White House says Russia’s recent attack in Ukraine has failed.
White House asserts Russian latest offensive in Ukraine has ‘backfired’ BACKFIRED, WITH 20,000 KIA: For months, against the advice of some senior U.S. military officials, Ukraine has stubbornly held on to the largely-destroyed town of Bakhmut, successfully tying down Russian forces and inflicting heavy casualties while buying time for its counter-invasion force to coalesce.
Ukraine has lost some of its best, battle-hardened troops, but its strategy has decimated and demoralized Russia’s conscript and convict army that has been under orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin to take Bakhmut so he could tout some progress on the battlefield as the war that was supposed to take three days dragged into year two.
“The bottom line is that Russia’s attempted offensive has backfired. After months of fighting and extraordinary losses, Russia continues to be focused on a single Ukrainian city with limited strategic value,” NSC spokesman John Kirby said yesterday. “Ukraine’s armed forces are defending the territory bravely and effectively and making Russia expend enormous resources for marginal gains.”
Kirby told reporters that, based on newly declassified American intelligence, the U.S. estimates that just since December, Russia has suffered 100,000 casualties, including more than 20,000 dead. “It’s three times the number of killed in action that the United States faced on the Guadalcanal campaign in World War II and that was over the course of five months,” he said.
RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE EXPENDING ‘ENORMOUS RESOURCES FOR MARGINAL GAINS,’ US SAYS
LOW ON AMMO: Both sides are low on artillery shells as Russia has expended most of its inventory, and Ukraine is husbanding its stockpile for the coming counteroffensive. Otherwise, casualties in Bakhmut might have been even higher in recent months.
In an April 29 interview, the leader of Wagner Group mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, threatened to withdraw his forces from Bakhmut if the Russian military didn’t send him more ammunition, noted the Institute for the Study of War in its latest update. The institute also quoted a Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson as saying nine Tu-95 and two Tu-160 strategic bombers that launched cruise missiles at Kyiv carried “far fewer missiles than their maximum load,” suggesting Russia continues to struggle with adequate production of munitions.
“Logistics problems remain at the heart of Russia’s struggling campaign in Ukraine. Russia does not have enough munitions to achieve success on the offensive,” said the British Defense Ministry in its daily Twitter update.
“Paucity of ammunition drives internal divisions, most notably between Russia’s Ministry of Defence and Wagner Group,” according to U.K. intelligence. “Russia continues to give the highest priority to mobilizing its defense industry, but it is still failing to meet wartime demands. While Russia’s political leaders persist in demanding success on the battlefield, Russia’s logistics professionals are stuck in the middle.”
RUSSIA STRIKES UKRAINIAN CITIES AHEAD OF EXPECTED KYIV COUNTEROFFENSIVE
McCARTHY: ‘I SUPPORT AID FOR UKRAINE’: On his first trip abroad as House speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) found himself at a news conference in Israel being quizzed by a Russian reporter who prefaced his question with the assertion that McCarthy didn’t support “unlimited and uncontrolled” supplies of weapons to Ukraine.
After making sure he heard the question right, McCarthy pushed back hard.
“Did he say I don’t support aid to Ukraine? No, I vote for aid for Ukraine. I support aid for Ukraine. I do not support what your country has done to Ukraine,” he said, adding, “I do not support your killing of the children either and I think … you should pull out, and I don’t think it’s right. And we will continue to support because the rest of the world sees it just as it is.”
McCarthy is leading a bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers visiting Israel, in which he was the first House speaker to address the Knesset in 25 years.
KEVIN MCCARTHY RIGHTLY CONFRONTS ISRAEL ON CHINA TECH CONCERNS
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HAPPENING TODAY: Another busy day on Capitol Hill, as leaders of the Air Force, the Space Force, and the Army appear before various Senate committees.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, Air Force chief of staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., and Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman are before the Senate Armed Services Committee at 9:30 a.m.
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and Army chief of staff Gen. James C. McConville testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee at 10 a.m.
And John Plumb, assistant defense secretary for space policy; Frank Calvelli, assistant Air Force secretary for space acquisition and integration; and Space Force Gen. David Thompson, vice chief of space operations, appear before the Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee at 4:45 p.m.
ONE GENERAL’S VIEW: ‘THE NEXT PHASE WILL LIKELY BE THE TOUGHEST’: Retired Gen. Mark Hertling, former commanding general of U.S. Army Europe, is predicting Ukraine’s upcoming counteroffensive is going to be no easy task.
“This will be a tough fight, with newly-formed Ukrainian units conducting (for the first time) large-scale combined arms breeches against prepared Russian defensive positions,” Hertling said in a Twitter thread posted yesterday. “Make no mistake, the next phase will likely be the toughest for both sides.”
“My belief is that Ukraines’ forces will perform well (even better than before) & the Russian force will continue to perform poorly (though not as bad as they have in the past),” he predicted. “That is partly due to switching roles (attacking vs defending, and time spent by each preparing).”
“Be wary of those who are looking for big moves & huge or fast gains. That could happen in some areas, but pushing logistics to support the Ukraine offensive will be the big test for each side,” Hertling advised. “The prepared side will carry the day.”
UKRAINE REJECTS WESTERN FEAR THAT PUTIN WOULD USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO KEEP CRIMEA
THE ATLANTIC, ALL-IN: The Atlantic magazine — in a cover story illustrated with a sketch of Volodymyr Zelensky by U2’s lead singer Bono — is making “the case for the total liberation of Ukraine” with an impassioned plea for the Biden administration to do more to ensure Ukraine can vanquish Russia on the battlefield.
“Uniquely, the United States has the power to determine how, and how quickly, the war of attrition turns into something quite different,” wrote staff writer Anne Applebaum and editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. “Over the next few months, as the Ukrainians take their best
Ukraine Needs American Support to Win the War
Can Ukraine Win the War Without Foreign Troops?
The fighters of Ukraine are determined to win the war, but they need American support to do so. According to Goldberg, Ukraine can win the war without foreign troops, but they need American material, weapon systems, and advanced technology. This is the year to do it, and with a little more help, they can change the lines on the battlefield.
Ukrainian Army vs. Russian Army
The Defense Minister of Ukraine revealed that the Ukrainian army is now a Western army with an innovative and flattened hierarchy. On the other hand, the Russians are still fighting like Soviets. The Ukrainians are fighting like American Special Forces, and the Russians are just trying to go home alive. The morale is extremely low, and they don’t care about the war.
US Assists in Evacuation of Americans from Sudan
White House Helps Close to 1,000 Americans Find a Way to Safety
As Americans trapped by the fighting in Sudan continue to complain about the lack of information from the U.S. Embassy, the White House says it has helped close to 1,000 U.S. nationals find a way to safety. The U.S. government has assisted in the departure of nearly 1,000 American citizens since the beginning of the crisis. This includes the departure of hundreds of American citizens over the weekend by U.S. government-organized convoys to the Port of Sudan.
Evacuations Come Just Five Days After Kirby’s Statement
The evacuations come just five days after Kirby said there were only several dozen Americans who wanted to leave Sudan. The focus was getting them on buses for the 500-mile overland trek instead of conducting airlifts as U.S. allies Britain, France, and Germany did.
News Roundup
- Russian offensive expending ‘enormous resources for marginal gains,’ US says
- Russia strikes Ukrainian cities ahead of expected Kyiv counteroffensive
- Ukraine rejects Western fear that Putin would use nuclear weapons to keep Crimea
- Putin would be arrested at summit, South Africa warns Russia: ‘We have to’
- Tuberville Sees NDAA Offramp To Standoff Over Pentagon’s Abortion Policy
- US military tracking another aerial object
- Biden looks to strengthen military ties with the Philippines as tension with China increases
- Blinken denies role in intelligence letter calling Hunter Biden laptop story Russian disinformation
- Opinion: Philippines-US alliance moves past Duterte dysfunction
The news roundup includes updates on the Russian offensive, Ukraine’s rejection of Western fear, and Biden’s efforts to strengthen military ties with the Philippines. The US military is also tracking another aerial object, and Blinken denies any involvement in the intelligence letter calling Hunter Biden laptop story Russian disinformation.Get the latest news on global affairs with our daily roundup! From Ukraine’s arms sector overcoming production hurdles to the US Navy putting its submarines on rare public display in a message to Russia’s growing undersea force, we’ve got you covered.
Check out these top headlines:
Washington Examiner: Kevin McCarthy rightly confronts Israel on China tech concerns
Why it matters:
Israel’s relationship with China has been a topic of concern for the US, and now House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is taking action.
The Atlantic: The Case for the Total Liberation of Ukraine
Why it matters:
As Russia and Ukraine step up attacks, The Atlantic makes a case for the total liberation of Ukraine.
New York Times: Biden’s Meeting With Marcos Aims to Send a Message to China
Why it matters:
President Biden’s meeting with Marcos is more than just a diplomatic gesture – it’s a message to China.
Task & Purpose: Marine veteran killed while evacuating Ukrainian civilians from Bakhmut
Why it matters:
The sacrifice of Marine veteran David Stalker highlights the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the bravery of those who serve.
Business Insider: The U.S. Navy Is Putting Its Submarines On Rare Public Display In A Message To Russia’s Growing Undersea Force
Why it matters:
The US Navy is sending a message to Russia with a rare public display of its submarines.
Military.com: Military Expanding the Use of Fitness Trackers to Detect Disease Outbreaks Such as COVID-19
Why it matters:
The military is using fitness trackers to detect disease outbreaks, including COVID-19.
Stay up-to-date with the latest global news and events with our daily roundup.
Calendar
TUESDAY | MAY 2
- 8:30 a.m. — Henry Stimson Center virtual discussion: “U.S.-China Relations,” with U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns
- 9 a.m. One West Pratt St. Baltimore, Maryland — Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association 2023 TechNetCyber conference, with Army Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander, U.S. Cyber Command, and director, National Security Agency
- 9 a.m. — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs virtual Korea Policy Forum: “Assessing the Biden-Yoon Summit”
gaging Schedule of Defense and National Security Events
Looking for the latest updates on defense and national security? Look no further than this schedule of events happening today and tomorrow. From Senate hearings to virtual discussions, there’s something for everyone.
Tuesday, May 2
9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing:
“The Posture, Department, Air Force in Review, Defense Authorization Request for FY2024 and the Future Years Defense Program,”
with testimony from Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.; and Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman. Don’t miss this chance to hear from some of the top leaders in the Air Force and Space Force.
10 a.m. 192 Dirksen — Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing:
“A Review, President’s FY2024 Budget Request for the Army,”
with testimony from Army Secretary Christine Wormuth; and Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville. Get the inside scoop on the Army’s budget and plans for the future.
12 p.m. — Association, U.S. Army virtual discussion:
“Recruiting with Success,”
with Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis, commanding general, U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Learn about the latest strategies for recruiting the best and brightest to serve in the Army.
1 p.m. 14th and F Sts. NW — Debra Tice, mother of journalist Austin Tice, holds a news conference at the National Press Club.
Don’t miss this important news conference
with Debra Tice, mother of journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared in 2012 while reporting in Syria.
2:30 p.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion:
“The Indo-Pacific, Ukraine, and Transatlantic Ties,”
with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky. Get insights into the latest developments in the Indo-Pacific region, Ukraine, and transatlantic relations.
2:30 p.m. 232-A Russell — Senate Armed Services Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee hearing:
“The Current Readiness, Joint Force,”
with testimony from top military leaders. Get the latest updates on the readiness of the joint force from Gen. Randy George, vice chief of staff, Army; Adm. Lisa Franchetti, vice chief of naval operations; Gen. Eric Smith, assistant Marine Corps commandant; Gen. David Allvin, vice chief of staff, Air Force; Space Force Gen. David Thompson, vice chief of space operations; and Diana Maurer, director of defense capabilities and management at the Government Accountability Office.
4 p.m. — 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE Heritage Foundation discussion:
“Local Needs in an International War: A Conversation with Ukrainian Mayors,”
with Trostianets Mayor Yuriy Bova; Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov; Nizhyn Mayor Oleksandr Kodola; Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov; and Antonia Ferrier, vice president for external affairs at the International Republican Institute. Hear from Ukrainian mayors about the challenges they face in the midst of an international conflict.
4:45 p.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing:
“Defense Department space activities in review, Defense Authorization Request for FY2024 and the Future Years Defense Program,”
with testimony from top defense officials. Get the latest updates on the Defense Department’s space activities from John Plumb, assistant defense secretary for space policy; Frank Calvelli, assistant Air Force secretary for space acquisition and integration; and Space Force Gen. David Thompson, vice chief of space operations.
Wednesday, May 3
8:30 a.m. One West Pratt St., Baltimore, Md. — Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association 2023 TechNetCyber conference,
with Defense CIO John Sherman; Rob Vietmeyer, chief software officer, Defense Department; and National Guard CIO Kenneth McNeill, director, Command, Control, Communications, and Computers Systems Directorate. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the latest developments in cybersecurity from top defense officials.
8:30 a.m. — Henry Stimson Center virtual discussion:
“Nuclearization Debates: What Can South Korea Learn from South Asia?”
with experts in the field. Get insights into the ongoing debates around nuclearization in South Korea and South Asia from Ruhee Neog, director, New Delhi’s Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies; Nicholas Miller, associate professor at Dartmouth College; and Feroz Khan, research professor at the Naval Postgraduate School.
10 a.m. 192 Dirksen — Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee hearing:
“A Review, FY2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Energy,”
with testimony from top energy officials. Get the latest updates on the Department of Energy’s budget and plans for the future.Looking for some exciting events to attend this week? Look no further! From Senate hearings to virtual discussions, there’s something for everyone. Check out our list below for some of the most interesting events happening this week:
Tuesday | May 3
10 a.m. 406 Dirksen
Join the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for a hearing on “The 2024 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budget and implementation of Water Resources Development Act of 2022.” Don’t miss out on this important discussion!
10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW
Interested in Japan’s defense strategy? Then you won’t want to miss this discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Former Japanese Defense Minister Onodera Itsunori, former Japanese Minister of Finance Otsuka Taku, and former Japanese Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Kokuba Konosuke will be sharing their insights.
2 p.m.
Join the Jewish Institute for National Security of America for a virtual discussion on a new report: “Build It and They Will Come: A U.S. Strategy for Integrating Middle East Air and Missile Defenses.” The discussion will focus on threats from Iran and feature a panel of experts, including Rep. Robert Wittman (R-VA) and retired Air Force Gen. Gilmary Michael Hostage.
3 p.m.
Don’t miss the Center for the Study, Presidency and Congress virtual conversation with retired Australian Army Maj. Gen. Mick Ryan, author of “White Sun War, The Campaign For Taiwan,” a fictional account of a future war between the U.S. and China over Taiwan. Joshua Huminski, director of the Mike Rogers Center for Intelligence and Global Affairs, will also be joining the conversation.
6:30 p.m. 1307 L St. NW
Join the New York University Brademas Center for an event featuring actors reading excerpts from the diaries of Ukrainian children and teenagers chronicling the Russian-Ukrainian war. The event will be followed by a discussion on the war with policy experts.
Thursday | May 4
5:30 a.m.
Start your day off right with a virtual discussion at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies on “NATO and the Evolving Transatlantic Security Agenda.” Benedetta Berti, head of policy planning at the Office of the Secretary General of NATO, will be leading the discussion.
9 a.m. 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md.
Join the 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This is a great opportunity to learn more about investment opportunities in the United States.
9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen
The Senate Armed Services Committee will be holding a hearing on “Worldwide Threats,” featuring testimony from Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and Army Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
12 p.m.
Join the Hudson Institute for a virtual discussion on “Reaching an Endgame in Ukraine,” featuring former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and Reka Szemerkenyi, senior adviser on transatlantic strategy at the International Republican Institute.
3:30 p.m.
Don’t miss the Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion on “The modernization of the U.S.-Philippines alliance,” featuring Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos.
With so many exciting events happening this week, there’s no excuse not to get involved! Don’t miss out on these opportunities to learn, engage, and connect with others.
Upcoming Events in International Relations
Thursday | May 4
- Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies and the U.S. Studies Center discussion: “Allies and Geopolitical Competition in the Indo-Pacific Region”
- 4:15 p.m. — Hudson Institute virtual event: “A Conversation with Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander, U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command,” with Rebeccah Heinrichs, Hudson senior fellow and director, Keystone Defense Initiative
Friday | May 5
- 9 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: “Ideas to Implementation: Priorities for NATO’s Vilnius Summit,” with Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anusauskas; and former NATO Deputy Secretary-General Rose Gottemoeller
- 11 a.m. — Foundation for the Defense of Democracies virtual event: “Ukraine’s War of Independence: A Conversation with Amb. Oksana Markarova,” with Clifford May, founder and president, FDD
- 6:30 p.m. Sedona, Arizona — McCain Institute 2023 Sedona Forum, 6:30 p.m., with the theme “Indispensable Power,” May 5-6
Quote of the Day
“I vote for aid to Ukraine. I support aid for Ukraine. I do not support what your country has done to Ukraine. I do not support your killing of the children, either. And I think … you should pull out … And we will continue to support because the rest of the world sees it just as it is.”
Stay informed about the latest events in international relations with these upcoming discussions and virtual events. From the Center for Strategic and International Studies to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, there are plenty of opportunities to learn and engage with experts in the field. Don’t miss out on the chance to gain valuable insights and perspectives on the most pressing issues facing the world today.
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