Day 1,567.
As Ukraine intensifies its campaign against Crimea by striking key bridges and transport links in an effort to isolate the peninsula, we examine potentially seismic political developments in London. Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey – one of Kyiv’s strongest allies and a leading advocate for military rearmament – has dramatically resigned in protest over defence spending and the country’s preparedness for a future conflict, triggering a crisis that could topple the Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Francis and Dom comb through Healey’s damning resignation letter and consider how Kyiv will react to the news. Later, Francis explores a major new report on the risks of a sudden ceasefire in Ukraine with some of the world’s leading experts.
Thumbnail image shows Crimean bridge ablaze in 2022.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
With thanks to:
Orysia Lutsevych OBE (head of the Ukraine Forum, Chatham House)
Simon Smith (chair of the steering committee, Ukraine Forum, Chatham House, and British ambassador 2012 to 2015)
Keir Giles (senior consulting fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House, and author Who Will Defend Europe?)
John Lough (associate fellow, Chatham House, and head of foreign policy, New Eurasian Strategies Centre)
Producer: Phil Atkins
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: James England
Social Producer: Tom Steed
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:
John Healey resigns over Starmer’s defence spending plan (The Telegraph):
Russia is creating launch sites for combat drones near the borders of Belarus. We show you where (Radio Liberty, in Belarusian):
https://www.svaboda.org/a/33777451.html
How a Russia–Ukraine ceasefire could imperil Ukrainian and European security (Chatham House):
EMAIL US:
Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS: