| THE TANKS ARE COMING: As Ukraine begins to mass its forces for a drive to push Russian forces back, German and British main battle tanks have arrived in the country to spearhead the coming counteroffensive. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the 18 top-of-the-line Leopard 2 tanks will "make a decisive contribution" on the front lines of the war. The British Defense Ministry said Ukrainian tank crews have completed training on Challenger 2 tanks in the U.K. and have returned home, along with their 14 new tanks. "It is truly inspiring to witness the determination of Ukrainian soldiers having completed their training on British Challenger 2 tanks on British soil," said U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. "They return to their homeland better equipped but to no less danger. We will continue to stand by them and do all we can to support Ukraine for as long as it takes." Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov posted a video of himself on Twitter, smiling while going for a ride in a British tank, gushing over the "marvelous" machines, and thanking the U.K. government. "It was a pleasure to take the first Ukrainian Challenger 2 MBT for a spin," he said. "Such tanks, supplied by the United Kingdom, have recently arrived in our country. These fantastic machines will soon begin their combat missions." GERMAN LEOPARD 2 TANKS AND FIRST BRITISH TANKS ARRIVE IN UKRAINE MORE RUSSIAN TANK LOSSES: Meanwhile, in its latest assessment, the British Defense Ministry said Russian forces suffered "heavy losses" while making only "marginal progress" while attempting to encircle the Donetsk Oblast town of Avdiivka. "Russia's 10th Tank Regiment has likely lost a large proportion of its tanks while attempting to surround Avdiivka from the south," the ministry said in its daily Twitter update. "10th Tank Regiment's losses have likely largely been due to tactically flawed frontal assaults similar to those in other recent failed Russian armored attacks, such as around the town of Vuhledar." "Russian military leadership likely committed limited higher quality Wagner Group elements to the offensive on Avdiivka, potentially to reinforce recent limited tactical successes in the area," said the Institute for the Study of War in its latest battlefield assessment. "Russian military leadership may have decided to deploy certain Wagner elements to the Avdiivka area in recent weeks to support exhausted and lower-quality Donetsk People's Republic elements in their efforts to take the settlement," the ISW said. "If such Wagner fighters have been fighting near Avdiivka, their involvement may help explain the limited tactical gains made in the area over the past week." REPORTS: UKRAINE COULD GET FRENCH MIRAGE JETS: Reports out of France and elsewhere in Europe suggest Ukraine could get as many as 40 Mirage 2000-9 fighter jets, after Ukrainian pilots have been secretly training in France for a month and a half. France may acquire the older jets for transfer to Ukraine from the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Greece, according to the French online portal Intelligence Online. Ukraine has been begging for modern fighter jets to replenish its fleet of aging Soviet-era MiG-29s. The Biden administration has not budged on its refusal to supply Ukraine with U.S. F-16s but has not ruled out sending the planes as part of a long-term effort to rebuild Ukraine's armed forces. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Good Tuesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre's Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Conrad Hoyt. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn't work, shoot us an email and we'll add you to our list. And be sure to follow us on Twitter: @dailyondefense. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE Subscribe today to the Washington Examiner magazine and get Washington Briefing: politics and policy stories that will keep you up to date with what's going on in Washington. SUBSCRIBE NOW: Just $1.00 an issue! HAPPENING TODAY, HEARINGS, HEARING, AND MORE HEARINGS: The Pentagon will be a little emptier today as a slew of top officials spends the day being grilled by various congressional committees about the Biden administration's proposed defense budget for fiscal 2024. First up is Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee at 9:30 a.m. At 10 a.m., Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall; Air Force chief of staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.; and Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman testify before the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, while Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro; Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday; and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger testify before the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. At 2 p.m., Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and Army chief of staff James McConville will be before the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. At 2:30 p.m., the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee holds a hearing on Navy and Marine Corps investment programs, while at 4:30 p.m., the Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee examines "Regional Nuclear Deterrence." See the calendar below for times and locations: SCHUMER ESCALATES FIGHT WITH TUBERVILLE OVER PENTAGON APPOINTMENT BLOCK KIM'S NEW WARHEAD: North Korean state media have published photos of what appear to be new, small tactical nuclear warheads that could be delivered by a variety of weapons systems, while also reporting that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is calling on his nuclear scientists to increase production of weapons-grade material to make more bombs. "The DPRK Nuclear Weapons Institute reported to Kim Jong Un on recent years' work and production for bolstering up the nuclear force of the DPRK both in quality and quantity," according to state-run Korean Central New Agency, which said Kim urged the scientists to increase production of material for nuclear weapons in order to "exponentially" expand the country's nuclear arsenal. Kim also reportedly "examined the plan and written orders for nuclear counterattack operation." A separate report claimed North Korea conducted a successful test of an "underwater strategic weapon system." "The underwater nuclear attack drone "Haeil-1," deployed for the test in Wonsan Bay on the afternoon of March 25, reached the target point in the waters off Hwadae County of North Hamgyong Province on the morning of March 27 after cruising along a jagged and oval course," the report said. "Through the test, all tactical and technical specifications and underwater navigational and technical indices were correctly estimated and the reliability and safety of the weapon system were verified." A MILD REBUKE? At yesterday's regular Chinese Foreign Ministry press briefing, spokeswoman Mao Ning seemed to push back on Russian President Vladimir Putin's declared intention to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, on Ukraine's northern border. Asked about the plan that Putin announced Saturday on Russian TV, Mao said, "Under the current circumstances, all sides need to focus on making diplomatic efforts towards a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis and work together for de-escalation." "In January last year, the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states released a joint statement, in which they affirmed that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought and stressed the importance of the avoidance of war between nuclear-weapon states and the reduction of strategic risks," she noted. OPINION: CHINA SIDESTEPS PUTIN'S BELARUSSIAN NUCLEAR MOVE, PROVING ITS FALSE RED LINE ZELENSKY IN ZAPORIZHZHIA: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met yesterday in Zaporizhzhia with International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi to discuss the dangerous situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which Russia still controls but is currently not producing electricity. "The topic is clear: the security of our energy industry, our nuclear plants," said Zelensky in his nightly video address. "First of all, the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which Russia still uses for radiation blackmail of the world. No other terrorist has reached such depths in his cynicism, in which Russia constantly seeks and finds a new bottom." The plant's six reactors are in shutdown, and it is receiving the electricity it needs to prevent a reactor meltdown through just one remaining power line, according to the Associated Press, which had exclusive access to the meeting. "Grossi said the situation at the plant remains tense because of the heavy military presence around it and a blackout that recently struck the facility, something that has occurred repeatedly since Russian forces took it over last year," the Associated Press reported. FINLAND ONE STEP CLOSER: With the ratification of Finland's NATO membership application by the Hungarian parliament, and with approval from Turkey expected soon, the Nordic nation is one step closer to becoming the 31st member of the Western alliance. The vote wasn't close, 182 to 6, and it means Finland will likely join NATO before Sweden, which is still being blocked by Turkey. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The Rundown Washington Examiner: German Leopard 2 tanks and first British tanks arrive in Ukraine Washington Examiner: Western criticism won't stop Russia from plans to station nuclear weapons in Belarus Washington Examiner: Opinion: China sidesteps Putin's Belarussian nuclear move, proving its false red line Washington Examiner: China has spent years currying favor with Utah government: Report Washington Examiner: Kamala Harris in Africa amid China's growing influence on continent Washington Examiner: State Department denies orchestrating Israeli strikes: 'Completely false' Washington Examiner: McCaul subpoenas State Department for Kabul dissent cable Washington Examiner: Key Republican says House GOP border bill is 'absolutely dead' Washington Examiner: Rusesabagina has left Rwanda after getting freed from prison Washington Examiner: Senate Democrats say abortion access for service members helps national security Washington Examiner: Schumer escalates fight with Tuberville over Pentagon appointment block Washington Examiner: White House moves top communications aide to chief of staff office Washington Post: Foreign Visits By Taiwanese Leaders Underscore Main Parties' Differences Reuters: Taiwan Told To 'Pack Up And Leave' Honduras After Ties Severed Politico: The Military's Blame Game Over The Chinese Spy Balloon Spills Into The Open AP: Russia says it test-fired anti-ship missiles in Sea of Japan AP: Why does Russia want tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus? Wall Street Journal: Ukraine Allies See Way To End War, Lack Plan 19fortyfive.com: Putin Has a Big Problem: His War in Ukraine Has Stalled Out New York Times: Biden Officials Hold Off On More Airstrikes In Syria, For Now Washington Post: Netanyahu's Volatility Puts Pressures On Biden USNI News: AUKUS Success Will Depend On Long-Term Political Will, Says Regional Expert 19fortyfive.com: Panavia Tornado: The Warplane NATO Should Send to Ukraine? Breaking Defense: Space Command Encourages Congress to Uphold Indo-Pacific Command's $3.5B Wish List Wall Street Journal: Pentagon Woos Silicon Valley to Join Ranks of Arms Makers Military.com: Experts Question Military Recruiting Fixes Such as Pre-Boot Camp Courses Military Times: The Fallout of the Military's COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Defense One: How Self-Flying F-16s Will Enable Future Fighter Drones Air & Space Forces Magazine: Part-Time Wingmen: CCAs Won't Always Be 'Tethered' to Crewed Platforms Air & Space Forces Magazine: Space Force Is an 'Equal Partner' in CENTCOM, Commander Says Air & Space Forces Magazine: Military Pilots Avoid Health Care to Keep Flying, New Study Suggests CQ Roll Call: The Overclassification Problem Plaguing The Federal Government 19fortyfive.com: Opinion: Congress: Find the Savings, Hold the Defense Budget Cuts Calendar TUESDAY | MARCH 28 8:30 a.m. — German Marshall Fund of the U.S. virtual discussion: "Sino-Russian Relations and the War in Ukraine: A New Phase of Chinese Policy?" with Akio Takahara, professor of Chinese politics and international relations in East Asia at the University of Tokyo Graduate Schools for Law and Politics; Dennis Wilder, research fellow at the Georgetown University Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues; Elizabeth Wishnick, senior research scientist at the Center for Naval Analyses and senior research scholar at the Columbia University at the Weatherhead East Asian Institute; and Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the GMFUS Indo-Pacific Program https://www.gmfus.org/event/sino-russian-relations 9 a.m. 2212 Rayburn — House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing: "Request for Nuclear Forces and Atomic Energy Defense Activities," with testimony from Jill Hruby, undersecretary for nuclear security and administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy; John Plumb, assistant secretary of defense for space policy; Deborah Rosenblum, assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical, and biological defense programs; Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander, Air Force Global Strike Command; and Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, director, Strategic Systems Programs, U.S. Navy https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings/strategic-forces 9 a.m. 2201 C St. NW — State Department hosts the second "Summit for Democracy," with Secretary of State Antony Blinken chairing a virtual discussion: "A Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine," with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Livestream at https://www.state.gov/summit-for-democracy-2023/ 9 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE — Heritage Foundation discussion: "Winning the New Cold War: A Plan for Countering China," with Senate Intelligence Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL) https://www.heritage.org/asia/event/winning-the-new-cold-war 9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing: "The Department of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program," with testimony from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; Defense Undersecretary (Comptroller)/CFO Michael McCord; and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings 10 a.m. 192 Dirksen — Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing: "Review of the President's FY2024 Budget Request for the Navy and Marine Corps," with testimony from Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro; Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday; and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings 10 a.m. H-140 Capitol — House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing: "FY2024 Request for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force," with testimony from Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall; Air Force chief of staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr.; and Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman https://appropriations.house.gov/legislation/hearings 10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Joint Readiness And Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee hearing: "Posture and Readiness of the Mobility Enterprise – TRANSCOM and MARAD," with testimony from Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, commander, U.S. Transportation Command; and retired Rear Adm. Ann Phillips, administrator, Maritime Administration https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings/joint-readiness 10 a.m. 216 Hart — Senate Judiciary Committee hearing: "Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security," with testimony from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee 11 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE — Heritage Foundation discussion: "The U.S. Coast Guard: Opportunities and Challenges to Enhancing Maritime Security," with Coast Guard Vice Commandant Adm. Steven Poulin https://www.heritage.org/defense/event/the-us-coast-guard 2 p.m. H-140 Capitol — House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing: "FY2024 Request for the U.S. Army," with testimony from Army Secretary Christine Wormuth; and Army chief of staff Gen. James McConville https://appropriations.house.gov/legislation/hearings/ 2 p.m. 2154 Rayburn — House Oversight and Accountability National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing: "Ensuring Force Readiness: Examining Progressivism's Impact on an All-Volunteer Military," with testimony from Jeremy Hunt, media fellow at the Hudson Institute; Brent Sadler, senior research fellow with the Heritage Foundation's Center for National Defense; and Meaghan Mobbs, senior fellow with the Independent Women's Forum https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/ensuring-force-readiness 2:30 p.m. 232-A Russell — Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee hearing: "Navy and Marine Corps investment programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2024 and the Future Years Defense Program," with testimony from Frederick Stefany, acting assistant Navy secretary for research, development and acquisition; Vice Adm. Scott Conn, deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting requirements and capabilities; and Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, Marine Corps deputy commandant for combat development and integration https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings 3 p.m. HVC-200 Capitol — Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe hearing: "Navigating U.S. export controls for Ukrainian victory." Contact Beth.Wiesinger@mail.house.gov 4:45 p.m. 222 Russell -— Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing: "Regional Nuclear Deterrence," with testimony from M. Elaine Bunn, non-resident senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies's Project on Nuclear Issues; Brad Roberts, director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Center for Global Security Research; Gregory Weaver, non-resident senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies's Project on Nuclear Issues; and Evan Montgomery, director of research studies and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings 5 p.m. 1521 16th St. NW — Institute of World Politics discussion: "Tactics to Counter Russian Disinformation," with Thomas Kent, senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation and author of Striking Back: Overt and Covert Options to Combat Russian Disinformation https://www.iwp.edu/events/tactics-to-counter-russian-disinformation WEDNESDAY | MARCH 29 8 a.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: "How to keep Western tech out of Russian weapons," with Sam Jones, president and co-founder of the Heartland Initiative; and Olena Tregub, executive director of the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/keeping-western-tech-out-of-russian-weapons 9:30 a.m. 232A Russell — Senate Armed Services CyberSecurity Subcommittee hearing: "Enterprise Cybersecurity to Protect the Department of Defense Information Networks," with testimony from John Sherman, Pentagon CIO; and Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner, director, Defense Information Systems Agency https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings 10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: "Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Budget Request," with testimony from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings/full-committee 10 a.m. — U.S. Institute of Peace virtual discussion: "Assessing the State of European Security: A Presidential Perspective from the Balkans," with Montenegrin President Milo Dukanovic https://www.usip.org/events/assessing-state-european-security 11 a.m. — Government Executive Media Group discussion: "The State of the Space Force," with Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman https://d1stateofdefense.com/ 11 a.m. — Center for a New American Security virtual discussion: "Russia-China Relations One Year after the Invasion of Ukraine," with Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund's Indo-Pacific Program; Dmitry Gorenburg, senior research scientist in Russia studies at the Center for Naval Analyses; Richard Weitz, director of the Hudson Institute's Center for Political-Military Analysis; Yusuke Anami, professor at Tohoku University; and former Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for European and NATO Policy Jim Townsend, adjunct senior fellow, Transatlantic Security Program, CNAS https://www.cnas.org/events/brussels-sprouts-live-russia-china-relations 2:30 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: "How to beat Russia: Observations from Ukraine's homeland defense," with Robert Vass, founder and president of GLOBSEC; and Nico Lange, senior adviser at GLOBSEC https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/how-to-beat-russia 4 p.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: "More, Better, Faster: U.S. Support for Ukraine's Defense," with Senate Foreign Relations ranking member James Risch (R-ID); and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) https://www.hudson.org/events/more-better-faster- THURSDAY | MARCH 30 **9:30 a.m. G50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing "Posture of the Department of The Army in Review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2024 and the Future Years Defense Program," with testimony from Army Secretary Christine Wormuth; and Army chief of staff Gen. James McConville https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings 9:30 a.m. — Henry Stimson Center virtual discussion: "If We Don't Sell: What Happens When States are Cut Off from U.S. Arms?" with Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA); Annie Shiel, U.S. advocacy director at the Center for Civilians in Conflict; and Elias Yousif, research analyst at the Stimson Conventional Defense Program https://www.stimson.org/event/if-we-dont-sell-what-happens 10 a.m. 1740 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Brookings Institution holds its ninth annual "Justice Stephen Breyer Lecture" on "Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the international legal order," with Oona Hathaway, professor of international law at Yale Law School; Maarten Boef, deputy ambassador at the Netherlands Embassy; and Marielle Vavier, deputy mayor of The Hague https://www.brookings.edu/events/russias-aggression-against-ukraine 12:30 p.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE — Heritage Foundation discussion: "Restoring the Military's Focus on Warfighting," with Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) https://www.heritage.org/defense/event/restoring-the-militarys-focus-warfighting 1 p.m. 300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Wilson Center Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies discussion: "Putin's Concept of International Law," with Lauri Malksoo, professor of international law at the University of Tartu, Estonia https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/putins-concept-international-law 1:30 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: "The Future of AUKUS," with retired Adm. Harry Harris, former commander of U.S. Pacific Command https://www.csis.org/events/future-aukus-admiral-harry-harris-jr-usn-ret 2 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual book discussion on White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan, with author Mick Ryan, nonresident fellow at CSIS https://www.csis.org/events/book-event-white-sun-war-campaign-taiwan 3 p.m. — Center for a New American Security virtual discussion: "The Biden Administration's Indo-Pacific Strategy," with Kurt Campbell, deputy assistant to the president and National Security Council coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs https://www.cnas.org/events/virtual-fireside-kurt-campbell FRIDAY | MARCH 31 8:30 a.m. 1330 Maryland Ave. SW — National Review Institute 2023 Ideas Summit, with former Vice President Mike Pence; and former Attorney General Bill Barr delivering remarks on "rule of law" https://web.cvent.com/event 9:30 a.m. — Henry Stimson Center virtual discussion: "Japan's New National Security Strategy: Allies & Partners," with Ken Jimbo, professor at Keio University; Tomohiko Satake, senior fellow at the National Institute for Defense Studies; Kei Koga, associate professor at Nanyang Technological University; Yoko Iwama, professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies; and Masahiro Kurita, senior fellow at the National Institute for Defense Studies https://www.stimson.org/event/japans-new-national-security-strategy 10 a.m. — Bipartisan Policy Center virtual discussion: "Housing America's Military Families," with Shannon Razsadin, president and executive director of the Military Family Advisory Network; and Jessica Strong, senior director of applied research at Blue Star Families https://bipartisanpolicy.org/event/housing-americas-military-families 10 a.m. 37th and O Sts. NW— Georgetown University Center for Contemporary Arab Studies conference: "Iraq 2023: Twenty Years On" https://www.georgetown.edu/event/iraq-2023-twenty-years-on
| | | "A year ago, no one could have imagined that the support of our partners would be so strong. That the entire civilized world would reboot and eventually resist the bloody aggressor, the terrorist country of Russia. This year, everything has changed. Ukraine has changed the world. The resilience of the Ukrainian people and the skill of our army convinced everyone that Ukraine will win."
| Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov on Facebook, after the arrival of German and British battle tanks
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