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Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter

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Defense &
National Security

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The Big Story

Trump sidelines allies in opening Ukraine-Russia gambit

European leaders are scrambling to respond to President Trump’s first moves to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, shocked to find themselves on the outside of high-stakes talks.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said “real talks” will involve Europe and Ukraine, as he prepares to meet his Russian counterpart in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. But that follows a slew of mixed messages from Trump’s top officials and a brow-beating from Vice President Vance at the Munich Security Conference last week.

Leaders of eight major European countries met Monday to coordinate a response, after being caught on their back foot by Trump’s opening gambit on Russia-Ukraine talks.

Even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he “knew nothing about” the peace discussions in the Middle East until they were announced publicly.

“I think Europe is realizing that they have to come up with a plan, quickly, and on their own to be ready for whatever comes next,” said Sudha David-Wilp, Vice President of External Relations and Senior Fellow with the German Marshall Fund.

“The mood was turning from bad to worse,” said one European foreign policy expert who attended the Munich conference, granted anonymity to speak candidly.

European officials expected to be taken to task over low defense spending, but not to be left out of talks completely. The uncertainty is already spurring talks on loosening the European Union’s budgetary deficit requirements to allow more spending on defense, the expert said.

“There will probably be a series of announcements by Europeans in the upcoming days to signal to the Americans that they are to be taken seriously – but also to reassure each other,” they said.

French President Emanuel Macron called the emergency meeting Monday, inviting the leaders of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark and the European Union.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer proposed sending British troops to Ukraine as post-war peacekeepers, responding to Trump’s calls for Europe to take more responsibility for its security.

And Zelensky lectured Europe against being treated “like a pushover” and called for the European Union to nominate an envoy to any peace talks.

Read the full report at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.

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Essential Reads

How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
the future:

Hegseth claims outgoing Biden IRS targeted family with audit

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday accused the Biden administration of targeting his family with a “rushed” tax audit, posting an unverified document showing he owes the IRS more than $33,000 in taxes. Hegseth posted on social media a screenshot of what he claimed was an IRS letter sent to him and his wife. The document said the family’s federal income tax return showed they owed the government $33,558.16, which needed …

Full Story

Julianne Moore on her children’s book being restricted at DOD schools: ‘It is a great shock’

Actor Julianne Moore says she is surprised that schools overseen by the Department of Defense Education Activity have apparently decided to pull her children’s book “Freckleface Strawberry” amid an ordered review of educational content. “It is a great shock for me to learn that my first book, ‘Freckleface Strawberry,’ has been banned by the Trump Administration from schools run by the Department of Defense,” …

Full Story

GOP fight over Pentagon policy nominee breaks out

A GOP debate is breaking out over Elbridge Colby, President Trump’s pick to serve as Defense undersecretary for policy. As The Hill reported, a number of Republican senators have raised concerns about Colby’s international defense views, as he’s advocated for U.S. defense efforts to focus less on the Middle East and more on the threat of China. This has raised questions about whether Colby can be confirmed by the Senate. In …

Full Story

On Our Radar

Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff will meet with Russian officials tomorrow in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for initial talks to end the war in Ukraine.
President Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, is expected to visit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday.

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Klobuchar says Adams has become Trump administration’s ‘own political pawn’

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said Sunday that New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) has become the Trump administration’s “own political pawn.” “They have literally taken the mayor of New York City, who was facing and is facing serious charges of bribery, which were going to be expanded, and they have …

Full Story

On Tap Tomorrow

Events in and around the defense world:

The Heritage Foundation will hold an event on “500 Days in Captivity: Hostage Families Speak Out,” at 11 a.m.
Atlantic Council will host a conversation on “How long can Russia sustain its aggression in Ukraine?” at 11:30 a.m.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies will discuss “U.S. Allies and Partners Under the Trump Administration,” at 1 p.m.

What We’re Reading

News we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Data breach prompts Coast Guard to take personnel and pay system offline (Military.com)
Thousands of US and Mexican troops are at the border. Here’s where they are and what they’re doing (The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Trending Today

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Elon Musk is coming for your Social Security

Elon Musk has used his platform to spread false claims about Social Security, potentially leading to the theft of earned benefits, while President … Read more

House, Senate standoff over Trump agenda escalates

The showdown between House and Senate Republicans is escalating as the two groups barrel ahead with their contrasting strategies to pass President … Read more