Ukraine War Update NEWS: Geopolitics News
Table of Contents 📖
"It's a cancer on you. Do you try and cure that area of your flesh cure that so it becomes nice flesh again or do you just cut that stuff out that cancerous flesh out and get rid of it and then try and heal afterwards"
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:17⏩
Jonathan welcomes viewers to another video and explains that this is the third part of his Ukraine War Update for 18th May 2024, focussing on Geopolitics. It will be a shorter video than usual.
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Russia-China relations and implications for global security and the information space
🎦 00:18-01:56⏩
Jonathan highlights the growing cooperation between Russia and China in artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and communication technology, and why this is a concern for global security. Jonathan believes that China's support is enabling Russia to continue the war in Ukraine and that without it, Russia would be in serious trouble. He is also concerned about the potential for Russia and China to use this cooperation to undermine Western democratic institutions. Jonathan believes that China's assistance to Russia with satellite technology explains Russia's improved accuracy with missile strikes. The UK and EU are putting pressure on China regarding their relationship with Russia.
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Hungary: Russian cyber espionage and implications for NATO and EU security
🎦 01:56-08:14⏩
Jonathan discusses the ongoing Russian cyber espionage campaign against Hungary's Foreign Ministry, highlighting the risks posed by compromised NATO and EU member states. He is particularly concerned by the fact that Russia has hacked into encrypted channels containing sensitive information. Jonathan points out that Hungary has a history of being targeted by Russian cyberattacks. He cites Shaboyek Spanyi, Central Europe Investigative Editor for V Square Project, who states that Russia's infiltration of Hungary's MFA was known by the second half of 2021, but Orban's government concealed it from the public. Hungary's Foreign Minister received an award from Putin despite knowing about the cyber espionage. Jonathan points out that Hungary is not being specifically targeted, rather it is a result of their poor cyber security.
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Orban, Fidesz, MAGA Republicans and links to Russia
🎦 08:15-13:11⏩
Jonathan discusses the links between Viktor Orban, Hungary's Prime Minister, and the MAGA Republicans and American Conservatives in the US and why this is troubling, highlighting Orban's pro-Russian stance and its influence on American politics through organisations like the Conservative Heritage Foundation. Jonathan explains the financial links between Tucker Carlson and Viktor Orban. He goes on to explain that the Heritage Foundation has also received funding from Hungary. Jonathan argues that the Heritage Foundation was responsible for Project 2025, a blueprint for Trump's presidency and that this blueprint promotes autocracy. Jonathan believes that the MAGA Republicans support for Orban and his style of government is at odds with the US constitution and the vision of the founding fathers.
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US Ambassador criticises Hungary's stance on Russia
🎦 13:11-14:57⏩
Jonathan discusses the stance taken by the US Ambassador to Hungary, praising the Ambassador for calling out Hungary's pro-Russian policies and support of Putin's narrative. Jonathan applauds the ambassador's statement which he describes as "ballsy". Jonathan agrees with the US Ambassador's assessment that the Hungarian governments' position on the war, specifically their belief that ceasing support for Ukraine will bring about peace, is naive and instead a recipe for capitulation.
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Instability in the Balkans and the rise of Serbian ultranationalism
🎦 14:57-22:49⏩
Jonathan discusses the growing instability in the Balkans, citing concerns raised by Ivana Stradina, an expert on the region, and Radio Free Europe about the rise of Serbian ultranationalism and the risk of renewed conflict. He also touches upon the role of Radio Free Europe as a media organisation and its work to promote democracy. He then goes off on a tangent (prompted by comments about the BBC) about the political neutrality (or lack of) of the BBC. He argues that politically the BBC is neutral but errs on the side of right-wing politics in order to avoid being defunded by right wing governments. He provides several examples of the BBC's bias towards the right in the form of individuals who work for the BBC and their political affiliations.
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Decline in Russian cargo turnover and the impact of sanctions
🎦 22:50-23:15⏩
Jonathan presents data indicating a continued decline in Russian cargo turnover, attributing it to the ongoing sanctions and the economic impact of the war. He suggests that this is evidence of the increasingly difficult economic situation Russia faces.
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Kyrgyzstan as a hub for re-exports to Russia and UAE
🎦 23:18-25:26⏩
Jonathan talks about the significant increase in exports from Kyrgyzstan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), suggesting that Kyrgyzstan may be acting as a hub for re-exporting Western goods to Russia via the UAE. He raises concerns about the UAE's role in potentially circumventing sanctions and calls for greater scrutiny of their trade activities. He presents a graph showing the vast increase in trade between Kyrgyzstan and UAE.
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Russian drone incident at the Reichstag and pro-Russian sentiment in Germany
🎦 25:26-26:54⏩
Jonathan expresses his annoyance at a video showing a pro-Russian individual flying a Russian flag over the Reichstag in Berlin using a drone. He sees this as a sign of the challenges posed by pro-Russian sentiment within Germany and highlights the historical connections that contribute to this sentiment.
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Wrap up
🎦 26:55-27:19⏩
Jonathan thanks viewers for watching, asks them to like, subscribe, and share the video. He apologises for the tangent about the BBC, explaining that he is irritated by people who criticise the BBC for the wrong reasons.
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