Serbia, Vucic, EU, & Russia's Stirring of Euro Far Right
Table of Contents 📖
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"If Europe falls apart and goes into each individual nation state, then all the good can be done by the EU and the power of working together towards a moral and decent future I think is all undone and in this zero-sum game here I think that that's a Russian gain and a BRICS gain."
Hello Team!
Jonathan welcomes viewers to another Ukraine War Update Extra video providing extra tidbits and nuggets of information to give a greater understanding of the war in Ukraine. He acknowledges he has produced a lot of content today already.
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Correction on previous comments about US funding for Ukraine
Jonathan corrects his earlier statement about Pentagon spokesman John Kirby saying the US is coming to the end of funding for Ukraine. Many viewers pointed out this was in the context of the present annual budgeting, not that the US would stop supporting Ukraine going forward. Jonathan acknowledges he should have realized this and not taken the quote out of context.
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Horrors experienced by Ukrainians in Yahidne
- Jonathan shares a Time article about the horrific experiences of Ukrainians held captive by Russian forces for a month in terrible conditions in a basement in Yahidne.
- He emphasizes that while the Israel-Palestine conflict is terrible, similar atrocities have been happening in Ukraine for over a year. It's not a competition of who has the worse conflict.
- The Reckoning Project, which trains journalists to gather evidence of war crimes in Ukraine, is doing tremendous work.
Genocidal rhetoric from prominent Russians
Jonathan highlights comments from Pavlo Gubarev, a prominent pro-Russian separatist figure, who presents a false dichotomy that Russia must either destroy millions of Ukrainians or face decolonization, dismemberment, impoverishment and extinction of its population. Jonathan notes this kind of genocidal rhetoric is common from people in the Russian sphere of influence.
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Russian influence in Serbia and the Balkans
- Dr. Ivana Stradner from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies discusses how Russia is investing resources in far-right groups in Serbia and the Balkans to challenge the West and sow discord.
- Serbian President Vucic is playing a balancing game between East and West to retain power. He has destroyed the pro-Western opposition in Serbia.
- Russia is using the Serbian Orthodox Church to polarize society in places like Montenegro.
- Nationalism among Serbian youth is very concerning. Russia and Serbia have agreed to fight together against "colour revolutions".
- Vucic talks about the "European path" but not EU membership as he needs Western support and investment for his political survival.
- More escalations in the Balkans are likely on the horizon according to Dr. Stradner.
The EU, Brexit and Russian influence in Europe
Jonathan shares his views on Brexit and the EU:
- The EU is a neoliberal economic trade bloc focused on free markets but also tries to be moral on issues like the environment and workers' rights. It's a "big fat walking contradiction".
- Global issues need global solutions which is more likely when countries work together. Brexit was "economic suicide".
- It's in Putin's interest to see the EU weakened and broken up so Russia can deal with countries unilaterally from a position of power.
- Russia has been funding Eurosceptic parties like Marine Le Pen's party in France and AFD in Germany.
- The rise of far-right ultra-nationalism in Europe aided by Russia leads to Euroscepticism and destabilization of the region which benefits Russia.
- If the EU falls apart, the power of European countries working together towards a moral future is undone which is a gain for Russia and BRICS countries.
- The US knows it's crucial for the EU to maintain its integrity and strength.
Wrap up
Jonathan shows a video of a very low helicopter pass and jokes he would have ducked to avoid getting hit. He thanks viewers for their support and apologizes for the video being late.
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