Day 1,169.

Today, as – for the third day running – Ukrainian drones sow chaos in the skies above Moscow, we analyse the final preparations for Putin’s Victory Day parade, and discuss President Biden’s first interview since leaving office, hours after Friedrich Merz finally became Chancellor of Germany at a pivotal moment in modern European history.

Contributors:

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

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

James Kilner (Editor of The Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin and The Russia Morning Memo). @jkjourno on X

Content Referenced:

James Kilner’s Bulletins -

The Russian Memo: https://www.thememo.news/

The Central Asia and South Caucasus Bulletin: https://www.thememo.news/

Battle Lines episode on India-Pakistan fears:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/28/battle-lines-global-rearmament-india-pakistan-kashmir/

Interview with Biden Advisor Mike Carpenter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2DeReNhsKg

Biden: Trump is appeasing Putin, that’s not who we are (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/07/biden-trump-is-appeasing-putin-that-is-not-who-we-are/

Merz becomes chancellor of ‘unstable’ Germany after first vote humiliation (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/06/merz-unexpectedly-fails-not-elected-as-german-chancellor/

Europe vows to halt all Russian gas imports (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/05/07/europe-vows-to-halt-all-russian-gas-imports/

What If America Abandons Ukraine? (Foreign Affairs):

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/what-if-america-abandons-ukraine

SIGN UP TO THE NEW ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST’ WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:

https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/

Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers.

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.

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Putin’s war machine ‘burns’ as Russia strips frontlines to shield Moscow & Biden accuses Trump of ‘appeasement’

Ukraine: The Latest

Putin’s war machine ‘burns’ as Russia strips frontlines to shield Moscow & Biden accuses Trump of ‘appeasement’