Ukrainecast

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 ...

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...

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 Hock...

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...

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.

Tod...

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 ...

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 wit...

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 m...

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 ...

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 compulsor...

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 tec...

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 ep...

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 pr...

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 w...

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...

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....

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 U...

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 Eco...

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 pr...