Ukraine's spy problem & Putin's visit to Iran

Day 1,160.Today, as Vladimir Putin announces a sudden three-day ceasefire in May, we assess just how meaningful it really is, and ask: why now? Then we analyse another extraordinary weekend of diplomacy at Pope Francis’s funeral, before learning more about the history of the Donbas: a region where much of the war’s fiercest fighting has taken place.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on XWith thanks to Victoria Donovan (Professor of Ukrainian and East European Studies at the University of St Andrews). @vsdonovan on X.Content Referenced:Victoria’s Book: ‘Life in Spite of Everything: Tales from the Ukrainian East’:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Spite-Everything-Tales-Ukrainian/dp/1917092148Freefilmers - a collective of filmmakers and artists, originally from Mariupol:https://help-freefilmers.network/ Behind the scenes at Trump’s most extraordinary meeting yet (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/28/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-ceasefire-latest-news529/ The Russian Military Moves That Have Europe on Edge (Wall Street Journal):https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russia-military-nato-europe-finland-ff53b912 The ugly task of Putin-proofing your border (The Economist):https://www.economist.com/international/2025/04/22/the-ugly-task-of-putin-proofing-your-borderNOW 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.Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestLearn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28 Apr 50min

Day 1,157.Today, after Donald Trump makes the rare intervention of scolding Vladimir Putin for one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv of the war, we discuss the latest considerations of the coalition of the willing with regards to boots on the ground, and the evolving nature of acts of resistance in the occupied territories – and within Russia itself. Later, we listen to recordings from Ukraine that reveal the impact the conflict has had on the natural environment.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on XWith thanks to Illia Riepin and Dr Janine Natalya Clark (Professor of Gender, Transitional Justice and International Criminal Law, University of Birmingham). @bhamlaw on X.Content Referenced:Ukraine Soundscape Exhibition:https://rethinking-transitional-justice.bham.ac.uk/sounds/exhibition/sounds/ Russian general ‘killed’ in Moscow car bombing (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/25/russia-ukraine-zelensky-trump-putin-war-latest-news529/ Starmer challenges Trump peace plan for Ukraine (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/24/starmer-challenges-donald-trump-over-ukraine-peace-plan/ UK could scrap plans to send thousands of troops to Ukraine (The Times):https://www.thetimes.com/article/5b446875-f8ae-420e-994d-a7de9ee512eb?shareToken=bada5b595a9e808f1354df937c051351 Judge halts Trump's shutdown of Voice of America (BBC):https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jz58zjllzoSon of senior CIA official died fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine (Euromaidan):https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/04/25/son-of-senior-cia-official-died-fighting-for-russian-forces-in-ukraine/ Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25 Apr 56min

Day 1,156.Today, as Kyiv is hit by the deadliest strikes in almost a year, we examine Donald Trump’s attack on President Zelensky having failed to negotiate the peace deal he said would take him only 24 hours. Then we take a deep dive into the Wagner mercenary group with the author of a new book who says Yevgeny Prigozhin’s outfit is the logical outcome when a country contracts its soul to a pitiless militia.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on XFrancis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.With thanks to Candace Rondeaux (US journalist, public policy analyst, and professor of practice at the School of Politics and Global Studies and a senior fellow with the Center on the Future of War at Arizona State University). @CandaceRondeaux on X.Content Referenced:Candice’s Book, ‘Putin’s Sledgehammer: The Wagner Group and Russia's Collapse into Mercenary Chaos’:https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/candace-rondeaux/putins-sledgehammer/9781541703087/?lens=publicaffairs Telegraph Ukraine Live Blog:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/24/russia-ukraine-talks-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news/Trump blames Zelensky for derailing peace talks (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/23/trump-blames-zelensky-derailing-london-peace-talks/ Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Apr 56min

Day 1,155.Today, we break down the dramatic collapse of Donald Trump’s proposed peace deal for Ukraine. European, Ukrainian, and American officials were scheduled to meet – until everything suddenly unraveled. Is the US stepping back from the negotiation table? Plus, we launch a brand-new segment focusing on Russia’s domestic front and explore how the ongoing war is reshaping Central Asia’s political and economic landscape.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on XFrancis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.James Kilner (Editor of The Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin and The Russia Morning Memo). @jkjourno on X.Content Referenced:James Kilner’s Bulletins -The Russian Memo: https://www.thememo.news/The Central Asia and South Caucasus Bulletin: https://www.thememo.news/ Trump to let Putin keep land seized from Ukraine (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/22/trumps-plan-to-let-putin-keep-land-seized-from-ukraine/Foreign ministers postpone Ukraine peace talks in London (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/23/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-ceasefire-latest-news/ Huge explosion destroys ammunition dump outside Moscow (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/22/huge-explosion-destroys-ammunition-dump-outside-moscow/ Crimean Tatar Mejlis rejects any international recognition of Crimea as Russian (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/crimean-tatar-mejlis-rejects-any-international-recognition-of-crimea-as-russian-chairman-says/?mc_cid=4bb9102bb5&mc_eid=08d0680a95 CNN gets first glimpse of Trump portrait reportedly sent from Putin (CNN):https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/22/world/video/trump-portrait-russia-putin-ldn-digvid Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23 Apr 59min

Day 1,154.Today, we ask how meaningful the weekend’s so-called ‘Easter truce’ really was, look at the new American peace proposals put to Kyiv and its allies – which include major concessions both in territory and sovereignty – then reflect on the legacy of Pope Francis in relation to the war. Later, we hear about a new book investigating Russian spies who spent decades undercover: what does it teach us about modern spycraft?Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on XRoland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.Shaun Walker (Eastern Europe at the Guardian). @shaunwalker7 on X.Content Referenced:Special Ukraine: The Latest on Children:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-childhood-at-war/id1612424182?i=1000704331753 Special Ukraine: The Latest with Dom’s Panel:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-how-the-west-fights-back/id1612424182?i=1000704022027 Shaun Walker’s book ‘The Illegals: Russia's Most Audacious Spies and the Plot to Infiltrate the West’:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Illegals-History-Moscows-Audacious-Program/dp/1788167775 Kremlin ‘satisfied’ with US proposal to ban Ukraine from Nato (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/21/kremlin-satisfied-with-us-proposal-to-ban-ukraine-from-nato/Kyiv Is On the Clock to Respond to Trump Plan to End Ukraine Conflict (Wall Street Journal):https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/kyiv-is-on-the-clock-to-respond-to-trump-plan-to-end-ukraine-conflict-f3538799 Trump Tower Moscow, Rare Earths and Geopolitical Perks: How the Kremlin Plans to Bait Trump Into a Grand Bargain (The Moscow Times):https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/21/trump-tower-moscow-rare-earths-and-geopolitical-perks-how-the-kremlin-plans-to-bait-trump-into-a-grand-bargain-a88762Ukraine's Catholics express hurt over late Pope's war stance (Reuters):https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-catholics-express-hurt-over-late-popes-war-stance-2025-04-21/Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22 Apr 56min

Today is a public holiday in Britain, so in a special Easter episode, we take you to a grand terrace in West London, where a green door blends into its elegant surroundings.We go behind that door – into a school unlike any other. There, you’ll hear from young Ukrainians who fled their homes within hours of the invasion, and from the teachers and classmates helping them rebuild their lives in a foreign land.Through their voices, we explore what it means to grow up far from home – and how one London school has become both a lifeline and a second home for a generation caught between worlds.Learn more about St Mary's Ukrainian School:https://www.stmarysukrschool.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 Apr 38min

Day 1,151.Today, after the unexpected announcement by Vladimir Putin of a 30-hour truce for Easter we assess what it might mean for the war, how likely it is to hold and discuss what comes next. Having rejected Donald Trump’s proposal for an unconditional ceasefire 39 days ago, what does Putin hope to gain by this latest gamble? Francis Dearnley and Dom Nicholls offer their thoughts. Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on XSubscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 Apr 19min

Today is a public holiday in Britain, so in a special Easter episode, Dom Nicholls chairs a panel of experts at the Oxford Literary Festival. Government adviser Keir Giles, academic Professor Mark Galeotti, and journalist Stephanie Baker discuss the Russian threat and how to deal with Vladimir Putin, including why the Russian President retains his stranglehold on power, the need for Europe to wake up on defence, and the impacts of economic sanctions. How can the West win?Learn more about the event and the speakers:https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/literature-events/2025/april-02/the-russian-threat-why-it-has-grown-and-how-to-fight-backWith thanks to Paul Oluwadare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18 Apr 1h 4min