Day 1,154.

Today, we ask how meaningful the weekend’s so-called ‘Easter truce’ really was, look at the new American peace proposals put to Kyiv and its allies – which include major concessions both in territory and sovereignty – then reflect on the legacy of Pope Francis in relation to the war. Later, we hear about a new book investigating Russian spies who spent decades undercover: what does it teach us about modern spycraft?

Contributors:

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

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

Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.

Shaun Walker (Eastern Europe at the Guardian). @shaunwalker7 on X.

Content Referenced:

Special Ukraine: The Latest on Children:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-childhood-at-war/id1612424182?i=1000704331753

Special Ukraine: The Latest with Dom’s Panel:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-how-the-west-fights-back/id1612424182?i=1000704022027

Shaun Walker’s book ‘The Illegals: Russia's Most Audacious Spies and the Plot to Infiltrate the West’:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Illegals-History-Moscows-Audacious-Program/dp/1788167775

Kremlin ‘satisfied’ with US proposal to ban Ukraine from Nato (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/21/kremlin-satisfied-with-us-proposal-to-ban-ukraine-from-nato/

Kyiv Is On the Clock to Respond to Trump Plan to End Ukraine Conflict (Wall Street Journal):

https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/kyiv-is-on-the-clock-to-respond-to-trump-plan-to-end-ukraine-conflict-f3538799

Trump Tower Moscow, Rare Earths and Geopolitical Perks: How the Kremlin Plans to Bait Trump Into a Grand Bargain (The Moscow Times):

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/21/trump-tower-moscow-rare-earths-and-geopolitical-perks-how-the-kremlin-plans-to-bait-trump-into-a-grand-bargain-a88762

Ukraine's Catholics express hurt over late Pope's war stance (Reuters):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-catholics-express-hurt-over-late-popes-war-stance-2025-04-21/

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Email: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk

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Secure The Bag // Heart Check (Part 2)