| | | | |  | | By Miles J. Herszenhorn, Eric Bazail-Eimil and Joe Gould | |  The incursion also marks the second straight summer that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been dealt a major military humiliation. | Pool photo by Gavriil Grigorov | With help from Daniel Lippman and Paul McLeary Subscribe here | Email Matt | Email Eric Officials in Washington are offering more public praise for Kyiv’s surprise incursion into Russian territory, as Ukraine has managed to embarrass Russian leader VLADIMIR PUTIN, scramble the Kremlin’s military strategy and seize large swaths of land along the border. Sen. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-Conn.), who met with Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY in Ukraine earlier this week, told NatSec Daily that the “failure to defend Russia is comparable to the complete breakdown that forced Russia to retreat two and a half years ago.” “I imagine Putin is really angry,” Blumenthal added. “It’s a failure of command, surveillance, fighting and determination.” President JOE BIDEN told reporters on Tuesday that Ukraine’s advances inside Russian territory have put Moscow in a tough spot, while acknowledging that the U.S. is talking with Kyiv as the incursion continues. “It’s creating a real dilemma for Putin, and we’ve been in direct contact — constant contact — with the Ukrainians,” Biden said. “That’s all I’m going to say about it while it’s active.” There’s still some caginess about the details. State Department spokesperson VEDANT PATEL punted at today’s briefing when asked about reports that U.S. weapons were being used in the incursion against Russian targets. And White House Press Secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE reiterated today that the U.S. was not involved with the planning of the attack. But those new expressions of support come as Ukraine’s offensive continues onward. Ukraine has already taken control of dozens of villages in Kursk and officials in Kyiv said today that its military has continued to capture more Russian territory — making the Kursk offensive the largest incursion into Russia by a foreign military since World War II, per military analysts. And Ukraine hit several Russian air bases with missiles and drones overnight on Wednesday, our own ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH reports. The push has also strengthened Kyiv’s hand. Zelenskyy also said on Tuesday in his daily update about the war that hundreds of Russian troops have surrendered to Ukrainian forces, allowing Kyiv to significantly replenish its “exchange fund” for future prisoner swaps. Some are calling for Washington to deepen its support for Ukraine in the face of Ukraine’s successes. Speaking in Kyiv earlier this week, Sen. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-S.C.) called Ukraine’s military operations in the Kursk and Belgorod regions “bold, brilliant and beautiful” and urged Kyiv to “keep it up.” He also called on the U.S. to “let these people fight! Give them weapons they need to win a war they can't lose.” The incursion also marks the second straight summer that Putin has been dealt a major military humiliation. Last year, YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN and his Kremlin-backed Wagner Group briefly marched on Moscow to demand the firing of then-Russian Defense Minister SERGEI SHOIGU. Though Prigozhin called off the brief uprising before his Wagner mercenaries got close to Moscow, it was the most serious threat to Putin’s hold on Russia in more than two decades. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia MICHAEL McFAUL told NatSec Daily that “Putin has killed tens of thousands of Russians in a senseless vanity war, expanded NATO including along a giant border with Finland, allowed coup plotters to reach the outskirts of Moscow, and now allowed Russia to be invaded for the first time since 1941.” “Maybe it's time for Russians to rethink whether Putin is good for their security,” McFaul added.
| | | | During unprecedented times, POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy. Live briefings, policy trackers, and and people intelligence secures your seat at the table. Learn more. | | | | | | | | ISRAEL’S MULTIPLE FRONTS: Palestinian factions in the West Bank and Gaza are clashing with Israel as the region braces for an expected attack by Iran and its proxies. The Palestinian militant group Hamas reiterated today that it will not participate in Thursday’s ceasefire and hostage swap talks in Doha, per Reuters’ NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI. Part of the reason for the breakdown, the Associated Press’ ABBY SEWELL reports, is Hamas’ frustration with the U.S. as a mediator. In an interview, top Hamas official OSAMA HAMDAN said that the group does not believe Washington can or will apply the needed pressure to get Israel to agree to a deal. He also showed the AP documents the outlet confirmed to be genuine, indicating that Israel shot down the group’s request to add other mediators to the process, including Turkey, Russia and the United Nations. Meanwhile, Israel unveiled a new plan for settlements in the West Bank, Reuters’ STEVEN SCHEER and ALI SAWAFTA report. The document’s release came as clashes once again broke out today in the West Bank between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants following an Israeli raid in Tubas. PIPELINE ARREST: Kyiv’s allies appear unfazed by reports that German police requested an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian accused of bombing the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022. Earlier today, German news outlets reported that prosecutors in Berlin requested a European arrest warrant for VLADIMIR ZHURAVLEV, a Ukrainian diving instructor who, with two other Ukrainian nationals, allegedly was involved in a Sept. 26, 2022 attack on the Russian-operated Nord Stream pipeline. Paris and London haven’t commented explicitly on the reports. At a press conference, White House press secretary Jean-Pierre reiterated that the U.S. condemns the act of “sabotage,” but pointed reporters to the German government for more details. The German government said it will continue to support Ukraine as it repels Russia’s years-long invasion. WOLFGANG BRUCHNER, a spokesperson for the German government, told reporters today that “regardless of the results of this investigation, it does not change the fact that Russia is waging an illegal aggressive war against Ukraine.” The news that a Ukrainian diver may have helped plant explosives to disable the Nord Stream pipeline isn’t too surprising. Last year, Ukraine arrested a colonel in its special operations force who allegedly coordinated the attack with top military officials. The orders reportedly came from Ukraine’s military chief at the time, Gen. VALERII ZALUZHNYI, who is now the country’s ambassador in London. And U.S. intelligence reportedly knew ahead of time that Kyiv was eyeing the critical gas conduit before the explosion occurred. The Kremlin has also not commented, but the news will also likely fuel Russian accusations that the U.S. and other allies of Ukraine played a role in sabotaging the critical gas pipeline. MOSCOW’S WOMAN IN CANBERRA: A celebrated Australian army officer has been uncovered as a Russian spy on the payroll of Russian intelligence, per The Nightly’s JAMES KING. According to Russian government documents obtained by the Australian outlet, KIRA KOROLEV, who was working as an information systems technician with the Australian army, was also employed by RusBITech, a Russian company whose operating systems are used by the Russian military and other sensitive government agencies. She also maintained an apartment in Moscow blocks away from the headquarters of Russia’s GRU intelligence agency. Korolev, who was featured in recruiting videos for the Australian military, and her husband stand accused of obtaining Australian Defense Force materials to share with Russian authorities IT’S WEDNESDAY. Thanks for tuning in to NatSec Daily! This space is reserved for the top U.S. and foreign officials, the lawmakers, the lobbyists, the experts and the people like you who care about how the natsec sausage gets made. Aim your tips and comments at mberg@politico.com and ebazail@politico.com, and follow us on X at @mattberg33 and @ebazaileimil. While you’re at it, follow the rest of POLITICO’s national security team: @nahaltoosi, @PhelimKine, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @magmill95, @johnnysaks130, @ErinBanco, @reporterjoe, @JGedeon1 and @mherszenhorn.
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: F-35: Unrivaled National Asset – Protecting and Powering Economic Growth
The F-35 is the most significant defense program in the U.S., powering small and large businesses and creating high-paying, high-tech and manufacturing jobs for workers in the innovation economy. Learn more. | | | | | HARRIS’ RUSSIAGATE MOMENT: Vice President KAMALA HARRIS made a name for herself on the Senate Intelligence Committee as a bipartisan operator and built some key foreign policy chops, per NOTUS’ BYRON TAU and JOHN SEWARD. Harris, the newest member of the secretive Senate panel, used her prosecutorial chops to ask sharp questions of government officials at key agencies and pushed her colleagues to prepare a wide-ranging report that went beyond then-Special Counsel ROBERT MUELLER’s report in chronicling how Russia sought to disrupt U.S. elections using disinformation, cyber attacks and clandestine activities. Harris, who had no previous foreign policy experience, also tried to forge bipartisan compromise on renewing the controversial law known as Section 702, as debates swirled on the committee about how to improve its warrant requirements for electronic surveillance. LABOUR’S TIFF WITH TRUMP: British Foreign Secretary DAVID LAMMY famously branded former President DONALD TRUMP a “neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath” and “a racist KKK and Nazi sympathizer” during his time on the “backbenches.” But looking at past comments by the U.K.’s new Foreign Office team, compiled by our own NOAH KEATE, several British government officials might be backpedaling on some past caustic language towards Trump. Britain’s new North America minister STEPHEN DOUGHTY and Indo-Pacific minister CATHERINE WEST co-sponsored a parliamentary motion in April 2019 that called on the British government to cancel Trump’s imminent state visit and condemned racist and sexist remarks, as well as his “sharing of online content related to a far-right extremist organization in the U.K.” The country’s new international development minister ANNELIESE DODDS also signed the resolution. These resurfaced comments could strain ties with Washington if Trump wins in November and his allies decide to hold a grudge. Facing that prospect, Lammy has softened his language, saying that Trump’s stance on European security is “often misunderstood.”
| | | RUSSIAN PHISHING TRIPS: Russian hackers targeted a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and members of the Russian and Belarusian opposition, our own MAGGIE MILLER reports (for Pros!). The Russian hacking efforts were revealed in a new report today from digital rights groups Access Now and the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab. The hacking groups targeted STEVEN PIFER, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who served as U.S. ambassador during the Clinton administration, with a phishing email by impersonating a different former U.S. ambassador. Though the report did not identify who was successfully hacked by the phishing campaign, some accounts were breached and then used to target other individuals. Most victims were able to restore their accounts after being compromised, according to the report. TRUMP BLAMES IRAN: Trump is pointing the finger at Iran for hacking his campaign and leaking sensitive internal documents to media outlets including POLITICO, our own IRIE SENTNER reports. In his first public comments since reports of the hack emerged, Trump said federal law enforcement agencies “are looking at it and they’re doing it very professionally, and it looks like it’s Iran.” He added “I don’t want to say exactly, but it was Iran” when asked for more information about what law enforcement told him about the probe. Iran, Trump said, “is no friend of mine” and “I was strong on Iran and I was protecting people in the Middle East that maybe they aren’t so happy about that.” The FBI said on Monday that it is investigating the Trump campaign hack and attempts to spear-phish Harris campaign officials, but has declined to publicly elaborate on who it suspects was involved.
| | | |   | | | | | McCAUL’S NOT WORRIED: The top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee is voicing confidence that Trump will stay in the trilateral AUKUS pact with Australia and the U.K. if elected in November. In an exclusive interview with our colleagues at Morning Defense (for Pros!), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair MICHAEL McCAUL said that the submarine pact’s emphasis on countering China in the Indo-Pacific will appeal to Trump. “He views this administration as weak on China, so I think if anything, any measure like AUKUS that brings ‘Five Eyes’ allies together to counter China” will win over Trump, McCaul said. He added that China hawks in Trump’s orbit, like former Secretary of State MIKE POMPEO and national security adviser ROBERT O’BRIEN, will be strong supporters of the agreement. McCaul’s confidence comes as U.S. allies have sought to shore up alliances and institutionalize defense cooperation programs ahead of a possible Trump win in November. Worries have emerged that Trump could target the AUKUS pact, which will see the U.S. sell Virginia-class nuclear submarines to the British and Australian militaries at a time when the U.S. fleet is running low. Under the terms of the agreement, any country could exit with just a year’s notice.
| | OMAR SURVIVES PRIMARY: Rep. ILHAN OMAR (D-Minn.) clinched a victory in her primary last night after two of her progressive “Squad” members lost reelection to candidates backed by pro-Israel groups. As our own MADISON FERNANDEZ reported Tuesday night, Omar faced a rematch from former Minneapolis City Council member DON SAMUELS. But Samuels didn’t receive the same kind of financial support that challengers to Reps. JAMAAL BOWMAN (D-N.Y.) and CORI BUSH (D-Mo.) had this cycle. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which spent six figures in 2022 to boost Samuels in his last bid to unseat Omar, opted to sit the rematch out. Omar’s win stanches the bleeding for progressive critics of Israel in Congress, who will see their numbers shrink following Bowman and Bush’s defeats in more contentious districts.
| | | | DON’T MISS OUR AI & TECH SUMMIT: Join POLITICO’s AI & Tech Summit for exclusive interviews and conversations with senior tech leaders, lawmakers, officials and stakeholders about where the rising energy around global competition — and the sense of potential around AI and restoring American tech knowhow — is driving tech policy and investment. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | | HEADS (OF STATE) ROLL IN ASIA: Two major Asian leaders are exiting stage left after suffering major political setbacks. Japanese Prime Minister FUMIO KISHIDA announced late on Tuesday that he will not stand in the Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership election next month, paving the way for his party to appoint a new prime minister, The New York Times’ RIVER AKIRA DAVIS, HISAKO UENO and KIUKO NOTOYA report. Biden today praised Kishida’s “historic leadership,” saying in a statement that “thanks to Prime Minister Kishida’s leadership, the future of the U.S.-Japan Alliance is stronger and brighter than ever.” Meanwhile, in Bangkok, Thailand top’s court removed Prime Minister SRETTHA THAVISIN over allegations that he improperly appointed a minister who had previously served time in jail, according to Reuters’ PANU WONGCHA-UM and CHAYUT SETBOONSARNG. Thavisin’s dismissal — the fourth time in 16 years that the top court has removed a premier — will force Thailand’s parliament to convene on Friday to appoint his successor.
| | — LORAND LASKAI, who worked as a senior adviser to the undersecretary of the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, is joining the National Security Council as the new China director, our colleagues at Morning Trade (for Pros!) learned. — DGA Group announced that former Singaporean government official LIM SIONG GUAN and former German government official LARS KUEHN joined their firm as senior counselor and senior adviser respectively.
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: F-35: Powering Economic Growth Needed to Outpace Global Competitors
The F-35 is built by more than 1,650 high-tech suppliers, more than half of which are small businesses based in the U.S., representing the backbone of the U.S. innovation economy. Learn more. | | | | | — NAHAL TOOSI, POLITICO: The Saudi crown prince is talking about an assassination. His own. — KIM BARKER, ANTON TROIANOVSKI, ANDREW E. KRAMER, CONSTANT MÉHEUT, ALINA LOBZINA, ERIC SCHMITT AND SANJANA VARGHESE, The New York Times: Deception and a Gamble: How Ukrainian Troops Invaded Russia — KEN OPALO, An Africanist Perspective: The geopolitics of the war in Sudan
| | — Center for Strategic and International Studies, 9 a.m.: Gaza’s looming polio threat. — The Hudson Institute, 10 a.m.: One year after Camp David: How durable are trilateral ties? — Arab Center, 10 a.m.: Sudan’s humanitarian crisis and the war of military elites: Prospects for a resolution. Thanks to our editor, Rosie Perper, who would be a terrible diving instructor. Thanks to our producer, Gregory Svirnovskiy, who we trust to teach us anything. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
