Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid & Geopolitical News
Table of Contents 📖
"You can call yourself Republicans. That's fine, because that's your voter registration. Don't call yourself Reagan Republicans. Ronald Reagan would never, would never go, let this kind of aggression go unresponded to by the American people."
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:15⏩
Jonathan welcomes viewers to part two of the Ukraine War News Update for December 18th, 2023. He mentions forgetting to get his UK-based niece and nephew Christmas presents and relying on the internet to save the day.
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Poland Transfers 24 Self-Propelled Mortars to Ukraine
🎦 00:15-01:15⏩
Poland has delivered 24 self-propelled rack mortars to Ukraine. These 120mm mortars boast a range of 12km, anti-drone protection, and are mounted on armored platforms.
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Latvia's Training of Ukrainian Soldiers Quadruples in 2023
🎦 01:15-03:09⏩
Latvia's training of Ukrainian soldiers has increased fourfold in 2023. By year's end, Latvia will have trained 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers, contributing to a total of 90,000 Ukrainian soldiers trained by allied forces since the war began. Jonathan discusses the varying quality and adaptation of training provided by different countries. While acknowledging criticisms, he emphasizes its overall benefit and the need for continuous adaptation based on feedback. He highlights the significance of this training for Ukraine's future integration with NATO standards and equipment.
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Ukrainian Engineers Develop Remote-Controlled Turret on Drone Platform
🎦 03:09-04:52⏩
Jonathan discusses the evolving technology being employed in the war, highlighting a new remote-controlled turret developed by Ukrainian engineers for use on drone platforms. He reflects on the various uses of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) observed during the conflict, from deploying mines to transporting supplies, and even retrieving casualties.
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Ukraine Develops 'Cobra' Attack Drone With 300km Range
🎦 04:52-06:04⏩
Ukrainian engineers continue to innovate, introducing the 'Cobra', a new attack drone with a 3-meter wingspan, a range exceeding 300km, and a 15kg payload capacity. This comes after the announcement of the 'Sida' drone, designed as a Ukrainian counterpart to Iran's Shahed drone. Jonathan praises Ukraine's efforts in exploring new designs and materials for their drones to enhance resilience against enemy detection and jamming techniques.
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Russia Offers Fast-Tracked Citizenship to Foreign Nationals Joining Military
🎦 06:04-07:21⏩
In Russia, advertisements in the Yucatan region offer fast-tracked citizenship and a 495,000 ruble sign-on bonus to foreign nationals willing to enlist in the Russian military. This highlights Russia's ongoing efforts to bolster its ranks through covert mobilization. Jonathan anticipates a potential surge in these efforts after the March 17th presidential elections, suggesting that Putin, potentially securing a fifth term, may feel less constrained in enacting a full-scale national mobilization.
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IMF Warns Further Delays in Aid Will Jeopardise Ukraine's Economic Recovery
🎦 07:21-07:56⏩
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, cautions that delaying additional funding to Ukraine puts its economic recovery at risk. Georgieva states that while Ukraine can manage in the short term, it will soon need to make spending cuts or rely on central bank financing to meet expenses.
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EU Set to Adopt 12th Sanctions Package Against Russia
🎦 07:56-08:32⏩
The EU is poised to implement its 12th sanctions package against Russia, potentially as early as today, according to the Financial Times. This follows Austria's successful lobbying to remove Raiffeisen Bank from Ukraine's blacklist of war sponsors. Jonathan notes Austria's persistent resistance to the sanctions package.
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Hungary Faces Potential Voting Rights Suspension Over Ukraine Aid Blockade
🎦 08:32-12:33⏩
Hungary may lose its EU voting rights on matters concerning aid to Ukraine due to its continued obstruction of a €50 billion aid package. This follows a previous incident where Hungary, at the behest of Olaf Scholz, agreed to abstain from a vote concerning Ukraine's EU accession talks, enabling the remaining 26 member states to achieve the required unanimity. Jonathan delves into the ongoing issues surrounding Hungary's democratic backsliding, particularly concerning its control over the press and judiciary. He questions the EU's mechanisms for addressing deviations from democratic principles by member states and ponders the potential ramifications for the bloc's future. Jonathan highlights the case of Polish farmers planning to blockade the Polish-Ukrainian border at the Yadin-Dorohusk crossing in protest, suggesting potential Russian influence behind the organizer, Rafal Mekler. Meanwhile, Latvia is considering the deportation of over a thousand Russian citizens for failing to meet residency requirements following a change in regulations.
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US Senate Stalemate on Ukraine Funding Due to Republican Demands on Border Security
🎦 12:33-18:49⏩
Negotiations in the US Senate regarding a new funding package for Ukraine have stalled due to Republican demands for stricter border security measures. This impasse makes a vote before Christmas unlikely. Jonathan criticizes Republicans for attempting to leverage unrelated policy issues and provides an analogy of a bystander refusing to help a mugging victim until paid $500. He argues it's unfair to blame Democrats for the lack of aid when Republicans are introducing these roadblocks. Jonathan draws parallels to a 2014 incident where Senator John McCain (R-AZ) condemned members of his own party for delaying sanctions against Russia following its annexation of Crimea, using the situation to leverage unrelated policy goals. He highlights a tweet from John Jackson recalling the 2014 event and noting the recurring pattern.
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Ukraine Signs Contract with Westinghouse for Non-Soviet Reactor
🎦 18:49-21:14⏩
In a move signifying its departure from Soviet-era reliance, Ukraine's Atomic Energy Agency (Energoatom) has inked a deal with Westinghouse to purchase a reactor unit. This unit, the first of its kind in Ukraine, will be installed at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, marking a significant step in the country's energy independence. Jonathan underscores the strategic importance of this decision, emphasizing the shift from reliance on Russian servicing of nuclear facilities to a Western-supported infrastructure. This move aligns with Ukraine's broader goal of reducing its dependence on Russia across various sectors.
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Romanian Navy Strengthens Mine Countermeasure Capabilities in Black Sea with Former UK Vessel
🎦 21:14-23:11⏩
The Romanian Navy has bolstered its mine-hunting capabilities in the Black Sea with the addition of a Sandown-class minehunter, formerly known as HMS Blythe in the Royal Navy. The vessel, now sailing under the Romanian flag, recently passed through the Bosporus Strait en route to its new homeport of Constanta, Romania. Jonathan highlights the significance of this acquisition in light of a recent agreement between Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania to enhance mine countermeasure operations in the Black Sea. He notes the presence of mines poses a threat to all three nations' waters and emphasizes the importance of bolstering their mine-hunting fleets, a move that will also benefit Ukraine's efforts in the region.
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Jonathan Critiques New York Times' Reporting on Russia
🎦 23:11-26:34⏩
Jonathan expresses his disappointment with what he perceives as imbalanced reporting by the New York Times regarding the impact of Western sanctions on Russia. He references a recent article highlighting how Putin has, in some instances, turned the sanctions into opportunities for Russia, such as the nationalization and profiting from businesses like Carlsberg. He argues that while the information presented may be factually accurate, the article lacks essential context regarding the broader negative impacts of sanctions on the Russian economy, thereby presenting an incomplete narrative. He emphasizes the importance of balanced reporting, even when covering sensitive geopolitical situations, and questions whether certain media outlets prioritize sensationalism and clickbait over responsible journalism. He encourages viewers to critically evaluate media narratives and consider their potential biases.
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Wrap Up
🎦 26:34-27:42⏩
Jonathan thanks his viewers for their support and expresses gratitude to his Patreon supporters, individually naming several contributors who have helped make his work possible. He signs off with his signature "Toodlepips".
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