Does Trump understand Putin’s motives? Can Western sanctions actually threaten Russia’s economy? Are Russian troops really amassing at Finland’s border - and how worried should we be about that? Those are some of the questions you’ve sent us in over the last week and in this episode, Lucy and Vitaly are joined by James and BBC news presenter Sumi Somaskanda to try and answer them. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producer was Laurie Kalus. The technical pr...
May 22, 2025•22 min
After a two-hour phone call on Monday, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin came to very different conclusions about what was agreed. The US said ceasefire negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv would start “immediately.” The Kremlin meanwhile, said there were no deadlines to move towards peace. On this episode the BBC’s Russia editor Steve Rosenberg tells us about the reaction to the call in the Russian press. And - as Europe prepares to level further sanctions - Robert Fox, defence editor at the Even...
May 20, 2025•26 min
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war each after the first face-to-face talks in three years. Kyiv also requested direct talks with President Vladimir Putin, and Moscow says it "noted" this request. So is this a diplomatic breakthrough? Vitaly gauges the mood from a sunny Istanbul, explains why an interpreter was required, and talks about what the next steps might be. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Jamie Coomarasamy. The producer was Ben Carter. The tec...
May 16, 2025•17 min
President Zelensky has said he's sending his defence minister to peace negotiations with Russia in Istanbul - but adds that Russia is "not serious" about "real talks". With discussions between the two countries seemingly likely to happen in some form, is this progress? Are we on the path to peace? Lucy is joined by Vitaly in Istanbul and Lyse Doucet in Abu Dhabi. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Laurie Kalus, Ben Carter, Samantha Granville a...
May 15, 2025•20 min
The world is holding its breath ahead of mooted peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday. But what are the discussions likely to look like, and crucially who will attend? With Donald Trump on a tour of the Gulf nations, the White House says it plans to send senior representatives to Turkey, while hinting that the US President could yet make a personal appearance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile, has confirmed he will travel to the capital Ankara, and double...
May 13, 2025•29 min
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he’s ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "personally" in Istanbul on Thursday for talks over ending the war. But is this meeting likely to materialise? And is this a smart move from Zelensky or a potential win for Putin? Lucy and Vitaly are joined by chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet to chew over the significance of a potentially conflict-changing meeting. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko. T...
May 12, 2025•18 min
Who’s attending Friday’s Victory Day parade in Russia? Could President Xi of China present his own ceasefire plan? And what’s going on with the coalition of the willing? The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet and BBC Moscow producer Ben Tavener are on hand to answer these questions from listeners and more. Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Laurie Kalus and Ben Carter. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series pr...
May 08, 2025•29 min
We’re just days away from Victory Day, when Moscow is due to hold a parade on 9 May to mark the victory of the Soviet Union and allies over Nazi Germany. Victoria and Vitaly are joined by BBC Verify’s Olga Robinson and Alexander Zhuravlyov to discuss what the day means for Russians, and how its significance has changed since Vladimir Putin came to power. Also, security correspondent Frank Gardner is in Kyiv and tells us whether Kyiv could try and disrupt the parade in Moscow, following several d...
May 06, 2025•25 min
After months of tense negotiations Ukraine and the US have signed a much-anticipated natural resources deal - and YOU have lots of questions about it. Why is Ukraine going ahead with it? Can it still join NATO? What could the US offer Russia? Lucy is joined by Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse, BBC Verify’s Olga Robinson and diplomatic correspondent James Landale to answer these and more. Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings. The producers were Laurie Kalus and Ben Carter. The tech...
May 01, 2025•31 min
It’s 100 days since Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term as President of the United States. His campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine has yet to materialise, but Washington has brought both sides to the negotiation table. So is peace any closer, and should the White House be getting more credit? We’re joined by Sam Kiley, world affairs editor at The Independent, who has just returned from the Vatican where Donald Trump and President Zelensky met on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ fu...
Apr 29, 2025•33 min
What if the US pulls out of peace talks? Do other Republicans agree with President Trump’s position on the war? And could Ukraine monetise its drone industry? Jamie and Vitaly are joined by diplomatic correspondent James Landale and BBC Verify’s Olga Robinson to answer these questions and more on the conflict. And we check in with friend of the podcast, Vitalii Pashchenko, who got caught up in Russian airstrikes on Kyiv overnight. Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Vitaly Shev...
Apr 24, 2025•33 min
After Vladimir Putin’s limited ‘Easter truce’ ended, we’re joined by the BBC’s Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg, to discuss whether the Kremlin is serious about bilateral negotiations with Ukraine. And we talk to Alexander Vindman - the former US National Security Council official, who was a star witness in Donald Trump’s first impeachment inquiry. He has a lot to say about US policy on Ukraine and what the future could look like if Washington pulls out of peace talks. Today’s episode is presented...
Apr 22, 2025•30 min
In today’s episode we do something slightly different. You’ll be familiar with some of the names and voices of the correspondents who’ve covered the Ukraine war for the last three years - James Waterhouse, Lyse Doucet, Sarah Rainsford and more - who regularly appear on this podcast. But you’ll be less familiar with the people doing the work behind the scenes. Today, we hear from one of them. Kate Peters spent more than 30 years with BBC News and she spent a lot of time producing and running bure...
Apr 17, 2025•28 min
An old friend of the podcast, Viktoria Kovalenko, joins us in the studio. Viktoria has experienced the horrors of war first hand. Her husband and elder daughter were killed in front of her when they tried to escape the city of Chernihiv in 2022. Three years on she’s forging a new life with her four-year-old in the UK. She tells us how she’s adapting to life here, what she thinks about Donald Trump and how she remembers the family members she’s lost. Plus - the BBC’s security correspondent, Frank...
Apr 15, 2025•31 min
Where are we with the peace talks on the Ukraine conflict? What’s the situation on the battlefield? And how seriously should we take reports of Chinese nationals fighting for Russia? Vitaly, Lyse and BBC Verify’s Olga Robinson joined up with presenter Leila Nathoo on BBC 5Live to answer these questions and many more. The producers were Peter Karlsen, Julia Webster and Laurie Kalus. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham....
Apr 11, 2025•26 min
President Zelensky says two Chinese citizens have been captured while fighting for Russia in the Donetsk region. But how did they end up in Ukraine and what does this mean for the future of the conflict? General Sir Nick Carter, former chief of the UK's defence staff, is in the studio to discuss this latest development, as well as whether the world order as we know it has changed for good, and if the UK would ever consider compulsory military service. Also, how has President Trump’s tariffs anno...
Apr 08, 2025•24 min
Could Putin ever agree to peace? Would an election help Zelensky consolidate power? What’s happened to North Koreans fighting Ukraine? Vitaly is joined by BBC Verify’s Olga Robinson, security correspondent Frank Gardner and Global News Podcast presenter Oliver Conway, to try and answer these questions and more. Today’s episode is presented by Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Ryan Johnston, Ben Carter and Peter Karlsen. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walk...
Apr 04, 2025•32 min
On Sunday, NBC reported that Donald Trump was ‘very angry’ with Vladimir Putin over his approach to a ceasefire in Ukraine. So is he changing his mind on the Russian President? Vic and Vit talk to Kurt Volker, Donald Trump’s former special representative for Ukraine about the current state of negotiations, the threat of sanctions and golf diplomacy. They also discuss how Trump’s comments were received in the Russian media. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko...
Apr 01, 2025•29 min
What’s President Trump’s next move in the ceasefire negotiations? What would happen if Russia launched a missile from the Black Sea into Ukraine? And what is President Putin up to in the Arctic? James is joined by BBC Verify’s Olga Robinson and diplomatic correspondent James Landale to answer these questions and more. Today’s episode is presented by James Waterhouse. The producers were Ryan Johnston and Ben Carter. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The...
Mar 28, 2025•27 min
The White House says Russia and Ukraine have agreed to ensure safe passage for commercial shipping in the Black Sea and stop military strikes. But could it work? Today we talk to Martin Griffiths, former Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations. He played a key role in the Black Sea grain deal in 2022 and he gives us an insight on how to negotiate with the Russians. And we fact check claims made by President Trump's special envoy, St...
Mar 25, 2025•24 min
What are Ukraine’s options for getting proper security guarantees? What actually happens when world leaders speak on the phone? And how are the Putin, Trump and Zelensky discussions and negotiations being viewed by ordinary Ukrainians? Those are just a few of your questions that have landed in our inbox and today Lyse, Vitaly and Olga Robinson from BBC Verify joined presenter Matt Chorley to answer them on BBC 5 Live. The producers were Ryan Johnston and Ben Carter. The series producer is Tim Wa...
Mar 21, 2025•25 min
After a lengthy phone call with Donald Trump, the Kremlin says Vladimir Putin has agreed to a mutual pause on attacks on Russian and Ukrainian energy infrastructure - but stopped far short of accepting a full ceasefire. We get instant reaction from Fiona Hill, who previously served on the National Security Council as an advisor on Russia under President Trump. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Ben Carter and Ryan Johnston. The technical...
Mar 18, 2025•21 min
What’s to stop Russia from escalating the conflict? Who is Steve Witkoff? Can Trump stop Ukraine from joining Nato? These are some of the questions you’ve been sending in - and today, Lyse, Vitaly and Matthew Savill from the Royal United Services Institute think tank, joined presenter Christian Fraser to answer them on the BBC News channel. The producers were Ben Carter and Ryan Johnston. The series producer is Tim Walklate. Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can a...
Mar 14, 2025•21 min
Vladimir Putin has said the fighting must end in Ukraine, but that a ceasefire should lead to "enduring peace and remove underlying causes of this crisis." Responding to the Trump administration’s plans to end the war, the Russian president says the idea of a ceasefire is "good and we absolutely support it but there are issues that we need to discuss." So what should we make of his comments? Shashank Joshi, defence editor at The Economist gives his reaction. Today’s episode is presented by Victo...
Mar 13, 2025•14 min
Ukraine says it is ready to accept a US proposal for an initial 30-day ceasefire with Russia, in a joint statement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says “the ball is now in Russia’s court", and he will take the offer to Moscow. Sir Laurie Bristow, former UK ambassador to Moscow joins us to give his reaction and thoughts on what Russia might do next. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Ben Carter and Ryan Johnston. The technical producer...
Mar 11, 2025•17 min
Is this the week the war changes? On the battlefield, Russian forces are reportedly trying to encircle thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region, where they recaptured three settlements on Sunday. Meanwhile, talks are taking place on Tuesday between Ukrainians and US officials in Saudi Arabia, at which Kyiv is expected to push for a truce with Russia in the sea and sky. So is this a potentially pivotal moment in the war in Ukraine? Lyse and James are joined by Karolina Hird from the In...
Mar 10, 2025•22 min
The Ukrainecast team join the Global News Podcast to answer listener questions. We discuss Donald Trump’s latest threat, the prospects of peace in Ukraine, and that minerals deal. Today’s episode is presented by Lyse Doucet, James Waterhouse, Vitaly Shevchenko and Jackie Leonard. The producers were Ben Carter and Ryan Johnston. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or vo...
Mar 07, 2025•32 min
President Zelensky says Ukraine is "ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership" to negotiate a peace deal and is ready to sign a minerals deal. His comments come after the US decision to pause military aid. We get reaction from Ukrainian MP Oleksandra Ustinova and ‘Neo’, a soldier currently fighting in Donetsk region. And we speak to Mark Galeotti, Director and CEO of the consultancy firm, Mayak Intelligence. Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko....
Mar 04, 2025•24 min
President Macron has proposed a one-month truce between Russia and Ukraine "in the air, at sea and on energy infrastructure." These comments follow a meeting over the weekend in which European leaders tried to deal with the fallout from President Zelensky’s disastrous trip to Washington on Friday. Presenters Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko are joined by Matthew Savill, Director of Military Sciences at RUSI to discuss whether there is a road towards a peace deal. The producers were Ryan...
Mar 03, 2025•21 min
There were unprecedented scenes in the White House this afternoon when President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and President Zelensky clashed in an extraordinary shouting match in front of stunned reporters. Lyse and Vitaly are joined by former UK national security adviser Lord Ricketts to get immediate reaction, and what this all means for the future of Ukraine. The producers were Clare Williamson, Ryan Johnston and Ben Carter. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Ti...
Feb 28, 2025•30 min
