Putin's negotiators ‘soften hardline stance in private’ & Trump links security guarantees to Zelensky ceding territory

Putin's negotiators ‘soften hardline stance in private’ & Trump links security guarantees to Zelensky ceding territory

Day 1,433.

Today, amid increased Russian military pressure in the Donbas, and as Ukraine faces what the NATO Secretary General calls its “harshest winter for a decade”, we bring you the latest from the Ukraine peace talks, where the United States is understood to be increasing pressure on President Zelensky’s government to concede territory to Russia before Washington grants any security guarantees. But is Moscow’s position under Vladimir Putin softer than it appears, as some allege? Then we discuss civilian resilience in Ukraine with an expert from Harvard University.


Contributors

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

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

With thanks to Dr Emma Mateo (Harvard University’s Ukrainian Research Institute). @emm_mateo on X.


SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.


CONTENT REFERENCED:

Learn more about Harvard’s Ukrainian Research Institute’s ‘Solidarity Within and Beyond Ukraine Conference this Friday and Saturday:

https://www.huri.harvard.edu/tcup-conference


France opposes EU plan to buy British Storm Shadows for Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/26/france-opposes-eu-plan-to-buy-british-storm-shadows-ukraine/


Exclusive: Russian negotiators soften hardline stance in private, US officials say. Ukrainians urge caution (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/kremlin-negotiators-drop-hardline-stance-behind-closed-doors-us-official-reveals


US links security guarantees for Ukraine to peace deal ceding territory (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/8ca0d4fd-fdfd-4aa3-a3a2-90be00d55b9d


NATO boss Rutte slaps down calls for European army prompted by Trump fears (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/world/nato-boss-rutte-slaps-down-calls-european-army-prompted-by-trump-fears-2026-01-26/


Commission approves second wave of SAFE defence funding for eight Member States (EU):

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_211


‘Bread and War: A Ukrainian Story of Food, Bravery and Hope’ by Felicity Spector:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bread-War-Ukrainian-Story-Bravery/dp/1914613783


LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST 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. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest


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Episoder(1044)

BONUS: ‘There’s no deal to be done with Putin’, with Lt General (Retired) H.R. McMaster, Boris Johnson, Michael Koffman & Sergey Vysotsky

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20 Nov 202550min

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19 Nov 202555min

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Day 1,363.Today, after a 17-year-old girl was killed and 9 others injured in an overnight Russian missile attack in Kharkiv Oblast, we return to the dire situation in Pokrovsk, before asking why Vladi...

18 Nov 202545min

Ship ablaze after surprise attack on Danube port; 'sabotage' as explosion hits Polish railway track & surviving Putin's gulags

Ship ablaze after surprise attack on Danube port; 'sabotage' as explosion hits Polish railway track & surviving Putin's gulags

Day 1,362.Today, as Poland reports sabotage on vital rail links connecting it to Ukraine and Romania evacuates civilians after Russian strikes across the Danube, we unpack President Zelensky’s latest ...

17 Nov 202554min

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Day 1,359.Today, as one of Russia’s largest oil terminals burns following an overnight strike, we report on yet another aerial blitz on Kyiv and assess the latest wave of European support for Ukraine....

14 Nov 202556min

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13 Nov 202556min

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