Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid News
Table of Contents 📖
"It's not about profiteering. It's about making a profit."
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:39⏩
Jonathan welcomes viewers to the second part of his Ukraine War Update - focussing on Military Aid and equipment. He's drinking tea! He mentions that this is a synopsis and will be looking at recent news about military aid to Ukraine. Jonathan gives a shout out to Jakub Janowski (Oryx) who has updated the Oryx website with a list of heavy equipment.
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Military Aid - Delivered and Pledged
🎦 00:39-03:00⏩
Jonathan goes through a long list of equipment that has recently been delivered and pledged by various countries, including light attack aircraft from Lithuania, helicopters from Argentina, self-propelled guns from the UK, a Skynex air defence system from Germany, howitzers from the UK and Canada, armoured vehicles from Canada, Germany and the UK. Jonathan notes that there is significant equipment going to Ukraine.
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Germany Delivers Second Skynex Air Defence System to Ukraine
🎦 03:00-04:18⏩
Jonathan reports that Ukraine has received a second Skynex air defence system from Germany. He notes that the system, whilst highly accurate, is far cheaper than Patriot systems. Jonathan also mentions that Latvia had apparently approved a military aid package for Ukraine that includes a Mantis system but believes this to be fake news.
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US to provide Ukraine with "as many ATACMS missiles as possible"
🎦 04:18-05:18⏩
Jonathan reports that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said that the US will provide Ukraine with as many ATACMS missiles as possible (source: New Voice of Ukraine). Jonathan welcomes this as he believes Ukraine need as many as they can get. Jonathan then discusses an article from European Pravda that claims some of Ukraine's allies have been sending weapons with no restrictions on strikes inside Russia, according to an interview with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs. Jonathan points out that Finland has already formally said they are ok with weapons being used to attack Russian territory. He speculates that this might be why Finland do not publicise details of the military aid they send to Ukraine (they only give a monetary value) as they may have provided longer range equipment than other countries.
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France - New Santee NG Air Defence system "capable of intercepting a hypersonic missile"
🎦 05:20-08:25⏩
Jonathan discusses the French Santee NG air defence system which France are hoping to bring to market. Jonathan highlights a quote from the French Delegation for Armaments who describe the system as a "technological breakthrough" that will be one of the only systems capable of intercepting a hypersonic missile. Jonathan notes how the war is driving innovation in the arms industry, with each company vying to fill particular needs on the battlefield. He believes that the publicity that Patriot systems are receiving will likely result in large orders. He views the arrival of the Santee NG system as a "great opportunity" for the manufacturers to market their system, which may be capable of shooting down hypersonic ballistic missiles, ahead of any further developments of the Patriot system. He goes on to argue that this is not just about profiteering - it's about the free market reacting to a war, hopefully innovating and coming up with solutions to help Ukraine meet their very particular needs. He believes that other countries will be looking at the war and thinking about their own military needs going forward, concluding that this will pit Raytheon (Patriot) against the manufacturers of the Santee system in a battle to win business.
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Estonian MP Cycles 1,000km to Raise Money for Ukraine
🎦 08:25-09:25⏩
Jonathan highlights the efforts of Estonian MP Christo Ennevages who cycled 1,000km to raise money (27,000 Euros) for drones and cars for Ukrainian defenders. Jonathan is clearly impressed by this and this leads on to a discussion about the incredible friends Ukraine has and how this support illustrates the difference in moral values between the actions of Russia and Ukraine.
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France Pledges 30 million Euros to Chernihiv Following Missile Strike
🎦 09:26-11:06⏩
Following a deadly strike on Chernihiv, Jonathan reports that the French state, companies and local authorities have pledged more than 30 million Euros in aid. The French ambassador to Ukraine has also announced aid for the Polytechnic University, a hospital and the energy sector in Chernihiv. Jonathan notes how France appears to be taking a lead in Chernihiv in the same way that Denmark are in Mykolaiv. He goes on to highlight how the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs are supporting the de-mining charity Halo Trust, who are undertaking de-mining work in Ukraine - the first time the charity have undertaken work in an active warzone.
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Ukraine - "Step Wolves" Elderly Volunteer Unit Using Makeshift Weapons
🎦 11:06-12:40⏩
Jonathan discusses an article on a Ukrainian volunteer unit called the "Step Wolves", which is made up of mostly over 60 year olds, who help the Ukrainian army by operating makeshift rocket launchers using repaired munitions and captured enemy weapons. Jonathan is impressed by this and believes that Ukraine need to think creatively about the roles that older citizens can undertake given their issues with mobilisation. He believes that there are many roles that do not require people to be young and fit, such as operating mobile anti-aircraft systems, that could be done by older volunteers. He believes that there are many people in society who could be undertaking these roles and that this would provide a boost to morale as they would feel like they are actively contributing to the war effort.
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Poland Proposes European Heavy Brigade
🎦 12:40-14:11⏩
Jonathan reports that Poland has proposed a European Heavy Brigade to respond to events in regions neighbouring the EU - without US participation. This would mean a move away from a dependency on the US. Jonathan argues that the US is divided between those who would prefer a more isolationist approach, as per Trump, and those who believe that it is in the US's strategic interests to be the world's superpower as this provides them with significant economic and diplomatic benefits, such as the US dollar being the world's reserve currency.
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Ukraine assesses Russian Missile Production and Stockpiles
🎦 14:11-15:03⏩
Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) has assessed that Russian missile production and stockpiles are as follows:
- Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles: 40 in service, producing up to 10 per month.
- P-800 Oniks anti-ship cruise missiles: 400 in service, producing 10 per month.
- Kalibr cruise missiles: 270 in service (which is not many), producing 30-40 per month.
- Kh-65: 45 in service, producing 1-3 per month.
Jonathan notes that the Russians have not been using Kalibr missiles from the Black Sea as much recently, although they did launch two from submarines the other day.
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Jonathan Responds to Viewer Comment - Military Aid, US Politics, Morality, Elon Musk
🎦 15:03-34:11⏩
Jonathan takes time to respond to a comment from "David Hess" on a previous video. He starts off by asking viewers to be patient with him regarding responding to comments, as he receives so many messages across all platforms, and is just one person! Jonathan welcomes comments and feedback, but politely reminds viewers that he is only human. Jonathan then addresses David's comment which criticises Jonathan for his stance on US military aid to Ukraine. David argues that Europe should be doing more as the US has historically spent more on defence. Jonathan takes the opportunity to explain why the US's approach to defence spending is fundamentally different to other countries, and why spending money on military aid for Ukraine is actually in the best interests of the US. Jonathan also strongly refutes David's accusation that he doesn't like America. The key points are:
- David argues that Europe has given more support to Ukraine than the US. Jonathan agrees, but believes that this is because the US has historically spent more on defence - which he believes is the correct approach.
- Jonathan disagrees with David that if Europe had invested more heavily in defence over the past 2 decades that Russia wouldn't have invaded Ukraine. He believes that Russia miscalculated and the invasion would have gone ahead regardless.
- Jonathan picks up on David's use of the word "Muppet" to describe Trump, pointing out that he doesn't understand what this means.
- David asks why, if proximity to the conflict is a valid reason for Spain's low levels of military aid, is it not a valid reason for the US, who are much further away? Jonathan disagrees, arguing that Spain and the US are not comparable. The US is a global superpower with a vested interest in global security, whereas Spain are not. Jonathan calls this a false equivalence.
- David states that Jonathan's comments about economics come straight out of the "far-left handbook". Jonathan disagrees with this, and explains that he believes a strong military industrial complex is in the best interests of the US and is compatible with his stance. He points out that he is actually advocating for more spending by the US.
- David accuses Jonathan of being flippant about the possibility of nuclear war. Jonathan disagrees and reiterates that he believes a nuclear war is unlikely but does acknowledge that this is the Biden administration's biggest fear.
- David points out that Jonathan often says that leaders make decisions for a reason, yet criticises Elon Musk and portrays him as being motivated by money. Jonathan believes that Elon Musk is not driven primarily by money but by a desire to be the saviour of mankind and that money is a means to that end. He goes on to explain that he understands Musk's stance on the war following an interview with Don Lemon, and how Musk exists in an information space that "poisons his thinking" and criticises him for amplifying the voice of people like David Saxon.
Wrap up
🎦 34:11-34:13⏩
Jonathan thanks viewers for watching.
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