Ukraine War Update NEWS: Geopolitical News
Table of Contents 📖
"If the world was ending tomorrow, Trump would somehow make it all about him"
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:49⏩
Jonathan welcomes viewers to another ATP Geopolitics video - Part 3 of the Ukraine War Update for 20th February 2024. It's a busy news day (again!) and Jonathan jokes that he needs a lie down and a cuppa. He reminds viewers that he'll be speaking to German Aid for Ukraine tomorrow for a live stream to discuss German Aid to Ukraine.
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Hungary will not block the EU's 13th package of sanctions against Russia over Chinese entity concerns
🎦 00:49-03:45⏩
Budapest will not block the 13th package of sanctions against Russia. This is good news as a compromise has been reached with the Hungarian Foreign Minister, who confirmed this was possible because items contrary to Hungarian interests have been removed. The worry here is that Hungary has become friendly with both Russia and more recently, China. China has offered to deepen security ties with Hungary, which is concerning for both the EU and NATO. Jonathan jokes about this, comparing the situation to Viktor Orban (Hungary's prime minister) being courted by Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.
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Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders criticises Ukrainian refugees
🎦 03:45-06:38⏩
Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch far-right party PVV has criticised Ukrainian refugees, claiming they are coming to the Netherlands for free housing, healthcare and jobs. Jonathan condemns this stance, comparing it to refusing to help Jewish refugees during World War II.
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Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas calls for seizure of Russia's frozen assets
🎦 06:38-08:13⏩
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has said that the West should seize Russia's frozen assets before the US elections in November. She argues that doing this would put additional pressure on the Russian economy and help bring an end to the war sooner rather than later. Jonathan agrees with her.
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Estonia detains 10 alleged Russian agents
🎦 08:13-08:52⏩
Kallas also announced that Estonia had foiled a Russian hybrid operation involving an attack on an Estonian minister's car. She said: "We know the Kremlin is targeting all of our democratic societies. Our answer [should] be open and reveal their methods. This [is the] way to deter harmful actions and make us resilient". 10 alleged Russian agents have been detained.
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Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte delivers powerful speech at Munich Security Conference
🎦 08:52-10:11⏩
Jonathan picks up on a user comment (Anton Kerschenko) thanking former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for his powerful speech at the Munich Security Conference, in which he called for Europe to increase defence spending, ramp up arms production and increase support for Ukraine. Rutte stated: "Everything we are doing now is aimed at Ukraine winning this war and I don't want to contemplate any other outcome". Jonathan agrees with him.
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Polish farmers blockades at the Ukraine border causing concern
🎦 10:11-12:14⏩
Tensions are rising at the Polish border where Polish farmers are blockading crossings in protest of Ukrainian grain imports, which they say are undercutting their products. Zelensky has called the situation "abnormal". Jonathan expresses concern that this will have a negative impact on the Ukrainian economy, and will delay the delivery of essential military aid.
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Putin gifts Kim Jong-un a car
🎦 12:14-13:09⏩
In a lighter news item, North Korean media reported that Putin has gifted Kim Jong-un a car as a sign of their "special personal relations". Jonathan jokes about Viktor Orban feeling left out and wanting a car too!
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Belarusian political prisoner dies in custody
🎦 13:09-14:15⏩
Ihar Lednik, a member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (BSDP) has reportedly died in prison. Jonathan expresses his sadness at this news and calls for action to remove Lukashenko from power. He goes on to highlight the case of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who was poisoned with Novichok and subsequently died in a Russian penal colony. Navalny's brother, Oleg, has been declared wanted by the Russian authorities.
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Yulia Navalnaya calls on the EU not to recognise Russian election results
🎦 14:15-15:05⏩
Yulia Navalnaya, Alexei Navalny's widow, has called on the EU not to recognise the results of the upcoming Russian presidential election. Jonathan thinks that Russia should be declared a state sponsor of terrorism.
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Canadian family who moved to Russia to escape "decadent depravity of the gay West" have their money stolen
🎦 15:05-17:15⏩
Jonathan shares a news item from _The Daily Kos_ about a Canadian family who moved to Russia to escape the "decadent depravity of the gay West", only to have all their money stolen. The family were crowdfunding their new life, promoting Russia as a safe haven for their children, free from "left-wing ideology, LGBTQ [issues], trans [issues]". The Russian bank froze their assets because the amount of money they had seemed suspicious. Jonathan finds the whole situation highly amusing.
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US considers sanctioning Chinese companies for aiding Russia
🎦 17:15-18:31⏩
The US is considering imposing sanctions on Chinese companies suspected of supporting Russia's war against Ukraine. Jonathan says this has been likely for some time now, due to China's supply of dual-use components. He thinks it will cause friction between the two superpowers but that ultimately, China might reduce its support for Russia.
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International allies condemn Speaker Mike Johnson for delaying Ukraine aid
🎦 18:31-23:51⏩
Jonathan is angry about Speaker Mike Johnson delaying a vital aid package to Ukraine, and criticises him for going on a 2-week holiday instead of getting things done. He vents his frustration at Trump supporters who try to blame the Democrats for this, and points out that a bi-partisan deal had been reached on the border issue (a key Republican demand). He reminds viewers that Lankford, one of the most conservative senators in Congress, was involved in negotiating the border deal, and that the deal was then misrepresented by Fox News. Jonathan reiterates that aid for Ukraine is supported by both Democrats and Republicans (a bill recently passed 70-29 in the Senate). He thinks that Johnson is out of his depth and is being manipulated by the MAGA Republicans, and that he won't last long as Speaker. He is particularly annoyed about comments made by Trump regarding Alexei Navalny's death in which Trump managed to make it all about himself.
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Biden considers new sanctions on Russia over Navalny's death
🎦 23:51-23:51⏩
President Biden has said that the US is considering new sanctions against Russia in response to Alexei Navalny's death. Jonathan is sceptical about whether Biden will follow through on this, and urges him to take decisive action.
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Trump makes Navalny's death all about himself
🎦 23:51-27:22⏩
Jonathan discusses Trump's reaction to the news of Navalny's death, reading out the statement he released, which made no mention of Navalny at all. He contrasts this with the sort of statement a diplomat would make. Jonathan talks about Trump's long-standing links to Russia and Deutsche Bank, and his latest money-making schemes, highlighting the case of Roman Scharf, former VP of Deutsche Bank who paid $9000 for a pair of Trump's autographed shoes. He describes this as "shocker" and "nefarious".
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Lindsey Graham placed on Russia's terrorist list
🎦 27:22-29:12⏩
Jonathan talks about Lindsey Graham's recent suggestion that the US should give aid loans to Ukraine instead of aid packages, explaining that this was Trump's idea. Jonathan acknowledges that this would be better than nothing but is critical of Graham's 180 degree turn on the issue of aid to Ukraine. He is amused that Graham has now been placed on Russia's terrorist list, describing it as a "badge of honour" and "motivation" to do the right thing.
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Wrap up
🎦 29:12-30:20⏩
Jonathan apologises for spending so long talking about US politics and Trump, explaining that he can't help himself and that Trump's behaviour over the last year has done nothing to change his (already low) opinion of him. He thanks viewers for watching, asks them to like, subscribe and share, and signs off.
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