Ukraine War Update NEWS: Geopolitical News - Manafort? Seriously?

"But it's like, I'm not overly bothered. To me, the little things about Trump's actions concerning Ukraine and Russia is he doesn't really think it's not really on his radar."

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-00:23⏩

Jonathan welcomes viewers to another ATP Geopolitics news update. He notes that this is the third part of the update for March 20th, 2024. He also mentions that he has just returned from a neurologist appointment, the details of which he will share later.

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Russian missile strike on Kharkiv

🎦 00:23-02:20⏩

Jonathan reports on a recent Russian missile strike on Kharkiv, resulting in three reported deaths and five wounded. He expresses doubt that the targeted building, engulfed in flames, was a legitimate military target. Jonathan speculates on potential causes for the strike, suggesting either intentional targeting, air defense jamming, or missile inaccuracy. He mentions that fellow YouTuber Greg Terry was reporting live from the scene, having been nearby during a previous strike.

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Hamas congratulates Putin on re-election

🎦 02:20-02:41⏩

Jonathan shares a report from Anton Kershenko stating that Hamas congratulated Putin on his re-election. He expresses his disapproval, highlighting the concerning nature of this alliance.

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Serbia's growing alignment with Russia

🎦 02:42-03:32⏩

Jonathan discusses the upcoming meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Serbian counterpart. He raises concerns about Serbia's increasingly pro-Russian stance, citing an article by Ivana Stradner suggesting that Serbia is preparing for war in the region. He challenges the notion that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is pro-Western, pointing to Serbia's recent alignment with Russia.

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Potential Russian influence in Slovakian elections

🎦 03:32-05:06⏩

Jonathan discusses the upcoming Slovakian presidential election and the potential for Russian interference. He highlights concerns that the leading candidate, Robert Fico, is pro-Russian and could further align Slovakia with Russia if elected. Jonathan emphasizes the strategic importance of Slovakia as a NATO member and the risks associated with potential Russian influence. He expresses hope that the elections will not be rigged in Pellegrini's favour and that other candidates will remain viable.

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Hungarian opposition leader exposes corruption

🎦 05:06-06:37⏩

Jonathan shifts focus to Hungary, where opposition leader Péter Márki-Zay is gaining traction by exposing corruption within Viktor Orbán's government. Jonathan plays a clip of Márki-Zay claiming to possess evidence of a major criminal and political scandal, which he intends to present to the prosecutor's office. He suggests that this revelation could potentially lead to the government's resignation.

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Ukraine and Estonia begin bilateral security agreement negotiations

🎦 06:37-07:02⏩

Jonathan reports that Ukraine and Estonia have initiated negotiations for a bilateral security agreement, potentially using the UK's agreement with Ukraine as a model.

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Estonia urges tougher stance against Russia

🎦 07:02-07:22⏩

Jonathan adds that Estonia's prime minister is advocating for a more robust response to Russia from the US and NATO, citing concerns stemming from Estonia's history with Russia.

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NATO Secretary General visits Armenia

🎦 07:22-08:17⏩

Jonathan reports on NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's visit to Armenia, his first in that capacity. During his visit, Stoltenberg met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to discuss strengthening cooperation between Armenia and NATO. Jonathan points out the strategic significance of this visit given Armenia's proximity to Russia. He mentions Stoltenberg's busy schedule, having visited three countries in the region within a few days.

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Trump's stance on NATO and the US's role

🎦 08:17-10:11⏩

Shifting to US politics, Jonathan discusses Donald Trump's recent statement that the US will not leave NATO. He notes that while some see this as a positive sign, it comes with the caveat that other NATO members must contribute their fair share financially. Jonathan questions whether this condition could be exploited by member states to justify withholding support from the US. He criticises Trump's tendency to make broad generalisations about Europe's financial contributions to NATO, pointing out that some members are meeting their obligations and even surpassing the US in contributions.

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Jonathan's analysis of Trump's attitude towards the war in Ukraine

🎦 10:11-11:45⏩

Jonathan shares his personal opinion that Trump doesn't view the war in Ukraine as a significant issue, suggesting that Trump is more interested in the image of power projected by Putin than the actual conflict. He contrasts this with his own deep concern about the war's implications.

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Nikki Haley echoes concerns about Trump's admiration for Putin

🎦 11:45-12:51⏩

Jonathan introduces a clip of Nikki Haley, former US ambassador to the UN under Trump, discussing her experience being in the same room as Putin and Trump. He draws parallels between Haley's account and previous remarks made by former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, both expressing discomfort with Trump's apparent admiration for Putin.

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Controversy surrounding Paul Manafort's potential involvement in Trump's campaign

🎦 12:51-14:35⏩

Jonathan expresses serious concerns about reports of Trump's intention to involve Paul Manafort, his former campaign manager who was imprisoned for financial crimes and pardoned by Trump, in his 2024 campaign. Jonathan highlights Manafort's connections to pro-Russian figures and the potential national security risks associated with his involvement. He cites Timothy Snyder, a historian of Ukraine, who notes the irony of Manafort's criminal record standing out among Trump's advisors, given that many of them have also been convicted of crimes. Jonathan delves into Manafort's history, detailing his work for pro-Russian Ukrainian politician Viktor Yanukovych and his connections to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, raising further concerns about Manafort's ties to Russia.

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Joe Manchin's warning about the potential consequences of withholding aid to Ukraine

🎦 14:35-15:51⏩

Jonathan shifts focus to Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, who has been a controversial figure for his willingness to side with Republicans on key issues. Despite disagreeing with Manchin's politics, Jonathan expresses appreciation for Manchin's statement that failure to pass continued aid to Ukraine could lead to a major historical atrocity.

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Polish Foreign Minister urges US to approve Ukraine aid

🎦 15:51-16:20⏩

Jonathan shares Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski's plea for the US House of Representatives to approve Ukraine aid, emphasizing the issue of US credibility. He expresses frustration with the current political climate, suggesting that Sikorski's pleas are likely to be ignored.

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US House members vote against condemning Putin's kidnapping of Ukrainian children

🎦 16:20-18:47⏩

Jonathan expresses outrage over the nine Republican members of the US House of Representatives who voted against a resolution condemning Putin's abduction of Ukrainian children. He lists the names of these representatives, including Chip Roy, Andy Biggs, Tom Tiffany, Clay Higgins, Eric Burleson, Thomas Massie, Matt Rosendale, Warren Davidson, and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Jonathan strongly criticises these individuals, questioning their motives and suggesting that they are either morally corrupt or influenced by Russia. He encourages viewers to voice their displeasure with these representatives.

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UK car exports to Azerbaijan surge amid sanctions on Russia

🎦 18:47-20:23⏩

Jonathan discusses the suspicious surge in UK car exports to Azerbaijan, attributing it to attempts to circumvent sanctions on Russia. He notes that the UK's car lobby group claims this increase is due to Azerbaijan's booming economy, but Jonathan remains sceptical, finding it hard to believe that this surge is unrelated to the sanctions against Russia. He points out the coincidental timing and scale of the increase in exports to Azerbaijan, mirroring the decline in exports to Russia.

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EU extends suspension of import duties on Ukrainian agricultural products

🎦 20:23-21:05⏩

Jonathan reports that the EU has extended its suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural products until June, which has caused tensions with farmers in countries like Poland. Despite this, he notes that the EU is also looking to impose tariffs on Russian and Belarusian agricultural imports, which could potentially benefit Ukrainian farmers.

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Polish blockade continues amid protests

🎦 21:05-22:26⏩

Jonathan provides an update on the ongoing Polish blockade of Ukrainian agricultural imports. He mentions that while some bilateral agreements are being discussed, the situation remains tense, with protests erupting across Poland. Despite this, Jonathan highlights the ongoing protests against the blockade, suggesting that not everyone in Poland supports the government's stance.

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Finland ranked happiest country in the world

🎦 22:26-23:45⏩

On a lighter note, Jonathan shares a news snippet about Finland being ranked as the world's happiest country for the seventh consecutive year. He jokes about the Finns' reserved nature, suggesting that their happiness is an internal experience. He expresses his interest in the World Happiness Report and its methodology, highlighting the various factors considered beyond just outward expressions of happiness.

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Jonathan's personal health update

🎦 23:45-28:25⏩

Jonathan provides a personal update on his health, discussing his ongoing battle with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. He shares that he recently had an MRI scan and met with his neurologist to discuss the results. He explains the nature of MS, describing how the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) surrounding the central nervous system, leading to a range of debilitating symptoms. Jonathan discusses his decision to undergo stem cell therapy in Moscow in 2019 and its positive impact on his condition. He expresses relief that his recent MRI scan showed no signs of disease progression and credits the stem cell therapy for this positive outcome. He acknowledges the challenges of managing his health while maintaining his rigorous work schedule, particularly his intense focus on the war in Ukraine.

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Wrap up

🎦 28:25-28:46⏩

Jonathan thanks viewers for their support and kind words regarding his health update. He gives a shout-out to JR, who assists with the maps used in his videos, and signs off.

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