Comments by "Günther Berger" (@guntherberger1238) on "My Global issues" channel.

  1. Ukraine has received the first Mirage fighter jets from France. Together with Ukrainian pilots trained in France, they have arrived, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The Ministry of Defense did not disclose exactly how many machines were delivered and how many fighter jets France intends to provide the country attacked by Russia in total. French media reported, referring to a budget report of the National Assembly from the autumn, that France wanted to give up 6 of 26 Mirage 2000-5s that the Air Force had at its disposal. Last summer, French President Macron announced the delivery of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets. They are intended to enable Ukraine to protect its soil and airspace. Before delivery, the jets were equipped with new equipment, including to defend against interference signals.
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  2. According to its army chief Thomas Süssli, Switzerland could participate in a UN peacekeeping force if the military is asked to do so and the government and parliament in Bern agree. However, corresponding questions are hypothetical, Süssli emphasizes in an interview with the newspaper "SonntagsBlick". There is still no peace in Ukraine, and there is no request from the United Nations (UN). However, if Switzerland is awarded the contract and the government and parliament agree, a training concept will be drafted and recruitment and training will begin. "We could probably provide around 200 soldiers in nine to twelve months," says Süssli, emphasizing again that the considerations are hypothetical. Neutral Switzerland is involved in various UN peacekeeping operations, for example in Kosovo.
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  3. In addition to the attacks on the western Ukrainian cities of Ivano-Frankivsk and Khmelnytskyi as well as the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, Russian combat drones have also caused damage in the Kyiv and Sumy regions. This is reported by the Ukrainian Air Force. According to their information, 54 of a total of more than 100 drones could be shot down. Another 39 were on the road without explosives, used to deceive the air defense - they were electronically switched off.
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  4. The new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered on Friday to freeze almost all US foreign aid. According to an internal letter, only Israel and Egypt are exempt. Rubio's directive means that no further measures may be taken to distribute aid money to programs that have already been approved, Politico reported, citing current and former officials at the ministry. Ukraine is apparently also affected. "Politico" made it clear that it is unclear what the extent of the directive is - and whether it affects US military aid already approved for Ukraine. However, it seems to temporarily stop funding for important allies such as Ukraine, Jordan and Taiwan, as the portal reported, citing its sources. The US is supporting Ukraine not only militarily, but also with development aid. The Foreign Ministry did not initially comment on request. Just this spring, the US Congress approved $61 billion in aid for Ukraine. These funds have not yet been spent in full.
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  5. @Joe_1sr9  Falling oil prices are apparently worrying Putin. After US President Donald Trump called on OPEC to lower prices in Davos, Putin reacted on Friday, as the Russian agency Interfax writes: Both Russia and the US are important oil producers and consumers and excessively high prices are bad for both economies. He also pointed out that Russia and the US rely on energy resources for their domestic industries, and that too low prices would "undermine the investment opportunities of energy companies". According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), these statements show "how much Putin considers it necessary to accommodate the elite in his inner circle who have personal interests in the energy sector." In fact, the ISW also sees far-reaching consequences of a low oil price for Russia: "Falling oil prices would reduce the revenues of the Russian state budget and endanger the stability of the Russian regime, as well as reduce Russia's share of the global oil market and its economic influence on the world stage."
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  6. Pootin's War for his Ego.
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