Day 1,203.

Today, as Ukraine fends off yet another overnight aerial bombardment, the first prisoners of war to return since the latest rounds of peace talks arrive in Ukraine. Meanwhile in London, we hear about NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte’s punchy speech at Chatham House yesterday. Finally, we talk with former Swedish Defence minister Peter Hulqvist.

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.

With thanks to former Swedish Defence minister Peter Hulqvist.

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:

Spend more or get ready to speak Russian, Nato chief warns UK, The Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/09/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-nato-war-latest-news/

Families of missing Ukrainians gather as prisoner exchange begins, BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20q4wgx5xxo

Families of Ukraine's missing fear peace will not bring them home, BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wg2jelpyno

Paris’ Hotel Lutetia Is Haunted by History, The Smithsonian Magazine

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/paris-hotel-lutetia-haunted-history-180971629/#:~:text=The%20exhibit%20would%20be%20called,between%20April%20and%20August%201945.

The Postcard by Anne Berest review – an autofictional tale of family survival, The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/oct/04/the-postcard-by-anne-berest-review-an-autofictional-tale-of-family-survival

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 1,202.

Today, we assess the overall strategic picture as Russia sets its sights on one of the regions not illegally annexed after one the most furious, but failed, aerial bombardments of the war. Then we hear more from the fallout of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s meeting with Donald Trump and from the Polish Presidential election last week, before hearing from a historian of the Cold War about the right, and wrong, lessons we take from that era.

Contributors:

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

Memphis Barker (Senior foreign correspondent). @memphisbarker on X.

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

With thanks to Vladislav Zubok (Historian of international relations, London School of Economics). @VladislavZubok1 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:

‘The World of the Cold War’ by Vladislav Zubok:

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/303799/the-world-of-the-cold-war-by-zubok-vladislav/9780241696149

Ukraine’s race to recovery after Russian devastation (Memphis Barker in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/07/ukraines-race-to-rebuild-power-plants-russian-bombardment/

How Merz plans to avoid an Oval Office pasting (James Rothwell in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/05/german-chancellor-merz-plan-avoid-oval-office-pasting/

Watch: New footage of Ukraine’s daring drone raid on Russian planes (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/08/watch-new-footage-ukraine-drone-attack-russia-planes/

Putin unleashes a summer offensive to break Ukraine (The Economist):

https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/06/08/putin-unleashes-a-summer-offensive-to-break-ukraine

President Zelensky’s Interview with ABC News:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7gSoZ0_M8E

Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatest

Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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

Day 1,199.

Today, as Ukraine strikes more military targets deep inside Russia, Moscow responds by launching a massive missile and drone attack against civilian targets across much of Ukraine. We hear what life is like in the embattled city of Pokrovsk in the Donbas, and then the latest updates on resistance in the occupied territories with Dr Jade McGlynn. Later, we interview Lord Robertson - architect of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review.

Contributors:

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

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

Fermín Torrano (Freelance Reporter). @FerminTorrano on X.

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

Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.

With thanks to Lord Robertson (former NATO Secretary General of NATO and lead author of Britain's Strategic Defence Review)

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:

Hear the full interview with Lord Robertson on our sister podcast ‘Battle Lines’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/battle-lines/

Learn more about ‘Helping to Leave’ - the charity mentioned by Jade McGlynn:

https://helpingtoleave.org/en

My 24 hours on the front line (Fermín Torrano for The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/on-ukraine-front-line-pokrovsk-russia/

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.