Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid

"do you want a filibuster now? Do you want to read your kid's storybook in the middle of Congress in the Senate you prize plum"

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-00:37⏩

Jonathan welcomes everyone to the channel and explains this is the second part of the daily Ukraine War Update focussing on military aid and that it is the 12th February 2024 in Ukraine.

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UK Components found in Russian Weapons

🎦 00:37-01:52⏩

Jonathan discusses a recent report in The Times that components from Western companies have been found in Russian weapons. He notes 28 British components were found and 2,000 American components - which he reasons given the relative size of the US economy/manufacturing industries isn't disproportionate. The bigger issue he argues is how to stop this happening given the complexities of global supply chains - companies often sell on goods to other countries before they end up in Russian hands and it's impossible to track where everything ends up.

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Ukraine: F-16 Vulnerability

🎦 01:52-04:15⏩

Jonathan highlights the dangers/vulnerabilities of the US supplying F-16s to Ukraine, noting that the aircraft require specific runways/maintenance, making them easy targets for the Russians. He stresses the need for adequate infrastructure - a significant challenge as Ukraine is under constant shelling.

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Sweden: NAMO Ammunition Production Update

🎦 04:15-05:08⏩

Jonathan reports that Swedish ammunition manufacturer NAMO has increased production capacity significantly but still awaits investment to purchase new machinery. He stresses that rhetoric about increased production needs to be backed by contracts/funding.

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Sweden: URNCO Production Update

🎦 05:08-05:32⏩

Jonathan states that Swedish company URNCO, which produces explosive filler, has doubled production in the last four years but is experiencing supply chain problems with cotton from China.

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Germany: New Ammunition Factory

🎦 05:32-06:20⏩

Jonathan announces the opening of a new ammunition factory in Unterluss, Germany by Rheinmetall, which will eventually produce 200,000 artillery shells annually. The first assembly lines will be operational within 12 months, producing 50,000 shells per year.

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EU/US: Military Aid Challenges

🎦 06:20-08:20⏩

Jonathan discusses the challenges of increasing military aid for Ukraine from the EU and the US. He argues that while European countries are increasing production, it's a slow process because most of their stockpiles have been depleted, whereas the US possesses vast inventories of equipment and ammunition but is hindered by political issues. He highlights the irony of arguing in Congress while Ukrainians need weapons and points out the substantial amount of military equipment the US could provide, like the 230,000 Humvees scheduled for replacement.

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US: Defence Secretary Austin Hospitalised

🎦 08:20-08:50⏩

Jonathan mentions that US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalised again due to health problems and his duties have been passed to his deputy. He expresses concern about Austin's health, considering his important position.

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US: Robert F Kennedy Jr Ukraine Comments

🎦 08:50-09:20⏩

Jonathan criticises a video by US Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about Ukraine, deeming it "woefully inaccurate" and full of nonsense. He cites Dr. Alina Polyakova, stating that everything in the video is factually wrong.

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US/Russia: Tucker Carlson/Putin Platforming

🎦 09:20-11:54⏩

Jonathan expresses frustration with media platforms giving a voice to individuals like Tucker Carlson and Oliver Stone. He argues that Tucker Carlson's recent interview with Putin at the World Government Summit in Dubai provided an uncritical platform for Putin's propaganda. He is also annoyed by Carlson's comparison of Moscow to American cities, claiming that Moscow is much nicer, cleaner, safer, and prettier. Jonathan believes Carlson's statements are either those of a "useful idiot" or an "agent of the Kremlin". He questions the purpose of such pronouncements and highlights Julia Davis' observation that the former president of Mongolia mocked Putin's interview by sharing a historical map showing the vastness of the Mongol Empire at its peak.

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Australia: Oliver Stone Interview

🎦 11:54-13:20⏩

Jonathan criticises an interview by Peter Fitzsimmons in the Australian Sunday Morning Herald with pro-Putin filmmaker and conspiracy theorist Oliver Stone. He is appalled by the lack of critical questioning, allowing Stone to spread lies about recent history. He compares the interview to Tucker Carlson's uncritical platforming of Putin and emphasizes the danger of amplifying disinformation and misinformation.

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US/NATO: Defence Spending

🎦 13:20-15:54⏩

Jonathan addresses Trump's recurring criticism of NATO countries for not meeting the 2% GDP defence spending target. He argues that Trump fundamentally doesn't believe in alliances and uses a transactional, zero-sum approach to international relations. He suggests that Trump views the US as an extension of himself and struggles to understand the concept of mutual benefit in alliances, as illustrated by his approach to NATO and trade blocs. He sees this mindset as detrimental to global cooperation.

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US: Senate Aid Package Debate

🎦 15:54-20:21⏩

Jonathan provides a live update on the US Senate's debate regarding the aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. He criticises Republican Senators Rand Paul, Mike Lee, and J.D. Vance for their opposition to aid for Ukraine. He expresses disgust at their stalling tactics, including a talking filibuster by Rand Paul and J.D. Vance reading a storybook to his children during his allotted speaking time. He condemns their behaviour as irresponsible and infuriating, considering the dire situation in Ukraine. He is also critical of Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn for derailing the discussion with irrelevant arguments about border security and immigration, highlighting that these issues were separated from the Ukraine aid bill.

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EU: Seized Russian Assets

🎦 20:21-20:46⏩

Jonathan reports that the EU Council has approved a resolution allowing the use of frozen Russian assets to contribute to the EU budget and potentially the Ukraine facility. He welcomes this decision and hopes for swift implementation.

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EU/Ukraine: Trade/Agriculture

🎦 20:46-22:18⏩

Jonathan discusses the challenges faced by Ukraine in terms of exporting agricultural produce into the EU. He notes that while Ukrainian farmers benefit from relaxed regulations, this creates a mismatch with EU farmers who are bound by stricter rules, leading to tensions and blockages at the borders, costing Ukraine significant export revenue. He points out that even pro-Ukrainian politicians like Donald Tusk must balance support for Ukraine with the interests of their own farmers, highlighting the need for a sustainable solution.

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Austria: Gas Contract with Russia

🎦 22:18-22:30⏩

Jonathan announces that Austria will terminate its long-term gas purchase contract with Gazprom, viewing this as a significant development.

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Russia/US: Uranium

🎦 22:30-22:46⏩

Jonathan reports that the US administration is prepared to block the supply of Russian uranium, recognizing the potential impact of this move.

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Russia/Ukraine: Disinformation

🎦 22:46-23:36⏩

Jonathan discusses the ongoing issue of Russian disinformation and propaganda efforts to undermine international support for Ukraine. He commends French agency Viginum for uncovering a network of websites spreading pro-Russian narratives and expresses concern about the broader challenge of epistemic security – ensuring the integrity of truth and knowledge. He advocates for continued efforts to expose and counter these bad-faith actors.

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Russia: Banking Sector/Economy

🎦 23:36-25:13⏩

Jonathan clarifies his earlier remarks on Russian banks reporting record profits. While acknowledging that the doubling of interest rates would naturally boost bank earnings, he cautions against interpreting this as a sign of a healthy economy. He attributes the increased profits to the forced repatriation of overseas earnings due to sanctions, restrictions on currency exchange, and the Russian central bank's decision to raise interest rates from 8% to 16%. He argues that these measures, while beneficial for banks in the short term, actually indicate underlying problems within the Russian economy and banking sector.

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Wrap up

🎦 25:13-25:17⏩

Jonathan ends the video with a call to like, subscribe, and share, expressing gratitude for the viewers' continued support.

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