Ukraine War Update NEWS: Geopolitical News
Table of Contents 📖
"If you took Russians off the street and said, right, no one's going to hear about this, no one's recording this, Putin's not going to hear about this, the FSB aren't going to hear about this, would you like the war in Ukraine to stop? If that would then entail normal relations with the rest of the world...I'm sure virtually every Russian would support an end to the war."
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:27⏩
Jonathan welcomes viewers to another ATP Geopolitics video, apologising that this is his third video of the day. In fact, it's his fourth because he made a mistake with the first one! He hasn't even had a drink yet - but if he makes it through four videos in a row he will!
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Ukraine Corruption Perceptions Improve
🎦 00:27-03:06⏩
Ukraine has achieved its highest ever rating in corruption rankings, rising to 104th place, up from 116th place in 2022. Jonathan notes that this is still well below what is needed, but it's a significant improvement, particularly as Russia, which frequently criticises Ukraine for corruption, has fallen to 141st place. Jonathan points out that Ukraine's improvement disproves pro-Kremlin narratives about endemic corruption in the country.
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Wagner Group Smuggles $2.5 Billion in African Gold
🎦 03:06-04:07⏩
Jonathan reports that the Wagner Group has smuggled over $2.5 billion in illicit gold out of Africa since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This has funded Moscow's military campaigns by propping up regimes and terrorising civilians to secure control over mineral access in Africa. Jonathan notes an article from the European Press which details how the Kremlin is replacing Wagner mercenaries with state-run forces, seeking to entrench Putin-style rule and permanent authoritarian influence across Africa. This poses a major threat to rights, governance, and stability, effectively spreading corruption globally.
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Israel Intervenes to Prevent Deportation of Russian Musicians From Thailand
🎦 04:07-04:53⏩
Jonathan discusses the case of the Russian band Baitu, who were detained in Thailand at Russia's request. The band members are Israeli citizens with US and Australian passports and are known for their anti-war stance and criticism of the Kremlin. Following the detention, Israel intervened, and the issue of their deportation is currently being decided.
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Russia Exploits Far-Right Nationalism in Europe Against Ukraine
🎦 04:53-08:49⏩
Jonathan highlights an ISW report which claims that Russia is exploiting far-right nationalism in Europe to undermine support for Ukraine. Jonathan believes that Russia is getting more traction with the far right in Europe than the far left because fostering ethno-nationalism and a desire for independence from the EU serves the Kremlin's interests. He argues that Putin sees the EU as a bigger threat than the US because of its geographical proximity and its economic and cultural influence. Jonathan expresses concern about the rise of the far right in Europe and how it is being supported and amplified by Russia. He cites examples of Hungarian and Romanian right-wing politicians making claims to Ukrainian territory. He refers to his own article, "Stoking Division: How Putin is Helping the Rise of the Right", which explores the links between the Kremlin and far-right movements in Europe. He believes that the far right poses a significant threat to social cohesion and stability.
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Boris Nadezhdin: Russia's Unlikely Anti-War Candidate
🎦 08:49-12:39⏩
Jonathan reports on Boris Nadezhdin, who has emerged as an anti-war candidate in the upcoming Russian presidential election. Nadezhdin has gathered over 100,000 signatures, which would allow him to run against Putin, and his anti-war stance is gaining momentum. Jonathan notes that Nadezhdin himself has questioned why the Kremlin has not arrested him, given his vocal opposition to Putin and the war in Ukraine. He suggests that the Kremlin may try to invalidate Nadezhdin's candidacy on technical grounds, as they did with another anti-war candidate, Yekaterina Bunsova. Despite this, Jonathan believes that if Russians were given a free and fair choice, Nadezhdin would perform very well in the elections. However, he acknowledges that given Russia's increasingly corrupt political system, this is unlikely. He encourages viewers to keep an eye on Nadezhdin and observe how the Kremlin tries to counteract his campaign. He is concerned that the Kremlin will manipulate the election process, potentially through electronic voting, to ensure Putin's victory.
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Latvia to Stop Importing Russian and Belarusian Grain
🎦 12:39-13:33⏩
Latvia's ruling coalition has agreed to halt imports of Russian and Belarusian grain. The Minister of Agriculture, Didzis Šmits, announced that Latvia will introduce enhanced controls to assess the quality, safety, and origin of grain products in the future.
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Latvian MEP Investigated for FSB Links, Raising Concerns About Russian Influence in European Parliament
🎦 13:33-15:56⏩
Jonathan reports that Latvian MEP Tatjana Ždanoka, who is under investigation for allegedly being an FSB agent, has been linked to Irish MEPs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly. He questions whether they are wittingly or unwittingly agents of the FSB themselves and highlights their consistent anti-Ukraine rhetoric in the European Parliament. Jonathan encourages his Irish viewers to share their thoughts on this matter.
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Russia Accuses Canada of Election Interference
🎦 15:56-18:43⏩
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has accused Canada of interfering in US elections. Jonathan sees this as a classic example of Russia accusing its adversaries of doing what it is doing or intends to do. He expresses serious concern about Russian interference in upcoming elections globally, especially the 2024 US presidential election. He warns that this interference is often insidious and difficult to detect, such as controlling narratives, amplifying messages, and using paid trolls to influence public opinion. He uses the example of pro-Trump figures on Twitter with blue ticks who spread anti-Ukraine propaganda, leading unsuspecting users to believe they are genuine American voices. Jonathan stresses the need to be vigilant about the manipulation of information and how seemingly credible sources can be used to spread Kremlin narratives.
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EU Extends Sanctions Against Russia for Six Years
🎦 19:09-19:13⏩
The EU has extended economic sanctions against Russia for an additional six years.
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Wrap Up
🎦 19:13-19:59⏩
Jonathan signs off, thanking viewers for watching and asking them to like, subscribe, and share the video. He desperately needs a cup of tea after recording four videos in one day! He thanks his Patreon supporters for their generous contributions, giving special shoutouts to several individuals, and promises to thank them personally as well.
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