Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid News
Title:Ukraine War Update NEWS: Military Aid News Topics:Ukraine to spend EU Loan on Long Range missiles & Drones , US to announce large weapons package , Ukraine in negotiations to acquire Gripen & Eurofighter Jets , Australia considering sending decommissioned Abrams tanks to Ukraine , EU Defence
Table of Contents 📖
"The rules of engagements are really pissing him off" he said of Zelensky and i don't blame him he was pretty clear that the restrictions do not help Ukraine and it prolongs the war, he said, it costs ukrainian lives and we've got to take the war to russia..."
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:14⏩
Jonathan welcomes viewers to part 2 of his Ukraine War Update for 22nd September 2024 - a military aid video
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Ukraine to spend EU Loan on Long Range missiles & Drones
🎦 00:14-03:11⏩
- Ukraine will spend some of the €35bn loan from the EU on long range missiles and drones.
- It's unclear if this means procuring or building them, or both.
- Jonathan outlines the advantages of Ukraine being able to build their own long range missiles.
- Ukraine has already purchased over 1 million drones this year.
- Estimates suggest Ukraine is on track to manufacture 2 million and procure a further 1 million drones.
- Jonathan believes this exceeds expectations.
- Jonathan stresses the need for Ukraine to exploit the asymmetric advantage offered by drones, by ensuring superior training, tactics and technology.
US to announce large weapons package
🎦 03:11-04:36⏩
- Reports suggest the US is preparing to announce a large weapons package for Ukraine.
- This may be in the region of $375m.
- It may include artillery, air defences and munitions.
- It is unclear if this is in addition to the $5.9bn left in Presidential Drawdown Authority.
- There may be delays due to shortages in US inventories.
- Jonathan believes the US might announce a larger package than they can currently fulfil (e.g. $2bn) but this would, at least, be accounted for.
Ukraine in negotiations to acquire Gripen & Eurofighter Jets
🎦 04:36-07:20⏩
- Ukraine's Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov has revealed that negotiations for Gripen and Eurofighter jets are ongoing.
- It is unclear how many Eurofighter jets would be available, given they are not as numerous as F-16s.
- Jonathan notes how Sweden has already pledged aid which includes provisions for the maintenance of Gripen jets, suggesting they will be part of the Ukrainian Air Force at some point.
- Jonathan highlights how procuring Eurofighters is significant news.
- Commentator, Tim White notes how training, maintenance, spares and qualified engineers all need to be considered.
- Jonathan notes how the key challenge is timing, given that Ukraine needs these planes now.
- He wonders if getting Gripens and Eurofighters in the air will take as long as the F-16s - and ponders what a "best case timeframe" would look like.
Australia considering sending decommissioned Abrams tanks to Ukraine
🎦 07:20-09:27⏩
- Australia is considering sending 59 decommissioned M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in collaboration with the US.
- This would be worth $550m.
- Former Australian Army Chief, Peter Leahy supports the idea.
- This comes after a previous attempt to supply tanks to Ukraine was blocked by the US last year.
- Commentator "David D" alleges that the US blocked this previously and this is an attempt to pressure the Biden administration to release them.
- Jonathan is sceptical of "David D", highlighting how he has an axe to grind with the Democrats.
- Jonathan acknowledges this is just "David D"s interpretation of events and there may be other reasons behind this.
EU Defence Commissioner calls for obligatory ammunition stockpiles
🎦 09:27-11:05⏩
- The EU's new Defence Commissioner wants to make ammunition stockpiles obligatory.
- This would require member states to retain a permanent inventory, similar to emergency gas storage rules.
- The Defence Commissioner, a former Lithuanian Prime Minister, also suggested that collaboration with Ukrainian arms companies would be a good idea - as well as working with the UK, and changing investment rules to support arms spending.
- Jonathan approves of the new Defence Commissioner and the direction of travel for the EU.
Zelensky wants relaxed Rules of Engagement for US supplied weapons
🎦 11:05-16:03⏩
- Commentator, Conor O'Brien (Politico) reports how US Representative Don Bacon has just returned from Ukraine.
- Bacon says Zelensky wants the US to relax the rules of engagement on US supplied weapons to allow them to strike targets within Russia.
- Bacon claims Zelensky is "pissed off" about the restrictions.
- The House Armed Services Committee says that restricting Ukraine from striking targets in Russia is like making them "fight with one arm tied behind their back".
- The article goes on to highlight how Ukrainian officials are pushing for more F-16 training for its pilots as well as sanctions on Moscow.
- Bacon wants to see Ukrainian F-16 pilots receive further training from US contractors - ideally at a location in Western Ukraine and out of the way of combat.
- Jonathan thinks this is a good idea given that Ukrainian pilots are currently having to learn "on the job".
- Lawmakers want to agree more aid for Ukraine before the end of the year, especially given a potential return of Donald Trump.
- The White House has not yet requested more money for Ukraine.
Don Bacon on the importance of learning from the war in Ukraine
🎦 16:03-16:54⏩
- Jonathan highlights how Rep. Don Bacon tweeted recently about how Ukraine has achieved sea supremacy in the Black Sea without deploying any of its navy.
- Both sides are using large numbers of drones.
- Bacon believes the US should be using this an opportunity to learn and adapt for future conflicts.
- Jonathan agrees that the US should be learning from Ukraine's experiences to improve its own military strategy and equipment.
Wrap up
🎦 16:54-17:00⏩
Jonathan thanks viewers for watching and says goodbye.
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