Ukraine War Update NEWS: Geopolitical News, Transnistria, Turnbull vs Trump
Table of Contents 📖
"Trump is in awe of Putin. When you see Trump with Putin, as I have on a few occasions, he's like the 12-year-old boy that goes to high school and meets the captain of the football team. My hero. It is really creepy. It's really creepy."
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:37⏩
Jonathan welcomes viewers to an extra-long geopolitical news update, explaining he hasn't even had time for tea yet! He plans to discuss Zelensky's strengthening of Ukraine's defences, starting with French President Macron.
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France and Ukraine
🎦 00:37-03:41⏩
Jonathan predicts closer collaboration between France and Ukraine. He analyses Macron's strong pro-Ukraine rhetoric and leadership, speculating it's partly driven by a need to boost his approval ratings with the notoriously hard-to-please French electorate. He commends Macron's upcoming visit to Ukraine, where he'll share vital information with Zelensky, although Jonathan finds the delay frustrating. He also touches upon the importance of understanding the motivations behind political decisions.
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Zelensky in the Balkans
🎦 03:41-05:01⏩
Jonathan highlights Zelensky's meeting with Serbian President Vucic, calling it "incredibly important." He explains how Serbia, influenced by Russian funding and propaganda, has become a hotbed of pro-Russian sentiment. He also notes the significance of Zelensky's meeting with North Macedonia's Prime Minister, where they signed a joint declaration supporting Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration, emphasising the importance of even small nations' votes in the UN.
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US Politics: Tucker Carlson and Ukraine Aid
🎦 05:01-11:14⏩
Jonathan delves into US politics and the complexities of Ukraine aid. He argues that blaming the Democrats for the current impasse is a "false move." He explains how Republicans, specifically the MAGA wing led by Speaker Mike Johnson, are holding Ukraine aid hostage to force a border wall, going back on their initial agreement with the Democrats. He criticises Marjorie Taylor Greene's stance on Ukraine, labelling her a "lapdog of Putin" for her "no more money for Ukraine" stance. He concludes that the GOP, particularly certain Republicans, have made Ukraine aid a partisan issue, jeopardising Ukraine's chances and making it harder to present a united front against Russia.
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Yulia Navalny on Putin
🎦 11:14-13:11⏩
Jonathan shares Yulia Navalny's view of Putin as the "head of an organised criminal group." He plays a clip where she advocates for a different approach to tackling Russia, suggesting strategies used against organised crime like investigating financial schemes and exposing accomplices are more effective than traditional diplomacy. Jonathan agrees, expressing concerns about Russian influence operations, citing Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene as examples of worrying trends within US politics.
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US Politics: Tuberville, McConnell and Trump
🎦 13:11-18:09⏩
Jonathan takes a detour to mock Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville for complaining about crime in New York City despite his own state, Alabama, having a homicide rate three times higher. He calls Tuberville a "numpty" and a "muppet" for his contradictory stance on IVF. He then shifts focus to Mitch McConnell's resignation as Senate leader, expressing concern that his replacement is likely to be pro-Trump and anti-Ukraine. He cites Kiev Independent's analysis, suggesting McConnell's departure signals a worrying shift in Republican support for Ukraine. Jonathan expresses deep concern over Trump's upcoming meeting with Viktor Orban, seeing it as a sign of Trump's preference for authoritarian leaders over democratic allies.
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Malcolm Turnbull on Trump and Putin
🎦 18:09-27:33⏩
Jonathan introduces former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, a conservative leader, who offers insights into Trump's relationship with Putin. Turnbull recounts witnessing Trump's "creepy" awe of Putin, likening it to a "12-year-old boy meeting the captain of the football team." Jonathan highlights Turnbull's experience as one of the few world leaders who could handle Trump, citing their infamous phone call regarding a refugee deal. He plays more clips of Turnbull expressing concerns about Trump's admiration for dictators and his destabilising impact on global alliances. Jonathan concludes that Turnbull confirms his own longstanding concerns about Trump.
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US Midterm Elections and Ukraine
🎦 27:33-28:22⏩
Jonathan argues that Ukraine's long-term security hinges on the outcome of the upcoming US midterm elections. He believes electing more Democrats will ensure continued support for Ukraine, urging viewers to support pro-Ukraine candidates.
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Poland-Ukraine Border and Russian Interference
🎦 28:22-29:54⏩
Jonathan reports on the Polish TV channel TV24's exposé of Russian infiltration in Polish farmers' protests, highlighting the pervasive nature of Russian interference. He also mentions Donald Tusk's proposal to temporarily close the Poland-Ukraine border, citing concerns about Russian influence, but notes conflicting reports from Ukrainian officials who deny any discussion of border closures. Jonathan acknowledges the challenges of managing the situation while maintaining good relations between Poland and Ukraine.
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International Geopolitical Updates
🎦 29:54-31:46⏩
Jonathan provides a rapid roundup of international news:
- German Finance Minister Christian Lindner supports using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine.
- Turkey offers to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
- Jonathan briefly mentions concerns about a potential coup in Chad, suggesting Russia's growing influence in Africa is a worrying trend. He argues that Russia's global ambitions, particularly in Africa and Latin America, pose a serious threat to the West, criticising the West's complacency in the face of Russian aggression.
Transnistria and Moldova
🎦 31:46-46:21⏩
Jonathan analyses the situation in Transnistria, the breakaway region of Moldova occupied by Russian forces. He reports that Transnistria has appealed to Russia for help, claiming economic blockade by Moldova. He dismisses Transnistria's self-proclaimed independence as illegitimate, comparing it to other Russian-occupied territories like Crimea and Donbas. He cites UK journalist Paul Mason, who argues that Transnistria is indefensible and urges the West to back Moldova's government. Jonathan shares his concerns about Russia's intentions, suggesting they are following a familiar playbook of destabilisation and annexation. He warns that Russia is exploiting Western hesitancy and inaction to expand its influence. He then shares analysis from Radu Hosu, highlighting Transnistria's dependence on Moldova and Ukraine, but argues that Russia may exploit the situation to justify further intervention. Jonathan agrees with Hosu, suggesting that Russia may be preparing to formally annex Transnistria. He argues that the situation has the potential to escalate into a wider regional conflict, involving Romania and potentially drawing resources away from Ukraine. He shares Igor Tishkovich's analysis from the Institute of the Future, dissecting the complex political calculations involved. He explains that Russia may be using Transnistria as leverage to force concessions from the West and influence upcoming elections in Moldova. He acknowledges that the situation is fluid but potentially dangerous, concluding that Russia is trying to destabilise Moldova and undermine Western support for Ukraine.
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Wrap up
🎦 46:21-47:17⏩
Jonathan encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and share the video. He thanks his supporters on Buy Me a Coffee and PayPal for their contributions. He also reminds viewers of the links to support Greg Terry's humanitarian work in Ukraine.
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