Thread by @lrozen

Jake Sullivan says Russia is looking to Iran for UAVs: Iranian govt preparing to provide Russia several UAVs, and train Russian forces to use these UAVs.
Unclear if Iran delivered any of these UAVs to Russia already

Sullivan: when I talked about the severe costs that Russia has had to endure on the battlefield as it tries to grind out territory in the east (of Ukraine), this is coming at a cost to the sustainment of its own weapons. & I'll just give you one example before I leave,

Sullivan: which is an example that I think is pretty newsworthy & noteworthy. & that is that our information indicates that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with up to several 100 UAVs, including weapons capable UAVs, on an expedited expedited timeline,

Sullivan: Our information further indicates that Iran is preparing to train Russian forces to use these UAVs. With initial training sessions slated to begin as soon as early July. It's unclear whether Iran has delivered any of these UAVs to Russia already.

Sullivan: But this is just one example of how Russia is looking to countries like Iran for capabilities.

Sullivan on why Biden will be meeting with Netanyahu: So it's a standard protocol for an American President to meet with leaders across the Israeli political spectrum, and the reason is simple. It's because the President, this President and previous Presidents, have wanted to

display that the relationship between the United States and Israel transcends politics, transcends parties, it doesn't matter who's in charge in Washington, or who's in charge in Israel.

Sullivan, asked abt Russians gains in Ukraine: Russia has already substantially failed to achieve its strategic objectives in Ukraine. Its strategic objective was to take Kyiv,…to end Ukraine as a country; to eliminate Ukrainian identity...& subsume Ukraine...They've failed

at that. Kyiv stands, Kharkhiv stands. Odessa stands…the major cities of Ukraine...are in Ukrainian hands and are being ably & bravely defended by the Ukrainian military with the support of the US +NATO +others.

So when you take a step back and look at the trajectory of this conflict, what Vladimir Putin has set out to do, he has failed to do and he will continue to fail in his ability to achieve his ultimate objectives because of the bravery of the Ukrainian people..

Now it is certainly the case Russia has been able to grind out, kilometer by kilometer, inch by inch, some territory in the east. & the Ukrainians have made Russia pay a dear price for that, and the sanctions have made Russia pay a dear price for that. & we will continue to work

with Ukrainian military & government on a strategy to achieve their objective both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. And…we will do that for as long as it takes.