Pete Ross

It was a speech Pete Hexeth was making to military personnel, but clearly one that was intended to be heard the world over.

The language he was using was quite strong, talking about narco-terrorists and likening people who he said were parts of organisations who wanted to smuggle drugs into the USA with the 9-11 terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda.

And his message to anyone he said who wanted to bring drugs into...

What do you think was behind today's speech by Pete Hegseth?

He's come under increasing pressure, it seems.

Some have described what the US is doing in the region as a war crime.

Do you think that's significant to some of the language and some of what he had to say today?

Yeah, one way or another, I'd describe it as an argument around the legality of lethality.

There are so many professors from so many universities of law talking about whether it's a war crime or not, because obviously would international law apply if it's not actually in the theatre of conflict?

And those details really don't matter in the wider picture of Pete Hegseth's stall to US military in the world more generally, because he's painting a picture of

People posing a real and present danger to the United States and setting out his stool, I guess, on behalf of the United States and his boss, President Trump.

where two people were clinging to a shipwreck, which appeared to be very distressing to many of the lawmakers who had seen it.

But it's not just about that strike.

There is the question of under what circumstances is it lawful and reasonable to use that force, and certainly a very strong defence of the US position from Pete Hexeth.

Sean Dilley.

Ukraine's President Zelensky has had a long telephone conversation with the U.S.

peace envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner to discuss bringing an end to the war with Russia.

Mr. Zelensky called the talks substantive and very constructive.

But as Russia continues to bombard Ukraine with missiles and drones, ripping up energy sites, roads and railways, is the Ukrainian leader being realistic about the prospect of peace?

That's a question I put to our correspondent Joe Inwood.