Exclusive: Russia buys ‘holiday homes’ near NATO bases & Putin asks Trump for summit with Xi

Day 1,696.

Today, as President Trump says Putin isn’t “doing much” in Ukraine, we hear how the Russian President has sought to make Trump an offer he can’t refuse: a trilateral meeting with him and President Xi of China to settle all family business. Then we bring you a Telegraph exclusive on how Moscow is buying up holiday homes near NATO bases for nefarious purposes, before an in-depth look at the consequences of Ukraine losing access to the Starlink/Starfield, including for firefighters battling the destruction wrought by Russian missiles and drones.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Sophie O'Sullivan (Telegraph Journalist)

James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

With thanks to freelance journalist Tom Watling.

Producer: Phil Atkins

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Natalia Makohon

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:

Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest

CONTENT REFERENCED:

ENGIn Interview on ‘Ukraine: The Latest’:

https://youtu.be/7FC4cyBmwdE?si=9pG6b70MDh6G4uWN&t=1430

ENGIn Volunteering:

https://www.enginprogram.org/

Russia buys ‘holiday homes’ around Nato bases (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/20/russia-wages-hybrid-war-on-nato-from-holiday-homes/

Putin asks Trump for summit with Xi to decide Ukraine’s fate (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/19/putin-asks-trump-for-summit-with-xi-to-decide-ukraines-fate/

White House blocks transfer of Patriots to Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/20/white-house-blocks-transfer-of-patriot-missiles-to-ukraine/

European telecoms groups join forces to challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/555bbf91-4c38-43ce-94b6-90f7fc04e82c?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Zelensky appeals to US lawmakers for answers as White House turns on Kyiv (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-appeals-to-us-lawmakers-for-answers-as-white-house-turns-on-kyiv/

New Survey Shows 61% of Ukrainians Oppose Land for Peace Deal (Kyiv Post):

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/87527

How Putin devastated the crucial steel plant in Zelensky’s home town (Tom Watling in The Times):

https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/steel-plant-zelenskys-hometown-shuts-2w2np677q

A week with the Kyiv firefighters battling Russian drone strikes (Tom Watling in The Times):

https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/kyiv-firefighters-drone-danger-cjt36hfdq

If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

EMAIL US:

Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

– Russia buys ‘holiday homes’ near NATO bases

– Putin asks Trump for summit with Xi

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