{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6583012e715d5300169dcdcb/69a9b2bc7036d73902b19d4f?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Pentagon 'asks Ukraine for help' to shoot down Iranian weapons & Putin swells regular Russian army to 2.4 million men","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6583012e715d5300169dcdcb/1772729915123-0dbe7ad3-aef1-4999-9a69-6e22f0c11591.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p><strong>Day 1,470.</strong></p><p>Today, as the Pentagon and at least one Gulf state are revealed to be in talks with Kyiv to buy Ukrainian-made interceptors to fend off attacks by Iranian drones, we look at the latest expansion of the Russian armed forces, before looking at what Moscow is telling its population about the war in the Middle East. Then we bring you an exclusive interview with the French Ambassador to Ukraine to hear how prepared they are for boots on the ground.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Contributors:</strong></p><p>Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.</p><p>Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.</p><p>Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.</p><p>James Kilner (Russian Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.</p><p>With thanks to the French Ambassador to Ukraine, Gaël Veyssière.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS &amp; BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:</strong></p><p>Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdHjleMvPSs-JEjiQ8_D2cA\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdHjleMvPSs-JEjiQ8_D2cA</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>CONTENT REFERENCED:</strong></p><p>France and Germany dash Ukraine’s hopes of fast-track EU membership (The Telegraph):</p><p><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/04/france-germany-dash-ukraines-hopes-fast-track-eu-membership/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/04/france-germany-dash-ukraines-hopes-fast-track-eu-membership/</a>&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Putin is failing: these charts prove it (Washington Post): <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/03/04/russia-ukraine-war-territorial-gains-putin/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/03/04/russia-ukraine-war-territorial-gains-putin/</a>&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Anniversary of the occupation of the ZNPP: sanctions should cover the entire Rosatom ecosystem (dixigroup):</p><p><a href=\"https://dixigroup.org/richniczya-okupaczi%D1%97-zaes-sankczi%D1%97-mayut-ohopiti-vsyu-ekosistemu-rosatoma/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://dixigroup.org/richniczya-okupaczi%D1%97-zaes-sankczi%D1%97-mayut-ohopiti-vsyu-ekosistemu-rosatoma/</a>&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Exclusive: Ukraine's F-16 jets were starved of US-made missiles for weeks (Reuters):</p><p><a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraines-f-16-jets-were-starved-us-made-missiles-weeks-2026-03-05/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=Social\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraines-f-16-jets-were-starved-us-made-missiles-weeks-2026-03-05/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=Social</a>&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Pentagon eyes Ukrainian interceptor drones to counter Iran (Financial Times):</p><p><a href=\"https://www.ft.com/content/d077e9c6-1573-46dc-8658-3db3aaf7cdfb?shareType=nongift\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.ft.com/content/d077e9c6-1573-46dc-8658-3db3aaf7cdfb?shareType=nongift</a>&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Ukraine Unbroken: 5 short plays by acclaimed writers about Ukraine’s resilience, now on at the Arcola Theatre in London until March 28::</p><p><a href=\"http://www.arcolatheatre.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">www.arcolatheatre.com</a> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:</strong></p><p>Our weekly newsletter includes maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons, answers your questions, provides recommended reading, and gives exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights.. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers. Join here – <a href=\"http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter</a>&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p><strong>EMAIL US:</strong></p><p>Contact the team on <a href=\"mailto:ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk</a> . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.</p>","author_name":"The Telegraph"}