Ukraine War Update NEWS: Geopolitical News, "Intelligencer" Update
Table of Contents 📖
"If you can't join the dots here and understand that the whole Trump ecosystem is heavily involved in anti-Ukraine activities, then I can't help you because the evidence is there."
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:09⏩
Jonathan welcomes viewers to another ATP Geopolitics video, a Ukraine War Update. This is the third part of the update for 22/09/2024.
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Taliban request to join BRICS Summit
🎦 00:09-01:29⏩
The Taliban have requested to participate in the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan. Many other countries such as Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia have also applied. Jonathan notes with irony that Russia is courting the Taliban despite still officially classifying them as a terrorist organisation although there have been recent proposals to remove this classification.
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Russian MP Milanov's claims about Estonians, Latvians and Poles
🎦 01:29-04:59⏩
Jonathan discusses outrageous comments made by Russian MP Milanov, who claimed that while Russians, Belarusians and their allies are "God's creatures", Estonians, Latvians and Poles are descended from "macaques, monkeys and earthworms". Jonathan, as an atheist, expresses his frustration with debating creationists. He labels Milanov's comments as fascist, highlighting the danger of this rhetoric which echoes historical instances of dehumanisation used to justify extermination.
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Hugo Boss reopens stores in Moscow
🎦 04:59-05:42⏩
In a further example of Russia's "moral compass" Hugo Boss have reopened two stores in Moscow. Jonathan encourages viewers to share their grievances with the company directly.
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Russia publishes a list of "Immoral" countries
🎦 05:42-09:51⏩
Russia published a list of "immoral" countries that it accuses of imposing destructive, neoliberal ideological frameworks contrary to traditional Russian values. Jonathan dissects the hypocrisy of this statement, given Russia’s own embrace of far-right ideology and close ties to countries like Iran and North Korea. He points out the irony of Russia, which has embraced a form of right-wing nationalism, criticising neoliberalism, a cornerstone of American conservatism. He draws parallels between the current situation and the actions of schoolchildren creating a list of those they dislike, highlighting how Hungary and Slovakia, alone amongst NATO and EU members, are excluded. Jonathan mocks Russia's fall from grace on the world stage.
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EU seeks to tighten Schengen visa issuance following Hungary's stance
🎦 09:51-11:25⏩
The EU is looking to strengthen its control over the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens. This follows concerns that Russia is exploiting Hungary's relaxed visa rules to gain access to the Schengen area. Jonathan explains the concept of the Schengen area.
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Austria's Raiffeisen Bank exits Belarus
🎦 11:25-13:10⏩
Austria's Raiffeisen Bank, which has faced scrutiny for its ties to Russia and Belarus, has sold its stake in Belarus’ Priorbank. Jonathan explains that Raffeisen has been under pressure to cut ties with Russia and how Austria used this as leverage. Although they're offloading their stake, Jonathan questions whether they retain any controlling interest via the UAE, a country that has been instrumental in helping Russia circumvent sanctions.
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Russia's construction market showing signs of decline
🎦 13:10-17:13⏩
Russia's construction market is showing signs of decline, with transactions on the secondary market falling by 36% year-on-year in August. This is a significant drop and a potential indicator of broader economic struggles. Jonathan sees this as a positive sign that sanctions are having a tangible impact on the Russian economy. He explains that while Russia may have found loopholes and workarounds, these are typically more expensive and contribute to inflation. This is compounded by labour shortages, which drive up wages and further fuel inflation. Although he acknowledges he is not an economist, Jonathan believes that his simplistic analysis of the situation likely holds true.
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France forms a new government
🎦 17:13-18:22⏩
France has formed a new government under President Emmanuel Macron, with Michel Barnier appointed as Prime Minister, following snap elections where Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National made significant gains. The continuity of Sébastien Lecornu as Defence Minister is seen as positive news for Ukraine, given France’s increasing support for the country.
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Jonathan's response to a viewer comment about the Russia-Ukraine War
🎦 18:22-25:32⏩
Jonathan addresses a viewer comment that claims his geopolitical outlook on the war is inaccurate. The commenter argued that Russia's military, while a threat to Europe, is not a threat to the United States and that America is only involved to maintain its hegemony. Jonathan acknowledges that China poses a greater threat to the US than Russia does, but argues that a Ukrainian victory serves as a deterrent to China and is therefore in the US's strategic interest. He argues that the US and Europe share an ideological alignment, favouring democracy and freedom over authoritarianism and human rights abuses, and that this shared worldview underpins their alliance. Jonathan contends that the viewer's comment oversimplifies the situation. Whilst acknowledging the self-serving nature of international relations, he argues that the US-European alliance is based on shared values and the pursuit of Western hegemony. Jonathan expresses his personal preference for a US-led world order over a Chinese or Russian one, and he believes that the US and Europe need each other to counter the combined might of Russia and China. He also acknowledges that different US administrations have different approaches to foreign policy, contrasting Trump’s isolationism with Biden’s more traditional approach to alliances.
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Zelensky's victory plan
🎦 25:32-27:25⏩
Jonathan discusses Zelensky’s victory plan, which according to Kyiv Independent, includes a commitment to sustained weapons supply from the West, an invitation to join NATO, and a clear path to EU membership. This directly contradicts the stance of individuals like JD Vance, Trump’s potential vice-presidential pick, who advocates for a freeze of the conflict and a denial of Ukrainian membership in NATO and the EU. Jonathan highlights the importance of Ukrainian membership in these organisations to guarantee its security and prevent future aggression from Russia.
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Russia refuses to participate in a second peace summit
🎦 27:25-28:11⏩
Russia has rejected Zelensky’s proposal for a second peace summit, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stating that Russia has no intention of participating. This comes despite calls from various parties for Russia’s inclusion.
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JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon's warning about global threats
🎦 28:11-29:41⏩
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has urged Americans to look beyond short-term economic concerns and focus on the “axis of evil” represented by countries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. Jonathan agrees with this assessment, arguing that the growing momentum of organisations like BRICS, and their potential impact on the world order, represents a more significant long-term threat than immediate domestic issues. He criticises those who prioritise short-term personal grievances over long-term global stability when making voting decisions.
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Jonathan's thoughts on global issues and his disinterest in local politics
🎦 29:41-32:02⏩
Jonathan digresses, sharing his thoughts on global issues, such as climate change and global instability, and reiterates his lack of interest in local politics. He recounts being approached about running for Parliament in the UK, but explains that he is more interested in addressing global challenges than dealing with local constituency issues.
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Jill Stein's condemnation of Putin as a war criminal
🎦 32:02-35:42⏩
Jonathan revisits the recent interview where Mehdi Hassan challenged Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein for refusing to label Putin a war criminal. The interview gained widespread attention, forcing Stein to release a statement condemning Putin. Jonathan speculates that Stein’s initial reluctance stemmed from a desire to avoid alienating potential Russian supporters. He criticises her for being seemingly unaware of the ICC's arrest warrant for Putin, highlighting it as further evidence of her lack of credibility on this issue. Although he is sympathetic to Green politics, Jonathan questions Stein’s judgment and the potential negative impact of her candidacy on global stability. He suggests that Stein and others, such as Cornel West and RFK Jr, are playing the role of ‘useful idiots’ for Trump and, by extension, Russia, by potentially drawing away left-leaning voters from the Democratic Party.
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Ex-Trump advisors' involvement in the pro-Russia website "Intelligencer"
🎦 35:42-47:25⏩
Jonathan discusses an article about the pro-Russia website "Intelligencer", which has been spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories about the war in Ukraine. He reveals the involvement of former Trump advisors, including George Papadopoulos, in the website’s editorial board, highlighting the insidious nature of Russian disinformation campaigns that exploit divisive issues like climate change denial and anti-vaccine sentiment to sow discord within Western societies. Jonathan outlines the origins of "Intelligencer" as an offshoot of the Australian radio station TNT Radio. He explains that TNT Radio, known for its right-wing views and pro-Russian stance, recruited George Eliasson, an American journalist based in eastern Ukraine, to spearhead the website. However, the station’s owners distanced themselves from the project due to concerns about its editorial direction. Undeterred, Eliasson continued developing the website with other individuals, many of whom had ties to the Trump campaign, including Papadopoulos and his wife Simona Mangiante. The article also notes the website’s opaque ownership structure, which makes it difficult to ascertain its financial backers. Jonathan expresses his concern about the website’s growing popularity, noting that its content aligns with the divisive rhetoric often employed by Russian propaganda outlets to undermine Western unity. He encourages viewers to watch the documentary "Active Measures" to gain a better understanding of these tactics. Jonathan reveals the involvement of other individuals with links to Russia, including filmmaker Oliver Stone, in producing pro-Russian content. He highlights the concerning trend of these individuals using platforms like "Intelligencer" to spread misinformation and promote pro-Kremlin narratives. Jonathan provides further details about the individuals involved in "Intelligencer", noting their roles in promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 US election and their connections to sanctioned Russian media outlets like Sputnik. He suggests that the pervasiveness of these individuals within the Trump ecosystem exposes a disturbing level of Russian influence. Jonathan expresses his frustration with those who fail to recognise the clear connections between Trump and his allies and Russia’s disinformation campaigns. He concludes by recommending viewers read the full article to understand the extent of the issue.
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Mitch McConnell acknowledges Republican delays in aiding Ukraine
🎦 47:25-48:32⏩
Jonathan highlights a statement made by Mitch McConnell where he admits that Republicans were responsible for delays in providing aid to Ukraine. Despite disagreeing with McConnell on most issues, Jonathan credits him for recognising the need to support Ukraine, contrasting this with the stance of many within his own party.
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YouTube blocked in Russia; TikTok deletes RT and Sputnik accounts
🎦 48:32-50:13⏩
In a further attempt to stifle the flow of information, Russia has blocked YouTube. Ironically, this comes as TikTok has removed accounts belonging to Russian state-controlled media outlets RT and Sputnik, following accusations of election interference. This follows on from Meta deleting RT’s Instagram and Facebook accounts. In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry likened the US actions to those of the Third Reich, a comparison Jonathan finds absurd given Russia’s own crackdown on independent media.
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Wrap up
🎦 50:13-50:21⏩
Jonathan concludes the video by asking viewers for their opinions on the topics discussed.
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