Day 1,585.

After a weekend that saw Ukraine’s Constitution Day celebrated with yet more lengthy queues at petrol stations in Russia and Crimea – a situation not helped by Russian oil refineries continuing to self-sanction – Putin shrugs that these ‘difficult’ days are just a speed bump on the road to inevitable victory. Dom and Francis ponder on Alexander Lukashenko’s slightly odd weekend jaunt to China via Putin’s lakeside retreat in Valdai – at least we now know what all the extra air defence was shipped in for – and ask, is he looking for a new best friend? And finally, after news of a mass shooting in the northern German city of Stade, they speak to Berlin correspondent James Rothwell who has been reporting on NATO preparations for a possible future Battle of the Baltics.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

Producer: Rachel Porter

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Gabby Colvin

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:

Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Putin: Russia is facing problems in Ukraine war (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/28/putin-russia-is-facing-problems-in-ukraine-war/ 

Nato prepares for the Battle of the Baltics (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/23/nato-prepares-battle-baltics/ 

We’re ready to fight Russia tonight, vows head of German air force (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/15/luftwaffe-chief-warns-russia-german-ready-to-fight-for-nato/ 

How German trains became the shame of a nation (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/28/how-german-trains-became-the-shame-of-a-nation/ 

Germany considers return of military conscription (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/27/germany-considers-compulsory-conscription-defence-russia/ 

Turkey Offers to Host Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks (Kyiv Post)

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/79139 

Putin Says Expecting US Negotiators Once US Less Busy With Iran (Kyiv Post)

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/79177 

Serbian President Vučić says he will resign within ‘weeks’ (Politico)

https://www.politico.eu/article/serbian-president-vucic-says-he-will-resign-within-weeks/ 

Stray Ukraine drones worth the price of hitting Russia, says Estonian minister (Financial Times)

https://www.ft.com/content/f487526b-9646-456b-bccb-001f31090919?syn-25a6b1a6=1 

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Putin confesses 'problems' in Ukraine war for first time
• Reports of fuel hoarding across Russia after long-range Ukrainian strikes

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