Defense &
National Security
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Defense &
National Security
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US, Ukraine planning peace talks in Saudi Arabia |
U.S. and Ukrainian officials are looking to set up a meeting next week in Saudi Arabia aimed at structuring the framework for a ceasefire with Russia and establishing a peace deal. |
The meeting signals a thawing of relations between the U.S. and Ukraine, which ruptured abruptly following an explosive Oval Office confrontation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We are now in discussion to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians in Riyadh or even potentially Jeddah,” U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff told reporters on Thursday.
“So the city is moving around a little bit, but it will be Saudi Arabia. And I think the idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well.”
Zelensky has sought to repair relations with Trump following the Oval Office debacle, the fallout from which has included Trump halting military assistance to Ukraine and cutting off intelligence sharing with the Ukrainians, harming Kyiv’s ability to hit high-value Russian targets. Zelensky sent a letter to the president and posted on social media overtures to the power of the U.S. and his intent to sign a minerals deal with the president that was shelved in the aftermath.
“I hope we get things back on track with the Ukrainians and everything resumes,” Witkoff said, but he noted the decision rests with Trump.
“I think those are all decisions of the president, but I think he felt that Zelensky’s letter was a very positive first step.”
Read the full report at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. |
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How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
the future: |
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Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin said Thursday he did not “know any system that slashes its way to excellence” following Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) head Doug Collins’s announcement that the department is preparing to cut around 72,000 jobs. “I do applaud the administration for taking a look at how they can make this agency work better. We cannot continue the status quo. The wait times are going … |
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The American Jewish Committee and Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned deputy Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson over social media posts they described as antisemitic. “Anyone who posts antisemitic conspiracy theories lifted right out of the neo-Nazi playbook should not be in public office,” the American Jewish Committee wrote in a Wednesday post on the social platform X. “Kingsley Wilson, newly appointed … |
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Military officials and local law enforcement on Thursday responded to an “active shooter situation” on Corry Station in Pensacola, Fla., but found no signs of a shooting, the Navy announced. Naval Security Forces for Naval Air Station Pensacola — of which Corry Station is a sub-installation — and local authorities responded after Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a 10:15 a.m. call for an “armed disturbance,” with … |
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Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: |
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U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz will be part of a U.S. delegation meeting with their Ukrainian counterparts in Saudi Arabia for discussions about a ceasefire to end the country’s war with Russia, planned for next week.
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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Bill to pay troops during shutdown filed as funding deadline looms |
Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) reintroduced a bill Thursday to ensure that members of the military get paid during a government shutdown, a move that comes as a March 14 deadline ticks closer without a deal to extend funding. The Pay Our Troops Act would direct existing unappropriated Treasury Department funds to be made available to pay members of the armed forces as well as civilian employees and defense contractors supporting … |
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The American Bar Association will host a forum on “Air and Space Law,” with former Deputy FAA Administrator Katie Thompson, Nikki Harding, deputy assistant TSA administrator for compliance; and Alex MacDonald, former NASA chief economist, at 9 a.m.
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News we've flagged from other outlets: |
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‘Who’s doing the vetting?': Republicans denounce Pentagon aide for antisemitic comments (Politico)
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Frustration grows inside the White House over pace of deportations (The New York Times)
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VA secretary insists massive staff cuts needed to refocus department (Military Times)
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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Ten House Democrats joined Republicans in voting to censure Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) on Thursday, rebuking the 11-term congressman for his … Read more |
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President Trump on Thursday signed off on tariff exemptions for imports from Canada and Mexico that are covered under a 2020 North American trade agreement, … Read more |
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