*{box-sizing:border-box}body{margin:0;padding:0}a[x-apple-data-detectors]{color:inherit!important;text-decoration:inherit!important}#MessageViewBody a{color:inherit;text-decoration:none}p{line-height:inherit}.desktop_hide,.desktop_hide table{mso-hide:all;display:none;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}.image_block img+div{display:none} @media (max-width:620px){.desktop_hide table.icons-outer{display:inline-table!important}.image_block div.fullWidth{max-width:100%!important}.mobile_hide{display:none}.row-content{width:100%!important}.stack .column{width:100%;display:block}.mobile_hide{min-height:0;max-height:0;max-width:0;overflow:hidden;font-size:0}.desktop_hide,.desktop_hide table{display:table!important;max-height:none!important}.reverse{display:table;width:100%}.reverse .column.first{display:table-footer-group!important}.reverse .column.last{display:table-header-group!important}.row-10 td.column.first .border,.row-12 td.column.first .border,.row-8 td.column.first .border{padding:5px 5px 15px 25px;border-top:0;border-right:0;border-bottom:0;border-left:0}.row-10 td.column.last .border,.row-12 td.column.last .border,.row-14 td.column.last .border,.row-8 td.column.last .border{padding:5px 20px 25px 5px;border-top:0;border-right:0;border-bottom:0;border-left:0}.row-14 td.column.first .border{padding:5px 5px 15px 25px;border-top:0;border-right:0;border-bottom:15px solid transparent;border-left:0}} Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon}
View Online
Defense &
National Security
Defense &
National Security
The Big Story
Senate inches closer to passing Ukraine aid
Senators are also set to pass billions of dollars for Israel, along with funding for Taiwan and Indo-Pacific allies.
© Greg Nash/The Hill
The Senate on Tuesday afternoon easily cleared a procedural hurdle on the $95 billion national security package, setting up a final vote.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on the floor that the "time has come to finish the job to help our friends abroad once and for all."
"Let us not keep our friends around the world waiting for a moment longer," Schumer said.
A final vote could come as soon as Tuesday night.
The House already passed the national security bill over the weekend, meaning the legislation will head to President Biden's desk after Senate passage.
Biden has long asked for support to defend Ukraine, Israel and other allies and is expected to swiftly sign it into law.
The package comes after months of delays on Capitol Hill, where some House Republicans have questioned funding Ukraine against Russian forces.
That delay has led to Russia pushing hard against a struggling Ukrainian military on the battlefield.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) warned that "dithering and hesitation" have already strengthened Russia.
"Make no mistake: Delay in providing Ukraine the weapons to defend itself has strained the prospects of defeating Russian aggression," he said on the Senate floor.
Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the military can get Ukraine what it needs within days after passage.
"We understand the importance and the urgency and are doing everything we can to be poised to respond quickly," he told reporters.
The U.S. will send 155-millimeter artillery shells, air defense munitions and armored vehicles in a $1 billion package, he Associated Press reported.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with President Biden and there was an agreement to send the best versions of the Army Tactical Missile System, which can strike targets up to 190 miles away.
Zelensky said he was grateful to the U.S. and "all who support the active defense of freedom."
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
Essential Reads
How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
the future:
Gershkovich appeal rejected, ensuring detention into June
The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich had an appeal to try and end his pretrial detention rejected Tuesday by a Moscow court, according to The Associated Press (AP). Gershkovich will remain in pretrial detention in Russia until late June on espionage charges as a result of the failed appeal, per the AP...
Full Story Hawley, Cotton call on Biden to deploy National Guard over Gaza protests at colleges
GOP Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Tom Cotton (Ark.) called on President Biden on Monday to deploy the National Guard to colleges, particularly Columbia University in New York City, where pro-Palestinian protesters have staged sit-ins and other disruptive activities to focus public attention on the war. “Eisenhower sent the 101st to Little Rock. It’s time for Biden to call out the National Guard at our universities to protect …
Full Story North Korea conducts first nuclear counterattack simulation drills
North Korea has conducted its first nuclear counterattack simulation drill to demonstrate its management system, led by leader Kim Jong Un, local news reported. According to a report by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea carried out the drill as part of a test of the country’s counterattack capabilities...
Full Story Approval of US leadership drops in Ukraine: Gallup
Ukrainians’ approval of leaders in the United States significantly dropped in 2023, according to a survey from Gallup. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed in Ukraine approved of U.S. leadership in 2023, down 13 percentage points from the record-high 66 percent approval rating in 2022. That’s according to Gallup’s Rating World Leaders 2024 report, published Tuesday...
Full Story On Our Radar
Upcoming things we're watching on our beat:
Gen. Charles Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, speak Wednesday at an all-day global security forum with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
In Other News
Branch out with a different read from The Hill:
FISA bill stalls over Senate amendment fight hours before deadline
A bill to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s (FISA) warrantless spying program stalled in the Senate on Friday because of a fight over amendments that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) worries could pass and send the bill back to the House. Senators and Senate aides …
Full Story On Tap Tomorrow
Events in and around the defense world:
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies talks on airpower with the deputy commander of NATO's Allied Air Command during a 1 p.m. ET online event.
The Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit runs from Wednesday through Friday in Denver.
- The Air and Space Fighters Association holds an 11 a.m. online event to discuss electronic warfare.
- The Atlantic Council will discuss global energy security and U.S. strategic priorities for a 3 p.m. hybrid event.
- The U.S. Institute of Peace will chat on humanitarian aid in Gaza for a 4:30 p.m. in-person event.
What We're Reading
News we've flagged from other outlets:
Trending Today
Two key stories on The Hill right now:
FTC votes to ban noncompete agreements
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted 3-2 on Tuesday to ban noncompete agreements that prevent tens of millions of employees from working for competitors … Read more
Second day of David Pecker testimony wraps in Trump’s hush money trial
Former President Trump’s hush money trial adjourned Tuesday after a second day of testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who … Read more
Opinions in The Hill
Op-ed related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill:
- Denying Cold War II, fearing World War III
You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!
Close Thank you for signing up!
Subscribe to more newsletters here
The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Defense and National Security newsletter Subscribe
login
who are we?
contact us
qosheapp
Toi Staff
Gideon Levy
Belen Fernandez
Rami G Khouri
Mort Laitner
Donald Low
Ali Fathollah-Nejad
Nikkei Editorial
visit website
