On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and the Center for a New American Security discusses what’s next now that Ukraine has liberated Kherson from Russian occupation, Moscow’s drive to circumvent the normal acquisition system to rush new equipment to the frontlines, and impact of mounting criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dr. Michael Shurkin of the Atlantic Council and Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, discusses France’s new defense strategy, priorities, building new capabilities and how Washington has to regard its oldest ally, and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses how the meeting between President Biden and China’s Xi Jinping changes the vector for US defense spending, the impact of the midterm on the Pentagon’s budget outlook, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.