S9 Ep31: Espresso Martini | A Russian Spy Ring in the UK, Ukraine’s Ceasefire Gamble, and AI Warships on the Horizon

Another Russian spy ring in the UK is exposed—what were they up to, and what does it reveal about Moscow’s intelligence operations? Chris and Matt dive into the details of the case, including a botched plot to track Ukrainian soldiers and bizarre honey trap plans. Then, they break down the latest on the Ukraine ceasefire proposal. Will Putin play ball, or is this just a naive delay tactic? Plus, the US Navy’s new autonomous warship raises big questions about the future of naval warfare, and they analyze the claim that “Putin has won.” Has he really? All that and more in this week’s Espresso Martini.

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Articles discussed in today’s episode

"'The dumbest thing I’ve ever done': spy trial’s tales of scheming, bluster and a love triangle" by Dan Sabbagh | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/07/spy-trial-scheming-bluster-tangled-relationships

"Bulgarian trio convicted of conspiring to spy for Russia" | Crown Prosecution Service: https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/bulgarian-trio-convicted-conspiring-spy-russia

"Trump’s Ukraine ceasefire plan: What we know so far" by Tim Ross | Politico Europe: https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-ceasefire-plan-ukraine-jeddah-saudi-arabia-russia-fighting/

"Mysterious Naval Vessel Spotted In Washington State Is A New DARPA Drone Ship" by Joseph Trevithick | The War Zone: https://www.twz.com/sea/mysterious-naval-vessel-spotted-in-washington-state-is-a-new-darpa-drone-ship

"Putin Won" by Franklin Foer | The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/03/putin-russia-won/681959/

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