Ukraine War Update NEWS: Geopolitics News
"Keep on rocking the free world."
15/05/2024C
Hello Team
00:00-00:47⏩Jonathan welcomes viewers to another video. Today's video is very busy and covers events in the political information space.
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Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico survives assassination attempt
00:47-08:08⏩Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has survived an assassination attempt after being shot 5 times. He is in a stable condition. The 71 year old perpetrator is thought to be a former security guard at a shopping mall. His motivations are thought to be political. Fico is a divisive populist figure who leads a coalition with a far-right party. The incident follows a period of political turmoil in Slovakia. Jonathan believes that Russia is the only beneficiary as the attack will likely increase support for pro-Russian sentiment and that this will be damaging to the pro-EU narrative.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Kyiv and announces $2bn Military Aid package for Ukraine
08:08-13:06⏩US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has visited Kyiv. He announced a $2bn military aid package for Ukraine. Zelensky has cancelled a planned trip to Spain and Portugal, signifying the seriousness of the situation in Kharkiv. Blinken visited a pizzeria in Kyiv and sang 'Rocking in a Free World' by Neil Young on stage with Ukrainian musicians.
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Blinken approves use of US munitions on Russian territory
13:06-13:42⏩Jonathan highlights the significance of Blinken giving tacit approval for US munitions to be used by Ukraine on Russian territory.
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Hungary threatens to veto EU sanctions on Russian gas
13:42-15:28⏩Hungary is threatening to veto EU sanctions on Russian gas. The sanctions would prevent EU member states from re-exporting Russian Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). Hungary is heavily reliant on Russian gas.
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Russian disinformation is having an impact on some Americans
15:28-16:43⏩Jonathan reads a comment from a viewer expressing concern that Russian disinformation is influencing Americans and cites an example of a former NFL player who believes Putin's version of history.
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France and the Netherlands want the EU to sanction financial institutions that help the Russian army
16:51-17:27⏩France and the Netherlands want the EU to sanction financial institutions that help the Russian army to purchase dual-use goods.
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US warns Raffeisen Bank about dollar access over Russian Operations
17:27-17:36⏩The US has threatened to restrict Raffeisen Bank's access to the dollar system over the Austrian bank's Russian operations.
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JCB supplied Russia with equipment months after pledging to stop
17:36-19:21⏩British construction equipment manufacturer JCB continued to supply equipment to Russia months after it pledged to stop. Jonathan highlights that the owners are big Conservative party donors and Brexit supporters and states that he would boycott the company if he could.
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Russia threatens to arrest Western journalists
19:21-21:00⏩Russia has threatened to arrest Western journalists if the EU bans more Russian propaganda channels. Jonathan believes that Russia is likely to invent reasons to arrest Western journalists, regardless of whether they are squeaky clean or not.
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Taliban representatives unable to fly to Kazan due to Ukrainian drone
21:00-21:30⏩Representatives from the Taliban were unable to fly to Kazan on time because of a Ukrainian drone.
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Estonian parliament approves law to allow the transfer of Russian assets to Ukraine
21:30-22:51⏩The Estonian parliament has passed a law allowing the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
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Russia adds former Estonian and Lithuanian officials to its wanted list
22:51-23:10⏩Russia has added former Estonian and Lithuanian officials to its wanted list. Jonathan sarcastically congratulates Russia.
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Putin visits China with Defence Minister and former Defence Minister
23:10-24:34⏩Putin is in China for a two day visit. He is joined by Shoigu (Defence Minister), Lavrov, Ushakov and Belousov (the new Defence Minister). Jonathan points out that Belousov is the former Economy Minister, and that taking both his Defence Ministers on a visit to China suggests that the meetings will have a strong emphasis on Defence.
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US threatens to reassess its relationship with Georgia if it passes the 'foreign agents' law
24:34-29:21⏩The US has said it will be forced to reassess its relationship with Georgia if it passes the controversial 'foreign agents' bill, which would ban organisations that receive funding from overseas.
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Protests in Georgia against the 'foreign agents' law
29:21-35:54⏩There have been protests in Georgia against the 'foreign agents' law. Jonathan questions what the objectives of the protest movement should be now that the law has been passed, and questions the democratic mandate of governments that change laws to consolidate their own power.
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Wrap up
35:54-36:01⏩Jonathan thanks viewers for their support.
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