Day 1,163.

Today, as the United States and Ukraine finally sign a much-revised minerals deal, we look at what it might mean for the future security of Ukraine – and we return to Germany to examine the first appointments of Friedrich Merz’s top team and ask why some commentators are questioning whether members of the German elite are really serious about rearmament, or would perhaps prefer a rapprochement with Russia.

Contributors:

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

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

James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

Links:

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.

Trump minerals deal blames Putin for invasion (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/01/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-trump-latest-news/

Trump OKs First Cash Weapons Sale to Kyiv, Partly Lifts Hold on Ukrainian Military Aid (Kyiv Post):

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/51800

Realizing America’s Drone Revolution (War on the Rocks):

https://warontherocks.com/2025/04/realizing-americas-drone-revolution/

Hundreds of North Korean troops killed while fighting Ukraine, Seoul says (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/world/about-600-north-koreans-killed-ukraine-war-south-korean-lawmaker-says-2025-04-30/

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.

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

Learn 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/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,162.

Today, as Russian troops intensify offensive operations in several oblasts – Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – we talk about the latest conversations amongst the coalition of the willing, where the tone is decidedly pessimistic. Then we do a deeper dive into the latest positions of China, Turkey, and Syria in relation to the war.

Contributors:

Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Narrative Podcast Producer) @Adeliepjz on X.

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

Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @sophia_yan on X.

Content Referenced:

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.

Sophia Yan’s Podcasts on China -

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/how-to-become-a-dictator-podcast/

Europe ‘would struggle to put 25,000 troops on the ground in Ukraine’ (The Times):

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/europe-uk-peacekeeping-troops-ukraine-6tp2cfgg5

Europe fears Trump preparing to walk away from Ukraine talks (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/2f7af030-7466-4c10-9c7c-a7ceaa03a70a

Russia intensifies offensive operations in 3 regions, pushes toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine's military says (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/russia-intensifies-offensive-operations-in-3-regions-pushes-toward-dnipropetrovsk-oblast-ukraines-military-says/?mc_cid=063ac27037&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Putin Renames Volgograd Airport ‘Stalingrad’ to Honor WWII Battle (Moscow Times):

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/30/putin-renames-volgograd-airport-stalingrad-to-honor-wwii-battle-a88920

‘Do you want to show strength here?’: Russia’s ads recruiting Chinese mercenaries (The Guardian):

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/10/russia-social-media-ads-videos-recruiting-china-mercenaries

Video About Chinese Soldiers Fighting for Russia:

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

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

Day 1,161.

Today, as Trump pushes back against Vladimir Putin’s three-day ceasefire proposal, we discuss the recent reflections of the former commander of Ukraine’s armed forces and his bold predictions for the future of warfare. Plus, we hear frontline reaction from soldiers to the so-called pauses in the fighting. Are they real?

Contributors:

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

Svitlana Morenets (Staff Writer at The Spectator). @SvMorenets on X.

Hamish De Bretton-Gordon (Chemical Weapons Expert and Former Tank Commander). @HamishDBG on X.

Content Referenced:

The evolving nature of warfare has redefined the fundamental principles of global security: the Ukrainian experience and the emerging world order (Valerii Zaluzhnyi’s speech):

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/columns/2025/04/25/7509135/

Russia threatens Nato with nuclear strikes (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/29/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news529/

North Korea confirms it sent troops to fight for Russia (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/28/north-korea-confirms-sent-troops-fight-russia/

A fleet of aging army tanks donated to Ukraine is yet to leave Australia (ABC News):

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-28/aging-tanks-donated-to-ukraine-are-yet-to-leave-australia/105226280

Russia’s ‘Ghost Detainees’: The Investigation That Cost Viktoriia Roshchyna Her Life (Forbidden Stories):

https://forbiddenstories.org/russia-detainees-investigation-viktoriia-roshchyna/

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.

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

Learn 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/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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