Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,139.

Today, we talk about the crash in oil prices and the consequences on Russia’s economy. We discuss Vladimir Putin’s special envoy to the US on international economic and investment cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev. And, Francis Dearnley speaks with John W. Boerstler, who served as the Chief Veterans Experience Officer at the US Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Narrative Podcast Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.

With thanks to John W. Boerstler (Executive Vice President of Public Sector at IPSOS).

Content Referenced:

As oil plunges, Kremlin sees a global economic storm, from Reuters: 

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-plunges-kremlin-sees-global-economic-storm-2025-04-07/

Russia plans to capitalise on Trump’s trade wars – here’s the man leading Putin’s gambit, from the Telegraph: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/06/russia-trump-trade-wars-dmitriev/

John W. Boerstler - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

https://department.va.gov/staff-biographies/john-w-boerstler/

NOW AVAILABLE 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, or click the links below.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Learn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,136.

Today, as the heads of the French and British armed forces arrive in Kyiv for talks on what the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ might look like, we talk to the Chief Executive of the HALO Trust on how drone-mounted lasers are helping in the demining effort. Later, Francis Dearnley interviews the author of a new book that explores how Russia's War has not only destroyed millions of human lives, but has been catastrophic for the environment.

Contributors:

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

James Cowan (CEO of HALO Trust). @TheHALOTrust on X.

With thanks to Darya Tsymbalyuk (Author and Assistant Professor, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Chicago). @DaryaTsymbalyuk on X.

Content Referenced:

Darya Tsymbalyuk's book, Ecocide in Ukraine: The Environmental Cost of Russia's War:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ecocide-Ukraine-Environmental-Cost-Russias/dp/1509562508?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

NOW AVAILABLE 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, or click the links below.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Learn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,135.

Today, as the White House suspends sanctions in order to get one of Putin’s chief aides into the US, we hear how a Kremlin mouthpiece fell for an April Fool’s joke about the Royal Navy, and we go live to NATO HQ in Brussels. Later, we hear from a new Ukraine exhibition at Britain’s tank museum.

Contributors:

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

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

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

NOW AVAILABLE 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, or click the links below.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Learn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,134.

Today, as Moscow resumes its bombardments on Ukraine, we discuss reports that it is dawning on Donald Trump’s administration that a swift ceasefire deal is not going to happen without action against the Russian economy. Then we return to that very subject, and ask: how much leverage does the White House have on sanctions, and is it declining?

Contributors:

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

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

Stephanie Baker (Senior writer at Bloomberg and sanctions expert). @StephaniBaker on X.

Content Referenced:

Trump officials eye a longer road to Ukraine peace as frustration mounts (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-officials-eye-longer-road-ukraine-peace-frustration-mounts-2025-04-01/

US officials object to European push to buy weapons locally (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-officials-object-european-push-buy-weapons-locally-2025-04-02/ 

China debates whether Trump is a revolutionary, or just rude (The Economist):

https://www.economist.com/international/2025/04/01/china-debates-whether-trump-is-a-revolutionary-or-just-rude

Our sister podcast Battle Lines, covering wider global affairs: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/battle-lines/

Stephanie Baker’s book, Punishing Putin: Inside the Economic War to Bring Down Russia:

https://stephaniebakerwriter.com/punishing-putin

NOW AVAILABLE 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, or click the links below.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Learn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,133.

Today, further to news from the battlefront and beyond, we look at Putin's decision to mobilise a record number of men, and what it means for the prospects of a meaningful ceasefire. Then, in a special interview, Francis Dearnley talks to one of the men involved in some of the most important decisions made by the Biden administration relating to the war. What did they get right, and what did they get wrong?

Contributors:

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

Ambassador Michael Carpenter (Former Senior Director for Europe of the The United States National Security Council). @mikercarpenter on X.

Content Referenced:

Putin drafts 160,000 men into Russian army despite peace talks (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/31/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-ceasefire-deal-latest/ 

Ukraine says mineral talks still alive despite Trump anger (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/01/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-ceasefire-latest-news/

China depicts Taiwan’s president as cartoon parasite as military exercises begin (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/01/china-taiwan-president-cartoon-parasite-military-exercises/

NOW AVAILABLE 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, or click the links below.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Learn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,132.

Today, as reports surface of Russian attempts to get behind Ukrainian lines in the Donbas by going underground, we assess the impact of Donald Trump’s supposed loss of patience with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, asking how much of the rage is concocted, and we hear more about the experience of women who endured torture at the hands of the Russians.

Contributors:

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

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

David Blair (Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator). @davidblairdt on X.

Verity Bowman (Journalist). @VerityBowman on X.

Content Referenced:

Dom’s Panel at Oxford Literary Festival:

https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/literature-events/2025/april-02/the-russian-threat-why-it-has-grown-and-how-to-fight-back

These Ukrainian women survived Putin’s prisons – now they’re taking revenge (Verity Bowman in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/ukraine-female-prisoners-of-war-russia-putin-prisons/ 

The Secret History of the War in Ukraine (New York Times):

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/29/world/europe/us-ukraine-military-war-wiesbaden.html

How British commandos helped bring the CIA into the heart of the Ukraine war (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/31/british-commandos-cia-ukraine-war-zelensky-putin-russia/ 

European military powers work on 5-10 year plan to replace US in Nato (Financial Times):

https://tinyurl.com/bd82v98r 

The time has come to punish Orbán, Germany’s next government says:

https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-next-coalition-vows-punish-hungary-viktor-orban-friedrich-merz/ 

Secret Pentagon memo on China, homeland has Heritage fingerprints (Washington Post):

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/03/29/secret-pentagon-memo-hegseth-heritage-foundation-china/ 

The time has come to punish Orbán, Germany’s next government says (POLITICO):

https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-next-coalition-vows-punish-hungary-viktor-orban-friedrich-merz/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,129.

Today, amid reports of precision strikes on Russia’s Belgorod region – the site of Ukraine’s latest incursion – we discuss news from the Paris defence summit, Trump’s new minerals deal proposal, and hear the latest acts of resistance in the occupied territories. Later, we discuss the lessons from the Napoleonic era for ceasefires and peace treaties.

Contributors:

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

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

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

With thanks to Thomas Clausen (Historian). @DrThomasClausen on X.

Content Referenced:

Revealed: Trump’s plan to force Ukraine to restore Putin’s gas empire (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/27/revealed-trump-plan-force-ukraine-restore-putin-gas-empire/

Ukrainian forces destroy strategic bridges in Russian Belgorod Oblast (Euromaiden Press):

https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/03/28/ukrainian-forces-destroy-strategic-bridges-in-russian-belgorod-oblast/ 

Trump reverses termination of program tracking mass child abductions in Ukraine (Washington Post):

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/03/27/trump-ukraine-russia-child-abductions/ 

He Fought for Ukraine. Now Morocco is Punishing Him (Kyiv Post):

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/49104

Ukrainian lions - now in Kent!

https://x.com/ZaluzhnyiUA/status/1904867664826167686

NOW AVAILABLE 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, or click the links below.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Learn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,128.

Today, as reports allege Moscow lost 96 cruise missiles as a result of last week’s strike on Russia’s Engels airbase, we assess the latest bombardments of the past 24 hours, and the next defence summit of European leaders taking place in Paris today. Then, later, we discuss the gargantuan task of archiving source material relating to the war.

Contributors:

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

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

James Crisp (Europe Editor). @JamesCrisp6 on X.

With thanks to Maksym Demydenko of the Ukraine War Archive.

Content Referenced:

Learn more about the Ukraine War Archive:

https://ukrainewararchive.org/eng/

They are contactable at [email protected] 

Telegraph Live Blog of the Paris Summit:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/27/russia-ukraine-peace-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news/

Ukraine ceasefire on brink as EU refuses to lift Russia sanctions (James Crisp in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/26/ukraine-ceasefire-brink-eu-refuses-lift-russia-sanctions/

Brussels urges citizens to stockpile food in case of invasion (James Crisp in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/26/eu-urges-citizens-to-stockpile-food-in-case-of-invasion/

NOW AVAILABLE 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, or click the links below.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Learn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,127.

Today, as the White House’s Signal data breach controversy unfolds, we examine the details of the alleged Black Sea ceasefire deal, which has sparked differing interpretations from Ukraine and Russia. We also explore the possibility of a secret agreement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Contributors:

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

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

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon (Chemical Weapons Expert and Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X.

Content Referenced:

Briefings & Statements (The White House):

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/ 

Here Are the Attack Plans That Trump’s Advisers Shared on Signal (The Atlantic):

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/signal-group-chat-attack-plans-hegseth-goldberg/682176/

Putin is beaten in the Black Sea. Of course he wants a ceasefire there (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/25/putin-defeated-black-sea-ceasefire-naval-victory-ukraine/ 

Europe’s War in Ukraine (Jack Watling in Foreign Affairs):

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/europes-war-ukraine 

EU ethical rules blocking £100bn defence spending boom (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/24/eu-ethical-rules-blocking-100bn-from-defence-industry/

How Europe can hurt Russia’s economy (The Economist):

https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/03/24/how-europe-can-hurt-russias-economy

Lukoil Profits Drop Nearly 30% (The Moscow Times):

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/03/26/lukoil-profits-drop-nearly-30-in-2024-amid-asset-losses-higher-taxes-a88485 

Inside Russia’s Gazprom (The Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/5da44f55-d28a-4965-b7a5-bf014d685036?shareType=nongift 

Oleg Gordievsky: the loneliest and bravest man I ever met (The Times):

https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/oleg-gordievsky-kgb-double-agent-8cxbpkctk

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,126.

Today, following the latest updates from the battlefront, we look at the extraordinary security breach that saw a journalist invited into a secret chat group for Donald Trump’s war cabinet, and then hear about the mood of Ukrainian soldiers at the front.

Contributors:

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

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

Gareth Corfield (Transport Correspondent). @GazTheJourno on X.

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

Content Referenced:

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans (The Atlantic):

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/trump-administration-accidentally-texted-me-its-war-plans/682151/

Francis’s Video Interview on Silicon Curtain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25uu4_YHgPQ&t=586s

Verity’s Telegraph Pieces:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/v/va-ve/verity-bowman/ 

Trump cabinet complained about ‘free-loading Europe’ in top secret group chat (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/03/24/trump-cabinet-complained-free-loading-europe-secret-chat/

Zelensky on Trump, Putin, and the Endgame in Ukraine (TIME):

https://time.com/7270880/zelensky-trump-putin-ukraine-endgame-interview/

What the Kremlin Wants in New Talks with the U.S. on Ukraine (The Moscow Times):

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/03/23/playing-for-time-what-the-kremlin-wants-in-new-talks-with-the-us-on-ukraine-a88445

NOW AVAILABLE 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, or click the links below.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Learn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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