This weekend, we speak with Ukrainian journalist Olga Tokariuk, who is currently in western Ukraine. Olga reflects on how Ukrainians forged the resolve they are showing now in the fight against Russia. She shares how Ukraine’s identity has shifted and strengthened over the past 30 years since its independence, especially in the seven years since the Maidan revolution. Then, FT film critic Danny Leigh joins us to discuss this year's Oscars nominees, from ‘Power of the Dog’ to ‘Don't Look Up’. With a drop in viewership over the years, it seems the Academy is scrambling to make us care. But should we? Special offers for Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial are here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast--------------Want to say hi? We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap. --------------The first US FT Weekend Festival is on Saturday, May 7 in Washington, DC. To attend virtually or in person, buy tickets at http://ft.weekendfestival.com – use the discount code FTFriends2022 for 10% off.--------------Links and mentions from the episode: –Key coverage of the war in Ukraine is free to read: https://www.ft.com/content/77ab8dcf-cb02-4e57-aff0-85c8a84f5a1f  –Olga is on Twitter @olgatokariuk. You can also keep up with FT coverage by following @financialtimes on Instagram and Twitter.–Mary Elise Sarotte on Ukraine’s history since 1991: https://www.ft.com/content/742f15fc-675a-4622-b022-cbec444651cf –Danny’s roundup of this year’s Oscars nominees: https://www.ft.com/content/d9000eb2-11ec-40af-aa8f-2e5f654bde4e –Danny’s review of Power of the Dog:  https://www.ft.com/content/8f2af17e-cad5-4fc6-9ea7-68e5402dda5d –Lilah made a Hark list of some of our favorite moments from the show so far, which you can listen to here https://short.harkaudio.com/3pwwAMH--------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Hannis Brown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US consumer price growth approached 8 per cent last month ahead of a surge in energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the war in Ukraine is causing energy bills to skyrocket in the UK. Plus, the FT’s central European correspondent, James Shotter, talks about his reporting on the flood of Ukrainian refugees into Poland and how Poles are responding. Mentioned in this podcast:Tears of relief on Polish border as flow of refugees inches to safetyUS inflation reaches 7.9% in February hitting new 40-year highECB scales back stimulus plan as Ukraine war drives up inflation expectationsWar in Ukraine: free to read The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EU leaders prepare to meet in Versailles today for a summit aimed at a unified response to the war in Ukraine, and Citigroup is having a hard time selling its retail bank in Russia. Plus, the FT’s Paris bureau chief Victor Mallet explains how the Ukraine war is boosting Emmanuel Macron’s re-election chances. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:EU struggles to deepen unity on defence and energyCitigroup ‘running out of options’ in push to sell Russian bankA home run’: Ukraine war boosts Emmanuel Macron’s re-election chancesWar in Ukraine: free to read The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US and UK banned Russian oil and gas imports on Tuesday to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine, the stalled green revolution, and Russians are fleeing the country.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:Biden bans US imports of Russian oil and gas in attempt to punish PutinCurbs on Russian exports raise risk of oil shock and recession in EuropeWill the Ukraine war derail the green energy transition?War in Ukraine: free to read The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oil and natural gas prices see-sawed as global stocks fell on Monday after a US push to ban Russian crude faced German resistance, the US Treasury warns banks to be on high alert for sanctions evasion, sanctions on Russia could aid Beijing’s efforts to internationalise the renminbi, and Levi Strauss said it is halting its business in Russia.Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:Markets rattled by push for Russian oil ban How the Ukraine war could boost China’s global finance ambitionsUS warns banks to be on high alert for Russia sanctions evasionLevi Strauss halts business in RussiaWar in Ukraine: free to read The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is fueling the ‘fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since second world war,’ according to the UNHCR; the White House has reversed its position and now is talking with European partners about a ban on Russian oil, and sanctions on Russia have unleashed a renewed wave of disruption for strained global supply chains. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:Ukraine invasion fuels ‘fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since second world war’US in ‘active discussions’ over Russian oil import ban as Moscow targets Ukraine urban centres  Russia demands US guarantees over revival of Iran nuclear accordWorld’s biggest shipping groups suspend Russian cargo bookings Ukraine crisis batters Sri Lanka’s tea and tourism recovery strategyWar in Ukraine: free to read The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we bring you one of the most popular episodes from our archive: a conversation with Elif Shafak, the most widely read woman novelist in Turkey. She and Lilah discuss national identity, the generational pain of conflict, and writing in countries that don't have freedom of speech. This conversation feels especially poignant today, as the war in Ukraine becomes even more devastating. This episode also features columnist Enuma Okoro on loving our cities, and economist Tim Harford on feeling less pressure to get everything done.We’ll be back with a new episode, on the cultural side of the war in Ukraine, next week.--------------We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap. --------------Special offers for FT Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial are here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast--------------Links from the episode:––Key coverage of the war in Ukraine is free to read: https://www.ft.com/freetoread. You can also keep up with FT coverage by following @financialtimes on Instagram and Twitter.—Enuma Okoro’s love letter to New York City: https://www.ft.com/content/e2507d84-9a12-4755-a9c7-41c9ea116947  —Lilah’s piece about visiting Armenia: https://www.ft.com/content/2e2f38b0-e7a1-11e8-8a85-04b8afea6ea3 —Review of Elif Shafak’s novel, The Island of Missing Trees: https://www.ft.com/content/1a064a06-bd19-43c7-8237-38931853d0e2 —Tim Harford on to-do lists: https://www.ft.com/content/06ffe40d-fdcc-4be8-b536-810cedce7ed1 —Oliver Burkeman on how not to waste your life (paywall): https://www.ft.com/content/dd0d477b-c1f7-4d74-af68-c1ef1692566c--------------The first US FT Weekend Festival is on Saturday, May 7 in Washington, DC. To attend virtually or in person, buy tickets at http://ft.weekendfestival.com – use the discount code FTFriends2022 for 10% off.--------------Sound design and mixing is by Breen Turner, with original music by Metaphor Music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Western brands flee Russia, global commodities soar as Putin intensifies his attack on Ukraine, and the US announces new sanctions on Russian oligarchs and their families. Plus, Accenture, McKinsey and Boston Consulting Group are the latest companies to flee or suspend operations in Russia. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:US announces new sanctions on Russian oligarchs and their familiesCommodity prices soar to highest level since 2008 over Russia supply fearsWestern brands flee Russia in unravelling of ‘capitalistic diplomacy’War in Ukraine: free to read The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the brutality of Moscow’s invasion intensifies, the idea of targeting oil and gas exports for sanctions is no longer off the table, and Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell confirmed to US lawmakers that he is backing a quarter point rate rise later this month despite the uncertainties caused by Russia’s invasion. Plus, the FT’s Frankfurt correspondent, Joe Miller, talks about the dramatic change in Germany’s foreign and defence policy as a result of Russia’s war on Ukraine, and how that’s changed the corporate landscape. Mentioned in this podcast:Should the west place an embargo on Russian oil and gas supplies?Powell backs quarter-point rate rise in March despite Ukraine war effectsGermany’s defence industry transformed by Scholz’s €100bn response to Ukraine crisisTwitter Space: How the war in Ukraine is impacting the global economy The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline company that was to bring Russian gas to Europe is reportedly insolvent, China has signalled it is ready to play a role in finding a ceasefire, and crypto exchanges are under pressure to block transactions with Russia as western politicians fear that cryptocurrencies will undermine the effectiveness of financial sanctions.Mentioned in this podcast:Nord Stream 2 pipeline becomes insolvent, says Swiss officialBeijing shifts public position after call between Chinese and Ukrainian foreign ministersCrypto exchanges resist calls for Russia bans after sanctionsWar in Ukraine: free to readThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.