Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid News
Table of Contents 📖
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-01:54⏩
Jonathan kicks off the Ukraine War News Update with a brief intro and shares his love for New Zealand, even mentioning a few Kiwi films and bands he enjoys, before moving on to the day's military aid news.
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US Military Aid Debate: Lifting Restrictions on Strikes inside Russia
🎦 01:54-11:24⏩
- There's a lot of discussion around the US potentially lifting restrictions on Ukraine using provided weapons to strike targets within Russia.
- Congressman Bill Keating wrote to Jake Sullivan advocating for this change, emphasizing the high stakes involved.
- There's growing bipartisan pressure, with several House Democrats and Republicans urging Biden to lift these restrictions.
- Senator Cardin highlighted the escalating Russian attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, advocating for swift action to grant these permissions.
- Biden is set to discuss this with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The UK has been open to allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia as long as it falls within international law.
- Jonathan criticizes media outlets misrepresenting Keir Starmer's stance on Storm Shadow missiles, stating that the UK government has been supportive of Ukraine's use of these weapons.
- The US, however, has been hesitant, leading to a perception of blackmailing Ukraine by withholding aid if they don't comply.
- CNN reports that Ukraine's ATACMS missile stockpile (provided by the US) is almost exhausted, leading to questions about future provisions and strategic reserves.
- A group of Republicans argue that the Biden administration's fears of escalating the conflict by allowing strikes in Russia have been repeatedly disproven.
US Aid for Ukraine: Energy, Humanitarian, and Demining
🎦 11:24-12:06⏩
- Blinken states that the US will be providing over $700 million in aid to Ukraine to help restore their energy system, provide humanitarian support, and improve demining capabilities.
- Blinken says that he will be reporting back to Biden on the outcome of discussions regarding long-range missiles with Ukraine.
- Jonathan speculates that Biden will likely authorize sending more ATACMS, as Ukraine's stockpile is running low.
UK Military Aid Package for Ukraine
🎦 12:06-15:53⏩
- The UK has privately decided to allow Ukraine to use its British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles for long-range strikes deep inside Russia.
- The UK has announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth over $780 million (or £600 million) including:
- Hundreds of additional air defense missiles.
- Tens of thousands of artillery rounds.
- Armored vehicles.
- These supplies are expected to be delivered by the end of the year.
- In addition to this military aid package, the UK is also:
- Providing £242 million (or $315 million) in funding to support Ukraine.
- Deploying £484 million in fiscal support.
- Guaranteeing loans for Ukraine.
- Providing energy support.
Military Aid from the Baltic States: Lithuania and Latvia
🎦 15:53-16:15⏩
- Lithuania and Latvia have also announced aid packages for Ukraine during their visits to Kyiv:
- Lithuania pledged $11 million to enhance Ukraine's long-range capabilities, including funding for Palencia rocket drones, to help them close the gap between their military potential and their actual capabilities.
- Latvia pledged a military package that includes armored personnel carriers, which may be Patriot common armored vehicle system APCs, to be delivered in 2025.
- Latvia also plans to continue training the Ukrainian military and will provide support in 2025 amounting to 0.25% of its GDP.
- Jonathan acknowledges the Baltic states' significant contributions, alongside the Nordic nations and Poland.
IMF Loan to Ukraine
🎦 16:15-17:23⏩
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Ukraine have reached an agreement for a sixth loan tranche of $1.1 billion.
- Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announced that Ukraine has fulfilled all quantitative criteria and structural benchmarks set by the IMF by the end of June, paving the way for the loan disbursement.
- These criteria include Ukraine's 2024 first-quarter GDP growth of 6.5% and inflation currently at 5.4%.
- Meeting these objectives has opened the door for Ukraine to receive another tranche of aid from the IMF.
- In a separate development, Russia has lost its court bid to release its funds invested in the EU, which is positive for Ukraine as it could potentially benefit from these seized assets.
- The EU imposed sanctions on Russia's National Settlement Depository in 2022, alleging its role in supporting Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Sweden's Energy Support for Ukraine
🎦 17:23-18:30⏩
Sweden has allocated an additional €40 million for Ukraine to purchase equipment that will strengthen energy supply in regions subjected to ongoing shelling. Jonathan believes he may have reported on this previously.
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Lithuania's Support for Long-Range Capabilities
🎦 18:30-19:00⏩
- The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced that Lithuania is providing €10 million to fund the development of long-range capabilities, including the Palencia rocket drone.
- This aid is seen as a significant contribution to strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities.
- Jonathan highlights the importance of supporting Ukraine's indigenous military industry.
Testing of Ukrainian Drone Equipped with RPG
🎦 19:00-20:00⏩
- Jonathan discusses the testing of a Ukrainian-made drone equipped with an RPG-18 Muka grenade launcher.
- He notes that there were previous attempts at arming drones with ATGMs over a year ago.
- However, using larger drones for such purposes presents challenges, including size, noise, visibility to enemy forces, and potential accuracy issues due to recoil from heavy weaponry.
Ukraine Approves Black Widow Bomber Drones
🎦 20:00-20:51⏩
- Ukraine has given approval for the military use of domestically produced Black Widow bomber drones.
- These drones, characterized as tactical-level unmanned aerial vehicles, are capable of operating both during the day and at night.
- They can also function in the FPV (first-person view) strike format.
- The Black Widow's affordability, compared to other drone models, is highlighted.
- It is mentioned that these drones can be equipped with enhanced explosive charges.
China's Increased Military Support to Russia
🎦 20:51-27:44⏩
- In a significant development, Politico reports that China is providing substantial military support to Russia, marking a shift from their previous stance of only supplying dual-use goods.
- In exchange, Russia is providing China with sensitive military technology, including information on submarines and missiles.
- US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell confirmed this development, stating that the military cooperation between China and Russia has reached a new alarming level.
- Jonathan emphasizes the gravity of this situation, stating that it is the most serious development in the conflict and that he had previously warned about this possibility.
- He believes that if China starts providing Russia with advanced military equipment, it could significantly impact the course of the war.
- Jonathan argues that Russia, despite its initial objectives, has effectively lost the war as they can no longer achieve their goals due to the support Ukraine receives from Western allies.
- He had consistently warned that the only way Russia could potentially turn the tide was with full-fledged support from China. This latest development indicates a step towards that possibility.
- The article also highlights that this cooperation benefits both countries, as China can now access sensitive technologies that Russia was previously hesitant to share.
- This has sparked concern among other nations in the region, including India, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
- Jonathan underscores the complex relationship between China and Russia, describing it as a "marriage of convenience" where both countries act in their self-interest, and China often takes a transactional approach.
- Russian generals have expressed concerns about Russia becoming increasingly reliant on China, a fear that seems to be materializing.
North Korea's Ongoing Missile Supply to Russia
🎦 27:44-29:55⏩
- Despite sanctions, North Korea continues to supply Russia with advanced short-range ballistic missiles, specifically the Hwasong-11.
- Conflict Armament Research investigators in Kyiv confirmed that at least one missile used in an attack on August 18th was produced this year, dispelling the notion that Russia is receiving old or outdated weaponry.
- Jonathan ponders on the effectiveness of current sanctions on North Korea, sarcastically pointing out that they seem to have little impact as the DPRK continues its activities seemingly undeterred.
Wrap up
🎦 29:55-30:19⏩
Jonathan concludes the video by expressing his thoughts on Russia's current geopolitical standing, highlighting the concerning nature of its alliances with countries like North Korea, Iran, and China. He wraps up the video thanking viewers for their support.
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"And this is of all the things I've said today and all that money that's going to Ukraine, all that help and all that that military assistance etc. etc. this is arguably the most serious thing mentioned today. "