Global News Podcast (BBC World Service)

Episode: Trump says Kyiv can win back 'all of Ukraine'

Date: September 24, 2025

Host: Ankur Desai

Overview

This episode of the Global News Podcast centers on former US President Donald Trump’s surprising remarks at the UN General Assembly, where he declared Ukraine has the capacity to reclaim “all” of its territory, calling Russia a “paper tiger.” The episode dissects the implications of this potential shift in US policy, reactions from Ukrainian President Zelensky, and broader commentary on Trump’s worldview of global affairs. The podcast also covers: Russia’s military provocations in Europe; humanitarian conditions and geopolitics in Gaza; Syria’s extraordinary new leadership at the UN; Somalia’s ongoing battle against terrorism; the death and legacy of film icon Claudia Cardinale; and the impacts of Super Typhoon Ragasa in China.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Provocative UN Speech and Shift on Ukraine

• [03:30 - 10:55]
  • Trump, in a nearly hour-long speech, denounced the UN, criticized US allies, and declared that Ukraine could “take back all of its territory.”
  • Quipped about UN infrastructure:
    “All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that, on the way up, stopped right in the middle. If the First Lady wasn’t in great shape, she would have fallen.” – Donald Trump [05:00]
  • Painted the UN as ineffective:
    “For the most part, all they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve war.” – Donald Trump [07:30]
  • Targeted China, India, and even NATO allies for continuing to buy Russian energy.

Analysis: Real Shift or Rhetoric?

• [11:20 - 13:55]
  • Tom Bateman (BBC’s State Department correspondent):
    • Notes much of Trump’s pro-Ukraine rhetoric appeared after the speech, on social media.
    • Significant as it contradicts months of fluctuating stances, but “in terms of an actual meaningful strategic shift, I don’t sense that from him.”
      • “We have seen Mr. Trump wax and wane on his sympathies to either side in the war over the last nine months. And this feels like another one of those.” – Tom Bateman [13:10]
    • Points out lack of fresh US military aid for Ukraine under the Republican-led Congress; expectation is for NATO to take the lead in supporting Ukraine.

Ukrainian President’s Reaction

• [11:00 - 11:55]
  • Volodymyr Zelensky calls Trump a “game changer” and welcomes this as a “big shift.”
    “Trump is a game changer by himself… I think he is more close now to this situation. All of us, we understand.” – Volodymyr Zelensky [11:45]

2. Escalation in Europe: Russian Airspace Violations

• [14:25 - 19:55]
  • NATO warning: Increase in Russian airspace incursions over Estonia, Poland, Romania; Copenhagen Airport also disrupted by drones.
  • NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte:
    • Decisions to engage or shoot down aircraft are taken “always based on available intelligence regarding the threat.” [15:50]
  • Analysis from Mikey Kaye (BBC News Security Brief, ex-RAF pilot):
    • Quick Reaction Alert jets are on standby to intercept threats within five minutes.
    • High-level (up to Cabinet or PM) approval needed to engage hostile aircraft due to severe diplomatic risks:
      “If they were to, say, engage that aircraft and take that aircraft out, that could be escalatory geopolitically in a way that could create way more collateral damage.” – Mikey Kaye [18:45]

3. Middle East: Gaza Crisis and Palestinian Statehood

• [20:00 - 23:15]
  • Growing international drive to recognize a Palestinian state; Indonesia pledges peacekeepers.
  • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers impassioned speech at the UN:
    “On one side there is a regular army with the most modern, most lethal weapons and on the other hand there are innocent civilians, innocent children…. This is not fight against terrorism. This is an occupation, deportation, exile, genocide and mass destruction policy.” [21:45]
  • Dire status at Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital: Doctors desperately short of supplies, working in appalling conditions.
    “We did operations with hardly to minimal to hardly no anesthesia. So the patients are in agony? Yes, of course, yes.” – Dr. Nada Abu Arub [22:35]

4. Asia-Pacific: Super Typhoon Ragasa Batters China

• [24:20 - 27:45]
  • Severe evacuation of 400,000+ as Ragasa, the “king of storms,” pounds the manufacturing powerhouse of southern China.
  • Laura Bicker (Correspondent in Zhuhai):
    • Notes months’ worth of rain in days, disruptions to industry.
      “This is something that they may have to get used to more of in the future.” – Laura Bicker [27:20]

5. Syria: Historic Appearance at the UN

• [28:00 - 34:15]
  • Ahmed Al Sharah, Syria’s new interim president, addresses the UN — the first Syrian leader to do so since 1967.
  • Syrian citizens interviewed in Damascus display cautious optimism:
    • “We are trying to be optimistic because, like, we’ve been through hell, people… Like as much as… it’s not going to be heaven, it’s not going to be paradise here in Syria, but like, we’re trying to be optimistic.” – Salaam, Syrian citizen [30:35]
    • Many describe a loosening of social restrictions: “We used to feel so… Like we were held in, like, a chokehold… But now… you can technically do whatever you want…” – Naya, fashion graduate [31:55]
    • Widespread pride at Syria being represented on the world stage again.

6. Africa: Somalia’s Fight Against Terrorism

• [34:20 - 38:40]
  • President Hassan Sheikh Mohammed discusses surviving multiple assassination attempts by Al Shabaab.
  • He outlines a multi-pronged strategy (military, ideological, financial) against Al Shabaab and ISIS but concedes ongoing challenges:
    • “Somalia has a very serious challenge of security because fighting both Al Shabaab and ISIS in two different areas.” [34:35]
    • “Al Shabaab was fought with military only. When we come to the office, we have opened many other fronts. Ideological war… and fighting financial terror.” [35:30]
  • Pushes back firmly against the US categorizing Somalia as a “terrorist safe haven”:
    “A safe haven of a terrorist is where the terrorist is not challenged. I completely disagree.” [37:20]

7. Obituary: Claudia Cardinale

• [38:50 - 43:30]
  • The Tunisian-born Italian screen legend, celebrated for breaking stereotypes and her collaborations with cinema greats, passes at 87.
  • “I want to be independent and free. I don’t want to sell my body and I want to be judged on the acting.” – Claudia Cardinale (archival BBC interview) [39:40]
  • Worked with Visconti, Fellini, and Herzog, and later became an advocate for women’s rights.
  • Remarkable resilience and dignity marked her personal and professional life.

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• Donald Trump

  • “All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that... stopped right in the middle.” – [05:00]
  • “What is the purpose of the United Nations?... All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up. It's empty words, and empty words don't solve war.” – [07:30]

• Volodymyr Zelensky

  • “Trump is a game changer by himself… I think that he is more close now to this situation.” – [11:45]

• Tom Bateman

  • “We have seen Mr. Trump wax and wane on his sympathies to either side in the war over the last nine months. And this feels like another one of those.” – [13:10]

• NATO’s Mark Rutte

  • “Decisions on whether to engage intruding aircraft... are always based on available intelligence regarding the threat posed by the aircraft...” – [15:50]

• Mikey Kaye

  • “If they were to, say, engage that aircraft... That could be escalatory geopolitically in a way that could create way more collateral damage.” – [18:45]

• Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  • “This is not fight against terrorism. This is an occupation, deportation, exile, genocide and mass destruction policy carried out by invoking the events of October 7th.” – [21:45]

• Dr. Nada Abu Arub

  • “We did operations with hardly to minimal to hardly no anesthesia. So the patients are in agony? Yes, of course, yes.” – [22:35]

• Salaam, young Syrian citizen

  • “We are trying to be optimistic because, like, we've been through hell, people… but we're trying at the same time to be realistic. Like it's not going to be heaven...” – [30:35]

• President Hassan Sheikh Mohammed

  • “Somalia has a very serious challenge of security because fighting both Al Shabaab and ISIS in two different areas." – [34:35]
  • “A safe haven of a terrorist is where the terrorist is not challenged. I completely disagree.” – [37:20]

• Claudia Cardinale

  • “I want to be independent and free. I don't want to sell my body and I want to be judged on the acting.” – [39:40]

Segment Timestamps

• [03:30] Trump’s UN speech and Ukraine comments
• [10:55] Zelensky’s reaction and analyst commentary
• [14:25] Russian violations and NATO response
• [20:00] Gaza: Palestinian state and humanitarian crisis
• [24:20] China and Typhoon Ragasa
• [28:00] Syria’s new president at the UN
• [34:20] Somalia: Fighting Al Shabaab and ISIS
• [38:50] Obituary: Claudia Cardinale

Memorable Moments

• Trump calling the UN a “paper tiger” and offering a blunt critique of global institutions.
• Candid admissions from Syrian citizens about hopes for their country’s future.
• Frontline medical reports from Gaza, painting a harrowing picture of a health system in collapse.
• The personal story behind Claudia Cardinale’s refusal to conform to Hollywood’s pressures.

This episode offers a sweeping look at high-stakes diplomacy, shifting alliances, burgeoning humanitarian crises, and the resilience of individuals facing adversity, all told through original voices and on-the-ground reporting.