Day 1,373.

Today, in a world exclusive, we report how Donald Trump is preparing to hand over Ukraine’s occupied territories, as his team prepares to fly to Moscow to present the plan to Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, the Russian President claims his country’s army “cannot be held back”, as Russia experiences one of the heaviest drone raids of the war. Then, we turn to Kyiv, where the offices of the head of President Zelensky’s office – Andriy Yermak – were dramatically raided by anti-corruption officers before his resignation. And later, at a time when leaders talk about gifting land to the Kremlin, we bring you unheard, rare testimony of what it’s like to live under Russian control in those regions, and what many more millions may soon be condemned to endure.

Contributors

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

With thanks to "Anna".

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:

Trump hands Putin Ukraine’s occupied territories (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/28/trump-to-recognise-occupied-ukraine-part-of-russia/

Zelensky’s chief of staff raided by anti-corruption officers (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/28/zelenskys-chief-of-staff-raided-by-anti-corruption-officers/

Putin: Russia ready to fight until last Ukrainian dies (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/27/putin-says-russia-ready-fight-until-last-ukrainian-dies/

Russia tightens grip on occupied Ukraine with illegal mobilization and child militarization, experts warn (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/russia-tightens-grip-on-occupied-ukraine-with-illegal-mobilization-and-child-militarization-experts-warn/

Ukraine Says It Won’t Give Up Land to Russia (The Atlantic):

https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2025/11/ukraine-zelensky-russia-trump-peace-land-red-line/685090/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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Day 1,372.

Today, as Thanksgiving is marked in the United States – and supposedly the day by which Ukraine was meant to agree to a peace deal, a deadline Donald Trump has now walked back – Russia denies leaking the phone call in which Steve Witkoff coached Vladimir Putin’s top aides on how to flatter the former president. We assess whether Marco Rubio’s apparent demand – that a peace deal be signed before the US grants Ukraine any security guarantees – is remotely deliverable. We also report on how Moldovan authorities attempted to return a Russian drone that violated their airspace. And later, we hear from the Ukrainian public, and gauge their reaction to this week’s extraordinary developments.

Contributors

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

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

With thanks to Svitlana Morenets, columnist at the Spectator.

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:

Who leaked Witkoff’s Kremlin call? These are the main suspects (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/26/steve-witkoff-kremlin-call-main-suspects-witi-leaks/

Made in Moscow: The “U.S. peace plan” for Ukraine was substantially formulated months ago by Kremlin operative Kirill Dmitriev (The Insider):

https://theins.press/en/politics/287159

Allies worry US demands Ukraine deal before security guarantees (POLITICO):

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/26/us-demands-peace-deal-before-security-guarantees-for-ukraine-00670210

Moldova's Foreign Ministry confronts Russian ambassador with drone that violated country's airspace (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/moldovas-foreign-ministry-confronts-russian-ambassador-with-drone-that-violated-countrys-airspace/

A better way to craft a reparations loan (Hugo Dixon of the Ukraine Reparations Loan):

https://www.ukrainereparationsloan.com/post/a-better-way-to-craft-a-reparations-loan

Zarah Sultana’s pompous, luxury beliefs about Ukraine (The Spectator):

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/zarah-sultanas-pompous-luxury-beliefs-about-ukraine/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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Day 1,371.

Today, as a leaked call reveals that Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to Russia, coached a Kremlin negotiator on how to make Donald Trump more favourable to Moscow’s position, we examine the fallout – or the lack of it. We also assess new signals that Trump’s much-trailed Thursday deadline may not be as cast-iron as claimed. Then we turn to the reaction from Moscow and across Europe’s parliaments: alarm, or business as usual?

Contributors

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

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

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

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

Telegraph Ukraine Live Blog:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/26/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-trump-peace-talks/

Trump envoy coaches Kremlin negotiator in leaked call (Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/11/25/witkoff-coach-russians-peace-plan-trump/

Starmer demands British boots on ground under Ukraine peace deal (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/25/russia-hints-it-may-reject-latest-peace-deal/

I’ve seen high-level negotiations. Witkoff broke the one rule that matters (David Blair in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/26/witkoff-ushakov-leaked-call/

Bloomberg’s Leaked Transcripts:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-25/witkoff-advised-russia-on-how-to-pitch-ukraine-plan-to-trump

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,370.

Today, as the United States holds secret talks with separate Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi, we unpack the emerging 19-point peace plan – and react live on air to breaking reports that President Zelensky has agreed to the framework of a potential deal. We then gauge the mood in Europe’s capitals: is this a moment of quiet strategy and resolution, or rising panic as the diplomatic landscape shifts beneath their feet?

Contributors

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

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

Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe 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 ‘agrees’ to Trump’s amended peace deal (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/25/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news5338/

Trump and Zelensky set for crunch talks on peace plan (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/24/trump-zelensky-ukraine-peace-plan-talks/

Battle for Ukraine splits Trump’s top team (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/11/25/ukraines-future-depends-who-wins-battle-white-house/

How Trump's 28-point plan for Ukraine shocked the world (Axios):

https://www.axios.com/2025/11/24/trump-ukraine-plan-28-points-back-story

Japan to deploy missiles to island near Taiwan, Defence Minister says

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japan-to-deploy-missiles-to-island-near-taiwan-defence-minister-says

US and Ukraine draft new 19-point peace plan but defer biggest decisions (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/883e5a47-430c-4fc2-85ee-cd6af9bb599d

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,369.

Today, after a historic weekend, as US and Ukrainian delegations met in Geneva to discuss the US-Russian peace proposals, we assess Europe’s response as it scrambles to form a collective position, before asking just how severe the ramifications would be if, as President Trump has threatened, he cuts of military and intelligence support to Kyiv. Then we hear the latest updates on the frontline, and give up an update on the other major story of the moment: the corruption scandal threatening the stability of President Zelensky’s government.

Contributors

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

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

With thanks to Jakub Parusinski (KI Insights). @j_parus 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:

Telegraph’s Ukraine Live Blog for Today:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/24/ukraine-russia-war-trump-putin-geneva-latest-news514/

How Putin’s money man hoodwinked Trump’s top diplomats (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/23/how-putins-money-man-hoodwinked-trumps-top-diplomats/

Europe agrees to invite Putin back into G8 (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/23/leaked-europe-rival-peace-plan-ukraine-full-russia-war/

Trump: Ukraine peace plan isn’t my final offer (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/22/ukraine-russia-trump-war-latest-news/

US ‘making changes’ to peace plan after crisis talks (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/23/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-power-plant-moscow-geneva/

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Today, in a special bonus episode, we bring you a major panel from the Ukraine Freedom Summit in London, moderated by Dom and featuring a distinguished lineup: Lt General (Ret.) H.R. McMaster (U.S. National Security Adviser to President Trump, 2017–18), Boris Johnson (Former UK Prime Minister), Sergey Vysotsky (Deputy Chairman, Association of Strategic Communications, National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries), and Michael Kofman (Senior Fellow, Russia & Eurasia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace).

Titled “The Strategic Architecture of Victory,” the discussion offers candid reflections on Western failures, why Europe struggled to unite in the face of a growing Russian threat, Putin’s motivations, America’s true strategic position, insider insights into Ukrainian weapons procurement, and the West’s capacity to wage a long war.

Please note: this panel was recorded several weeks ago, prior to the developments of recent days.

Speakers:

Lt General (Retired) H.R. McMaster (US National Security Adviser to President Trump from 2017 to 2018)

Boris Johnson (Former Prime Minister of the UK)

Sergey Vysotsky (Deputy Chairman of the Association of Strategic Communications, National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries)

Michael Koffman (Senior Fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

Learn More about the Ukraine Freedom Summit and the Borderlands Foundation:

https://ukrainefreedomsummit.org/ukraine-summit-london-2025

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

Day 1,366.

Today, we reveal new details of the proposed American-Russian peace plan – one that would not only drastically shrink the Ukrainian army and force Kyiv to surrender vast areas of critical territory, but ban it from ever joining NATO, and even see Moscow invited back into the G7 with its frozen assets returned. After breaking down the implications and surveying the mood in the Donbas, we bring the latest reports of resistance from the occupied territories – places which would legally become Russian if the deal were signed.

Contributors

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

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

Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn 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:

Russia welcomed back to G7 under Trump peace plan (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/20/russia-to-be-welcomed-back-to-g7-under-proposed-peace-plan/

Zelensky agrees to negotiate on Trump’s peace plan (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/20/france-brands-us-russia-peace-deal-a-capitulation/

Telegraph’s Ukraine Live Blog:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/21/ukraine-russia-war-trump-putin-peace-deal-nato-live/

How ‘Spoofing’ Is Diverting Russian Missiles Into Empty Fields (Forbes): https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2025/11/20/how-spoofing-is-diverting-russian-missiles-into-empty-fields/

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

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

Day 1,365.

Today, we examine the proposal that has left Kyiv and Europe reeling: a US peace plan that could force Ukraine to lease part of its territory to Russia, cap the size of its armed forces, and accept a series of concessions that would amount to a major victory for Vladimir Putin. We then hear from a leading pollster about domestic attitudes in Russia towards the war – and what potential tipping points could shift public opinion. Finally, we reflect on the significance of the anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials, and what it means for justice and accountability in today’s conflict – or lack thereof.

Contributors

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

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

With thanks to Dr Oleksandr Shulga.

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:

Ukraine told to accept cash-for-land deal with Putin (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/19/us-russia-secret-28-point-peace-plan-gaza-model/

Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg ‘quits’ after plan for US peace leaked (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/11/20/ukraine-envoy-keith-kellogg-quits-after-plan-for-us-peace/

France brands US-Russia peace deal a ‘capitulation’ (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/20/france-brands-us-russia-peace-deal-a-capitulation/

White House Scrambles to Quell Rumors of Russia-Friendly Donbas Proposal (Kyiv Post):

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/64561

BBC Today Programme featuring former US Ambassador to Kyiv:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002mbxg

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

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