Ukraine: The Latest — Episode Summary Episode Title: Putin ‘has started World War III’, says Zelensky on eve of invasion’s fourth anniversary
Date: February 23, 2026
Host: The Telegraph team: Francis Dernley, David Knowles, Adeli Bejwin Ponce (on the ground in Ukraine), with James Crisp (Europe editor) and David Blair (chief foreign affairs commentator)

Overview

This episode, released on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, explores the current landscape of the war—militarily, politically, and socially. The episode interweaves live reporting from Ukraine with in-depth analysis from London, focusing on Zelensky’s urgent warning about global escalation, the state of European and American support, Russia’s ongoing hybrid warfare, and what the future might hold for Ukraine and the continent.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reporting from Ukraine: The State on the Ground

[01:54–02:51, 29:46–31:12]

• The editorial team is split between London and Ukraine to “take the temperature of civilians and soldiers alike.”
• Despite warmer weather, the ongoing Russian bombardment and attacks on energy infrastructure are causing widespread hardship. Generators hum throughout cities like Odesa as people gather in heated tents for power and basic needs.
  • Quote: “What’s been most striking to me is how noisy the energy crisis is…generators churning everywhere across the city.”
    — Adeli Bejwin Ponce [29:57]
• Notable attack in Lviv: A female Ukrainian police officer killed and dozens wounded by a Russian-orchestrated bombing—an example of ongoing hybrid warfare.
  • Quote: “This is not the first time the enemy has purposefully created deadly traps for Ukrainian law enforcement officers and used our recruited citizens to do so.”
    — Francis Dernley [06:45]

2. Ukraine’s Military Action and Russian Response

[03:31–11:20]

• Ukraine struck a critical missile factory in Vodkinsk, over 1,400 km inside Russian territory, using Flamingo cruise missiles, showcasing unprecedented operational reach.
• Ukrainian forces reportedly liberated over 300 km² in the south, with more settlements reclaimed in recent weeks—a response partly tied to Russia losing Starlink access.
  • Quote: “300 square kilometers have been liberated.”
    — President Zelensky (reported by Dernley) [10:25]
• Russian attacks continue to devastate civilian infrastructure, causing frequent power and heating outages amid subzero temperatures.

3. Zelensky’s Claim: The Global Stakes

[11:21–16:56]

• Zelensky’s major interview: “Putin has already started World War III. The question now is how much territory he’s able to seize and how to stop him. Russia wants to impose on the world a different way of life and change the lives people have chosen for themselves.”
• James Crisp (Europe Editor) analyzes Brussels’ perspective:
  • The war has fundamentally shifted European politics—there’s now unprecedented momentum for Ukrainian EU membership, defense integration, and a recognition of Ukraine as Europe’s “buffer.”
  • The EU reacts best in crisis, and is moving from crisis management (“more Europe”) to transformative change.
  • Quote: “If Ukraine joins...we’re talking about something as…a shift as big certainly as the 2004 Big Bang Enlargement and probably as big as the fall of the Berlin Wall in terms of what it means for European politics.”
    — James Crisp [13:44]

4. Western Response: The View from London (2022–2026)

[16:56–21:53]

• David Blair recounts the shock and momentum of the first days of invasion: The British and Americans foresaw the attack, but were not confident Ukraine would survive.
  • Quote: “On day one…there was a great sense of the enormity of what had just fallen upon the people of Ukraine.”
    — David Blair [17:35]
• Boris Johnson’s early support (sending anti-tank missiles) was pivotal, helping to shift wider Western support towards actively arming Ukraine. The Ukrainian defense emboldened European governments to send heavier weapons, with media reporting frontline Ukrainian units using British arms.
  • Quote: “Before then, people had thought if we were going to be arming Ukraine, perhaps what we’ll end up arming is a guerrilla insurgency in an occupied country. But…what you’re arming is a country fighting for its life.”
    — David Blair [21:30]

5. Fragile European Unity: Political Fault Lines

[25:11–29:28]

• Ongoing disputes between Hungary, Slovakia, and Ukraine over the Druzhba pipeline and Ukraine’s EU prospects threaten a €90bn aid package. Orban’s obstruction is linked to domestic politics and an upcoming election—a familiar EU dynamic.
  • Quote: “If we had a penny for every time Hungary threatened to block something or delay something to do with Ukraine, we’d have a lot of pennies.”
    — James Crisp [25:40]
• Orban’s strategy: Leverage Ukraine-related disputes to shore up rural support at home, using fear of war and promises of stability.

6. Russian Hybrid Warfare: The Sabotage Offensive

[31:12–33:48]

• Russian agents are using properties in Western Europe as “Trojan horses” for coordinated sabotage, raising security risks across the continent.
  • 600 Russian diplomats, many believed to be intelligence officers, were expelled following the invasion to counter these threats.
  • Increasingly, Russia relies on “disposable individuals recruited from third countries” for covert operations, making sabotage harder to detect and prevent.

7. European Resolve and Future Scenarios

[34:05–38:16]

• Concern voiced about the normalization of “land for peace” discussions—a major shift in attitudes, signaling potential future frozen conflict lines.
• Many European capitals do not anticipate the war ending this year, nor do they trust Putin is serious about peace.
  • Quote: “People have got to be more ready to think about the concept of their children being sent to die.”
    — James Crisp [34:56]
• Ukraine, through the ordeal of war, has become “the foremost military power in Europe,” mastering modern, high-intensity warfare.
  • Quote: “Bringing Ukraine fully into the European security structure is overwhelmingly in Europe's interest too, because you’re getting a very powerful ally which has mastered warfare as it is fought at high intensity today more than anyone else on the continent.”
    — David Blair [37:28]
• Yet, as James Crisp wryly notes:
  “Shame it can’t join NATO.”
  [37:53]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Zelensky on existential threat:
  “Putin has already started World War III…Russia wants to impose on the world a different way of life…” [11:23]
• On the EU as crisis responder:
  “The answers to every crisis in Brussels is, oh, well, we must have more Europe. More Europe is the answer.”
  — James Crisp [15:18]
• Political realism:
  “If you imagine [Zelensky] not in the picture, what that would mean for Ukraine on the world stage—it doesn’t bear thinking about.”
  — Francis Dernley [42:45]
• The paradox of alliances:
  “The only thing worse than having allies is not having allies.”
  — David Knowles [43:12]
• Resilience but pressure on Zelensky:
  “It must be an astonishing amount of pressure. And I think there’s been a period where he hasn’t got the credit he deserved recently.”
  — James Crisp [41:30]

Important Timestamps

• Beginning of live from Ukraine coverage: [01:45]
• Key military update (Kyiv strike, Odesa, Lviv bombing): [03:31–11:20]
• Zelensky's warning on World War III: [11:20]
• EU political shift analysis: [11:38–16:56]
• Historical perspective from No. 10 Downing Street: [16:56–21:53]
• Russian hybrid warfare tactics and European countermeasures: [31:12–33:48]
• Discussion: Europe’s military, political, and societal readiness: [34:05–38:16]
• Reflections on Zelensky’s leadership and European alliances: [40:59–44:11]

Final Thoughts (Panel Reflections)

[40:59–44:11]

• James Crisp reflects on Zelensky’s transformation and the immense pressures he faces as both a national and international figurehead, noting concern that he may not be getting enough recognition for his role lately.
• Francis Dernley underscores the irreplaceable impact of Zelensky’s leadership: “It doesn’t bear thinking about” if he were gone.
• David Knowles reminds listeners of the value, and challenge, of managing alliances.
• David Blair questions whether Zelensky possesses the diplomatic skill needed to maintain international support and contemplates the difficult sacrifices Ukraine’s leader might have to make as war grinds on.

Conclusion

This episode offers a sobering, substantive look at the war’s fourth anniversary, balancing firsthand reporting from Ukraine—from the daily struggles of civilians to the echoes of shifting frontlines—with nuanced, sometimes wry analysis from Telegraph editors. The panel probes not just the tactical or political landscape, but the existential weight now hanging over Europe as old certainties—about EU unity, Western resolve, Ukrainian resilience, and Russian limits—are forcefully tested.

To watch this episode with maps and battlefield footage, visit:
YouTube: Ukraine: The Latest

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