How Ukraine’s drones turned the tables

How Ukraine’s drones turned the tables

Author: Financial Times May 28, 2026 Duration: 10:57

Oil prices fell sharply after Iranian state television broadcast details of a peace proposal, mass drone production has turned the war effort around for Ukraine, and the European Central Bank warned US President Donald Trump risks triggering a financial crisis. Plus, AI opens the door for smaller, well-funded challengers to take market share from Big Four consultancies. 


Mentioned in this podcast:

Oil falls as Iranian state television reports details of peace proposal

Russian banks to arm themselves against Ukrainian drones

Ukraine is turning the tables

Trump risks triggering financial crisis with Iran war, warns ECB

How AI threatens the giants of consulting


Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com


Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts 


Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Katya Kumkova. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


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


Start your morning with the essential context for the day ahead. FT News Briefing, directly from the Financial Times newsroom, cuts through the noise to deliver a concise, authoritative overview of the global business and political developments that truly matter. Each episode is a focused, ten-minute digest designed for the time-pressed, offering clarity on complex market movements, geopolitical shifts, and economic policy decisions. You’ll hear the FT’s expert analysis woven into the reporting, providing not just the headlines but the underlying forces at play. This daily podcast serves as an efficient primer, whether you’re commuting or preparing for your first meeting, ensuring you’re informed on the stories that will define conversations in boardrooms and beyond. Released every weekday morning, it’s a reliable filter for the overwhelming flow of information, built on the FT’s legacy of rigorous journalism. Tune in to transform the way you catch up on world events, turning a few minutes into a strategic advantage for your day.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

FT News Briefing
Podcast Episodes
Strait of Hormuz crisis poses fresh threat to global food, energy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:11
The World Food Project warns millions more could be pushed into acute hunger if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Plus, energy executives meet in Houston as war in Iran rages, and China pitches itself as a “harbour of…
The ‘Armageddon scenario’ for gas markets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:34
Investors sounded the alarm on Thursday after a major Qatar gas facility took serious damage, and amateur traders are going wild for five-minute bets. Mentioned in this podcast:‘Armageddon scenario’ for gas markets as Qa…
Federal Reserve holds steady as inflation fears mount [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:58
The US has relaxed sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil group Petróleos de Venezuela and the Federal Reserve has stuck with plans to cut rates later this year. Plus, Walmart won patents to give algorithms more sway o…
How Saudi Arabia’s bet on Iran backfired [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:35
The EU wants to make mergers a bit easier, Wall Street banks are offloading $18bn of debt tied to video game maker Electronic Arts, and investors are piling into cash at the fastest rate since the Covid-19 pandemic. Plus…
Iran war tests China’s oil stockpile [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:47
The FT’s Gideon Rachman explains what the Strait of Hormuz’s closure means strategically for Iran, Italy’s UniCredit has launched a €35bn takeover offer for Commerzbank and China’s oil stockpile is put to the test as the…
US shale producers not yet tempted by $100 oil [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:18
Donald Trump warned Nato faces a “very bad” future if US allies fail to assist in opening up the Strait of Hormuz, and though oil prices have breached $100 per barrel, America’s shale producers aren’t celebrating. Plus,…
Artificial intimacy: How to fall in love with AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:02
Introducing Artificial intimacy from Tech Tonic. For the next episodes in this season go to the Tech Tonic feed.Calder Quinn has fallen into a relationship with a chatbot called Sara. She’s kind, emotionally intelligent…
US-Iran war boosts Russian oil revenues [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:59
Gulf oil producers have lost billions of dollars in energy revenues since the start of the US-Iran war, but there is one country benefiting: Russia. It is earning as much as $150mn a day in extra budget revenues from its…
Hold on — tech stocks are a safe haven now? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:12
The International Energy Agency has launched the largest release of strategic oil reserves in its history, investors have sought shelter from the turmoil of the war in Iran in US tech stocks and US inflation held steady…
Corporate America grapples with huge oil price swings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:37
Oracle’s shares climbed 9 per cent on Tuesday after the database group posted better than expected earnings, and we discuss how American businesses are navigating soaring energy prices. Plus, the higher costs to insure t…