Putin confesses 'problems' in Ukraine war as Russians hoard fuel | Russia-Ukraine latest war news

Why is Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko on an unannounced visit to China? After a weekend that saw Ukraine’s Constitution Day celebrated with yet more lengthy queues at petrol stations in Russia and Crimea – a situation not helped by Russian oil refineries continuing to self-sanction – Putin shrugs that these ‘difficult’ days are just a speed bump on the road to inevitable victory. Dom and Francis ponder on Alexander Lukashenko’s slightly odd weekend jaunt to China via Putin’s lakeside retreat in Valdai – at least we now know what all the extra air defence was shipped in for – and ask, is he looking for a new best friend? And finally, after news of a mass shooting in the northern German city of Stade, they speak to Berlin correspondent James Rothwell who has been reporting on NATO preparations for a possible future Battle of the Baltics. Contributors: Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X. Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X. James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X. Producer: Rachel Porter Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan Social Producer: Gabby Colvin 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:    / @ukrainethelatest   CONTENT REFERENCED: Putin: Russia is facing problems in Ukraine war (The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new... Nato prepares for the Battle of the Baltics (James Rothwell for The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new... We’re ready to fight Russia tonight, vows head of German air force (James Rothwell for The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new... How German trains became the shame of a nation (James Rothwell for The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new... Germany considers return of military conscription (The Telegraph) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new... Turkey Offers to Host Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks (Kyiv Post) https://www.kyivpost.com/post/79139 Putin Says Expecting US Negotiators Once US Less Busy With Iran (Kyiv Post) https://www.kyivpost.com/post/79177 Serbian President Vučić says he will resign within ‘weeks’ (Politico) https://www.politico.eu/article/serbi... Stray Ukraine drones worth the price of hitting Russia, says Estonian minister (Financial Times) https://www.ft.com/content/f487526b-9... EMAIL US: Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.