Witkoff praises Putin the 'humanitarian’ as Moscow kills Ukrainian children

Day 1,697.

Today, Steve Witkoff arrives in Russia to meet Vladimir Putin, after fresh peace talks in Oslo. Trump’s envoy describes the Russian president, extraordinarily, as a “humanitarian”. The Kremlin releases US pensioner Stephen James Hubbard, just in time for the midterms, and says the first tanker included in the Russian diesel deal will leave tomorrow. Elsewhere, the saga over the Starlink switch-off continues, and Nato deploys drones to the Black Sea. Later, Dom and Alex speak to Antonia Langord – usually based in Kyiv – in our London studio.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist).

Antonia Langford (Freelance Journalist in Kyiv). @Antonialford on X.

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Natalia Makohon

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: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Tickets for 'The Mothers of Kherson' opera in Warsaw:

https://teatrwielki.pl/en/calendar/2026-2027/matki-chersonia

'Everything was in ruins' — At least 2 killed, 2 injured in Russian drone attack on Kyiv (Kyiv Independent) https://kyivindependent.com/at-least-2-killed-2-injured-in-russian-drone-attack-on-kyiv/

Ukrainians turn on US after Russian strike kills baby in pram (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/21/ukrainians-turn-on-us-russian-strike-kills-baby-pram/

How an Italian journalist is whitewashing Putin’s worst war crime (Nick Squires and Antonia Langford for the Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/18/how-italian-journalist-whitewashing-putins-worst-war-crimes/

She survived the front line, but a Russian missile found her at home (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/20/ukraine-combat-medic-survives-front-line-to-die-near-home/

Antonia’s interview with Robert 'Madyar' Brovdi - Ukraine’s Drone Chief: Putin is Sending 300,000 Troops to the Slaughter | Exclusive

https://youtu.be/xWRn_oltbgY

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Contact the team on [email protected]. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Wikoff praises Putin the 'humanitarian’ after Kremlin releases US prisoner
• Nato deploys drones to the Black Sea

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