Podcast Summary

Podcast: Ukraine: The Latest
Episode Title: Pentagon 'asks Ukraine for help' to shoot down Iranian weapons & Putin swells regular Russian army to 2.4 million men
Publisher: The Telegraph
Date: March 5, 2026
Hosts & Contributors: Francis Durnley (main host), Dominic Nicholls (military analyst), Natalie Pojman Ponte (Ukraine-based reporter), James Kilner (Russia analyst), David Knowles (interviewer), Special Guest: Gael Vessier (French Ambassador to Ukraine)

Overview

This episode investigates the rapidly shifting dynamics of global security: the Pentagon’s surprising request for Ukrainian assistance in countering Iranian drones; a significant expansion of the Russian army; and an in-depth interview with France’s ambassador to Ukraine, exploring France's evolving military support, strategic doctrines, and lessons from history. The team also unpacks how Russian media and society are responding to international crises and analyzes the broader geopolitical ripple effects—from gas supply threats to sanctions loopholes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Military Updates: Ukrainian Strikes and Russian Army Expansion

— [02:59-06:54] Dominic Nicholls

• Recent Ukrainian Attack on Novorossiysk

  • Ukraine's special services claim to have struck four Russian ships, severely damaging the Admiral Essen frigate (carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles), a minesweeper, and other ships, as well as oil terminal infrastructure.
    • “The ship sustained critical damage, significantly limiting its ability to deploy Kalibr cruise missiles. At present, the frigate cannot strike targets in Ukraine.” (Dom, 03:51)
  • Demonstrates Ukraine’s increasing reach and technological capability even outside Crimea.

• Drone War Intensifies

  • Ukraine reportedly shot down 136 of 155 attacking drones in the last 24 hours, but casualties and injuries continue in Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson.
  • New incidents of Russian drone attacks on Black Sea shipping and rail logistics highlight ongoing threats.

• Putin's Army Expansion

  • Another decree increases the Russian regular army’s size to nearly 2.4 million, moving towards year-round conscription and contract recruitment to avoid unpopular full mobilization.
    • “He’s desperate to increase the number of people in the army without full mobilization and the political backlash that that may invite.” (Dom, 05:41)
  • Western analysts note Russia is struggling to replace battlefield losses effectively.

• POW Exchange

  • 200 prisoners (100 each side) exchanged, orchestrated by U.S. and UAE—a reminder of international diplomatic levers still in play.

2. Pentagon Turns to Ukraine for Drone Defense

— [06:54-09:31] Francis Durnley, with White House statement

• US and Gulf Allies Seek Ukrainian Interceptors

  • Amid Iranian drone and missile strikes across the Middle East, the Pentagon and at least one Gulf state are in talks with Kyiv to acquire Ukrainian-made interceptors.
  • Gulf states' reliance on costly Patriot missiles is unsustainable; Ukraine offers a cheaper, effective alternative for countering $30,000 Shahed drones.
    • “It is now Washington turning to Kyiv for assistance…” (Francis, 07:10)
  • Zelenskyy emphasizes cooperation should not weaken Ukraine's own defense needs.

• American Political Irony

  • White House publicly maintains a critical tone toward previous Ukraine aid, while privately seeking Ukrainian expertise.
    • “Don’t doubt the strength and the might of the American military now…” (White House sec, 09:26)

• Ukraine’s Air Defense Shortages

  • Reports (via Reuters): Last year, Ukraine nearly ran out of air-to-air and anti-missile stocks for its F-16s during a Russian campaign; Western supply bottlenecks had grave consequences.
  • Highlights global competition for advanced air defense systems and strategic dilemmas for allies.

3. Energy Geopolitics & Sanctions Loopholes

— [09:31-13:44] Francis Durnley

• Putin Hints at Cutting Off Gas to Europe

  • Exploiting Middle East instability, Putin mentions redirecting Russian gas to new markets at higher prices, describing it as "just business.”
  • Familiar Kremlin narrative of economic leverage, but Europe remains at risk of supply shocks if Gulf tensions escalate.

• Ukraine-Slovakia-Hungary Energy Spat

  • Dispute erupts over the Druzhba pipeline’s functioning and electricity exports, with Slovakia threatening to terminate a deal.
  • Ukraine confidently claims it can secure power from other sources—signals shifting alliances and internal EU stresses.

• Rosatom Sanctions Gaps

  • Investigative reporting shows Russia’s nuclear giant, which now operates Zaporizhzhia, manages 21 entities directly involved in military technology production—yet faces no EU sanctions.
  • Raises critical questions about sanctions efficacy and Western unity.

4. How Russian Media Frames the Middle East Crisis

— [13:44-17:38] James Kilner

• Divergent Domestic Discourse

  • Mainstream media parrot Kremlin lines: US portrayed as aggressive warmonger, peace talks dismissed as pretext for military escalation.
  • Military bloggers and Telegram channels, reflecting more grassroots Russian sentiment, openly criticize perceived Kremlin weakness and warn Russia’s alliances may falter.
    • “Russia’s allies will start deserting it because we haven’t provided the assistance we promised.” (James, 14:51)
  • Narratives emphasize US unreliability and warn that alignment with Russia/China is now globally viewed as dangerous.

• Manipulation of International Negotiations

  • Russian state commentators (e.g., Solovyov) frame negotiations as mere covers for eventual Western military moves, asserting that the Ukraine/Iran model proves bad faith by the US.
    • “The negotiation process appears to be no more than part of their military operation…” (James, 16:47)

5. Russian Society: Civil Space, Economic Woes, and Far-Right Vigilantism

— [17:38-22:53] James Kilner

• Remembering Anna Politkovskaya: Plaque Desecration

  • The repeated vandalism of a plaque honoring the murdered investigative journalist highlights the clampdown on dissent and rise of nationalist activism.
    • “…encapsulates the craziness of where Russia is.” (James, 19:51)

• Iran-Azerbaijan Escalation Threat

  • Iranian drone crash in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan region risks wider conflict, given Azerbaijan’s strong Israeli alliance. This could inadvertently draw Russia further into Middle Eastern hostilities.

• Moscow Economic Strain

  • Moscow city signals possible layoffs and budget cuts—the first in over a decade—underscoring economic headwinds from prolonged war, sanctions, and global instability.

6. In-Depth Interview: French Ambassador to Ukraine, Gael Vessier

— [23:31-52:29] David Knowles interviewing Gael Vessier

Ambassador Vessier’s Key Points:

Ambassador’s Life in Wartime Ukraine
— [23:43-25:40]

• Daily existence oscillates between normality and ever-present danger.
• “Sometimes you could even forget about war, but sooner or later, war will catch you and will impose its own rhythm to you.” (Vessier, 24:16)

France’s Military and Intelligence Support — [27:18-34:46]

• France’s initial shipments focused on what Ukraine needed urgently; now, support is more targeted and advanced (e.g., tanks, SAMP/T air defense, deep-strike weapons like SCALP and Storm Shadow).
• Highlights importance of Franco-Ukrainian and Franco-British cooperation, especially regarding drones and joint production.
• “Ukraine … is aiming at some point to have at least 4 million drones produced in Ukraine for this year.” (Vessier, 32:46)
• On intelligence-sharing: France, UK, and Germany now play outsized roles as the US cuts direct support.

Strategic Autonomy & European Defense

• France doubles armed forces budgets, seeks European “strategic autonomy”—not at odds with NATO, but as a complementary pillar.
• France prefers tailored mechanisms (e.g., direct Mirage transfers rather than via “PEARL” mechanisms) and stresses need for a stronger European defense industrial base.

Coalition of the Willing: Boots on the Ground — [40:08-43:05]

• France stands ready for deployment in Ukraine alongside other allies if a ceasefire is reached and upon Ukrainian request.
  • “The intention is that … there would be a multinational force representing the coalition of the willing, which could be deployed in Ukraine, both in the air, on land and in the sea…” (Vessier, 40:47)
• Main aims: help regenerate Ukrainian armed forces and deter Russian reinvasion.

French-British Collaboration & Conditions

• Intense cooperation ongoing for potential multinational deployment; joint operational HQs being established and rotated.
• Acknowledges complexities in mechanisms like SAFE but emphasizes practical resolution and UK participation.

Historical Parallels: Resistance and Collaboration — [45:11-48:57]

• Discusses sensitive future of reconciliation and justice regarding collaborators in occupied territories, drawing on French WWII experiences.

Personal and Human Impact of War

• Vessier shares an anecdote about a colleague suddenly overwhelmed by grief during a routine diplomatic event—underscoring the pervasive emotional toll (49:11).
• “Two thirds of Ukrainians lost or had wounded somebody from their inner family circle or somebody close to them. Two thirds. I mean, it’s huge.” (Vessier, 50:36)

A Pub Quiz Fact

• Cites celebrated Ukrainian writer Andrei Kurkov as a living bridge between French and Ukrainian culture for any soon-to-be pub quizzer (51:34).

7. Final Thoughts and Noteworthy Moments

— [54:45-57:26]

• UK Political Insight (Dom, 54:50):

  • Cites a sharp question about coalition credibility: “Why should Russia believe there is a coalition of the willing if we’re not willing to do this?”—re: British reluctance to deploy militarily preemptively in the Gulf.

• James’ Russian Society Updates:

  • Telegram crackdown proceeds with force: even small protests are shut down with legal pretexts (“tree inspections”).
  • Russian tax officials using AI to comb social media for spending/income discrepancies; jokes emerge about deleting selfies with luxury food, like cucumbers, which have become prized and expensive symbols (57:20).

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps and Attribution)

• “As long as Russia rages war against Ukraine, it will have no peace anywhere, neither at sea, nor on land, nor in the rear.”
  — Dominic Nicholls quoting Ukrainian SBU (04:51)

• “It is now Washington turning to Kyiv for assistance… after the Trump administration halted weapons donations to Kyiv… it is now Washington turning to Kyiv for assistance.”
  — Francis Durnley (07:10)

• “Sometimes you could even forget about war, but sooner or later, war will catch you and will impose its own rhythm to you.”
  — Ambassador Gael Vessier (24:16)

• “If Azerbaijan does get pulled into this war in Iran, it will potentially bring Russia closer to the war… and that will obviously have ramifications for Ukraine.”
  — James Kilner (21:23)

• “Two thirds of Ukrainians lost or had wounded somebody from their inner family circle or somebody close to them. Two thirds. I mean, it’s huge.”
  — Ambassador Vessier (50:36)

• “Russian tax officials… are going to use AI to scour people’s social media… That’s got one wag on Telegram to say it might be time now to delete selfies with cucumbers off our social media feed.”
  — James Kilner (57:20)

• “Why should Russia believe there is a coalition of the willing if we’re not willing to do this?”
  — Dom citing Kemi Badenoch, (54:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:59 – Military updates from the Ukrainian and Russian frontlines (Dom)
• 06:54 – US and Gulf states seek Ukraine’s drone defense expertise (Francis)
• 09:31 – Gas geopolitics, sanctions, and European energy disputes (Francis)
• 13:44 – Russian media and blogger discourse on Middle East crisis (James)
• 17:38 – Russian society, plaque desecration, and economic strains (James)
• 23:31 – Deep-dive interview: French Ambassador to Ukraine (David/Adelaide/Gael Vessier)
• 40:08 – “Boots on the ground”: France’s coalition plans explained
• 45:11 – Parallels of resistance and collaboration: Ukraine and WWII France
• 49:11 – Personal stories; emotional toll of war on Ukraine
• 54:45 – Final thoughts and quick news: UK politics, Russian internet crackdown, economic tribulations

Conclusion

This episode illuminates the complexities of contemporary warfare, international alliances, and domestic pressures—in both Ukraine and Russia. The dramatic reversal of Pentagon seeking Ukraine’s help against Iranian drones, Putin’s relentless army expansion, and France’s evolving role as a leader in European defense all highlight a world in flux. Through the Ambassador’s words and the team’s analysis, the episode conveys both the strategic and starkly personal dimensions of Ukraine’s struggle for survival and sovereignty in the shadow of international uncertainty.