Day 1,695.
Today, following the temporary Starlink-Starshield shutdown last week, we reveal how Musk approached President Trump to slow down Starlink in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the U.S. Ambassador to the EU – following Trump’s last minute executive order to block the bipartisan, Russian sanctions act – warns European companies face "devastating" retaliation from Washington if Brussels moves forward with plans to restrict American tech rivals. Meanwhile, with the so-called “energy ceasefire” a distant memory, we report on the continued attacks by both Russia and Ukraine, including a major strike on an oil terminal in St Petersburg. Finally, we turn to the fundamental questions facing Europe: who will be leading it in a few months' time, and how can pro-Ukraine politicians prepare for the worst case scenarios?
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
James Crisp (Europe Editor). @JamesCrisp6 on X.
Producer: Rachel Porter
Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett
Video Producer: Tom Steed
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:
Buy tickets to War Room, a new interactive event in London:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph-events/the-war-room/
Exclusive: Musk approached Trump to slow down Starlink in Ukraine (Joe Barnes for The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/16/musk-approached-trump-slow-down-starlink-help-ukraine/
US threatens European companies over Starlink restrictions (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/d1e28d93-8574-4a46-946a-b261c401d6fa?syn-25a6b1a6=1
Zelenskyy says Ukraine 'will not prevail’ if U.S. takes Russia's side: Full interview (NBC)
https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/zelenskyy-says-ukraine-will-not-prevail-if-u-s-takes-russia-s-side-full-interview-271776837876
Europe’s populist Right has a Russia problem (James Crisp, Joe Barnes, James Rothwell, Henry Samuel and Meike Eijsberg for The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/19/putin-ukraine-dividing-europe-populist-right-le-pen-afd/
EU rushes to sanction Russia in case Le Pen takes power (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/18/eu-rushes-to-sanction-russia-in-case-le-pen-takes-power/
Trump: Zelensky never wanted to end Ukraine war (The Telegraph)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/18/rubio-nobody-ordered-starlink-slowdown-in-ukraine/
Latvia calls for visa ban on Russians (Financial Times)
https://www.ft.com/content/75a42e7d-1497-4760-bd75-1cbd083fc9a4?syn-25a6b1a6=1
Learn more about ‘Ukraine Focus’:
https://ukrainefocus.org/about/
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:
- Zelensky defies Trump with ‘massive’ raid on sites across St Petersburg
- Exclusive: Elon Musk approached Trump about limiting Starlink in Ukraine
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