Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,136.

Today, as the heads of the French and British armed forces arrive in Kyiv for talks on what the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ might look like, we talk to the Chief Executive of the HALO Trust on how drone-mounted lasers are helping in the demining effort. Later, Francis Dearnley interviews the author of a new book that explores how Russia's War has not only destroyed millions of human lives, but has been catastrophic for the environment.

Contributors:

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

James Cowan (CEO of HALO Trust). @TheHALOTrust on X.

With thanks to Darya Tsymbalyuk (Author and Assistant Professor, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Chicago). @DaryaTsymbalyuk on X.

Content Referenced:

Darya Tsymbalyuk's book, Ecocide in Ukraine: The Environmental Cost of Russia's War:

Day 1,135.

Today, as the White House suspends sanctions in order to get one of Putin’s chief aides into the US, we hear how a Kremlin mouthpiece fell for an April Fool’s joke about the Royal Navy, and we go live to NATO HQ in Brussels. Later, we hear from a new Ukraine exhibition at Britain’s tank museum.

Contributors:

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

Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.

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

NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them, or click the links below.

Day 1,134.

Today, as Moscow resumes its bombardments on Ukraine, we discuss reports that it is dawning on Donald Trump’s administration that a swift ceasefire deal is not going to happen without action against the Russian economy. Then we return to that very subject, and ask: how much leverage does the White House have on sanctions, and is it declining?

Contributors:

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

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

Stephanie Baker (Senior writer at Bloomberg and sanctions expert). @StephaniBaker on X.

Content Referenced:

Trump officials eye a longer road to Ukraine peace as frustration mounts (Reuters):

Day 1,133.

Today, further to news from the battlefront and beyond, we look at Putin's decision to mobilise a record number of men, and what it means for the prospects of a meaningful ceasefire. Then, in a special interview, Francis Dearnley talks to one of the men involved in some of the most important decisions made by the Biden administration relating to the war. What did they get right, and what did they get wrong?

Contributors:

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

Ambassador Michael Carpenter (Former Senior Director for Europe of the The United States National Security Council). @mikercarpenter on X.

Content Referenced:

Putin drafts 160,000 men into Russian army despite peace talks (The Telegraph):

Day 1,132.

Today, as reports surface of Russian attempts to get behind Ukrainian lines in the Donbas by going underground, we assess the impact of Donald Trump’s supposed loss of patience with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, asking how much of the rage is concocted, and we hear more about the experience of women who endured torture at the hands of the Russians.

Contributors:

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

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

David Blair (Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator). @davidblairdt on X.

Verity Bowman (Journalist). @VerityBowman on X.

Content Referenced:

Dom’s Panel at Oxford Literary Festival: