Russian spies found working in Ukraine secret service & US funding for Kyiv in limbo as Republicans move against aid bill
Feb 6, 2024
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David Knowles, Francis Dearnley, and Rozina Sabur discuss the shortage of shells impacting Ukrainian troops, the arrest of Ukrainian intelligence officers working for Russia, Tucker Carlson's influence, increasing diplomatic closeness between Russia and the UAE, the possibility of major VPN services being blocked in Russia, and challenges in funding Ukraine amidst Republican resistance.
The ongoing shell shortage continues to impact Ukrainian troops, highlighting the challenges they face in securing necessary resources.
The potential rejection of the border and Ukraine aid bill by Republicans raises concerns about the future of US funding for Ukraine and its impact on the ongoing conflict.
Deep dives
Latest news from Ukraine and updates from Washington, D.C.
The podcast episode discusses the ongoing impact of the shell shortage on Ukrainian troops and analyzes updates from Washington, D.C., as Donald Trump urges Republicans to reject the border and Ukraine aid bill. It highlights the recent Russian missile strike that killed a two-month-old baby and injured three women in the Harkiv region, as well as the shell shortage faced by Ukrainian troops. The episode also mentions the fragile security situation at Ukraine's Zaphorizia nuclear power plant and the arrest of five Ukrainian intelligence officers working for Russia. It emphasizes the challenges faced by Ukraine in securing further funding and support in the midst of the ongoing conflict.
The importance of US funding for Ukraine
The podcast explores the significance of US funding for Ukraine and its potential impact on the ongoing conflict. It highlights the importance of financial and military support for Ukraine's defense and emphasizes the potential consequences of the US Congress failing to pass the proposed bill. The episode discusses the political dynamics within the US and the influence of former President Donald Trump in rallying opposition to the bill. It also raises questions about Europe's ability to fill the gap if US support for Ukraine diminishes.
Diplomatic relations between Russia and the United Arab Emirates
The episode highlights the growing diplomatic closeness between Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It mentions the recent phone call between the presidents of the two countries, where they discussed the war in Ukraine, the situation in Israel and Gaza, and prisoner exchanges. The UAE's involvement in brokering prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine is acknowledged. The episode also notes Russia's use of the Israel-Hamas conflict to criticize the US and strengthen ties with Arab nations.
Potential ban on VPN services in Russia
The podcast episode raises the possibility of a ban on major VPN services in Russia. It discusses the role of VPNs in bypassing blocked websites and highlights concerns about the potential blocking of VPNs in March. The episode suggests that such a ban could be part of a wider clampdown on internet freedom and information access in Russia ahead of upcoming elections.
Today, we discuss how the shell shortage continues to impact Ukrainian troops and analyse updates from Washington as Donald Trump urges Republicans to reject the border and Ukraine aid bill.
Contributors:
David Knowles (Head of Audio Development). @DJKnowles22 on Twitter.
Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on Twitter.
Rozina Sabur (Deputy US Editor). @RozinaSabur on Twitter).