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 X

Francis 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/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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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 X

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

Joe Barnes (Editor of The Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin and The Russia Morning Memo). @Barnes_Joe on X.

James Kilner (Brussels Correspondent) @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.

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 X

Roland 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-a88762

Ukraine'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/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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