Ukraine: The Latest

Day 1,447.
Today, amid growing rumours that Ukraine may be preparing a new counteroffensive, we discuss how the Kremlin is attempting to play down expectations and undermine confidence in the ongoing peace talks. We then report on Japan’s move to join the PURL initiative, examine a diplomatic row that has erupted at the Winter Olympics, and sit down with Romania’s Foreign Minister, Oana Țoiu, to hear how the war in Ukraine is being viewed from Bucharest, on NATO and the EU’s eastern flank.

Contributors
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
With thanks to Oana Țoiu, Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs. @oana_toiu 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 backs athlete banned from wearing helmet bearing faces of war victims (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/winter-olympics/2026/02/09/ukrainian-athlete-vladyslav-heraskevych-anti-russian-helmet/

Russia bombs Ukrainian pet shelter (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/06/russia-bombs-ukrainian-pet-shelter/

How to keep an elephant and a gorilla warm during Kyiv's coldest winter of the full-scale war (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/animals-some-first-how-kyiv-zoo-protects-life-through-the-darkest-winter-of-war/?mc_cid=9ff030f3ca&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Kenya to confront Russia over 'unacceptable' use of its nationals in combat (BBC):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k1jzvrykro?xtor=AL-71-

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: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,446.
Today, in a rare public outburst against the Trump administration, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accuses the United States of “backtracking” on the so-called Anchorage Agreement, under which Washington allegedly agreed to pressure Ukraine into ceding parts of the Donbas that Russian forces have failed to capture after nearly four years of war. We examine President Zelensky’s comments suggesting that a new White House peace deadline may be linked to Donald Trump’s US midterm election campaign, and report on how Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is seeking to leverage the war in Ukraine to shore up domestic political support. And later, we speak to the former commander of US forces in Europe, retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, about the state of the war and how prepared Europe and NATO are for a potential Russian move on the Suwałki Gap.

Contributors
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
With thanks to Lieutenant General (Retired) Ben Hodges (former commander of US forces in Europe). @general_ben 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:
A small Russian force could break Nato, it’s being said. As a US general, here’s my take (Ben Hodges in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/05/russian-wargame-nato-defeat-suwalki-gap-general-ben/

Russia offered US £9tn co-operation deal, Zelensky says (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/07/us-gives-june-deadline-peace-ukraine-russia/

Would the US military obey Trump on Greenland? US General Ben Hodges answers (Battle Lines episode):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mcz_bDmXjE

The German wargame (Die Welt):
https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article6984a7189d88d6e920be111f/ernstfall-podcast-wargame-exposes-gaps-in-germanys-response-to-a-hypothetical-russian-attack-on-lithuania.html

Russia accuses US of backing out of alleged Ukraine territory surrender agreement (The Telegraph):
https://kyivindependent.com/russia-accuses-us-of-backing-out-of-alleged-ukraine-surrender-agreement/

Washington Post GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-washington-post-international-employees

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: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,443.
Today, after an apparent assassination attempt on a senior Russian general in Moscow, we examine the major Russian bombardments across Ukraine that followed the second day of peace talks in Abu Dhabi. Are the United States, Ukraine, and Russia any closer to a ceasefire? We then hear from an NGO delivering vital humanitarian supplies to Ukraine’s frontline cities, and speak to the head of a hospital in President Zelensky’s hometown.

Contributors
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to Brock Bierman of the NGO Ukraine Focus, and Vitality Gorba-linsky.

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:
Learn more about Ukraine Focus:
https://ukrainefocus.org/

Russian general who ‘orchestrated’ Skripal poisoning shot in Moscow (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/06/russian-general-vladimir-alekseyev-shot-moscow/

Macron wants Britain to pay up to £2bn to join Ukraine weapons scheme (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/05/macron-wants-uk-pay-up-to-2bn-eu-ukraine-weapons-scheme/

Mother of Kenyan forced to be a Russian suicide bomber ‘traumatised’ (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/05/mother-kenyan-tricked-human-bomb-trauma/

Nuclear pact relies on ‘handshake’ after US-Russia treaty expires (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/05/nuclear-pact-relies-handshake-us-russia-treaty-expires/

Revealed: Russia’s secret $2.5bn cash shipments to Iran (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/06/revealed-russias-secret-25bn-cash-shipments-to-iran/

Pentagon invites 2 Ukrainian drone makers to 'The Gauntlet' (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/pentagon-invites-2-ukrainian-drone-makers-to-the-gauntlet-1-1-billion-in-contracts-at-stake/?mc_cid=1d62a63d34&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Russia destroyed 60% of Ukraine’s gas production—so where does Ukraine get gas now? (Euromaidan):
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/05/russia-destroyed-ukraine-gas-production-what-replaced-it/

Italy foils 'Russian cyber-attacks' at Winter Games (BBC):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cqj25wyjx1no

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: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,442.
Today, as reports suggest Russian troops are in turmoil across the frontline after being denied access to Starlink satellite communications, we return to Abu Dhabi for the latest developments in the ongoing trilateral peace talks between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. We then hear live from Kyiv with firsthand reactions and descriptions of the situation on the ground, before turning to the Russian press for insight into the state of Russia’s economy – and an extraordinary story about Moscow’s efforts to turn pigeons into drones.

Contributors
Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Antonia Langford (Journalist in Kyiv). @antonialford on X.
James Kilner (Foreign Correspondent). @jkjourno 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 spends half its state budget on military (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/04/russia-spent-half-its-state-budget-on-military-in-2025/

How Russia uses neural chips to turn live pigeons into drones (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/04/russia-implants-chips-spy-pigeons-brains-cyborgs-war/

The last foreign correspondent to file from a war zone via carrier pigeon (Airmail):
https://airmail.news/issues/2024-7-27/the-view-from-here

Record-breaking Russian strikes during peace negotiations (Centre for Information Resilience):
https://www.info-res.org/eyes-on-russia/articles/record-breaking-russian-strikes-during-peace-negotiations/

Sanctions having ‘significant impact’ on Russian economy, says EU special envoy (The Guardian):
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/05/sanctions-significant-impact-russian-economy-interview-eu-special-envoy-david-osullivan

Keith Kellogg says he left Trump's White House to be 'free to talk' about Ukraine (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/keith-kellogg-says-he-left-trumps-white-house-to-be-free-to-talk-about-ukraine/

Russia claims US 'ignored' offers to extend nuclear arms control agreement as key treaty set to expire (Kyiv Independent):
https://kyivindependent.com/russia-claims-us-ignored-offers-to-extend-nuclear-arms-control-agreement-as-treaty-set-to-expire/

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: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,441.
Today, as Donald Trump claims Vladimir Putin has “kept his word” by not striking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, we report on the resumption of trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi involving the US, Ukraine, and Russia. We examine whether French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for Europeans to “restore their own channels of communication” with Moscow will deliver any tangible results, and assess whether the recent drop in the price of gold could weaken Putin’s war economy. And later, we speak to Sir Bill Browder about Europe’s continued failure to seize and use frozen Russian state assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort, the significance of the €90 billion loan agreed in Brussels instead. Is it enough?

Contributors
Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.
Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.
With thanks to Sir Bill Browder. @Billbrowder 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:
The gold bubble has financed Putin’s war machine – but that may be over (Ambrose Evans Pritchard in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/03/gold-bubble-financed-vladimir-putins-war-machine-over/

German warships ‘sabotaged by workers’ (The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/03/german-warships-sabotaged-workers-hamburg-port/

For Peace, More Ukrainians Consider the Once Unthinkable: Surrendering Land
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-donbas-region.html

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: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.