Day 1,182.

Today, we continue dissecting the phone call between Putin and Trump and what it means for the prospect of negotiations. We discuss the latest Russian ‘Frankenstein’ missile and tactics on the ground, plus a dive into a report investigating Russian strikes on hotels near the frontline in an effort to target journalists. Finally we hear a dispatch from Sweden and interview with a Swedish chief of defence staff on the Russian threat on the Finnish border.

Contributors:

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

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

Iona Cleave (Foreign Reporter). @cleaveiona on X.

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

With thanks to Kenza Rharmaoui (Senior Researcher at Truth Hounds). @truth_hounds on X.

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

https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/

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:

Russia’s new ‘Frankenstein’ missile terrorising Ukraine, The Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/13/russias-new-frankenstein-missile-terrorising-ukraine/

Russia’s motorbike squads may be suicidal but they are hurting Ukraine, The Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/19/ukraine-war-are-russias-motorcycle-assaults-really-working/

Last Check-In: The Russian Strikes on Ukrainian Hotels Silencing the Press, Truth Hounds

https://truth-hounds.org/en/cases/last-check-in/

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.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,181.

Today, just minutes after Presidents Putin and Trump spoke over the phone following the failed peace talks in Turkey last week, we react to the strategy being adopted by both sides: is Putin playing Trump like a fiddle? Then, later, we hear about the worst aerial bombardment Ukraine has experienced of the entire war, which took place not three years ago, but on Sunday.

Contributors:

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

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

With thanks to Gabriellus Landberghis (Lithuania's former Minister of Foreign Affairs). @GLandsbergis on X.

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

https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/

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:

Putin: Russia is strong enough to end what we started in Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/18/putin-russia-strong-enough-to-end-what-we-started-ukraine/

Pope Leo meets JD Vance after calling for peace in Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/18/pope/

Germany drops opposition to nuclear power in rapprochement with France (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/e99efa2b-338a-4065-89c6-0683d5759ed7

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.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,178.

Today, as Ukraine and Russia hold their first direct negotiations in over three years today in Istanbul, we bring you live coverage from two major political and defence conferences in Europe, featuring key NATO and EU figures. How united is Europe in its stance on security and support for Ukraine? Plus, we speak with a former senior U.S. official to assess whether Donald Trump’s influence in American politics is beginning to fade, and hear about the new commander of Moscow’s ground forces: a man nicknamed ‘General Blood’.

Contributors:

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

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

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

With thanks to Professor Eliot Cohen (writer at the Atlantic, former counselor to the head of the US State Department). @EliotACohen on X.

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

https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/

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:

Ukrainian and Russian delegations begin negotiations (The Telegraph Live Blog):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/16/russia-ukraine-peace-talks-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news/

Eliot A. Cohen’s Articles for The Atlantic:

https://www.theatlantic.com/author/eliot-a-cohen/

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.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.