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From Our Own Correspondent

A Pivotal Moment in Ukraine's War

From Our Own Correspondent

BBC

News, News Commentary

4.41.3K Ratings

🗓️ 23 December 2023

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Kate Adie presents stories from Ukraine, Tajikistan, Brazil and Mexico

Over recent weeks, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has battled in vain to ensure further US funding for the war in Ukraine. Just one year ago, he received a standing ovation in Congress, such was the strength of support to see Ukraine victorious. Now, the reality is very different. James Waterhouse has been following events in Washington and in Kyiv and says why this is a defining moment for Ukraine in the war.

In Dnipro, away from the frontline in central-eastern Ukraine, Tim Whewell encounters a group of men who have not yet been called up to fight. He hears about everyday life in the country's economic hub and how young men are making a living by any means as they live under the looming threat of conscription.

When you’re based full-time in a country the stories you cover as a correspondent, from political strikes to a pandemic, are often also the stories you live yourself – and that certainly has been the case for the BBC's South America correspondent Katy Watson. As she prepares to move on to a posting in Australia, she reflects on the past decade she’s spent living in Brazil and Mexico.

In the mountains of Tajikistan, in the region of Gorno-Badakshan, locals decorate their homes, light up trees and celebrate the life of a saviour - but it's not Christmas. This is home to more than 200,000 Ismaili Muslims, whose spiritual leader is the Aga Khan, whose life is the focus of the festivities. Chris Aslan joined in on the fun.

Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinators: Gemma Ashman and Janet Staples

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts.

0:05.0

Today the grueling battle continues on Ukraine's front line,

0:10.0

but nearly two years into the war,

0:12.0

how has life changed for civilians in the cities.

0:16.0

In Brazil we hear from our correspondent as she moves on after 10 years of covering Latin America.

0:23.0

She reflects on how the political climate has changed for women there.

0:27.0

And we're in a remote region of Tajikistan,

0:31.0

where our correspondent joins in the seasonal festivities, but it's not Christmas.

0:37.0

First, the world's focus has been on the UN this week, as Member States thrush out ways to bring the US on board for a ceasefire in the

0:45.8

Middle East.

0:46.8

But US political leaders have been in equally intense negotiations regarding another

0:52.1

conflict recently as President Zelensky made his case for a

0:56.5

further tranche of US funding for the war in Ukraine. Just a year ago President Zelensky received a standing evasion after addressing both

1:07.1

chambers of Congress such was the strength of support among American politicians

1:12.0

for Ukraine.

1:14.0

Back then he emphasized that his country would never surrender and that battle wasn't just

1:19.2

for the fate of his nation, but for democracy worldwide. Now the reality is very different.

1:26.7

With a US presidential election looming next year, the Battle for Votes is taking priority in Washington.

1:33.9

It now looks unlikely that Kyiv will be able to secure emergency funding

1:38.7

before the end of the year after Republicans blocked a multi-billion dollar package for Ukraine earlier this month.

1:46.0

James Waterhouse has been following events in Washington and Kyiv and reflects on this

1:52.0

defining moment for Ukraine's war with Russia.

...

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