Day 1,544.

Today, after Ukraine unleashes a sweeping wave of retaliatory strikes in response to last week’s Russian attacks – shutting down Moscow airports, damaging naval assets, and sending huge fireballs into the sky above Russian oil infrastructure – the Kremlin signals it may once again be open to peace talks, potentially even reopening channels with the European Union. We ask whether Moscow may also need urgent talks with Beijing after one of its Shahed drones reportedly struck a Chinese cargo ship just days before Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. We also hear from Berlin on how Europe is accelerating efforts to rearm in the face of growing Russian aggression and deepening American disengagement. And later, we speak to an adviser to the Ukrainian government about Kyiv’s mounting military recruitment crisis after intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov warned that voluntary enlistment alone can no longer meet the army’s needs.

Contributors:

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

James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

With thanks to Olesia Horiainova of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center.

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:

Europe’s sleeping giant rearms (James Rothwell & Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/11/europes-sleeping-giant-rearms-germany-weapons-war-russia/

Putin gifted upper hand as Trump triggers European missile crisis (James Rothwell & Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/18/europes-deep-strike-dilemma-and-how-it-untangles-itself/

Ukraine launches biggest attack on Moscow in a year (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/17/ukraine-launches-biggest-attack-on-moscow-in-a-year/

Ukrainian drones destroy £30m Russian plane at airbase (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/16/ukrainian-drones-destroy-russian-aircraft-airbase/

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:

• Russia ‘attacks Chinese ship’ in Black Sea
• Ukraine hits Moscow in biggest strike of 2026

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