Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,383.

Today, after a weekend marked by continued talks in Florida between the Ukrainian and American delegations and President Donald Trump’s comments blaming Zelensky for stalling negotiations, the Ukrainian president meets British PM Keir Starmer, French President Macron and German Chancellor Merz in London today. The talks, which finished as we were recording this episode, opened with Germany’s ‘scepticism’ of US peace proposals and France’s assurance that ‘Europe had a lot of cards in its hands.’ Meanwhile, Russia targets a dam near Kharkiv which supplies water to Ukraine's second biggest city. Finally, we discuss the US’s National Security Strategy and the current state of Ukraine’s air defence. 

Contributors

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to Michael Bohnert (RAND). @mbohnert on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter  

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Zelenskiy Says No Accord Yet on Ukraine’s East in US Talks, Bloomberg News

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-08/zelenskiy-says-no-accord-so-far-on-eastern-ukraine-in-us-talks

Trump: Zelensky hasn’t even read my peace plan, The Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/08/ukraine-russia-war-latest-starmer-zelensky-trump-putin/

Kremlin: Trump’s new defence strategy ‘consistent’ with Russian vision, The Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/07/donald-trump-defence-strategy-russia-dmitry-peskov-kremlin/

France shielding €18bn Russian asset pot from EU ‘reparations loan’ push, Financial times

https://www.ft.com/content/fe304bb8-d928-4b9b-8162-2000301be937

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,380.

Today, we report on revelations from a European leaders’ conference call, exposing the level of anxiety over the US peace proposals, cover the military drones spotted approaching President Zelensky’s plane as it neared Dublin, and examine the new US National Security Strategy, which has alarmed many. Later, we return to our regular updates on the occupied territories, and speak to a doctor about frontline medical provision for Ukrainian soldiers.

Contributors

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.

With thanks to Dr James Gough (Chief Executive of the David Nott Foundation). @NottFoundation on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter  

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Learn more about the David Nott Foundation, which trains doctors in warzones:

https://davidnottfoundation.com/ 

The Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal 2025: how you can donate:

https://tinyurl.com/4nnrt59s

Our sister podcast Battle Lines: Why Ukraine's troops are facing an amputation crisis

https://tinyurl.com/bdzc7ukn

Military drones flew towards Zelensky’s plane as it approached Dublin (The Telegraph):

https://tinyurl.com/yj27tvve

"We Must Not Leave Ukraine and Volodymyr Alone with These Guys" (Der Spiegel):

https://tinyurl.com/mr358sdh

Trump envoys press plan with Ukraine as sanctions eased on Russia (France 24):

https://tinyurl.com/mrbxrayw

US National Security Strategy (White House):

https://tinyurl.com/muf78x72

Les fusiliers marins ont tiré sur des drones au-dessus de la base navale de l’Île Longue, abri des sous-marins nucléaires français, (Le Figaro):

https://tinyurl.com/yfcd8ckb

Exclusive: Woman suspected by France of spying has ties to Kremlin proxies, social media posts show (Reuters)

https://tinyurl.com/nbvfsejb

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,379.

Today, after Tuesday’s inconsequential meeting in Moscow, Ukrainian negotiators are updating European counterparts on Kyiv’s response before flying to meet Steve Witkoff in Miami. We consider why U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has lambasted European NATO allies for prioritising their own defence industries over American suppliers – comments made just as another billion dollars was added to the PURL fund – and we ask whether, if Pokrovsk has indeed fallen, Russia will now shift its efforts toward Zaporizhzhia oblast. And later, we return to the GRU’s murder of British woman Dawn Sturgess by nerve agent in 2018, as the final report into her death is released.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former British Army Tank Commander). @HamishDBGon on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter  

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Trump: I don’t know what the Kremlin is doing (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/12/03/trump-i-dont-know-what-the-kremlin-is-doing/ 

Britain can’t let the man Putin hates most die in prison (Sir Tom Stoppard in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/19/britain-cant-let-the-man-putin-hates-most-die-in-prison/ 

The West’s Last Chance (Alexander Stubb, Finland’s President, in Foreign Affairs):

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/wests-last-chance 

Top US official berates Europe over cutting American industry out of defense buildup (POLITICO):

https://www.politico.eu/article/christopher-landau-top-us-official-berates-europe-nato-cut-industry-defense-buildup/ 

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,378.

Today, as the world reacts to the marathon – but ultimately fruitless – talks in Moscow on Tuesday night, we examine how the impasse will shape today’s meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers and, also in Brussels, the European Council’s discussions on frozen Russian assets and the ‘new era’ the EU says it is entering, free from Russian fossil fuels. Plus, our Russia expert assesses Moscow’s ‘caviar diplomacy’ and its growing problems in Africa, and we report how Australia and New Zealand are stepping up their support for Ukraine. Finally, we hear the assessment of Ukraine’s former Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, on the current state of the war – and whether he harbours any ambition to succeed President Zelensky.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.

With thanks to Latika Bourke. @latikambourke on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter  

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Latika Bourke Substack

https://substack.com/@latikambourke

Australia and New Zealand join forces to fund NATO weapons for Ukraine

https://thenightly.com.au/world/australia-and-new-zealand-join-forces-to-fund-nato-weapons-for-ukraine-c-20819893

Today’s Telegraph Ukraine Live Blog:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/03/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-peace-deal-talks/

Cosmonaut Artemyev was removed from the Crew-12 crew: 

https://theins.ru/news/287330

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Day 1,377.

Today, on a national day of mourning in Ukraine after a single ballistic missile strike killed four people and injured forty more, we report on the arrival of the US delegation in Moscow as the latest round of peace talks gets under way. Then we hear from our Washington Correspondent on the mood in the United States toward Ukraine – and the current strength of President Trump – and take a deep dive into how Russian soldiers are being sent into combat without helmets or body armour.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Verity Bowman (Foreign Correspondent). @VerityBowman on X.

Connor Stringer (Washington Correspondent). @connor_stringer on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter  

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Russian troops sent to slaughter with no helmets or armour (Verity in The Telegraph):

https://tinyurl.com/yc4aysxr

Ukraine strikes Chechen special forces unit ahead of Putin-Witkoff talks (The Telegraph):

https://tinyurl.com/3f9s4vu5

Zelensky warns US not to reward Putin (The Telegraph):

https://tinyurl.com/y685hcpc

Ex-British soldier ‘helped Russia assassinate prominent Ukrainians’ (The Telegraph):

https://tinyurl.com/bdft3f7m

ECB refuses to provide backstop for €140bn Ukraine loan (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/616c79ee-34de-425a-865e-e94ba10be788

Ukraine has brought back 1,859 Russia-abducted children, Zelenska says in Paris (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-says-1-859-abducted-children-have-been-returned-zelenska-tells-paris-summit 

Five South Africans in court over alleged recruitment for Russia’s war in Ukraine (The Guardian):

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/01/south-africans-court-alleged-recruitment-russia-war-ukraine 

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,376.

Today, after a fresh round of talks between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Miami, we examine a new investigation exposing the Trump administration’s profit motives behind the emerging proposals. We then assess the resignation of Andriy Yermak, formerly Zelensky’s right-hand man, and the unexpected intervention of former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi – viewed as preparing for a presidential run after the war. Afterwards, we analyse Kyiv’s decision to strike the Russian shadow fleet off the coast of Senegal, and how Europe – and France in particular – is positioning itself for this next, volatile phase.

Contributors

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter  

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Valerii Zaluzhnyi: How to defeat Putin and build a better Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://tinyurl.com/582phz7b

Zelensky meets Macron in Paris (The Telegraph Live Blog):

https://tinyurl.com/4vspzy8y

Ukrainian drone boats blow up Russian oil tankers (The Telegraph):

https://tinyurl.com/5evypnz5

Zelensky’s chief of staff goes to front line after resigning over corruption scandal (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/29/zelensky-chief-of-staff-andriy-yermak-goes-to-front-line/ 

Kyiv’s new peace talks chief caught in same corruption scandal as ousted predecessor (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/30/ukraine-make-or-break-week-survival-witkoff/ 

Antony Beevor: For Russia, conspicuous cruelty is a necessary weapon of war (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/30/antony-beevor-interview/ 

Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine (Wall Street Journal):

https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russia-u-s-peace-business-ties-4db9b290 

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,373.

Today, in a world exclusive, we report how Donald Trump is preparing to hand over Ukraine’s occupied territories, as his team prepares to fly to Moscow to present the plan to Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, the Russian President claims his country’s army “cannot be held back”, as Russia experiences one of the heaviest drone raids of the war. Then, we turn to Kyiv, where the offices of the head of President Zelensky’s office – Andriy Yermak – were dramatically raided by anti-corruption officers. And later, at a time when leaders talk about gifting land to the Kremlin, we bring you unheard, rare testimony of what it’s like to live under Russian control in those regions, and what many more millions may soon be condemned to endure.

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

With thanks to "Anna".

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter  

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Trump hands Putin Ukraine’s occupied territories (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/28/trump-to-recognise-occupied-ukraine-part-of-russia/ 

Zelensky’s chief of staff raided by anti-corruption officers (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/28/zelenskys-chief-of-staff-raided-by-anti-corruption-officers/ 

Putin: Russia ready to fight until last Ukrainian dies (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/27/putin-says-russia-ready-fight-until-last-ukrainian-dies/ 

Russia tightens grip on occupied Ukraine with illegal mobilization and child militarization, experts warn (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/russia-tightens-grip-on-occupied-ukraine-with-illegal-mobilization-and-child-militarization-experts-warn/ 

Ukraine Says It Won’t Give Up Land to Russia (The Atlantic):

https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2025/11/ukraine-zelensky-russia-trump-peace-land-red-line/685090/ 

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,372.

Today, as Thanksgiving is marked in the United States – and supposedly the day by which Ukraine was meant to agree to a peace deal, a deadline Donald Trump has now walked back – Russia denies leaking the phone call in which Steve Witkoff coached Vladimir Putin’s top aides on how to flatter the former president. We assess whether Marco Rubio’s apparent demand – that a peace deal be signed before the US grants Ukraine any security guarantees – is remotely deliverable. We also report on how Moldovan authorities attempted to return a Russian drone that violated their airspace. And later, we hear from the Ukrainian public, and gauge their reaction to this week’s extraordinary developments.

Contributors

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

With thanks to Svitlana Morenets, columnist at the Spectator.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter  

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Who leaked Witkoff’s Kremlin call? These are the main suspects (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/26/steve-witkoff-kremlin-call-main-suspects-witi-leaks/ 

Made in Moscow: The “U.S. peace plan” for Ukraine was substantially formulated months ago by Kremlin operative Kirill Dmitriev (The Insider):

https://theins.press/en/politics/287159 

Allies worry US demands Ukraine deal before security guarantees (POLITICO):

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/26/us-demands-peace-deal-before-security-guarantees-for-ukraine-00670210 

Moldova's Foreign Ministry confronts Russian ambassador with drone that violated country's airspace (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/moldovas-foreign-ministry-confronts-russian-ambassador-with-drone-that-violated-countrys-airspace/ 

A better way to craft a reparations loan (Hugo Dixon of the Ukraine Reparations Loan):

https://www.ukrainereparationsloan.com/post/a-better-way-to-craft-a-reparations-loan 

Zarah Sultana’s pompous, luxury beliefs about Ukraine (The Spectator):

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/zarah-sultanas-pompous-luxury-beliefs-about-ukraine/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,371.

Today, as a leaked call reveals that Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to Russia, coached a Kremlin negotiator on how to make Donald Trump more favourable to Moscow’s position, we examine the fallout – or the lack of it. We also assess new signals that Trump’s much-trailed Thursday deadline may not be as cast-iron as claimed. Then we turn to the reaction from Moscow and across Europe’s parliaments: alarm, or business as usual?

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter  

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Telegraph Ukraine Live Blog:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/26/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-trump-peace-talks/ 

Trump envoy coaches Kremlin negotiator in leaked call (Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/11/25/witkoff-coach-russians-peace-plan-trump/

Starmer demands British boots on ground under Ukraine peace deal (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/25/russia-hints-it-may-reject-latest-peace-deal/ 

I’ve seen high-level negotiations. Witkoff broke the one rule that matters (David Blair in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/26/witkoff-ushakov-leaked-call/ 

Bloomberg’s Leaked Transcripts:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-25/witkoff-advised-russia-on-how-to-pitch-ukraine-plan-to-trump

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,370.

Today, as the United States holds secret talks with separate Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi, we unpack the emerging 19-point peace plan – and react live on air to breaking reports that President Zelensky has agreed to the framework of a potential deal. We then gauge the mood in Europe’s capitals: is this a moment of quiet strategy and resolution, or rising panic as the diplomatic landscape shifts beneath their feet?

Contributors

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.

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

SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter  

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Zelensky ‘agrees’ to Trump’s amended peace deal (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/25/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news5338/ 

Trump and Zelensky set for crunch talks on peace plan (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/24/trump-zelensky-ukraine-peace-plan-talks/ 

Battle for Ukraine splits Trump’s top team (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/11/25/ukraines-future-depends-who-wins-battle-white-house/ 

How Trump's 28-point plan for Ukraine shocked the world (Axios):

https://www.axios.com/2025/11/24/trump-ukraine-plan-28-points-back-story 

Japan to deploy missiles to island near Taiwan, Defence Minister says

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japan-to-deploy-missiles-to-island-near-taiwan-defence-minister-says 

US and Ukraine draft new 19-point peace plan but defer biggest decisions (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/883e5a47-430c-4fc2-85ee-cd6af9bb599d

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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