Exclusive: Russia buys ‘holiday homes’ near NATO bases & Putin asks Trump for summit with Xi

20 Oct 2026 · 38 min

Episode Exclusive: Russia buys ‘holiday homes’ near NATO bases & Putin asks Trump for summit with Xi

0:00 38:13

Day 1,696.

Today, as President Trump says Putin isn’t “doing much” in Ukraine, we hear how the Russian President has sought to make Trump an offer he can’t refuse: a trilateral meeting with him and President Xi of China to settle all family business. Then we bring you a Telegraph exclusive on how Moscow is buying up holiday homes near NATO bases for nefarious purposes, before an in-depth look at the consequences of Ukraine losing access to the Starlink/Starfield, including for firefighters battling the destruction wrought by Russian missiles and drones.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Sophie O'Sullivan (Telegraph Journalist)

James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.

With thanks to freelance journalist Tom Watling.

Producer: Phil Atkins

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:

ENGIn Interview on ‘Ukraine: The Latest’:

https://youtu.be/7FC4cyBmwdE?si=9pG6b70MDh6G4uWN&t=1430

ENGIn Volunteering:

https://www.enginprogram.org/

Russia buys ‘holiday homes’ around Nato bases (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/20/russia-wages-hybrid-war-on-nato-from-holiday-homes/

Putin asks Trump for summit with Xi to decide Ukraine’s fate (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/19/putin-asks-trump-for-summit-with-xi-to-decide-ukraines-fate/

White House blocks transfer of Patriots to Ukraine (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/20/white-house-blocks-transfer-of-patriot-missiles-to-ukraine/

European telecoms groups join forces to challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink (Financial Times):

https://www.ft.com/content/555bbf91-4c38-43ce-94b6-90f7fc04e82c?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Zelensky appeals to US lawmakers for answers as White House turns on Kyiv (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-appeals-to-us-lawmakers-for-answers-as-white-house-turns-on-kyiv/

New Survey Shows 61% of Ukrainians Oppose Land for Peace Deal (Kyiv Post):

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/87527

How Putin devastated the crucial steel plant in Zelensky’s home town (Tom Watling in The Times):

https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/steel-plant-zelenskys-hometown-shuts-2w2np677q

A week with the Kyiv firefighters battling Russian drone strikes (Tom Watling in The Times):

https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/kyiv-firefighters-drone-danger-cjt36hfdq

If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

EMAIL US:

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

HIGHLIGHTS:

– Russia buys ‘holiday homes’ near NATO bases

– Putin asks Trump for summit with Xi

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