Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid & Geopolitical News

"I'm just getting to this point where I am beginning to just outright dismiss pro-Russian, pro-Kremlin propagandists, of which Viktor Orban is one. And anyone that is justifying the war for the Russian point of view, I'm just like, I don't have to entertain someone that comes to my door and tells me the moon is made of cheese."

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-00:14⏩

Jonathan welcomes viewers to the second part of his Ukraine War Update for 21st December 2023. The focus of this video is on Military Aid and Geopolitics.

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Finland approves EUR106m military aid package for Ukraine

🎦 00:14-01:01⏩

Finland has approved a military aid package worth EUR106m for Ukraine. No further details have been provided about the contents, which is standard practice for Finland. Jonathan emphasises the importance of European allies continuing to provide aid given the impasse in the US Congress. In addition, the Finnish artillery ammunition industry is set to benefit from a £1.3bn investment between 2024 and 2030. This will include a combination of direct investment from the Finnish government and long-term contracts with the Finnish Ministry of Defence. Jonathan suggests that this will likely be linked to the war in Ukraine.

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Netherlands to give EUR102m to Ukraine for winter aid

🎦 01:27-01:39⏩

The Netherlands has announced EUR102m of aid for Ukraine to help with the winter period and to prepare for spring 2024.

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Germany sends 120 Marder 1A3s to Ukraine

🎦 01:39-02:26⏩

The German Ministry of Defence has confirmed that 120 Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) have been delivered to Ukraine - 20 more than previously reported. There are some discrepancies regarding the source of the vehicles. It appears that 80 of the IFVs were from Bundeswehr (German army) stocks, while the remaining 40 were from the Rheinmetall defence company. Jonathan notes that this conflicts with earlier statements, where it was thought that Rheinmetall would deliver 80 Marders, and a further 20 by May 2024. Regardless of the source, this brings the total of Marder 1A3s delivered or financed for Ukraine to 120.

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Roshel delivers 1,000th Senator Armoured Personnel Vehicle to Ukraine

🎦 02:28-03:17⏩

The 1,000th Roshel Senator has been delivered to Ukraine. The Senator is an armoured personnel vehicle (APV) based on a truck chassis that was originally designed as a security vehicle for banks. Jonathan highlights that Roshel is a Canadian company with a Canadian-Ukrainian CEO and employs several Ukrainian refugees, making it a staunch supporter of Ukraine.

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Japan to send 155mm artillery shells to UK to replenish stocks

🎦 03:17-03:34⏩

Jonathan reports that Japan is considering supplying Britain with 155mm artillery shells. This would be to help the UK replenish its own stockpiles after sending ammunition to Ukraine.

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Japan to export Patriot missiles

🎦 03:34-04:30⏩

Japan is also considering exporting Patriot missiles. These missiles are manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries under licence from US defence companies Lockheed Martin and RTX. Jonathan notes that a decision to ease restrictions on Japanese arms exports is expected imminently. He goes on to discuss that Japan's armed forces have traditionally been primarily focused on domestic defence, partly due to its legacy from World War II. However, Japan is now looking to revise its military strategy, with potential increases in defence spending and a willingness to export military equipment. Jonathan sees this as a sign of Japan's shifting geopolitical stance.

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Japan provides $950m to Ukraine as part of World Bank Project

🎦 04:30-04:59⏩

Ukraine has received $950m from Japan as part of a World Bank project. This funding will be used to support recovery and social support, particularly to rebuild infrastructure and housing in areas that have been recaptured from Russian forces. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed his gratitude for Japan's contribution to the reconstruction efforts.

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Ukraine's Defence Minister seeks to mobilise Ukrainians living abroad

🎦 04:59-06:30⏩

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov is seeking to mobilise Ukrainian men of military age (25-60 years old) who are living abroad. Jonathan acknowledges that this is a complex issue, as it would require the cooperation of foreign governments, and could potentially lead to diplomatic challenges. Jonathan shares an anecdote about a Ukrainian man living in the UK who is avoiding conscription. Jonathan's friend knows this individual and has said that, while he is supportive of Ukraine, he does not want to fight. Jonathan believes that there are likely to be many similar cases of individuals who fled Ukraine when the war began to avoid being drafted. He notes that this raises moral questions around how Ukraine should approach these cases and whether those who left should now be expected to fight.

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Viktor Orban claims Russia's invasion of Ukraine is not a war

🎦 06:30-09:45⏩

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has asserted that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine does not constitute a war because there has not been a formal declaration of war between the two countries. Jonathan reacts angrily to this, pointing out that there is clearly an armed conflict taking place, regardless of any formal declaration. He accuses Orban of simply repeating Putin's rhetoric, who is keen to downplay the conflict to further his own aims. He expresses frustration with Orban's stance, which he believes is morally reprehensible. He states that he has reached the end of his tether with individuals who attempt to justify Russia's actions and that he now simply dismisses them. He goes on to say that he would like to meet Putin in a dark alley, adding humorously that, despite his primary progressive multiple sclerosis, he would still be able to win a fight.

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Angola leaves OPEC

🎦 09:45-10:42⏩

Jonathan reports that Angola has left the OPEC oil cartel. Whilst acknowledging that it's unclear how much this relates to the war in Ukraine, he suggests it is still significant because Russia benefits from OPEC's control of oil production, which it has used to drive up oil prices since the invasion. He believes that Angola's exit is likely to be detrimental to Russia.

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German natural gas reserves higher than last year

🎦 10:42-12:07⏩

Germany's natural gas storage levels are currently at 90.58%, which is higher than at the same point in 2022. Jonathan recalls that last year there were concerns that Russia would exploit Europe's dependence on its gas supplies, but this did not come to pass, with Germany navigating the winter without major issues. He goes on to note that the current price of natural gas in the European market is EUR35 per megawatt hour, further indicating that Russia's attempts to leverage energy supplies have failed. He believes that the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines may have inadvertently benefited Germany by forcing it to find alternative energy sources.

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India stops accepting tankers with Russian oil

🎦 12:07-12:48⏩

Jonathan reports that India has stopped accepting tankers carrying Russian oil, meaning that approximately 5 million barrels of crude oil have been unable to reach Indian refineries in the last four weeks. Tankers transporting Russian oil from the Far East have been forced to wait off the coast of India since mid-November due to sanctions imposed by the United States. These sanctions, which Jonathan approves of, target eight tankers belonging to Russia's shadow fleet, which were found to be violating the price cap imposed on Russian oil. He praises the US for taking this action, as it restricts the flow of money to Russia and impacts a significant source of income.

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Poll shows 55% of US voters support sending more military aid to Ukraine

🎦 12:48-13:30⏩

A recent poll has found that 55% of US voters now support providing Ukraine with more military aid, while 38% oppose it - an increase of 1% and a decrease of 3% respectively. Jonathan welcomes these findings, especially the fact that 69% of those polled believe that supporting Ukraine is in the national interest of the United States. He expresses hope that US lawmakers will take heed of public opinion and work to overcome the ongoing impasse over aid to Ukraine.

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The White House looks to seize Russian assets over aid impasse

🎦 13:30-18:21⏩

Jonathan turns his attention to the current situation in US politics, which he describes as being at an impasse. He cites political analyst Michael McKay, who believes that Russia has been actively seeking to sow discord within the US political system, in part by cultivating support within the Republican Party and supporting former President Donald Trump. McKay argues that Russia's aim has been to create a dysfunctional American legislature. Jonathan highlights the lack of progress on meaningful legislation, especially in the context of aid to Ukraine, which he believes is being held hostage to domestic political concerns, such as the situation on the US southern border. He argues that some Republicans are deliberately conflating these issues as leverage, arguing that the US cannot support Ukraine while its own border is not secure. However, Jonathan refutes this, arguing that the two issues are distinct and unrelated. He suggests that this is a tactic being used to justify inaction on Ukraine aid. He states that it is possible to address the situation on the border whilst simultaneously providing aid to Ukraine. Jonathan argues that this is a false dichotomy - a fallacy where two options are presented as the only possibilities when other solutions exist. He challenges the view that aid to Ukraine should be contingent on resolving other unrelated political issues. He points out that this argument is not used for other policy areas, implying that it is being used specifically to target aid for Ukraine. He then shares his frustration with a comment he received from a viewer who argued that both political parties are to blame for the situation. Jonathan disagrees, suggesting that the Republicans are solely responsible for the impasse. Jonathan concludes by stating that he is not seeking to downplay the issue of immigration at the US southern border, but simply to highlight that this should not be used to prevent the US government from fulfilling its commitments to Ukraine. He believes that by using this argument, Republicans are seeking to justify their inaction.

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Czech companies end sponsorship deals with the IOC over Russian and Belarusian athlete participation

🎦 18:46-19:32⏩

Two companies in Czechia (the Czech Republic) have withdrawn their sponsorship of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in protest against the decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The companies are the CPI Property Group and Pilsner Urquell (which Jonathan initially confuses with Staropramen). Jonathan expresses his support for this move and suggests that if more companies followed suit, it would put pressure on the IOC to reverse its decision. He is particularly critical given that one of the Russian athletes due to participate is involved in fundraising for the Russian war effort.

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Moldova to leave the Commonwealth of Independent States

🎦 19:32-20:16⏩

Moldova plans to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) by the end of 2024. The CIS is an organisation of former Soviet republics, which Moldova joined in 1991. The country is seeking to reduce its ties with Russia and align itself more closely with the European Union. Moldova was granted EU candidate status in June 2022 and negotiations on its accession to the bloc are expected to begin by the end of 2023.

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New Polish Foreign Minister visits Kyiv

🎦 20:16-20:33⏩

Poland's recently appointed Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, has made his first official trip abroad to Kyiv, demonstrating the importance of the relationship between the two countries. Jonathan points out that the ongoing issues surrounding grain exports and border controls will likely be high on the agenda.

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Toronto Sun issues apology over antisemitic cartoon

🎦 20:34-21:36⏩

Jonathan returns to the topic of the controversial cartoon published by the Toronto Sun, which he had previously discussed. The cartoon, which has been widely condemned as antisemitic and anti-Ukrainian, has led to accusations that the newspaper, along with its parent companies, Postmedia Network and Chatham Asset Management, are sympathetic to Russia. The cartoon was also critical of US President Joe Biden. Jonathan welcomes the Toronto Sun's apology for publishing the cartoon but questions whether it is sufficient. He calls for further action, suggesting that staff should be photographed alongside the apology. He believes that damage has been done by publishing the cartoon in the first place, which cannot be undone. He concludes by reiterating his belief that once disinformation and harmful content have entered the public domain it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to retract it.

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Wrap up

🎦 21:36-21:56⏩

Jonathan thanks his viewers for watching and asks them to like, subscribe, and share the video. He mentions that he has a busy day ahead, with various personal commitments, but will endeavour to produce more videos later in the day. He apologises for his rant earlier, acknowledging that it's a bit of a problem.

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