Donald Trump has read out a letter from Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying Ukraine is ready to negotiate and the president says he's getting strong signals from Russia that it is also ready for peace, but - if that deal boils down to Ukraine surrendering territory, American mining companies extracting minerals from Ukraine, and no security guarantee - is that real peace? And would a deal like that hold? In this new world of strong man politics, has Ukraine been bullied and Russia indulged? And what does all this tell us about Trump's new world order?  In this episode of the Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy is joined by the American historian and writer Professor Timothy Snyder, who's an expert on Ukraine, Russia and eastern Europe, having written highly acclaimed books on tyranny and freedom.  Produced by Rob Thomson, Ka Yee Mak, Silvia Maresca and Calum Fraser

Donald Trump has suspended all military aid to Ukraine, in another move that has shocked Europe, thrilled Vladimir Putin and Russia and dismayed Ukraine, but Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now reached out to the US president in a bid to heal relations damaged by the bust up in the Oval Office last week.  Will it work? Will Donald Trump change his mind, again? And what does Vladimir Putin really think of it all? In this episode of the Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy is joined by CNN Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour and Professor Mark Galeotti, author of several books about Russia including his latest ‘Forged in War: a military history of Russia from its beginnings to today’. Produced by Calum Fraser, Ka Yee Mak and Rob Thomson.  

Join Gary Gibbon, Channel 4 News Political Editor, and Lindsey Hilsum, International Editor, as they unpack the implications of Keir Starmer's recent meeting with Donald Trump. They discuss whether Starmer's charm offensive can sway U.S. support for Ukraine amidst a backdrop of shifting political loyalties. The conversation delves into Ukraine's precarious position, exploring the potential consequences of a minerals deal and Trump's unique negotiation style. Tune in for insights on the tangled web of global politics and leadership ambitions!

Wolfgang Ischinger, former German ambassador to the US, and Alina Frolova, former Ukrainian deputy defense minister, dive into the complexities of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. They discuss Germany's recent election and its implications for European security. The guests emphasize the urgent need for Europe to strengthen military alliances and take responsibility for defense. They also explore NATO's role, the reluctance for increased military involvement, and the critical necessity of Western support for Ukraine amid escalating tensions.

In this conversation, Bronwen Maddox, Director of Chatham House, and Lindsey Hilsum, Channel 4 News’ International Editor, dive into the complex Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia. They discuss the stark absence of Ukrainian representation and the implications of American and Russian strategies. The dialogue explores the economic motivations influencing these negotiations, the need for a united approach involving Europe, and the shifting dynamics of international relations, highlighting the tensions that shape global diplomacy today.

As Trump is invited to Moscow and praises Putin after a call with the Russian leader about peace negotiations, his defence secretary Pete Hegseth says American troops will not go to Ukraine as peacekeepers as part of any future deal with Russia. He also announced Ukraine will never be part of NATO and needs to say goodbye to territory seized by Russia. In this episode of the Fourcast, Matt Frei discusses all of this and more with Channel 4 News’ international editor Lindsey Hilsum. Produced by Calum Fraser, Helene Cacace and Ka Yee Mak.  

Donald Trump has spent the week turning the world upside down again - launching a trade war with China and claiming America will take over the Gaza Strip - and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is scrambling to work out how best to respond to the American president. Sir Keir met with EU leaders earlier in the week for post-Brexit reset, but the prospect of closer ties comes just as Donald Trump has the EU in his crosshairs - saying he’ll slap tariffs on the bloc, while suggesting he might spare the UK.  So, the prime minister is walking a tightrope that stretches across both the Channel and the Atlantic, will he keep the balancing act going or topple over? In this week’s episode of the Fourcast, Gary Gibbon is joined by Michael Gove, cabinet minister under four Conservative Prime Ministers and now editor of the Spectator, journalist and biographer of Keir Starmer, Tom Baldwin. And head of the Europe programme at the Chatham House think tank, Armida van Rij . Produced by Silvia Maresca, Calum Fraser, Ka Yee Mak, Rob Thomson.  

Donald Trump, with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side, has said the US should take over Gaza, own it, and turn it into the "Riviera of the Middle East", but within hours of these comments Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Palestinians have rejected the suggestion outright. So what is Donald Trump really up to? Is this a serious proposal, a negotiating position or the dreams of a reality show star on the world stage? On this episode of the Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy is joined by our Foreign Affairs Correspondent Secunder Kermani and the Palestinian journalist Yousef Hammash, who reported from inside Gaza for Channel 4 News from October 2023. Produced by Silvia Maresca, Ka Yee Mak, Rob Thomson, Calum Fraser.  

Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek finance minister known for his bold economic insights, joins Erica York from the Tax Foundation to dissect the implications of Trump's trade war. They explore how the recent tariffs on Chinese goods could backfire, affecting American importers and international trade. The discussion highlights the political maneuvering behind these tariffs and questions their real effectiveness. They also address the broader geopolitical tensions and the challenges of multilateral cooperation in this rapidly changing landscape.

In a major speech on growing the UK economy, Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she will make Cambridge and Oxford the “Silicon Valley of Europe” and build a third runway at Heathrow Airport - which is now backed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer even though he opposed it in the past. So will Labour deliver? Can Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves really get the economy firing again? And will it be enough to turn around their recent political woes? Discussing this and more in this episode of the Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy is joined by Gillian Tett, Financial Times columnist, and Rupert Harrison, senior advisor at Macro Advisory Partners and former advisor to Goerge Osborne when he was chancellor.   Produced by Silvia Maresca, Calum Fraser, Rob Thomson and Ka Yee Mak.