Ukraine: The Latest

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 XWith 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-a87916Russia’s fears over ex-Soviet nations laid bare in leaked paper (Financial Times):https://www.ft.com/content/2bb87769-805a-4270-bab2-2382e0b84cecAmerica'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_officeSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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 XWith 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 terrifiedhttps://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.htmlThe Cambridge Journal of Law, Politics and Art: Exploring Ukrainian Identity: In Conversation with Anastasiia Marushevskahttps://www.cjlpa.org/post/exploring-ukrainian-identity-in-conversation-with-anastasiia-marushevskaKyiv Independent: US foreign aid transformed Ukraine. Its suspension threatens decades of workhttps://kyivindependent.com/how-us-foreign-aid-transformed-ukraine-through-the-years/Ukraïnerhttps://www.ukrainer.net/en/Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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 KyivKyiv Independent: First French Mirage fighter jets reportedly arrive in Ukraine — here's what they can doOn the ‘unofficial’ presidential campaign underway in Ukraine:Le Monde: Unofficial presidential campaign gets underway in UkrainePolitico: Ukraine freaks out as US and Russia push for electionsKyiv Independent: Ukraine won't hold elections until Russia's war is over, Ukraine's envoy to US saysEast Piano, by Ukrainian musician and now soldier John Object, on BBC Radio 3: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0027db3Interview with John Object, musician turned solider, from 2022: https://mixmag.net/feature/ukraine-kyiv-war-john-object-artist-producer-soldier-interviewSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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/enContent Referenced:Journalist Tim White on destroyed boats near Khersonhttps://x.com/TWMCLtd/status/1887044034465517988David Lammy promises £55m in support for Ukraine on visit to war-torn countryhttps://news.sky.com/story/david-lammy-promises-55m-in-support-for-ukraine-on-visit-to-war-torn-country-13303301Kyiv 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 Kyivhttps://shows.acast.com/6583012e715d5300169dcdcb/episodes/673dd91593bec8617f2f26cf?Thread from PEN Ukraine's X account about David's memorialhttps://x.com/PenUkraine/status/1855248806217920530Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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=1000687394662Trump wants Ukrainian rare earths deal in return for US military support (FT):https://www.ft.com/content/94efcd8a-93ce-4ca6-bd07-061bfed1fdbf?shareType=nongiftBiden 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=enSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,076.Today, as Britain’s Prime Minister prepares to hold defence and security talks with EU leaders for the first time since Brexit, we report from the front line near Pokrovsk in the Donbas and, later, interview a West Point Professor who says negotiating with Moscow is a doomed enterprise.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.Inna Varenytsia (Ukrainian Journalist). @InnaVarenytsia on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor, Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.With special thanks to our guest Dr. Robert Person (Associate Professor of International Relations at the United States Military Academy at West Point). @RTPerson3Content 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=1000687394662Why Ukraine Shouldn’t Negotiate with Putin (Dr Robert Person in Journal of Democracy):https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/why-ukraine-shouldnt-negotiate-with-putin/UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine press release:https://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/Alarming-Rise-in-Executions-of-Captured-Ukrainian-Military-PersonnelSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,073.Today, we hear the latest acts of resistance in the occupied territories, report on new deep strikes into Russia – reaching as far as the city formerly called Stalingrad – and discuss deficiencies in military training, and how it needs to change.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on XRoland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former British Army Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on XWith thanks to Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn 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=1000687394662Kyiv Independent launches fundraiser to support front-line media after US aid freeze:https://kyivindependent.com/kyiv-independent-launches-fundraiser-to-support-ukrainian-front-line-media-after-us-aid-freezeNorth Korean Troops No Longer Seen on Front Lines Fighting Ukraine (New York Times):https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/world/europe/north-korea-troops-ukraine-russia.htmlSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,072.Today, we join the dots of coordinated efforts to destroy Putin's war machine, discuss the opportunities of a Europe no longer dependent on Russian energy, hear about a mysterious ship trawling the coast of Britain, and learn about another podcast about Ukraine. Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on XDominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on XMemphis Barker (Senior Foreign Correspondant). @memphisbarker on XWith thanks to our guests Nate Darling and Dr Taras Mahlay of The Cleveland Ukraine Podcast. @cleuapodcast on XContent Referenced:Cleveland Ukraine Podcast:https://clevelandukrainepodcast.com/Cleveland Maidan Association:https://www.clevelandmaidan.info/The Ukrainian Museum-Archives in Cleveland:https://umacleveland.org/Media Development Foundation (Journalists Network in Ukraine):https://x.com/mediadvptUkrainian Action:https://www.ukrainianaction.com/ Ukraine reels from ‘worst-case scenario’ suspension of US foreign aid (The Guardian):https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/ukraine-trump-suspension-us-foreign-aid-usaidThe Russian spy ship in Britain’s waters preparing ground for war (Memphis in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/29/russian-spy-ship-british-waters-preparing-war/Ukraine is now on track to completely destroy russia’s oil industry (Kyiv Insider):https://kyivinsider.com/ukraine-is-now-on-track-to-completely-destroy-russias-oil-industry/EU debates return to Russian gas as part of Ukraine peace deal (Financial Times):https://www.ft.com/content/a19aa690-fb54-41ea-9885-10972b11ab24Top EU-US officials discuss war in Ukraine (Bloomberg):https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-28/top-eu-us-diplomats-discuss-pressuring-russia-over-ukraine-warPutin has "ground up" the entire legacy of the Soviet military-industrial complex (The Insider):https://theins.ru/politika/277994Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Day 1,071.Today, following the news a Ukrainian drone attack hit yet another oil depot last night, and as Trump threatens to lower the price of oil and stall Russian exports, we focus on oil. We also talk tank action with our guest Hamish De Bretton-Gordon.Contributors:Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Narrative Podcast Producer). @Adeliepjz on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X.With special thanks to our guest, Dr. Yuri Shevchuk.Content Referenced:Economist Robin Brooks on Russian oil imports to Europehttps://x.com/robin_j_brooks/status/1884215985357668862Reuters on China and India staling their imports of Russian oil https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/russia-oil-trade-china-india-stalls-sanctions-drive-up-shipping-costs-2025-01-28/The Kyiv Independent on Trump’s first week in office and what that means for Ukrainehttps://kyivindependent.com/what-trumps-first-week-in-office-says-about-his-stance-on-ukraine/Radio Free Europe on Putin refusing to engage in peace talks with ‘Illegitimate’ Zelenskyhttps://www.rferl.org/a/putin-ready-peace-talks-not-with-illegitimate-zelenskiy-/33294979.htmlTrump urges Opec countries to slash oil priceshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c17ewl98kgvoSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk