Ukraine

The Pentagon has long watched the war in Ukraine as a blueprint for where it could apply its own lessons.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper was not on the controversial phone call President Trump made to the president of Ukraine.

NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Tod Wolters said Thursday he backed sending more Javelin tank-killer missiles to Ukraine.

The Secretary of Defense said that Putin's actions have become a catalyst for NATO countries to "rearm and to strengthen."

It just shows that Russia cannot be counted on right now to keep its word," Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said.

The president threatened the action in response to Russia's seizure of three Ukrainian ships and the sailors aboard.

The Su-27UB Flanker-C experienced "an emergency situation that brought it to a catastrophe."

Lt. Col. Seth "Jethro" Nehring and Ukrainian pilot Col. Ivan Petrenko were killed in the crash.

The airman was a member of the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Forces Europe-Africa said.