What does the new US security strategy mean for Ukraine?
Ukrainecast
BBC
4.7 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 9 December 2025
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The newly published US ‘National Security Strategy’ is being seen by some as further evidence that in the era of Trump western nations are no longer united in the way they view the world. From its scathing narrative of European decline, to an altogether rosier depiction of Russia, the document has turned longstanding US foreign policy on its head. So what can it tell us about Washington’s intentions when it comes to ending the war in Ukraine?
Also today, Jamie and Vitaly are joined by Mariam Lambert, co-founder of the Emile Foundation, an organisation focussed on reuniting Ukrainian children with their families after being forcibly relocated by Russia. Experts at Yale University estimate there could be as many as 35,000 Ukrainian children being held illegally in Russia and its occupied territories. Russia insists it is protecting vulnerable children by moving them away from active war zones to ensure their safety.
Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Vitaly Shevchenko. The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The executive producer was Chris Gray. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480
You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts. |
| 0:05.4 | It is 1,385 days since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. |
| 0:12.2 | And Vitaly, where are we with the talks to reach some kind of peace plan? |
| 0:19.3 | There's been a lot of talks, Jamie. |
| 0:21.6 | Most recently, Voldemar Zelenskyy was in London on Monday to meet the British Prime Minister |
| 0:30.3 | Kirstama, the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and France's President Emil Macron. |
| 0:36.3 | And it sounded as though he was sort of seeking diplomatic cover after fresh criticism from Donald Trump. |
| 0:46.5 | Who said after talks between the Ukrainians and Americans in Florida, he said that he was disappointed with President Zelensky. |
| 0:57.1 | What's your next step in Russia-Ukraine talks after last week's negotiations? |
| 1:00.0 | So we've been speaking to President Putin and we've been speaking to Ukrainian leaders, |
| 1:05.8 | including Zelensky, President Zelensky. |
| 1:09.6 | And I have to say that I'm a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn't yet read the proposal. |
| 1:15.6 | That was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he has it. Russia is fine with it. |
| 1:21.6 | Russia, you know, Russia, I guess, would rather have the whole country when you think of it. |
| 1:30.9 | But Russia is, I believe, fine with it. |
| 1:33.7 | But I'm not sure that Zelensky is fine with it. |
| 1:34.7 | His people love it. |
| 1:37.5 | But he hasn't read it. |
| 1:43.6 | And when he says his people love it, is he referring to the negotiators or the people of Ukraine? I think so. |
| 1:44.7 | I think he's referring to negotiators because after that he's spoken to Politico, the news website, |
| 1:51.5 | and he said that apparently Zelensky's top people love the proposal. |
| 1:58.0 | But after all these talks, Vladimir Zelensky said that he and his European |
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