Ukrainecast Q&A: Trump's sanctions, Putin's nuclear drills, and Zelensky's poll ratings
18 snips
Oct 23, 2025 
Paul Kirby, BBC's Europe Digital Editor, and Laura Gozzi, Senior digital journalist, dive into urgent geopolitical developments. They discuss Zelensky's recent tensions with Trump, the implications of new US sanctions on Russia’s oil giants, and the complexities of freezing the front line in Ukraine. Insights reveal Russia’s nuclear drills as a show of force and the European strategy to utilize frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's benefit. The guests question if sanctions can effectively alter China and India’s behavior while examining Zelensky's strong domestic support amid ongoing challenges.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Sanctions' Impact Hinges On Buyers
- The US sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil, marking Trump's first direct oil-company penalties since his return.
- The measures have symbolic weight but depend on China and India following suit to bite economically.
Nuclear Drills Are Signalling, Not Immediate Threats
- Russia regularly stages nuclear drills to signal deterrence rather than imminent use.
- The manoeuvres are timed for messaging and to instill fear, not necessarily to prepare actual deployment.
Zelensky's Ceasefire Proposal Is Line-Based
- Zelensky consistently calls for a ceasefire along the existing line of contact as the only feasible basis for talks.
- He asserts diplomacy but refuses to discuss withdrawing from territories Ukraine controls.