Evacuated by a third party at this point. as you put this all together, general, help me understand, we re in day three or so of what they believe is this new russian offensive in the east. the pentagon would say no major territorial gains. they would also say russia is deliberately more methodical, is learning from some of the mistakes it made over here. as you discuss this new $800 million package already being delivered, another $800 million package being considered, as the russian troops try to do this and they have forces down here as well, what? what is most important for the united states, other nato countries trying to help ukraine with heavy offensive weaponry, what systems do you think are most critical at this moment? i think what s most critical right now the artillery systems and munitions, of course, but tanks, and tanks weren t a part of the package. they need tanks to be able to quickly maneuver as a quick reaction force along with other forces the ukrainians have a
Trying to get in and rescue people this is mariupol, the steel factor here as you see it. it s right along the port. i just want people to see the devastation but now i want to show it here in mariupol. is there any way is there any way if you come out to the broader map, for some nato country in the middle of a war to go in here and have a rescue mission? i think it s highly unlikely in the circumstances that the ukrainians find themselves in right now. brave, courageous, defense of mariupol. it is tying up so many russian forces. in fact, when the russians, and i do think they will finally take mariupol at some point, what do they have? they have a destroyed city they can do very little with. they deserve to be evacuated. it s unlikely they can be
The east and south of ukraine. rough math, maybe up to 1,000 troops, in each one of those 78,000 russian troops in the east. and their strategy appears to be to encircle the ukrainian forces that are there. so that means the artillery, the ammunition, the rockets, everything for that long-range fight to keep the russians at bay is going to be urgent. it s going to come in as it has been through nato s eastern flank. the ukrainians will take it clear across the country from the west to the east, and the concern now is that the russians may try to attack those convoys and rail cars that are expected to be carrying this equipment. so the urgency to get it right to the front lines is growing more dire as what matt rivers just laid out is happening there. they need to get it there, and they need to get it there fast. john? barbara starr live at the pentagon for us. thank you. let s get important insights
Call today. hello and welcome to inside politics. i m john king in washington. thank you for sharing your day with us. we begin this hour with desperation in the ukrainian port city of mariupol. the mayor there urging residents to leave amid another surrender deadline from russia. a marine commander there making this dire and he says possibly final plea. translator: we might have only a few days or even hours left. the enemy s units are ten times larger than ours. we appeal to the world leaders to help us. the mayor telling brussels
Release the migs, the mig aircraft from poland, romania and others. they could use that right now. the russians have nearly 80,000 troops in that area, but it still may not be enough this is the same area the russians have tried to take now for eight years. the ukrainians are dug in. it s trench warfare in some places. they re trying to outmaneuver the ukrainians by enveloping them. what the ukraines appear to have, they can parry each of those blows as they happen. general pittard, so grateful for your insights. thank you so much. thank you, john. up next for us, mask confusion at the highest levels of government. the question whether it will appeal a ruling that tosses out its public transportation mask mandate. cloudy glasses? when detergent alone isn t enough... .add finish jet dry 3 in 1. to dry, prevevent spots,