Defense & National Security — Presented by Lockheed Martin — Ukraine prepares for more Russian airstrikes

View Online    Defense & National Security Defense & National Security   PRESENTED BY Ukraine prepares for more Russian airstrikes © AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky Ukraine is warning of another harsh Russian missile bombardment in the week ahead as Moscow postpones unrelated nuclear arms talks with the United States with no explanation.    We'll share the details of these two events, plus a new lawsuit that alleges the U.S. government has discriminated against Black military veterans for decades, as well as a potential arms sale with Finland.    This is Defense & National Security, your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. For The Hill, I'm Ellen Mitchell. A friend forward this newsletter to you? Subscribe here. Zelensky says to brace for more Russian strikes © Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is warning his country to prepare for another wave of Russian missile strikes as citizens struggle with widespread power outages and a lack of heat in the aftermath of last week's attacks.    Zelensky said the "terrorists are preparing new strikes" and would continue to shell the country so long as Russia has missiles.    A hard week: He urged Ukrainians to pay attention to air alerts and respond to the attacks with unity, adding that "our mutual assistance is one of the elements of protection against terror and our strength."    "The upcoming week can be as hard as the one that passes. Our Defense Forces are preparing. The whole state is preparing," Zelensky said in his address. "Together and helping each other we will pass this challenge of war as well — this winter, this Russia's attempt to use the cold against people."    Lingering effects: Ukraine is still scrambling to contain the fallout from last week's shelling attacks, which caused widespread blackouts, including in the capital city Kyiv.    Since launching the mass rocket attacks in October, Russia has often targeted critical infrastructure and energy grids in cities across the country, knocking out power and heat as the long winter settles in.    Read the full story here. A MESSAGE FROM LOCKHEED MARTIN F-35. Powered by nearly 1,000 small businesses. The most economically significant defense program in history, contributing approximately $72 billion annually. Learn more. RUSSIA POSTPONES NUCLEAR ARMS TALKS WITH US Russia has postponed a resumption of nuclear arms control talks with the U.S. government without explanation, the Biden administration said on Monday.    The State Department said Moscow "unilaterally postponed" talks with the U.S. on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), a pact that limits both nations' stockpiles of nuclear weapons, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles.    When next? Talks were scheduled for Tuesday in Egypt and would have extended until next week.    The State Department said Russia promised to provide new dates for a meeting of the Bilateral Consultative Commission (BCC), which agrees on details for the New START.    "The United States is ready to reschedule at the earliest possible date as resuming inspections is a priority for sustaining the treaty as an instrument of stability," the department said in a statement.    Some background: The New START was finalized in 2011 during the Obama administration and serves as the last key pact to limit nuclear arms between Washington and Moscow.    Last year, the U.S. and Russia agreed to extend the treaty to 2026, about a month before it was set to expire.    The BCC held its last meeting in Geneva in October 2021, a time lapse attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.    Read that story here.  Lawsuit alleges US government discriminated against Black veterans for decades © Greg Nash A lawsuit filed Monday claims the U.S. government has long discriminated against Black military veterans, a pattern that has led them to miss out on housing and education benefits disproportionately compared to their white peers.      The suit, brought by Yale Law School's Veterans Legal Services Clinic (VLSC) on behalf of Vietnam War veteran Conley Monk Jr., asserts that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) denied Monk's applications for education, housing and disability benefits for "decades."    What it could mean: The clinic contends the lawsuit could "provide a legal pathway for Black veterans to seek reparations from the VA" and, going forward, help determine whether individuals can seek compensation from the federal government for systemic prejudices that have disadvantaged them.     "This lawsuit seeks to hold the VA accountable for years of discriminatory conduct," Adam Henderson, a law student working on the case with the VLSC, said in a release on the lawsuit.    "VA leaders knew, or should have known, that they were administering benefits in a discriminatory manner, yet they failed to address this unlawful bias. Mr. Monk — and thousands of Black veterans like him — deserve redress for the harms caused by these negligently administered programs," Henderson said.    The data: The Washington Post first reported on the lawsuit, which used internal VA data that showed that over nearly two decades, from 2002 to 2020, the agency denied Black applicants seeking disability benefits nearly 30 percent of the time. In comparison, white applicants were denied 24 percent of the time.       The data also showed racial disparities in VA claims for home loans and education benefits.    VA press secretary Terrence Hayes told the Post that the agency is working to combat "institutional racism," though he did not mention the lawsuit.      Read more here. Biden administration notifies Congress it has approved $323 million arms sale to Finland  © Greg Nash The Biden administration on Monday notified Congress it has approved a possible $323 million arms sale to Finland as the country seeks to join NATO.     The administration approved the potential sale of 40 tactical missiles and 48 Joint Standoff Weapons, made by Raytheon, in addition to accompanying equipment, training and support, the State Department said in a release.    Why it matters: Finland, which shares a border with Russia, is in the process of joining NATO along with Sweden. Both countries sought to enter the alliance earlier this year.      What it'll be used for: This State Department said the proposed sale "will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a trusted partner, which is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe."     The notice added that it "is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Finland in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability."    An arms sale boom: The administration has approved several high-value weapons sales to European countries this year as it looks to bolster NATO's defense capabilities along the alliance's eastern flank and aid its partner counties in the face of Russian aggression.      In February, directly before the Kremlin's attack on Ukraine began, the United States gave preliminary approval for a sale of $6 billion worth of battle tanks and other equipment to Poland.    And earlier this month, Norway signed a record $500 million arms sale with the United States for missiles intended to be mounted on F-35 fighter jets.     A few days later, the State Department approved about $700 million in potential foreign military sales to Switzerland, Lithuania and Belgium.    Read the rest of the story here. A MESSAGE FROM LOCKHEED MARTIN F-35. Powered by nearly 1,000 small businesses. The most economically significant defense program in history, contributing approximately $72 billion annually. Learn more. ON TAP TOMORROW NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will speak at the Aspen-GMF Bucharest Forum in Bucharest, Romania beginning at 3 a.m.  The Stimson Center will hold a forum on "Tensions on the Korean Peninsula: Is War Possible?" at 9 a.m.  The Heritage Foundation will host a discussion on "Solving America's Military Recruiting Crisis," with Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis, commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, at 10 a.m.   U.S. Space Command head Gen. James Dickinson will speak at a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual forum at 10:15 a.m.   Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will hold a press conference at the end of the first day of the meeting of NATO foreign ministers at 11 a.m.   Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will welcome Colombian Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez Gomez to the Pentagon at 3 p.m.   Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks will speak at a Washington Post Live virtual event on "The Health of U.S. Military Veterans," at 3 p.m.  The Institute for Corean-American Studies will hold a virtual symposium on "Geopolitical Dynamics in Asia and U.S. National Security," with Matt Pottinger, former deputy national security adviser, at 7:30 p.m.  WHAT WE'RE READING Kellyanne Conway meets with Jan. 6 panel: reports  Russia dismisses speculation it is planning to withdraw from Ukraine nuclear plant  Biden boosts US effort to stem sexual violence in war zones  North Korea plans world's most powerful nuclear force, Kim says  Harris, French president to meet at NASA headquarters  Election security a success, but more improvements needed, experts say  FCC bans import, sale of certain Chinese tech over 'unacceptable risk to national security'  Pentagon condemns rocket attack near US base in Syria  Five crucial questions as Russia-Ukraine war enters winter  Well, that's it for today. 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