Putin and Xi: ‘Colonial’ world order has failed & British PM accused of ‘killing of Ukrainian soldiers’

Putin and Xi: ‘Colonial’ world order has failed & British PM accused of ‘killing of Ukrainian soldiers’

Author: The Telegraph May 20, 2026 Duration: 38:17

Day 1,546.

Today, as the British government suggests their pledge to ‘stand with Ukraine as long as it takes’ should actually say ‘as long as it doesn’t upset my summer holiday’ we examine the reaction to London’s decision to relax some Russian sanctions. We report how Russian jets flew so close to an RAF aircraft over the Black Sea it triggered onboard emergency systems, and we look at how Vladimir Putin's trip to Beijing is being reported in Moscow. Plus, we take our regular look at how brilliantly the Russian economy is performing and talk about magic mushrooms in Armenia. 


Contributors:

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

Alexander Nichol (Telegraph Journalist).

James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @JkJourno on X.


NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:

Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  


CONTENT REFERENCED:


PM’s sanctions U-turn ‘will fund killing of Ukrainian soldiers’ (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/05/20/starmer-eases-sanctions-on-russian-oil/ 


Xi and Putin: ‘Colonial’ world order has failed (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/20/xi-putin-beijing-meeting-russia-china/ 


EMAIL US:

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:

  • Putin and Xi: ‘Colonial’ world order has failed
  • British PM accused of ‘killing of Ukrainian soldiers’



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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.
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