Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid News

"So I really appreciate as you've been saying this, and I think this needs to be front page news. This needs to be on Fox News big time. Quote, allies are increasing their support."

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-00:12⏩
Jonathan welcomes viewers to the second part of his Ukraine War Update for the 5th December 2024 which will focus on military aid and assistance.

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US to transfer $61bn to Ukraine by end of Biden's term

🎦 00:12-00:58⏩
The US has confirmed it will transfer the remaining $61bn in aid to Ukraine by the end of President Biden's term. Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, has assured NATO and Ukraine of the US's commitment. This follows rumours that the funds might not be spent in time due to the short timeframe (six weeks) remaining. Blinken expressed satisfaction with the cost-sharing arrangements between the US and other NATO partners, emphasizing that allies are increasing their support. He stated that the US had provided $102 billion and other partners $158 billion, refuting claims that the US was shouldering a disproportionate burden.

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Blinken praises burden sharing between US and allies

🎦 00:58-02:44⏩
Jonathan highlights the significance of Blinken's statement in countering the narrative that the US is disproportionately burdened by Ukraine aid. Blinken's praise for the current level of burden-sharing, calling it the best in his 30-year career, directly challenges this misconception. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of Blinken's message reaching a wider audience, particularly in the US, to correct this misinformation. Jonathan then pivots to the incoming Trump administration and their stance on Ukraine aid. He expresses concern over House Speaker Mike Johnson's rejection of Biden's request for an additional $24 billion in aid for Ukraine. Jonathan sees this as a concerning indication of the incoming administration's priorities. He highlights Trump's statement that no further assistance to Ukraine is planned, emphasizing the stark contrast between the outgoing and incoming administrations.

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Republican congressman's interview on Fox News Radio

🎦 02:44-05:52⏩
Jonathan expresses concern over what he perceives as a disconnect within the Republican party on the issue of Ukraine. He cites a recent interview on Fox News Radio with an unnamed Republican general involved with the Institute for the Study of War. Despite generally disagreeing with Fox News and Brian Kilmeade, Jonathan acknowledges Kilmeade's consistent support for Ukraine and his efforts to correct misinformation on the issue. In the interview, the general, identified as Kane, presented a perspective that Jonathan found sensible and supportive of Ukraine. He questions why this viewpoint isn't more prevalent within the Republican party, especially given statements from figures like Mike Johnson and Tucker Carlson.

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Ukraine to receive $50bn from frozen Russian assets

🎦 05:52-07:07⏩
Jonathan discusses Antony Blinken's announcement that Ukraine will receive $50 billion from frozen Russian assets in the coming weeks. A coordinated US-EU plan is in place to expedite the transfer of these funds.

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Trump's promise to end the war "in one day"

🎦 07:07-09:22⏩
Jonathan questions Trump's promise to resolve the war in Ukraine within a day of his inauguration, viewing it as a lie given the complexities of the situation. He believes that the war won't end before January 20th, and questions how long it will take for Trump to initiate negotiations and how long these might last. He speculates that a delay might be beneficial for Ukraine, allowing them to bolster their military capabilities. Jonathan references the Republican general's interview again, where the general suggested giving Ukraine breathing room instead of immediately pushing for negotiations. This breathing room would allow the Ukrainian military to exploit the deteriorating Russian economy, potentially crippling their military capacity further. Jonathan argues that this strategy could lead to a more favorable outcome for Ukraine.

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Ukraine to receive 20 air defence systems by end of 2024

🎦 09:22-10:20⏩
Jonathan reports that Ukraine's foreign minister has announced the country will receive 20 air defence systems by the year's end, addressing the urgent need for enhanced protection following recent attacks on energy infrastructure. Systems such as HAWK, NASAMS, and RST are specifically required. The Netherlands has pledged €22 million for air defence and cyber resilience projects, emphasizing the need to strengthen Ukraine's military and NATO's coordinated response to Russia's threat, including cybersecurity.

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UK and Ukraine to increase defence production

🎦 10:20-11:43⏩
Jonathan highlights increased defence production collaboration between the UK and Ukraine. This follows talks between Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister, Ivan Havryuk, and a UK government delegation, focusing on joint projects and bolstering Ukraine's defence capacity. This initiative is part of a broader trend of expanding defence production capabilities, with the Finnish-Norwegian firm Namo constructing an ammunition facility in Norway worth €93 million. Similar facilities are being established in Lithuania and Estonia. Jonathan stresses the need for these projects to reach completion and for Ukraine to be given the time and resources to utilize these enhanced capabilities effectively.

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Bulgaria sends seventh military aid package to Ukraine

🎦 11:43-12:54⏩
Jonathan reports that Bulgaria is sending its seventh package of military aid to Ukraine, consisting of weapons, equipment, and ammunition. He commends Bulgaria for its consistent support, noting their significant contribution of Soviet-era ammunition, which remains crucial for Ukraine's military operations. While Ukraine is gradually transitioning to Western equipment, it continues to rely on Soviet-era ammunition, and Bulgaria's assistance in this regard is invaluable.

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German opposition leader to visit Ukraine

🎦 12:54-13:45⏩
Jonathan reports that Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's opposition party, the CDU, plans to visit Ukraine soon. Merz, who is expected to replace Olaf Scholz as Chancellor following elections in February, is a staunch supporter of Ukraine. He advocates establishing a contact group involving Germany, France, Poland, and the UK to formulate a unified European strategy to assist Ukraine in ending the war. He emphasizes the need to provide Ukraine with diplomatic, financial, humanitarian, and military support to ensure its self-defence and restoration of its territorial integrity. Jonathan, while disagreeing with Merz's politics, views his stance on Ukraine as positive and potentially beneficial for Ukraine.

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OpenAI partners with Anduril

🎦 13:45-14:17⏩
Jonathan discusses a partnership between OpenAI, a prominent AI company, and Anduril, a military contractor specializing in drone technology. As part of the agreement, OpenAI's software will be integrated into Anduril's counter-drone systems, enhancing their capabilities. Jonathan notes the significance of a major AI company like OpenAI entering the military technology sector, hinting at the potential implications and drawing a humorous parallel to the Terminator franchise.

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Ukraine tests new hexacopter bomber drone

🎦 14:17-15:27⏩
Jonathan reports that Ukrainian forces are testing a fiber optic hexacopter bomber drone. This drone is immune to electronic warfare due to its fiber optic cable, which ensures uninterrupted connection. After successful testing in a forest environment, the drone is ready for combat trials. Jonathan highlights the significance of this development, particularly for nighttime operations, as larger drones with greater load capacity are more resistant to electronic warfare and can carry more munitions.

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Ukrainian military adapts tactics based on Syrian conflict

🎦 15:27-15:52⏩
Jonathan discusses the adaptation of military tactics from other conflicts, such as the use of "technicals" - improvised fighting vehicles. He shows an example of a Ukrainian 122mm Grad rocket launcher mounted on a Humvee M1152. Jonathan explains that this tactic, commonly seen in conflicts like Syria, has been adopted by Ukrainian forces, highlighting the dynamic nature of warfare and the adaptation of strategies based on observed successes in other theatres.

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Romanian presidential candidate influenced by Russian disinformation campaign

🎦 15:52-17:28⏩
Jonathan expresses concerns about the influence of Russian disinformation campaigns, citing the case of Georgescu, a pro-Russian candidate in the Romanian presidential election. Georgescu's sudden rise in popularity is attributed to a Russian TikTok campaign involving millions of fake accounts, which spread disinformation and boosted his profile. Jonathan outlines the potential consequences if Georgescu wins, such as Romania withdrawing from NATO, ceasing military aid to Ukraine, and halting Ukrainian grain exports. This, Jonathan argues, would align with Russian interests and harm both Ukraine and global food security. However, Jonathan is optimistic that Georgescu will lose, as other political parties have united to support his opponent. Additionally, many Romanian voters who were initially deceived by the disinformation campaign are now aware of the manipulation and are expected to change their voting preferences.

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Russia intensifies forced mobilization in Luhansk

🎦 17:28-18:06⏩
Jonathan shifts focus to the escalation of forced mobilization by Russian forces, particularly targeting young men in occupied Luhansk. This tactic, already employed in Moscow with students being coerced into service, is intensifying in occupied regions. Civilians in these areas face harsh conditions, lacking heating and essential supplies, adding to their plight.

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Wrap up

🎦 18:06-19:13⏩
Jonathan expresses his gratitude for viewers' support and thanks his Patreon members, highlighting the contributions of several individuals, including Julian Rossiter, Lada Gaga, Neil Sinclair, Michael Shirzaki, Rob Layton, Egon Fredriksen, Linda Reid, Hoagie, Steven Bendel, Carl Rudd, Sanjay Pong, Will, Paul Spiker, Rand, Evan Stow, Glen, and KWG Matthews. He encourages viewers to subscribe to the channel to help him reach his target of 50,139 subscribers by January 2nd.

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