Putin confesses 'problems' in Ukraine war for first time & fuel hoarding sweeps Russia

Day 1,585.
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:
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CONTENT REFERENCED:
Putin: Russia is facing problems in Ukraine war (The Telegraph)
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/28/putin-ru…

Nato prepares for the Battle of the Baltics (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/23/nato-pre…

We’re ready to fight Russia tonight, vows head of German air force (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/15/luftwaff…

How German trains became the shame of a nation (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/28/how-germ…

Germany considers return of military conscription (The Telegraph)
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/27/germany-…

Turkey Offers to Host Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks (Kyiv Post)
kyivpost.com/post/79139

Putin Says Expecting US Negotiators Once US Less Busy With Iran (Kyiv Post)
kyivpost.com/post/79177

Serbian President Vučić says he will resign within ‘weeks’ (Politico)
politico.eu/article/serbian-president-vucic-sa…

Stray Ukraine drones worth the price of hitting Russia, says Estonian minister (Financial Times)
ft.com/content/f487526b-9646-456b-bccb-001f310…

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Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Putin confesses 'problems' in Ukraine war for first time
• Reports of fuel hoarding across Russia after long-range Ukrainian strikes
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