Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid & Geopolitical News, Disinformation Analysis

"The Kremlin's efforts to undermine support for Ukraine have so far gained more traction in the U.S. than anywhere else."

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-00:17⏩

Jonathan welcomes viewers to part B of the 8th April 2024 Ukraine War Update and thanks viewers for subscribing. He mentions that YouTube restricted 60% of the videos he posted the day before and encourages people to subscribe and share to overcome the algorithm.

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Greece: Potential Transfer of 32 F-16 Fighter Jets to Ukraine

🎦 00:17-04:12⏩

Greece may transfer 32 F-16 fighter jets (of a total 108) to Ukraine as part of a deal with the US, in which Greece would receive F-35s and military aid in exchange for sending Soviet-era equipment to Ukraine. Jonathan explains that there have been delays in US equipment reaching Greece, which resulted in a delay in the transfer of Greek equipment to Ukraine. Jonathan speculates that Greece and Cyprus could be significant sources of equipment for Ukraine in the coming months.

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France: KNDS to Double Production of CAESAR Howitzers

🎦 04:12-05:31⏩

French industrial concern Nexter, part of KNDS, plans to double the production of CAESAR howitzers to 144 per year within the next year. This will enable them to meet the needs of Ukraine and other NATO members, particularly those that are increasing their defence spending to reach the required 2% of GDP. Jonathan notes that Denmark had previously ordered CAESAR howitzers, but has since stated that all of its artillery and ammunition should go to Ukraine, recognising that Ukraine is fighting a battle that Denmark would otherwise have to fight.

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France: Targeted by Russian Disinformation Campaigns

🎦 05:31-07:05⏩

Jonathan highlights that France has faced increased Russian disinformation campaigns following announcements of its support for Ukraine. Examples include the delivery of SCALP missiles, Macron's statement on sending French troops to Ukraine and a bilateral security agreement with Kyiv. The Kremlin is attempting to destabilise France and damage its pro-Ukraine stance. There are also concerns that Russia may attempt to sabotage the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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Ukraine: Zelensky's Request for 25 Patriot Systems is "Reasonable" says Analyst John Ridge

🎦 07:05-08:26⏩

Jonathan discusses Zelensky's request for 25 Patriot missile defence systems. He references John Ridge, who argues that this is a realistic long-term requirement for Ukraine to replace its S-300 systems. Jonathan explains that manufacturing new Patriot batteries and interceptors is achievable with the necessary funding. He also mentions that there is a precedent for transferring large quantities of Patriot systems, referring to transfers made to Germany during the Cold War.

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Ukraine: Drone Production and Usage Outstripping Russia's, Data Suggests

🎦 08:26-15:17⏩

Jonathan discusses the difficulty of verifying claims made about Ukrainian and Russian drone production. He references a report by Jane Kyiv indicating that every level of Ukrainian society is engaged in drone production or acquisition. He argues that production figures alone do not provide the complete picture, as factors like training, logistics and actual frontline use also come into play. He says that data suggests that Ukraine's use of drones, particularly those with night vision, is surpassing Russia's. Jonathan also points out that official figures may not account for the significant contribution of volunteer groups and individuals who are building and donating drones independently. He questions whether Russia has a comparable volunteer network and emphasises the need to analyse frontline data to determine the actual impact of drones in the conflict.

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Ukraine: International Partners Allocate Over $700 million for Demining

🎦 15:17-15:57⏩

Jonathan reports that international partners, including the US, Switzerland, Norway, EU countries and Japan have allocated over $700 million for demining efforts in Ukraine. This funding, coordinated through a coalition of 20 countries, is crucial for restoring safety, enabling economic recovery, and facilitating military operations in the region.

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Lithuania Offers to Dismantle Thermal Power Plant to Aid Ukraine's Energy Needs

🎦 15:57-16:16⏩

Lithuania has offered to dismantle a closed thermal power plant and transfer the spare parts and equipment to Ukraine to support the country's struggling energy infrastructure, as confirmed by Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko.

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France: Billionaire Invests Over $1 Billion in Ukrainian Telecoms

🎦 16:16-17:26⏩

Jonathan discusses the acquisition of two Ukrainian telecom businesses - Data Group Volia and Lifecell - by French billionaire Xavier Niel's NJJ Capital, for over $1 billion. This marks the first major investment in Ukraine by a new player since the Russian invasion. While acknowledging the positive economic impact, Jonathan expresses concern about potential asset stripping by outside investors.

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France: Far-Right Support Soaring Ahead of European Elections

🎦 17:26-23:34⏩

Jonathan expresses concern over the upcoming European Parliament elections in June, noting that far-right, nationalist, and Eurosceptic parties are gaining traction across Europe, particularly in France. He shares poll data from Thierry Schmidlin showing Marine Le Pen's National Rally party with a significant lead of 30-31% and highlights the potential impact of Russian disinformation in amplifying these sentiments. Jonathan expresses concern that a shift in the European Parliament towards far-right ideologies could lead to decreased support for Ukraine. He points to the example of Geert Wilders in the Netherlands who has abandoned his anti-EU stance after witnessing the consequences of Brexit. Jonathan believes that the far-right's strategy is to stay within the EU and enact change from within, which he believes would have been a better course of action for the UK.

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UK and France: Ukraine Must Win the War

🎦 23:34-26:51⏩

Jonathan reports that UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna are jointly reiterating their unwavering support for Ukraine, stating that a Ukrainian loss would be a loss for everyone. They plan to reinforce this stance at the European Policy Community summit in July at Blenheim Palace. The UK and France are collaborating on training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets and coordinating sanctions and the delivery of long-range missiles, such as SCALP and Storm Shadow. This demonstrates strong cooperation between the UK and the EU, despite Brexit, in supporting Ukraine's defence.

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US: Cleverly to Lobby Republicans for $60 Billion in Stalled Ukraine Aid

🎦 26:51-27:45⏩

Jonathan reports that UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly plans to visit Washington to lobby Republican lawmakers for the release of over $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine that has been stalled since October. Cleverly's visit is seen as a precursor to a meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson. However, Jonathan is sceptical that Cleverly will be able to persuade Johnson to change his position on the aid package.

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US: House Speaker Johnson's Stance on Ukraine Aid, Christian Nationalism and Support for Putin

🎦 27:45-29:45⏩

Jonathan discusses the political climate in the US, questioning whether House Speaker Mike Johnson will allow a vote on Ukraine aid amid threats from Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene to remove him from his position. He reiterates the influence of Christian nationalism among some Republicans and how it aligns with support for Putin's traditional values, a topic that drew criticism from some viewers. Jonathan defends his use of the term "Christian nationalism," stating it's a recognised socio-political term and not his invention. He maintains that Johnson's stance on Ukraine aid is driven by his own political survival rather than any ideological conviction.

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US: Trump Denies Washington Post Report on his Plans to End the War

🎦 29:45-32:09⏩

Jonathan analyses Trump's denial of a Washington Post report which stated that he intends to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours by forcing negotiations and potential territorial concessions to Russia. Jonathan argues that Trump's denial inadvertently confirms the report's accuracy. Trump's plan involves withholding aid to Ukraine, forcing them to negotiate from a weakened position and likely ceding territory to Russia. Trump criticised Biden for wanting to continue "the killing" by providing aid, framing it as prolonging the war. Jonathan argues that this demonstrates how disinformation can be spread, even unintentionally, and influence public perception.

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Sweden: How Pro-Russian Disinformation is Laundered

🎦 32:09-36:28⏩

Jonathan discusses a report by Swedish media outlet SVT, detailing how Russian disinformation is disseminated through a complex laundering process to make it appear credible. He cites a specific case where an anonymous YouTube video alleging the murder of an Egyptian journalist by Ukrainian forces was then picked up by Egyptian newspapers with a history of spreading pro-Kremlin narratives. This story was then published in English by websites disguised as American news sources but linked to Russian IP addresses. Finally, Russian media outlets reported the story, citing Egyptian and English-language sources, thus obscuring its origin. The goal of this strategy is to make it difficult to trace the disinformation back to Russia.

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US: Russian Trolls Target US Support for Ukraine

🎦 36:28-48:37⏩

Jonathan discusses a Washington Post investigation which reveals that Russian trolls are actively working to undermine US support for Ukraine. Kremlin documents reveal a campaign that promotes American isolationism, exploits fears about border security, and aims to inflame racial and economic tensions in the US. These campaigns are designed to influence public opinion and political discourse, ultimately swaying congressional votes against further aid to Ukraine. The strategy involves planting fabricated news articles, social media posts, and comments that align with the far-right agenda within the Republican Party. They aim to portray Ukrainian President Zelensky as corrupt and suggest that US aid should instead be directed towards domestic issues like border control. Jonathan criticises social media platforms for failing to combat disinformation effectively. He argues that freedom of speech should not be a shield for hostile state actors to manipulate public opinion and undermine democratic processes. He highlights the "paradox of intolerance" where unlimited tolerance allows intolerant ideologies to flourish, ultimately consuming the very freedoms they exploit.

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US: Congressman Michael Turner Warns of Russian Propaganda's Impact on Congress

🎦 48:37-49:19⏩

Jonathan highlights comments made by Congressman Michael Turner, Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, in which he expresses concern about the influence of Russian propaganda within the US Congress. Turner believes that his Republican colleagues are repeating pro-Kremlin talking points and that this disinformation campaign is hindering efforts to provide aid to Ukraine.

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US: Discharge Petition to Force Vote on Ukraine Aid

🎦 49:19-49:28⏩

Jonathan provides an update on the discharge petition, a legislative tool that can force a vote on a bill even if the Speaker of the House opposes it. He mentions that the Republican-led petition is unlikely to succeed but that the Democrat-led petition could pass with enough Republican support. Jonathan encourages his viewers to contact their representatives and urge them to sign the petition.

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US: Interview with Woman Shows Impact of Disinformation

🎦 49:28-51:03⏩

Jonathan shows a video clip of an interview with a woman wearing a "Tucker Carlson: Stop Liberal Intolerance" T-shirt. The woman expresses her preference for Vladimir Putin over Joe Biden, praising Putin's stance on traditional values and downplaying his actions in Ukraine. Jonathan is shocked by her statement, especially given the atrocities committed in Ukraine under Putin's orders. This exemplifies how effectively disinformation can sway public opinion.

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Russia: Alexander Dugin Claims "Jerusalem Will be Russian"

🎦 51:03-51:11⏩

Jonathan reports that Alexander Dugin, a Russian political philosopher, has made a statement claiming that "Jerusalem will be a Russian city or it will not exist at all." Jonathan sees this as a concerning expansion of Russia's territorial ambitions, even extending to Israel.

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Lithuania: Russian Embassy in Vilnius Targeted with Molotov Cocktails

🎦 51:11-51:30⏩

The Russian embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania was targeted with Molotov cocktails twice over the weekend. Jonathan highlights that the street on which the embassy is located has been renamed to "Heroes of Ukraine Street", which the Russians are forced to use in their address. This demonstrates the Baltic state's strong stance against Russia's actions in Ukraine.

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China: Lavrov Visits Beijing to Discuss Ukraine War

🎦 51:30-52:05⏩

Jonathan reports that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has arrived in China for talks with his counterpart, Wang Li. Their discussions are expected to focus on the Ukraine war and potential ways for China to support Russia's efforts. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has issued a warning to Chinese banks and exporters against providing material assistance to Russia, threatening significant consequences if they do.

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Europe: Defence Contractors Warn of Reliance on Chinese Materials

🎦 52:05-52:38⏩

Jonathan highlights the challenges faced by European defence contractors who are struggling to increase production due to their dependence on Chinese-sourced materials, particularly cotton used in munitions powder. This dependence, combined with a shortage of nitrocellulose, poses a significant obstacle to European efforts to boost military production.

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Wrap up

🎦 52:38-53:11⏩

Jonathan concludes the video by expressing his concern over the pervasive nature of Russian disinformation. He believes that the Washington Post article accurately portrays the issue and its impact on Western societies. He urges viewers to be aware of disinformation campaigns and their potential to influence public opinion and political decision-making.

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