Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story  Trump vows good deal for 'both sides' of Russia-Ukraine warUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Friday with former President Trump, who lauded his relationship with Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested he could broker an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine "very quickly."© AP “We’re going to work very much with both parties to try and get this settled,” Trump told reporters while standing alongside Zelensky.  “We have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship — as you know — with President Putin. And I think if we win, I think we’re going to get it resolved very quickly,” Trump added.  “I hope we have more good relations,” Zelensky cut in.  “Oh, I see,” Trump responded. “But it takes two to tango, you know. And we’re going to have a good meeting today. And I think the fact that we’re even together today is a very good sign.”  The two, who met at Trump Tower in New York City, shook hands and spoke briefly to the press before sitting down for talks.  “I think that we can work out something that’s good for both sides. It’s time,” Trump said. “By the way, the president [Zelensky] knows that too. He wants to get something done. He doesn’t want to do this.”  Trump, who has often voiced his deep skepticism of U.S. aid to Ukraine, said it was “an honor” to meet with Zelensky.   At a rally Wednesday, Trump joined other Republicans criticizing Zelensky over perceptions that he favors Democrats in November’s election. Trump also has mocked Zelensky for only coming to the U.S. government for financial help.  “Every time Zelensky comes to the United States he walks away with $100 billion, I think he’s the greatest salesman on Earth,” Trump said Tuesday at a campaign event in Savannah, Ga.  The U.S. has provided Ukraine about $60 billion in military assistance since Russia first attacked the country in February 2022.  Zelensky too has voiced frosty views of his one-time counterpart, telling the New Yorker that “Trump doesn’t really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows.”  Asked Friday why he decided to meet with Trump, Zelensky said the two had a “common view” on ending the conflict and, regardless of who wins the election, he hoped U.S. support would continue. 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.  Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future:  Netanyahu strikes defiant tone at UNIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a defiant tone Friday at the United Nations, telling diplomats and world leaders that his country will continue fighting for its right to exist even as he pushed for a wider peace in the Middle East. Netanyahu, speaking at the U.N. General Assembly in New York as fears of a wider war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon are mounting, decried the “curse” of Iran …  Full Story  US military’s mission in Iraq to wrap up by 2026The U.S. military will end its current mission in Iraq against the militant organization ISIS by the end of 2026 and transition to a new phase that likely will involve a significant withdrawal of American forces in the country, according to senior U.S. officials. But Washington will maintain a military footprint in the country to continue the fight against global terrorism, they added, declining to offer specifics about expected …  Full Story  House Democrats call for removal of provisions targeting LGBTQ service members from NDAAMore than 160 House Democrats on Friday called for provisions related to LGBTQ service members and their dependents to be removed from Congress’s annual defense policy bill, arguing that the GOP-backed amendments discriminate against LGBTQ people and threaten military readiness and retention.  The Republican-controlled House in June passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with amendments that …  Full Story  Israel says it struck Hezbollah HQ in downtown Beirut Israel said it carried out a strike on Hezbollah’s central headquarters in Beirut on Friday, with media reports indicating a large explosion and plumes of orange and black smoke billowing above the skyline. The strike came shortly after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly and said Israel has “the right to remove” the threat from Hezbollah on its northern border “and return …  Full Story   On Our Radar  Upcoming things we're watching on our beat:  Jens Stoltenberg will transition power to new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday, Oct. 1.   In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill:Harris to drum up tough on the border message in Arizona Vice President Harris will call for tougher border security measures as part of her campaign stop in Douglas, Ariz., while again hitting former President Trump for his role in scuttling a bipartisan border deal. In her first major border speech as the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris plans … Full Story   On Tap Monday  Events in and around the defense world:  The Stimson Center will hold a talk on the strategic culture of the United Wa State Army at 9 a.m.  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace will discuss Gaza’s intensifying humanitarian crisis at 10:30 a.m. The Atlantic Council will hold a talk on adapting U.S. strategy to account for China’s transformation into a peer nuclear power at 3:30 p.m.  What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets: New Chinese nuclear attack submarine sank during construction, US defense official says (The Associated Press) VA unveils national over-the-phone emergency care option for veterans (Military Times)  Trending Today  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Harris narrowly beating Trump in 6 key battleground states: Polling Vice President Harris is narrowly leading former President Trump in six critical battleground states, while the candidates are tied in Georgia, according … Read more Israel seeks decisive blow with attack targeting Nasrallah Israel on Friday sought to deal a decisive blow to Hezbollah by targeting the Iranian-backed group’s long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah, underscoring … Read more  Opinions in The Hill Op-ed related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: Stark lessons from the failure of the Gaza pier  You're all caught up. 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