Ukraine: The Latest

Latest Episodes:

Zelensky gives up NATO ambitions in peace deal ‘concession’ & the missile-sized weak spot in Russia’s air defenses Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,390.

Today, after another weekend of intense diplomatic activity, we take you to Berlin, where President Zelensky is meeting the American delegation – joined by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz – as Europe seeks to reassert itself in the peace process. We also examine the surge in military activity over the weekend, which saw multiple cities plunged into blackout, before turning to Germany’s rapidly evolving position, where comparisons are increasingly being drawn between today and the events that sparked the Second World War.

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.

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:

Zelensky gives up Nato ambitions in peace deal concession (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/14/zelensky-gives-up-nato-ambitions-in-peace-deal-concession/

MI6 chief warns Putin: We won’t abandon Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/15/mi6-chief-warns-putin-we-wont-abandon-ukraine/

FBI boss met with Ukraine’s top peace negotiators (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/12/12/fbi-boss-ukraine-top-peace-negotiators/

Lithuania in state of emergency over smuggler balloons linked to Russia (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/09/lithuania-in-state-of-emergency-over-smuggler-balloons-link/

German tank-shaped Christmas calendar ‘glorifying war’ (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/10/german-tank-shaped-christmas-calendar-glorifying-war/

New Ukrainian Polling:

https://kiis.com.ua/

Chess-FIDE reinstates Russian and Belarusian teams in official contests (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/sports/chess-fide-reinstates-russian-belarusian-teams-official-contests-2025-12-15/

‘Disrupting Russian Air Defence Production: Reclaiming the Sky’ (RUSI):

https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/research-papers/disrupting-russian-air-defence-production-reclaiming-sky

Comprehensive approach to security: Federal Council launches consultation on Switzerland's security policy strategy (Swiss Government)

https://www.news.admin.ch/en/newnsb/BLkWfUbUsXtBFoSj-krgU

UN Press Page:

https://press.un.org/en

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

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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BONUS: ‘Russia fears one thing above all’, with Christopher Miller, Dr Jack Watling & Orysia Lutsevych OBE Dec 13, 2025

Show notes

Today, in a special bonus episode, we bring you a panel Francis Dearnley recently moderated at the Frontline Club in London – a renowned meeting place for anyone passionate about foreign affairs, hosting regular events with guests from think tanks, journalism, the humanitarian sector, and many more.

The discussion features leading experts on various dimensions of the war: Christopher Miller (Chief Ukraine Correspondent, Financial Times), Dr Jack Watling (Senior Research Fellow for Land Warfare, RUSI), and Orysia Lutsevych OBE (Head of the Ukraine Forum, Chatham House). Though recorded a few weeks ago, the conversation feels not just relevant, but prescient, in light of recent developments.

Topics include: what security guarantees Ukraine wants versus what it actually needs; the manpower challenges facing both Russia and Ukraine; the levers available to pressure Moscow; how a ceasefire can be either a remedy or a poison depending on its terms; the declining US role and Europe’s response; hybrid threats across the Continent...and the terrifying cost of delay.

Speakers:

Christopher Miller (Chief Ukraine Correspondent, The Financial Times)

Dr Jack Watling (Senior Research Fellow for Land Warfare, Royal United Services Institute)

Orysia Lutsevych OBE (Head of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House)

Learn more about The Frontline Club:

https://www.frontlineclub.com/

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NATO chief: Prepare for war with Russia Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,387.

Today, as Russia attempts to convince the world – or at least Donald Trump – that they are inexorably taking territory, President Zelensky has visited the north-east city of Kupiansk, which has been recently liberated in a rapid recapture of ground. The head of NATO warns that the West faces the prospect of war with Russia on a scale not seen since the days of “our grandparents and great-grandparents” and we examine the latest diplomatic manoeuvres ahead of tomorrow’s meeting in Paris, where the question of territorial concessions will be front and centre. And later, Francis catches up with Ada Wordsworth of KHARPP to hear how your donations to her charity in Kharkiv, made in David Knowles’s memory, are helping vulnerable people this Christmas.

Contributors

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

Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.

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

With thanks to Ada Wordsworth (co-founder of the KHARPP charity)

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

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

KHARPP Charity Website:

https://kharpp.com/

KHARPP Fundraiser for David Knowles:

https://donorbox.org/kharpp-fundraiser-in-memory-of-david-knowles

Nato chief: Prepare for war with Russia

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/11/nato-chief-prepare-for-war-with-russia/

Disrupting Russian Air Defence Production: Reclaiming the Sky https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/research-papers/disrupting-russian-air-defence-production-reclaiming-sky

The decorated marine tipped to be Labour’s next leader https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/12/12/al-carns-labour-next-leader-marine-armed-forces-minister/

Listen to Dom interview Al Carns on Battle Lines: https://linktr.ee/BattleLines

Head of US army cut out of Ukraine talks by paranoid Hegseth

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/12/12/pentagon-golden-boy-hegseth-dan-driscoll/

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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Ukraine launches massive drone blitz on Moscow & cripples shadow fleet tanker in Black Sea Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,386.

Today, as Ukraine fires hundreds of drones into Russia – forcing the closure of all major Moscow airports – we report on how the maritime war is intensifying, with Kyiv striking shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea and oil rigs in the Caspian Sea. Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions are rising, with President Donald Trump saying he exchanged “pretty strong words” with his European counterparts, just as reports emerge of a White House plan to bring Russia’s economy in from the cold. Then we return to controversial developments in the chess world with The Telegraph’s chess correspondent Malcolm Pein.

Contributors

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

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

With thanks to Malcolm Pein (Chess Correspondent). @TelegraphChess on X.

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

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Dom and Francis’s Chess Game with Malcolm in Odesa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCptvJ2tuIA

With clips in our Ukraine Culture War Documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28HqbQLYGMM&pp=ygUPb2Rlc2EgdGVsZWdyYXBo

Starmer, Macron and Merz warn Trump over ‘Euro-Atlantic’ alliance (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/10/starmer-macron-and-merz-warn-trump-euro-atlantic-alliance/

Ukrainian drone boats blow up Russian oil tankers (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/29/ukrainian-drone-boats-blow-up-russian-oil-tankers/

U.S. Blueprint to Rewire Economies of Russia, Ukraine Sets Off Clash With Europe (Wall Street Journal):

https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/u-s-blueprint-to-rewire-economies-of-russia-ukraine-sets-off-clash-with-europe-72484515

US House passes bill to bolster Europe’s defence, in apparent rebuke to Trump’s foreign policy strategy (The Guardian):

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/11/us-house-passes-bill-to-bolster-europes-defence-in-apparent-rebuke-to-trumps-foreign-policy-strategy

‘Make Europe Great Again’ and more from a longer version of the National Security Strategy (The Telegraph):

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/12/make-europe-great-again-and-more-longer-version-national-security-strategy/410038/?oref=d1-homepage-top-story

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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Trump: Zelensky has until Christmas to accept peace deal & the new deadly shadow war of assassinations and hybrid attacks Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,385.

Today, as Commander Syrskyi claims Ukraine has regained several kilometres of the frontline around Pokrovsk, we examine the format of the European counter-proposal to the US-Russia peace plan, as President Trump sets a new deadline of Christmas for President Zelensky to agree. We also take deep dives into Belgium’s stance on frozen Russian state assets and the state of hybrid warfare across Europe, before hearing from the UK Minister of the Armed Forces on the evolving European position and the growing dangers ahead.

Contributors

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

Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to Al Carns MP

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

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Trump: Zelensky has until Christmas to accept peace deal (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/09/trump-zelensky-must-accept-peace-deal-ukraine-losing/

Mapped: Russia and Ukraine’s deadly shadow war of assassinations (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/05/mapped-russia-ukraine-deadly-shadow-war-assassination/

Russia’s hybrid warfare puts Europe to the test (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/2084e87d-d491-4852-8449-f90b73d4788b

Zelensky 'ready' to hold elections during war, if partners ensure security (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-ready-to-hold-elections-during-war-if-partners-ensure-security/

Leaked documents expose global Russian soft-power influence network (New Voice of Ukraine):

https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/how-russia-built-a-worldwide-spy-ecosystem-using-youth-diplomacy-and-soft-power-50564951.html

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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Trump’s Ukraine peace deal 'on brink of collapse' as US President tears into 'stupid, weak' European leaders Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,384.

Today, as President Zelensky appears to reject Donald Trump’s proposal for Ukraine to cede territory to Moscow, we examine the new European plan set to be presented to the US later. We also report on how Ukrainian troops are still holding out in the frontline city of Pokrovsk, before turning to developments inside Russia: Putin’s new law requiring 100,000 military reservists to undergo two months of training, growing protests over tax rises, and the outcomes of his visit to India, where he signed a series of deals with Prime Minister Modi.

Contributors

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

Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor for Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.

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

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Trump’s Ukraine peace deal on brink of collapse (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/08/ukraine-russia-war-latest-starmer-zelensky-trump-putin/

Zelensky meets Pope ahead of peace talks with Meloni (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/09/zelensky-appeals-for-european-support-for-new-peace-deal/

Ukrainians raise flag to show BBC the fight goes on in city claimed by Russia (BBC):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd6x3vv7y60o

Trump thrashes European leaders in wide-ranging interview: ‘I think they’re weak’ (POLITICO):

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/09/trump-dasha-burns-interview-europe-immigration-ukraine-00682016?utm_content=topic/politics&utm_source=flipboard

Zelensky reveals candidates for Yermak's replacement as Presidential Office head (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-reveals-candidates-for-new-head-of-ukraines-presidents-office/

Trumpian Corruption Is Worse Than Ukrainian Corruption (Anne Applebaum in The Atlantic):

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2025/12/ukraine-fighting-corruption-trump/685162/

Exclusive: US extracted top spy from inside Russia in 2017 (The Telegraph):

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/09/politics/russia-us-spy-extracted

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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European leaders and Zelensky in London searching for 'new phase' to peace talks Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,383.

Today, after a weekend marked by continued talks in Florida between the Ukrainian and American delegations and President Donald Trump’s comments blaming Zelensky for stalling negotiations, the Ukrainian president meets British PM Keir Starmer, French President Macron and German Chancellor Merz in London today. The talks, which finished as we were recording this episode, opened with Germany’s ‘scepticism’ of US peace proposals and France’s assurance that ‘Europe had a lot of cards in its hands.’ Meanwhile, Russia targets a dam near Kharkiv which supplies water to Ukraine's second biggest city. Finally, we discuss the US’s National Security Strategy and the current state of Ukraine’s air defence.

Contributors

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

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

With thanks to Michael Bohnert (RAND). @mbohnert on X.

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

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Zelenskiy Says No Accord Yet on Ukraine’s East in US Talks, Bloomberg News

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-08/zelenskiy-says-no-accord-so-far-on-eastern-ukraine-in-us-talks

Trump: Zelensky hasn’t even read my peace plan, The Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/08/ukraine-russia-war-latest-starmer-zelensky-trump-putin/

Kremlin: Trump’s new defence strategy ‘consistent’ with Russian vision, The Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/07/donald-trump-defence-strategy-russia-dmitry-peskov-kremlin/

France shielding €18bn Russian asset pot from EU ‘reparations loan’ push, Financial times

https://www.ft.com/content/fe304bb8-d928-4b9b-8162-2000301be937

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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Russian seaport near Kerch bridge 'explodes' & war drones fly towards Zelensky’s plane Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,380.

Today, we report on revelations from a European leaders’ conference call, exposing the level of anxiety over the US peace proposals, cover the military drones spotted approaching President Zelensky’s plane as it neared Dublin, and examine the new US National Security Strategy, which has alarmed many. Later, we return to our regular updates on the occupied territories, and speak to a doctor about frontline medical provision for Ukrainian soldiers.

Contributors

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.

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 Dr James Gough (Chief Executive of the David Nott Foundation). @NottFoundation on X.

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

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Learn more about the David Nott Foundation, which trains doctors in warzones:

https://davidnottfoundation.com/

The Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal 2025: how you can donate:

https://tinyurl.com/4nnrt59s

Our sister podcast Battle Lines: Why Ukraine's troops are facing an amputation crisis

https://tinyurl.com/bdzc7ukn

Military drones flew towards Zelensky’s plane as it approached Dublin (The Telegraph):

https://tinyurl.com/yj27tvve

"We Must Not Leave Ukraine and Volodymyr Alone with These Guys" (Der Spiegel):

https://tinyurl.com/mr358sdh

Trump envoys press plan with Ukraine as sanctions eased on Russia (France 24):

https://tinyurl.com/mrbxrayw

US National Security Strategy (White House):

https://tinyurl.com/muf78x72

Les fusiliers marins ont tiré sur des drones au-dessus de la base navale de l’Île Longue, abri des sous-marins nucléaires français, (Le Figaro):

https://tinyurl.com/yfcd8ckb

Exclusive: Woman suspected by France of spying has ties to Kremlin proxies, social media posts show (Reuters)

https://tinyurl.com/nbvfsejb

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Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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Battle for Pokrovsk 'over', claims Russia & Putin ordered spy poisoning 'as show of Russian power' Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,379.

Today, after Tuesday’s inconsequential meeting in Moscow, Ukrainian negotiators are updating European counterparts on Kyiv’s response before flying to meet Steve Witkoff in Miami. We consider why U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has lambasted European NATO allies for prioritising their own defence industries over American suppliers – comments made just as another billion dollars was added to the PURL fund – and we ask whether, if Pokrovsk has indeed fallen, Russia will now shift its efforts toward Zaporizhzhia oblast. And later, we return to the GRU’s murder of British woman Dawn Sturgess by nerve agent in 2018, as the final report into her death is released.

Contributors

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

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

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

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

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Trump: I don’t know what the Kremlin is doing (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/12/03/trump-i-dont-know-what-the-kremlin-is-doing/

Britain can’t let the man Putin hates most die in prison (Sir Tom Stoppard in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/19/britain-cant-let-the-man-putin-hates-most-die-in-prison/

The West’s Last Chance (Alexander Stubb, Finland’s President, in Foreign Affairs):

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/wests-last-chance

Top US official berates Europe over cutting American industry out of defense buildup (POLITICO):

https://www.politico.eu/article/christopher-landau-top-us-official-berates-europe-nato-cut-industry-defense-buildup/

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IN NEW LANGUAGES:

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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Putin launches huge drone attack after rejecting Trump’s peace deal Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

Day 1,378.

Today, as the world reacts to the marathon – but ultimately fruitless – talks in Moscow on Tuesday night, we examine how the impasse will shape today’s meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers and, also in Brussels, the European Council’s discussions on frozen Russian assets and the ‘new era’ the EU says it is entering, free from Russian fossil fuels. Plus, our Russia expert assesses Moscow’s ‘caviar diplomacy’ and its growing problems in Africa, and we report how Australia and New Zealand are stepping up their support for Ukraine. Finally, we hear the assessment of Ukraine’s former Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, on the current state of the war – and whether he harbours any ambition to succeed President Zelensky.

Contributors

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

James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno on X.

With thanks to Latika Bourke. @latikambourke on X.

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

http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Latika Bourke Substack

https://substack.com/@latikambourke

Australia and New Zealand join forces to fund NATO weapons for Ukraine

https://thenightly.com.au/world/australia-and-new-zealand-join-forces-to-fund-nato-weapons-for-ukraine-c-20819893

Today’s Telegraph Ukraine Live Blog: