EU dismisses 'sham' offer for Putin’s 'buddy' to mediate Ukraine peace talk

EU dismisses 'sham' offer for Putin’s 'buddy' to mediate Ukraine peace talk

Author: The Telegraph May 11, 2026 Duration: 51:51

Day 1,537.

Today, as the final day draws to a close of the ceasefire supposedly brokered by the US to see Russia’s Victory Day parade on Saturday pass unscathed, we ask: what happened to the supposed prisoner swap that had been part of the deal? Plus Brussels Correspondent Joe Barnes asks Estonia’s PM and a Ukrainian defence analyst what the weekend’s events - or lack thereof - tells us about the state of the war. And we also hear updates on the work of the Come Back Alive charity, the organisation securing battle-winning technology for Ukraine, and a firm favourite of this podcast’s creator, David Knowles. 


Contributors:

Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X. 

Joe Barnes (The Telegraph's Brussels Correspondent) @Barnes_Joe on X

Mykola Bielieskov (Defence Analyst) @MBielieskov on X


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CONTENT REFERENCED:

Don’t abandon Nato’s eastern flank, Estonian PM tells Starmer

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/10/dont-leave-nato-eastern-flank-defenceless-estonia-starmer/


Help shape the future of Ukraine: The Latest. Share your thoughts in this quick survey:

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Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.


HIGHLIGHTS:

- EU dismisses 'sham' offer for Putin’s 'buddy' to be mediator in Ukraine peace talks

- With no tanks or missiles on parade, Putin claims 'this matter is coming to an end'


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Each weekday, the team behind Ukraine: The Latest from The Telegraph provides a comprehensive and clear-eyed update on the ongoing war. This isn't just a headline recap. Instead, their journalists and experts delve into the day's developments with depth and context, weaving together frontline dispatches, strategic military analysis, and discussions on the economic and human impacts that define this conflict. You'll hear from reporters on the ground, conversations about historical parallels, and examinations of how the war shapes global politics, energy markets, and culture. With over 138 million downloads, this award-winning daily podcast has become an essential resource for listeners seeking to move beyond the news cycle and understand the multifaceted reality of the war. The coverage naturally expands from battlefield tactics to the stories of refugees, the resilience of daily life, and the geopolitical shifts reverberating worldwide. For a consistent, trusted, and nuanced perspective, this podcast offers a vital daily briefing that connects the immediate events to their broader significance, ensuring you are informed on every dimension of this defining story.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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