Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid & Geopolitical News, Ru Influence in US

"Disinformation and conspiracy theories. And this was a leading one. But it, of course, continues to this day. And my Republican colleagues say, oh, this is just more about the Russia hoax. Really, what's the hoax? Is it the invasion of Ukraine? Is it the death of Alexei Navalny or his attempted poisoning back in 2020 or his death just a few days ago?"

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-00:27⏩

Jonathan welcomes viewers to part two of his Ukraine War Update. He notes that there are "interesting nuggets" in the video, particularly relating to geopolitics, hinting at a focus beyond military aid.

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US Military Aid to Ukraine

🎦 00:27-01:05⏩

Jonathan highlights the Pentagon's assurance that it can rapidly deliver new military aid packages to Ukraine once Congress approves them. He speculates, based on his understanding of military logistics, that the aid is likely pre-packaged and ready for immediate deployment upon approval.

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Historical Parallels: US Isolationism and the Wars in Europe

🎦 01:05-03:15⏩

Jonathan addresses a comment from viewer Thomas Tyner, who draws parallels between current American isolationist sentiment (particularly within the MAGA movement) and the isolationism prevalent in the US during the rise of Nazi Germany. They specifically reference Charles Lindbergh, a prominent American aviator who advocated against US involvement in World War II. Jonathan reads a quote from Lindberg arguing that the US should not involve itself in what he perceived as a European conflict ("We can't afford to help or, you know, it's not going to make any difference. We're not going to help England in Europe. That's Europe's war."). Jonathan acknowledges the historical resonance of Lindbergh's words, noting that the "America First" slogan used by Trump's movement originated in the 1930s. He emphasises the vital role the US ultimately played in the Allied victory in World War II. Jonathan expresses hope that the US will make the "right decision" regarding the current conflict in Ukraine.

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German Military Aid to Ukraine

🎦 03:15-03:53⏩

Jonathan highlights the ongoing cooperation between German defence companies and Ukraine, citing Dynamit Nobel Defense's plans to produce Panzerfaust 3 grenade launchers in Ukraine and MBDA Deutschland's collaboration with Ukroboronprom on air defence systems, particularly for countering drones. He expresses enthusiasm for this development.

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US Aid to Israel: Elizabeth Warren Interview

🎦 03:53-10:32⏩

Jonathan discusses an interview with Senator Elizabeth Warren on the "Pod Save America" podcast. He highlights Warren's stance on conditioning US aid to Israel, a topic that resonated with him. He acknowledges that Warren is a divisive figure politically but expresses admiration for her commitment to working-class Americans. Jonathan plays a clip from the podcast where Warren explains her rationale for voting in favour of an aid package that included aid to Israel despite being critical of the Netanyahu government's actions in Gaza. Warren emphasises that her vote was strategic, aiming to secure concessions on the broader issue of conditioning US military aid.

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Ukrainian Pilot Training on F-16 Fighter Jets

🎦 10:32-11:29⏩

Jonathan reports that 12 Ukrainian pilots are scheduled to complete training on F-16 fighter jets between May and August 2024, according to the Arizona National Guard. The first group of four pilots began training in mid-October 2023. He acknowledges that while 12 pilots is not a large number, it represents an important first step.

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North Korean Missile Components & International Sanctions

🎦 11:29-13:31⏩

Jonathan discusses the discovery of a downed North Korean missile in Kyiv, which contained 290 foreign-made parts, primarily from the US. He acknowledges the sensitivity of this issue, clarifying that he is not criticising the US but highlighting the complexities of controlling the global flow of components. He pushes back against the suggestion that it's simple to prevent such components from ending up in sanctioned countries, arguing that the intricate nature of international trade and the potential for multiple intermediaries make it extremely difficult to track and control the final destination of every component. He notes that despite North Korea being heavily sanctioned, it's evident they have access to foreign components, challenging viewers to consider the implications. Jonathan anticipates criticism from some viewers regarding the presence of American components in North Korean weaponry, but he reiterates his stance that preventing such occurrences in the globalised trade environment is incredibly challenging.

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EU Aid to Ukraine and Moldova

🎦 13:31-13:48⏩

Jonathan reports that the EU has allocated €83 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Moldova. Of this, €75 million will go towards emergency aid for Ukraine, including shelter, healthcare, and other essential needs.

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Poland-Ukraine Border Blockade

🎦 13:48-18:05⏩

Jonathan discusses the escalating tensions on the Poland-Ukraine border, where Polish farmers have initiated a blockade, bringing freight traffic to a standstill. He highlights the significant disruption this causes to trade and aid flowing into Ukraine. He displays an image of a protestor's banner featuring a Soviet Union flag and the message: "Putin, clear things up with Ukraine, Brussels, and our government." Jonathan expresses concern over this overt pro-Russian sentiment among some of the protestors, suggesting a potential for Russian influence. He shares information suggesting that at least one prominent figure involved in the protests, Peter Panasiuk, has ties to Russia. Jonathan references reports identifying Panasiuk as a registered user on the Russian social media platform VKontakte and listing him in the Ukrainian "Peacemaker" database, which identifies individuals deemed a threat to Ukrainian national security. Panasiuk's social media activity reportedly includes pro-Russian propaganda and calls to cease support for Ukraine. Jonathan quotes a Polish diplomat in Ukraine who remarked: "I thought only Russians could behave so shamefully," and a Polish consular official who expressed regret over the actions of their fellow citizens who escalated the blockade and spilled Ukrainian grain from freight trains. While acknowledging the right of Polish citizens to protest peacefully, Jonathan underscores the seriousness of the situation, especially given the already strained flow of aid into Ukraine.

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Ukraine's Danube Export Route

🎦 18:05-18:12⏩

Jonathan reports that Ukraine is developing a new export route along the Danube River to circumvent the blockade at the Polish border. This route would transport grain from the Ukrainian port of Izmail to Romania's port of Constanta, from where it could be shipped to other European countries, including Germany.

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US Uranium Purchase from Russia

🎦 18:12-19:18⏩

Jonathan reveals that the US purchased 701.8 tons of uranium from Russia in 2023, worth $1.19 billion. He expresses surprise at this, particularly considering the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which some perceive as a proxy war between the US and Russia.

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Hungary to Approve Sweden's NATO Accession

🎦 19:18-20:08⏩

Jonathan shares news that Hungary's governing party has indicated its willingness to approve Sweden's accession to NATO. He speculates that this could potentially pave the way for Sweden to provide Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, a move that would be in Sweden's strategic and economic interests.

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New EU Sanctions Against Russia

🎦 20:08-20:26⏩

With Hungary no longer blocking further action, Jonathan reports that the EU has approved a new package of sanctions against Russia, targeting around 200 individuals and entities.

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US Sanctions in Response to Navalny's Death

🎦 20:26-21:01⏩

Following the death of Alexei Navalny in a Russian penal colony, Jonathan reports that the Biden administration is set to impose major sanctions on Russia. These sanctions are a direct response to Biden's previous statements that there would be "devastating consequences" if Navalny were to die in prison.

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Chinese Banks Halt Transactions with Sanctioned Russian Entities

🎦 21:01-21:46⏩

In a significant development, Jonathan reports that three of the four largest banks in China have stopped processing payments from Russian financial institutions under sanction. He attributes this move to pressure from the US, suggesting that American financial institutions and government agencies are actively enforcing sanctions compliance.

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Blinken and Lavrov to Attend G20 Talks

🎦 21:46-22:08⏩

Jonathan reports that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will both be present at the upcoming G20 talks in Brazil. He emphasises that Ukraine and Gaza will be key topics of discussion.

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Russian Influence in US Politics: The Hunter Biden Case

🎦 22:08-39:46⏩

Jonathan delves into what he describes as a "worrying" trend of Russian influence in US politics, using the Hunter Biden case as a prime example. He expresses concerns about Donald Trump's claims that the US is "turning into a communist country," labelling these assertions as "outright lies." Jonathan shifts focus to a key witness in the GOP-led investigation into Hunter Biden's business dealings in Ukraine, Alexander Smirnov, who has been arrested for lying to the FBI. He notes that Smirnov was previously presented as a reliable source by pro-Trump politicians and media outlets, but his credibility has now been seriously undermined. Citing reports from The Hill, Jonathan reveals that Smirnov admitted to receiving the information he provided about Hunter Biden from Russian intelligence. He highlights the concerning implications of this revelation, particularly as it pertains to the GOP's attempts to impeach President Biden based on Smirnov's claims. Jonathan reads a tweet from Asha Rangappa, former FBI special agent and current senior lecturer at Yale's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, who summarises the situation: "Can we recap: sitting members of Congress initiated impeachment proceedings against the US president, based on information passed to them by an agent of Russian intelligence. Same members refused to pass aid to Ukraine. Same members defend Trump. Right." Jonathan then brings in commentary from national security lawyer Bradley P. Moss: "No U.S. politician was poisoned with military grade nerve agent twice by the FBI and then tortured and murdered in a US penal colony. Those with a visible hard-on for Russia want to pretend America is Russia or ought to be again. Don’t say you weren’t warned this time." Jonathan agrees with Moss's sentiment. Referencing a comment from viewer Thomas Tyner, Jonathan points out the potential motives behind the GOP's actions: "The GOP wants this overthrow of American democracy to happen. The GOP wants a GOP-led dictatorship in the US. The GOP is blocking aid to Ukraine to thank Putin for his help, and they hope for more Russian help. The GOP is now as American as a German-American Bund. Google it." Jonathan expresses deep concern over the possibility that members of the US government might be unwitting participants in a Russian disinformation campaign, emphasizing the potential for this to further damage American democracy. He reminds viewers of the GOP's unfounded claims in 2019 that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US presidential election. Jonathan sees this as part of a pattern of pro-Russian narratives being pushed within American political circles. Jonathan plays a clip of Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat, questioning how someone like Smirnov, with clear ties to Russian intelligence, could have had such a direct line to Representative James Comer, the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee. Raskin raises concerns about the potential for Kremlin influence within the committee itself. Raskin continues, "Well, it seems to me like everything is illuminated now. In 2016, we know that Putin had a whole cyber espionage and cyber interference campaign at the DNC and with Hillary Clinton. 17 of our national security agencies said so. The same thing happened—17, not 7—when Donald Trump's own Treasury Department sanctioned Putin for again his attempts to subvert and undermine our presidential campaign. So the same thing's going on for 2024, and all based on the same recycled lies they start off with." Jonathan concludes by saying, "And here's another example of really nefarious, dangerous international Russian influence going right to the heart of American politics. And then you start looking at what Mike Johnson is doing, what Marjorie Taylor Greene is saying. Like Mike Johnson getting money potentially from American Ethane that was like, what was it, 88% owned by Russians, particularly Nikolaev, who who is a friend of Putin, and then he only gave the money back when it was found out he didn't give it back before he only gave it when he was called out and it was like oh yeah I'll give the money back and you like you are seeing this influence there you're seeing these Republicans going against what they would have done 30 years ago under like Reagan or whatever and making decisions regarding Ukraine that are clearly strategically diplomatically wrong. They are to the benefit of Russia. And then you're starting to see or continuing to see all of these elements of Russian influence within American politics. It is incredibly worrying, this."

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Wrap Up

🎦 39:46-41:09⏩

Jonathan urges viewers, particularly those who align with the Republican party, to seriously consider the evidence of Russian influence in US politics rather than dismissing it as a "hoax" or resorting to personal attacks. He concludes his analysis with a call for honesty and reflection, urging viewers to confront uncomfortable truths. He encourages his audience to engage with the information presented, acknowledging that it might be a "difficult pill to swallow" for some but emphasizing its importance. He concludes by thanking viewers for watching and asking them to like, subscribe, and share the video.

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