President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky Photo: JOHN McDOUGALL/(Photo by JOHN McDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)
Today on Telegraph Ukraine : V In the latest podcast, we bring you news from the front, analyze Vladimir Zelensky's efforts to maintain Ukraine's candidacy for the EU, and examine the motives and methods of Hungary's Viktor Orban.
Assistant commentary editor Frances Dearnley reports on the latest developments in Ukraine's bid to join the EU.
When discussing Ukraine in a European context, we are often forced to ask what Ukraine will gain from membership in the European Union and NATO, rather than what the European Union and NATO can gain. But this morning President Zelensky was keen to highlight what he sees as the long-term strategic benefits for Europe of Ukraine's tilt to the West, beyond the strength of its military and the work being done domestically to position itself for membership.
“Our Europe is going through a special moment,” he says. “For decades it has been divided into two territories: one where our common values are protected by European institutions, and another where they are not protected. Now, finally, we are several geopolitical steps away from eliminating this division.”
“Since the collapse of the so-called Eastern Bloc, the lack of geopolitical certainty has become the biggest threat to life in Europe. It attracted crises like a magnet and seduced the enemies of the European path of struggle against European unity. Because even the smallest gray geopolitical zone provokes claims to dominance in it. Various political forces are trying to paint it in their own colors. We now have a historic chance for all of Europe to eliminate the lack of geopolitical certainty, this source of crises and problems.”
Interestingly, this matches historian James Carafino's analysis in his podcast last week. sought to highlight how economically transformative this could be: so much so that Europe would be able to contain Russia and be virtually independent of what it does – which was not the case before. This interview took place on Day 599 and provided some food for thought, so I recommend it.
Francis goes on to detail some of the efforts of Volodymyr Zelensky's government to clean up its international image and convince EU countries that Ukraine is ready for membership.
The number of high-profile individuals indicted has been notable in recent months: Igor Kolomoisky, once considered Zelensky's main backer, was jailed last month on suspicion of fraud and money laundering. In May, Ukraine announced that it suspected US-wanted businessman Dmitry Firtash and companies controlled by him of stealing up to $485 million in a “large-scale scheme” involving the Ukrainian gas transportation system. Authorities also seized more than $375 million in assets they said belonged to exiled billionaire Vadim Novinsky, who they say was aiding Russia. They all deny wrongdoing.
As we have said many times, war is the engine of history; accelerating existing processes and creating new opportunities. If “politics is the art of the possible,” then war often redefines what is perceivedaspossible—for better or for worse.
Listen to Ukraine Breaking News, The Telegraph's daily podcast, using the audio player at the top of this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast app.
The war in Ukraine is changing our world. Every weekday, The Telegraph's leading journalists analyze the invasion from all angles – military, humanitarian, political, economic, historical – and tell you everything you need to know to stay informed.
Our podcast Ukraine: latestWith over 55 million downloads, your go-to source for the latest analysis, real-time reactions and on-the-ground reporting. We have been broadcasting since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
Ukraine: Regular participants of The Latest are:
David Knowles
David – director audio development department at The Telegraph, where he worked for almost three years. He reported from all over Ukraine during the full-scale invasion.
Dominic Nicholls
Dom is deputy editor (defence) at The Telegraph, joining in 2018. He previously served in the British Army for 23 years in tank and helicopter units. He had operational deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.
Francis Dearnley
Francis is assistant comment editor at The Telegraph. Before working as a journalist, he was chief of staff to the Chairman of the Prime Minister's Policy Council in the Houses of Parliament in London. He studied history at Cambridge University and in the podcast reveals how the past sheds light on the latest diplomatic, political and strategic events.
They are also regularly joined by The Telegraph's foreign correspondents around the world, including Joe Barnes(Brussels), Sofia Yang (China), Natalia Vasilyeva (Russia), Roland Oliphant (Senior Reporter) and Colin Freeman (Reporter).
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