Putin declares ‘shock’ ceasefire in 'critical week' in Ukraine-Russia peace talks

Day 1,160.

Today, as Vladimir Putin announces a sudden three-day ceasefire in May, we assess just how meaningful it really is, and ask: why now? Then we analyse another extraordinary weekend of diplomacy at Pope Francis’s funeral, before learning more about the history of the Donbas: a region where much of the war’s fiercest fighting has taken place.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X

With thanks to Victoria Donovan (Professor of Ukrainian and East European Studies at the University of St Andrews). @vsdonovan on X.

Content Referenced:

Victoria’s Book: ‘Life in Spite of Everything: Tales from the Ukrainian East’:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Spite-Everything-Tales-Ukrainian/dp/1917092148

Freefilmers - a collective of filmmakers and artists, originally from Mariupol:

https://help-freefilmers.network/

Behind the scenes at Trump’s most extraordinary meeting yet (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/28/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-ceasefire-latest-news529/

The Russian Military Moves That Have Europe on Edge (Wall Street Journal):

https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russia-military-nato-europe-finland-ff53b912

The ugly task of Putin-proofing your border (The Economist):

https://www.economist.com/international/2025/04/22/the-ugly-task-of-putin-proofing-your-border

NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:

The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them, or click the links below.

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest

Learn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/

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Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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