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Hello and welcome to the edition podcast from The Spectator, where each week we take a look at three pieces from the magazine with the writers behind them.

I'm William Moore, the Spectator's Features Editor.

On the podcast, we'll be looking at the possibility of a partitioned Ukraine,

learning about how the cultural wars are affecting farming,

and asking whether video games can be considered an art form.

First up, in his cover piece for the magazine this week,

the spectators, Russia correspondent Owen Matthews,

writes about the rumours that Vladimir Putin could be looking to broker a land for peace deal.

Unfortunately, Owen says, this deal would mean the de facto partition of Ukraine. Owen joins me now, along with

the spectators Vittlana Monnitz, who writes in this week's magazine that Ukrainians have learnt

not to trust any deals that Putin may offer. Owen, could you start by giving us your insight on the

state of the war at the start of 2024?

Well, very simply and very sadly, for the Ukrainians and for the West,

despite a massive injection of U.S. military aid,

the front lines have gone nowhere.

The last major Ukrainian breakthrough was the recapture of Hirson back in November 22.

And since then, the much vaunted spring, summer, autumn offensive has managed to recapture up to 12 kilometers, but that's along a 1,300 kilometre long front line.

So the question now becomes, what is necessary to win the war? The Ukrainians have

provided some answers to that. I mean, Valerizalusini, the chief of the Ukrainian general staff,

...