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Ukraine: The Latest
Ukraine liberates Urozhaine, modified 'anti-drone' tanks spotted & the 'forgotten' war that shaped Putin
Day 539.
Today, we discuss an array of stories: from the fallout of Kyiv’s recapture of Urozhaine, sightings of modified British Challenger 2 tanks on the frontline, and the long term implications of the largely forgotten Russo-Georgian War, which took place 15 years ago last week.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host, Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on Twitter.
Nataliya Vasilyeva (Russia Correspondent). @Nat_Vasilyeva on Twitter.
James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @JKJourno on Twitter.
Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Former Tank commander). @HamishDBG on Twitter.
To listen to David's interview with celebrated Ukrainian historian Serhii Plokhy, scroll to the bottom of this article and hit play on the audio player: Serhii Plokhy interview: ‘Putin wants control of Ukraine – but he is prepared to go for plan B’
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Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk
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UK pledges 'boots on the ground' in Ukraine as European leaders meet for emergency summit
57:48|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/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.ukNuclear fears as 'high explosive warhead' hits Chernobyl & Europe pledges high-tech arms at Munich
01:05:20|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-gscjfhpm5Europe must respond to Trump ‘electroshock’, says Macron (The Financial Times):https://www.ft.com/content/1ee43b51-9d3a-47d2-adf6-3315c38e1c38Trump 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-8fa1a5b794daSam Greene's Analysis:https://x.com/samagreene/status/1890172987024027709Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk'Betrayal': Trump talks to Putin & US says it is 'no longer a guarantor' of Europe's defence
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56:20|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-ukraineThe 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-americaUkraine's cutting-edge 'Drone Line' project & Trump suddenly 'pauses' talks with Russia
57:14|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/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.ukTrump: Putin 'does care' about battlefield losses & EU states turn off Russian electricity forever
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01:06:57|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.ukRussia's drone airfield 'in flames' & French fighter jets unleashed
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54:55|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