Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid & Geopolitical News

"It is unfathomable to anyone who lived through the Cold War that an ex-American president would favourably quote an authoritarian Russian leader's fundamental criticism of the US."

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-01:06⏩

Jonathan welcomes viewers to the channel for his second Ukraine War Update of the day and apologises for the delay with the previous video which was stuck "in checking" for almost an hour. He suspects that there are issues with the channel and the algorithm. He encourages viewers to like, share and subscribe to the channel.

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EU to discuss €50bn aid package for Ukraine

🎦 01:06-01:50⏩

Jonathan reports that the EU is planning to hold a special summit on 01/02/2024 to discuss a €50 billion aid package to Ukraine over 4 years. It's unclear if this relates to the existing military aid package or if this is a new package.

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Sweden & Denmark to supply CV90 IFVs to Ukraine

🎦 01:50-02:27⏩

Jonathan reports that Sweden and Denmark have signed a letter of intent for the procurement of new CV90 IFVs for Ukraine, with funding coming from Denmark. The total value of the deal is $263 million, and the vehicles will be built in Sweden.

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Jonathan discusses US Military aid levels and a viewer comment

🎦 02:27-07:42⏩

Jonathan discusses the level of military aid provided by the United States and the importance of considering relative contributions when assessing each country’s commitment to supporting Ukraine. He argues that while the US has contributed the most in real terms, countries like Denmark and Estonia are contributing a much higher percentage of their GDP. He reads out a comment from "Jake Bro" who argues that the border situation in the US and aid to Ukraine are being used as political leverage by the Republicans. Jonathan agrees with Jake Bro.

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UK-Ukraine Trade Mission: Defence agreements

🎦 07:42-09:09⏩

Jonathan reports that the UK and Ukraine have signed deals to boost defense cooperation. The deals include vessel maintenance, artillery support, and drone development. Babcock has secured a 3-year contract to support and maintain Ukrainian naval vessels, and BAE systems and AMS Integrated solutions will provide artillery systems support. TALS and Ukrainian Air Adjorn have signed an MOU to collaborate on engineering projects.

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UK and Ukraine to sign 10-year security pact

🎦 09:09-09:37⏩

Jonathan reports that the UK and Ukraine are due to sign a 10-year security pact, which would demonstrate a long-term commitment to supporting Ukraine's security. The pact, yet to be signed, is intended to send a clear message to Russia that support for Ukraine will not waver.

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Ukraine increases domestic arms production

🎦 09:37-12:15⏩

Jonathan reports on Ukraine’s efforts to increase its domestic arms production. He highlights a deal with Rheumatau for artillery ammunition, expected to be delivered in 2024. He emphasizes the significance of Ukraine's domestic production, which tripled in 2023 and is expected to increase sixfold in 2024. This, he suggests, reduces Ukraine's reliance on external aid and strengthens its long-term defense capabilities.

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United 24 to provide Ukraine with 27 M113 APCs

🎦 12:15-13:00⏩

Jonathan reports that United 24, a Ukrainian government fundraising platform, is supplying 27 M113 APCs to Ukraine. The source of the vehicles is not specified.

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Ukraine increases production of kamikaze drones to counter shell shortage

🎦 13:00-14:09⏩

Jonathan discusses Ukraine’s increased production of kamikaze drones to compensate for the global artillery shell shortage. He highlights the potential cost-effectiveness of drones compared to traditional artillery, advocating for their increased production and deployment.

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Lithuania, Sweden & Canada form group to support Ukraine's transport industry

🎦 14:09-14:15⏩

Jonathan reports that Lithuania, Sweden and Canada have formed a group to support the recovery of Ukraine's transport industry.

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White House: Final US military aid package to be sent this month unless Congress approves more funding

🎦 14:15-15:11⏩

Jonathan reports that the White House has warned that the final US military aid package for Ukraine will be sent this month unless Congress authorizes additional assistance.

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Fox News reports increase in support for Ukraine from US voters

🎦 15:11-16:18⏩

Jonathan reports on Fox News's acknowledgement of increasing US voter support for Ukraine, despite Russian disinformation efforts. A recent poll indicates a rise in those believing the US should provide more assistance, while those favoring less aid have decreased. He sees this shift in opinion, particularly among Fox News viewers, as positive.

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EBRD to double annual lending to Ukraine to €3bn

🎦 16:18-17:47⏩

Jonathan reports that the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development has approved a €4bn capital increase to double annual lending to Ukraine to €3bn. He raises concerns, however, about Ukraine's growing debt burden, emphasizing that much of this financial assistance comes with conditions and the expectation of repayment.

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Polish trucker protests disrupt aid deliveries to Ukraine

🎦 17:47-18:18⏩

Jonathan reports that protests by Polish truckers and farmers are causing significant delays in aid deliveries to Ukraine. He notes that essential supplies, including quadcopters, night vision devices, and trucks, are now taking two to three weeks to arrive instead of one day, highlighting the logistical challenges posed by these disruptions.

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EU adopts 12th sanction package against Russia

🎦 18:18-20:11⏩

Jonathan discusses the EU's adoption of its 12th sanction package against Russia, targeting imports of aluminium products and aiming to close loopholes enabling the re-export of dual-use goods to Russia. While acknowledging potential loopholes and profiteering, he highlights that even if goods reach Russia through indirect channels, the increased costs associated with circumventing sanctions will impact the Russian economy.

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EU to extend sales period for some Russian Steel

🎦 20:11-20:46⏩

Jonathan reports that the EU is planning to extend the sales period for some Russian steel until October 2028, despite the sanctions. He questions if this might include nuclear materials.

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan blocks request to send scrapped cars to Ukraine

🎦 20:46-23:42⏩

Jonathan discusses the controversy surrounding London Mayor Sadiq Khan's refusal to send scrapped cars from London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) scheme to Ukraine. While acknowledging the legal constraints cited by Khan's office, he expresses concern about bureaucratic obstacles hindering vital aid and questions whether exceptions could be made given the circumstances. He highlights Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko’s appeal for assistance in navigating legal hurdles, emphasizing the urgency of getting aid to Ukraine.

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EU allocates €65m to countries hosting Ukrainian refugees

🎦 23:42-24:05⏩

Jonathan reports that the EU has allocated €65m to countries hosting Ukrainian refugees - Bulgaria, Czechia, Poland and Romania.

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US gains access to Finnish military facilities

🎦 24:05-25:17⏩

Jonathan discusses the recently announced defense deal between Finland and the US, granting the US access to 15 Finnish military facilities, including air bases and a naval base. He argues this strengthens NATO's presence in the region and highlights the unintended consequences of Russia's invasion, which has driven Finland closer to NATO.

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Trump quotes Putin in rally and praises Viktor Orban

🎦 25:17-28:31⏩

Jonathan criticises Donald Trump for quoting Vladimir Putin at a recent rally and praising Viktor Orban. Trump quoted Putin as saying that Biden's "politically motivated persecution of his political rival is very good for Russia" because it shows "a rottenness in the American political system, which cannot pretend to teach others about democracy". Trump also quoted Viktor Orban, saying that "Trump is the man who can save the Western world". He also said that he was "fond of" Kim Jong-Un. Jonathan then quotes former US Undersecretary of State and current editor of Time Magazine, Richard Stengel, as saying: "It is unfathomable to anyone who lived through the Cold War that an ex-American president would favourably quote an authoritarian Russian leader's fundamental criticism of the US".

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Siemens loses €600m after exiting Russia

🎦 28:31-29:16⏩

Jonathan reports that Siemens has lost €600 million after withdrawing from Russia, a decision made in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He commends Siemens for prioritizing ethical considerations over potential profits, seeing it as a positive example of corporate responsibility.

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AvtoVaz (Russian car manufacturer) seeks government support to compete with Chinese manufacturers

🎦 29:16-30:39⏩

Jonathan discusses AvtoVaz, a Russian car manufacturer, seeking government support due to its struggle to compete with Chinese car companies. He explains that sanctions against Russia have led to an influx of Chinese cars into the Russian market.

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Serbia: Vucic wins election amid vote-rigging accusations

🎦 30:39-32:11⏩

Jonathan reports on Aleksandar Vucic's election victory in Serbia, noting allegations of vote rigging. He calls Vucic "very much pro-Kremlin" and states that Russia likely meddled in the election. He suggests that the election results hinder Serbia’s EU accession ambitions and raise concerns about the country's democratic trajectory.

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Roger Waters appears on Russian State TV

🎦 32:11-33:00⏩

Jonathan criticises Roger Waters, former member of Pink Floyd, for appearing on Russian State TV with prominent propagandist Olga Skabeeva. He expresses disappointment, referring to Waters as a “conspiracy theory nut job” for aligning himself with pro-Kremlin voices.

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Howard Buffett (son of Warren Buffett) visits Kyiv

🎦 33:00-34:05⏩

Jonathan commends Howard Buffett, son of billionaire investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett, for his ongoing support of Ukraine, including visits to the country. He highlights the importance of individual and corporate philanthropy, particularly in light of potential shifts in US foreign policy.

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Czech President believes 2024 will be a challenging year for Ukraine

🎦 34:05-35:40⏩

Jonathan shares insights from Czech President Petr Pavel, who, while a staunch supporter of Ukraine, foresees 2024 as a challenging year for the country, suggesting the possibility of a shift in the war's momentum not in Ukraine's favour. He reports that Pavel believes the outcome of the US elections will be a key factor, predicting that Putin will exploit a Trump victory to undermine Western support for Ukraine. He also suggests that Putin is unlikely to engage in peace talks until after the US election.

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Wrap Up

🎦 35:40-35:54⏩

Jonathan thanks viewers for watching, asks them to subscribe, like and share and lets viewers know he is about to go and work on his map updates.

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