE’RE NOT ON THE GROUND.
WE DON’T HAVE PERFECT
VISIBILITY.
WHAT WE CAN TELL YOU, WE KNOW
THE RUSSIANS HAVE EXPERIENCED
CASUALTIES.
THEY HAVE SEVERAL SOLDIERS
KILLED.
THEY HAVE SUFFERED SOLDIERS
WOUNDED.
WE KNOW THIS FIGHT IS TAKING A
TOLL ON THEM.
THE UKRAINIANS HAVE BEEN VERY
BRAVE AND VERY STRONGLY
DEFENDING THEIR COUNTRY.
>> Martha: WOULD YOU SAY 500 IS
A LOW NUMBER AND NORTH OF THAT?
IS THAT ACCURATE TO SAY?
>> I’M GOING TO STAY AWAY FROM
RANGES.
I DON’T WANT TO GET INTO
ESTIMATING ON THAT.
WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN
CASUALTIES THOUGH.
>> Martha: I JUST SPOKE WITH
GENERAL BREEDLOVE FROM NATO.
WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE
PENTAGON’S MISSION IS EXACTLY IN
UKRAINE.
HERE’S WHAT HE BROUGHT UP WITH
REGARD TO THAT.
>> IT’S A VERY GOOD QUESTION TO
ASK.
ARE WE GOING TO TRY TO MANAGE
THE FALL OF UKRAINE?
ARE WE GOING TO TRY TO AVOID THE
FALL OF UKRAINE?
I THINK THESE ARE TOUGH
QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO ASK
OURSELVES.
>> Martha: CAN YOU ANSWER THAT
QUESTION?
>> I’LL TELL YOU VERY CLEARLY
WHAT THE PENTAGON AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS FOCUSED
ON.
IT’S TWO THINGS, MARTHA.
ONE IS CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE
THAT UKRAINE CAN DEFEND ITSELF.
THEY ARE DEFENDING THEMSELVES.
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WE’RE
HELPING THEM DO THAT AND TRYING
TO DO THAT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
NUMBER 2, MAKING SURE THAT NATO
CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES.
THAT’S WHY THE PRESIDENT ORDERED
ADDITIONAL TROOPS TO EUROPE.
THAT’S WHY WE REPOSITIONED
TROOPS TO EUROPE, ELSER WITH ON
THE EASTERN FLANK.
MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN MAKE
POSITIVE THAT WE CAN DEFEND NATO
TERRITORY THAT WE’RE MAKING IT
CLEAR TO MR. PUTIN AND OUR
ALLIES HOW SERIOUSLY WE TAKE OUR
ARTICLE 5 COMMITMENTS UNDER THE
NATO TREATY.
>> Martha: WHAT DOES SUCCESS
LOOK LIKE?
IS OUR MISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT
PUTIN DOES NOT TAKE OVER
UKRAINE?
>> OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE SURE
UKRAINE CAN CONTINUE TO DEFEND
ITSELF.
MR. PUTIN HAS A LOT OF OPTIONS
AVAILABLE TO HIM.
WE’VE SEEN THE MILITARY OPTIONS
THAT HE SO RECKLESSLY IS WILLING
TO USE AGAINST THE UKRAINIAN
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE THAT POSE NO THREAT TO
HIM OR TO THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE.
THE OTHER OPTION HE HAS
AVAILABLE TO HIM IS DIPLOMACY.
HE COULD DEESCALATE THIS RIGHT
NOW.
THIS IS A WHARF 0 HIS CHOICE.
HE PUT HIMSELF IN THIS POSITION.
HE’S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH
AND DESTRUCTION THAT HE’S
CAUSING.
HE CAN END IT TODAY BY SITTING
DOWN WITH THE UKRAINIANS AND
FINDING A PATH FORWARD HERE.
DEESCALATING BY TAKING HIS
TROOPS OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND
STOPPING THIS INVASION THAT HE’S
RESPONSIBLE FOR.
>> Martha: IS THAT -- I WANT TO
GO AT THIS ONE MORE TIME.
SO WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?
DOES SUCCESS -- WHAT UKRAINE
WOULD SAY, WHAT PRESIDENT
ZELENSKY WOULD SAY, WE’RE THE
FRONT LINE HERE.
SO IF YOU CARE ABOUT PROTECTING
NATO, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
PUTIN DOES NOT ACHIEVE HIS GOAL
OF TAKING OVER AND DOMINATING
UKRAINE.
>> SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE AN
INVASION THAT IS STOP AND
REVERSED AND DEESCALATED.
THAT’S WHAT SUCCESS HERE.
SUCCESS IS A FREE AND
INDEPENDENT SOVEREIGN UKRAINE,
WHICH IT IS NOW AND WAS BEFORE
THIS INVASION.
THAT’S OBVIOUSLY MR. PUTIN’S
GOAL, THAT’S SUCCESS.
THAT IS SUCCESS, THE FREEDOM FOR
THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE
THEIR OWN FUTURES.
WE’RE GOING TO HELP THEM DEFEND
THEMSELVES AND THEIR COUNTRY AND
MAKE SURE THAT MR. PUTIN KNOWS
THAT ANY ATTACK ON NATO IS
CONSIDERED AN ATTACK ON ALL OF
NATO AND WE’RE GOING TO RESPOND
VERY AGGRESSIVELY.
>> Martha: ONE LAST QUESTION.
WHAT DOES THE TIME FRAME LOOK
LIKE AT THIS POINT?
THE PRESIDENT SAID THIS COULD GO
ON A LONG TIME.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IS A CASE
AND HOW LONG IS A LONG TIME.
>> I THINK THE PRESIDENT IS
RIGHT THAT THIS COULD
POTENTIALLY DRAG OUT FOR WEEKS,
MAYBE MONTHS.
WE DON’T REALLY KNOW WHAT
MR. PUTIN’S NEXT STEP IS GOING
TO BE. HE’S CLEARLY AND HIS COMMANDERS
HE’S CLEARLY AND HIS COMMANDERS
ARE CLEARLY FRUSTRATED AND
FLUMMOXED THAT HERE WE ARE DAY
NINE AND THEY HAVEMENT THEIR
GOALS.
OUR CONCERN IS THAT THEY WILL DO
IT WITH MORE BRUTALITY.
THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE ARE CLEARLY
IN THE FIGHT AND READY TO DEFEND
THEMSELVES.
THAT DEFENSE THAT THEY’RE
PUTTING UP HAS SLOWED
MR. PUTIN’S PROGRESS.
THE PRESIDENT IS RIGHT.
THIS COULD DRAG OUT LONGER THAN
ANYBODY MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT.
BUT IT’S A CREDIT TO THE
UKRAINIAN PEOPLE THAT THEY’RE SO
COURAGEOUSLY DEFENDING THEIR
TERRITORY AND THEIR CITIZENS.
>> Martha: ONE LAST QUESTION.
WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE ADVANCE
FROM THE NORTH AS STALLED?
>> YES, WE WOULD.
>> Martha: JOHN KIRBY, THANKS