Day 1,090.

Today, just as the Munich Security Conference ends, two new summits begin: in Saudi Arabia – where the US will enter peace talks with the Russians – and in Paris, as European prime ministers and defence secretaries scramble to forge a collective position. Meanwhile, attacks continue in Ukraine and Russia, and we interview again the 2022 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize at Munich.

Contributors:

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

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

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

With thanks to Oleksandra Matviichuk (Head of the Center for Civil Liberties - Ukraine). @avalaina on X.

Content Referenced:

Potentially putting Britons in harm’s way is a huge responsibility – but we must be ready to do our bit for Europe (British PM Keir Starmer in The Telegraph)

The Telegraph Live Blog of today's developments:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/02/17/ukraine-russia-war-starmer-paris-latest-news/

This is how Ukraine’s war ends. But Trump’s plan for what comes next is even more radical (Roland Oliphant in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/02/16/sir-keir-starmer-british-troops-ukraine/

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,087.

Today, as the Munich Security Conference tops a critical diplomatic week for Ukraine, we examine the latest political manoeuvres, talk to the UN Senior Mine Action Advisor in Ukraine, and hear the latest on the underground war being waged in the occupied territories.

Contributors:

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 Paul Heslop (Senior Mine Action Advisor for the United Nations in Ukraine). @UNMAS on X.

Content Referenced:

Munich Security Conference Live Blog (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/02/14/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news-munich/

How Trump’s Russia-Ukraine peace plan blindsided Europe (The Times):

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/nato-trump-ukraine-russia-peace-plan-gscjfhpm5

Europe must respond to Trump ‘electroshock’, says Macron (The Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/1ee43b51-9d3a-47d2-adf6-3315c38e1c38

Trump has put the ball back in Putin’s court on Ukraine (Lawrence Freedman in The Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/c81e2b9f-2ff5-4282-9f5a-8fa1a5b794da

Sam Greene's Analysis:

https://x.com/samagreene/status/1890172987024027709

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,086.

Today, we discuss what many are calling a “turning point” in the war and in Western foreign policy, as the Trump administration declares definitively the US will no longer be a primary guarantor of Europe's security, and seeks a deal with Russia over the heads of Kyiv and its allies. We hear the reaction from Brussels and Ukraine, and consider the options for those Western nations that remain committed to Ukrainian independence.

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.

With thanks to Svitlana Morenets (Staff Writer at the Spectator). @SvMorenets on X.

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,085.

Please note: today's episode was recorded hours before the phone call between President Trump and President Putin. This will be covered in detail in tomorrow's episode.

Today, we report on the ballistic missiles that fell on Kyiv and other cities overnight, consider the American and Ukrainian approaches to forthcoming talks, and hear from a range of experts on the pivotal issues of the moment ahead of the Munich Security Conference.

Contributors:

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

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

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

Ben Barry (Senior Fellow for Land Warfare).

With thanks to our guests Meia Nouwens and Fenella McGerty.

Content Referenced:

Peace talks with Russia at risk after strike on Kyiv injures four (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/02/12/nine-year-old-girl-injured-russian-missile-attack-kyiv/

Putin’s Ukraine: The End of War and the Price of Russian Occupation (Foreign Affairs):

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/putins-ukraine

The New American Imperialism (Francis Fukayami in Persuasion):

https://www.persuasion.community/

Zelensky: Europe cannot guarantee Ukraine’s security without America (The Guardian):

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/11/zelenskyy-europe-cannot-guarantee-ukraines-security-without-america

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

Day 1,084.

Today, The Telegraph reveals that the Trump administration has paused its peace plan for Ukraine in order to give Europe a seat at the negotiating table. Meanwhile, the American president says that Kyiv had agreed to sign a resource deal in exchange for military support. Finally, we we discuss Wagner troops in the Central African Republic and a Ukrainian photography exhibition in London.

Contributors:

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

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

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

Mike Eckel (Senior International Correspondent, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty). @Mike_Eckel on X.

With thanks to our guests Max Gorbatskyi and Viktoria Bavykina.

Content Referenced:

Trump envoy pauses Ukraine peace plan to hold talks with Nato allies (Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/02/10/trump-envoy-pauses-ukraine-peace-plan-talks-nato-allies/

Trump announces $500 billion rare earth 'agreement' (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-may-be-russian-someday-trump-suggests-while-announcing-500-billion-rare-earth-agreement/

Prevail Partners Report:

https://www.prevail-partners.com/

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,083.

Today, we look to the Baltic Sea, where a Russian Shadow tanker exploded in “man-made incident”, as states disconnect the cables between Russia and Europe's power grid. Plus, Trump claims to have spoken to Vladimir Putin.

Contributors:

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

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

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

With thanks to Tatiana Podchernina (Founder, Kharkiv Aid). tatiana_podchernina on IG.

Content Referenced:

Trump reveals he’s spoken with Putin by phone (New York Post):

https://nypost.com/2025/02/08/us-news/trump-and-putin-in-talks-to-end-the-russia-ukraine-war/

Baltic Nations Switch Off Russian Power Grid (The Moscow Times):

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/02/08/baltic-nations-switch-off-russian-power-grid-a87916

Russia’s fears over ex-Soviet nations laid bare in leaked paper (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/2bb87769-805a-4270-bab2-2382e0b84cec

America's Soft Power Retreat (The New Yorker):

https://www.newyorker.com/news/fault-lines/the-rise-of-chinas-soft-power 

Learn more about Tatiana's organisation:

https://www.instagram.com/kharkiv_aid_office

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,080.

Today, we talk about Ukrainian advances in Kursk, a potential leaked peace plan from the Trump administration, and the impact of the withdrawal of USAID on Ukrainian media.

Contributors:

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

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

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

With thanks to Anastasiia Marushevska (editor-in-chief of Ukraїner International and co-founder of PR Army). @_little_grace_ on X.

Content Referenced:

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon in The Telegraph: Trump’s Gaza intervention must have Putin terrified

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/07/trump-gaza-putin-ukraine-peace-plan-terrified/

Mail Online, 'Trump peace plan for Ukraine' is 'leaked'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14367923/Trump-peace-plan-Ukraine-Putin-ceasefire-Easter-Zelensky-NATO.html

The Cambridge Journal of Law, Politics and Art: Exploring Ukrainian Identity: In Conversation with Anastasiia Marushevska

https://www.cjlpa.org/post/exploring-ukrainian-identity-in-conversation-with-anastasiia-marushevska

Kyiv Independent: US foreign aid transformed Ukraine. Its suspension threatens decades of work

https://kyivindependent.com/how-us-foreign-aid-transformed-ukraine-through-the-years/

Ukraïner

https://www.ukrainer.net/en/

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,079.

Today, we mark the six month anniversary of the Kursk offensive, talk about how Russian spies may be involved in bombings at Ukrainian army recruitment offices, and discuss how politicians in Ukraine have been quietly pushing the profiles looking ahead to elections at the end of the war. We're also on the ground in Ukraine at the demining headquarters of Irpin.

Contributors:

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

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

Content Referenced:

On French fighter jets delivered to Ukraine:

Le Monde: Can France's Mirage 2000-5 jets help the Ukrainian army?

Le Monde: By sending Mirage fighters, France steps up support for Kyiv

Kyiv Independent: First French Mirage fighter jets reportedly arrive in Ukraine — here's what they can do

On the ‘unofficial’ presidential campaign underway in Ukraine:

Le Monde: Unofficial presidential campaign gets underway in Ukraine

Politico: Ukraine freaks out as US and Russia push for elections

Kyiv Independent: Ukraine won't hold elections until Russia's war is over, Ukraine's envoy to US says

East Piano, by Ukrainian musician and now soldier John Object, on BBC Radio 3: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0027db3

Interview with John Object, musician turned solider, from 2022: 

https://mixmag.net/feature/ukraine-kyiv-war-john-object-artist-producer-soldier-interview

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,078.

Today, as British Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrives for talks in Kyiv we hear how a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine gets a step closer, and we hear from Finland’s Foreign Minister who says that sanctions against the Kremlin are working and ‘serious cracks’ are starting to appear in Russia’s economy.

Contributors:

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

Memphis Barker (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @MemphisBarker on X.

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

With special thanks to our friends at PEN Ukraine. @PENUkraine on X.

https://pen.org.ua/en

Content Referenced:

Journalist Tim White on destroyed boats near Kherson

https://x.com/TWMCLtd/status/1887044034465517988

David Lammy promises £55m in support for Ukraine on visit to war-torn country

https://news.sky.com/story/david-lammy-promises-55m-in-support-for-ukraine-on-visit-to-war-torn-country-13303301

Kyiv Independent, Ukrainian FM calls Putin’s remarks on Zelensky’s legitimacy 'absurd'

https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-fm-calls-putins-remarks-on-zelenskys-legitimacy-absurd/

Episode from November 20th, where Francis Dearnley and Hanna Ustynova talk about David's memorial plaque in PEN Ukraine's offices and exhibition space, in Kyiv

https://shows.acast.com/6583012e715d5300169dcdcb/episodes/673dd91593bec8617f2f26cf?

Thread from PEN Ukraine's X account about David's memorial

https://x.com/PenUkraine/status/1855248806217920530

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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

Day 1,077.

Today, we discuss the slashing of USAID and how Trump wants to access Ukraine’s rare minerals in exchange for military support, and we report on Russia having more losses over the last two months than at any other point since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Contributors:

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

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

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

With special thanks to Asami Terajima (Reporter at The Kyiv Independent). @AsamiTerajima on X.

Content Referenced:

Battle Lines, our sister podcast, exploring wider global affairs:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/trump-edition-americas-ai-war-with-china-what-his/id1712903296?i=1000687394662

Trump wants Ukrainian rare earths deal in return for US military support (FT):

https://www.ft.com/content/94efcd8a-93ce-4ca6-bd07-061bfed1fdbf?shareType=nongift

Biden administration slowed Ukraine arms shipments until his term was nearly done (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/investigations/biden-administration-beset-by-doubts-slowed-ukraine-weapons-shipments-until-2025-02-03/

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's article for Russia in Global Affairs magazine, “The UN Charter as the legal foundation of a multipolar world”:

https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1994357/?lang=en

Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: [email protected]

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