logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2022
43m 12s

Do you speak Russian?

THE TIMES
About this episode

Matt Chorley explores why the number of fluent Russian speakers in the Foreign Office fell by a quarter in the years before the invasion of Ukraine.


PLUS Daniel Finkelstein and Oliver Kamm discuss President Putin getting "an easy off-ramp" and Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe.



See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Up next
Oct 10
Trump's Peace Prize Snub
The ceasefire in Gaza is underway after US president Donald Trump brokered a peace deal between Israel and Hamas. But how will he feel about missing out on the Nobel Peace Prize?Alexis Conran unpacks the politics of the day with Michael Binyon and Alys Denby. Hosted on Acast. See ... Show More
35m 12s
Oct 9
Trump Takes Credit For Gaza Deal
President Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to phase one of his plan for peace in Gaza. Is he on track for a Nobel Peace Prize? Plus, why is Matthew trying to avoid calling Nigel Farage by his name? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 
33m 38s
Oct 8
Badenoch's Tax-Cutting Promises
Hugo Rifkind unpacks Kemi Badenoch's speech to Conservative Party conference in which she pledged to scrap Labour's tax rises and abolish stamp duty. But has she discovered her own magic money tree?Plus: Margaret Thatcher also struggled to make an impact in her first year, how do ... Show More
16m 49s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2022
What’s it good for? Putin’s Ukraine calculus
More Russian troops piling in. Embassy staff pulling out. American forces on alert and sober diplomacy still on the docket. We examine Vladimir Putin's ways, means and motivations. The Omicron variant is making its mark in Mexico, a place that our correspondent says never really ... Show More
22m 36s
Jan 2022
Kremlin Spokesman On Russia's Intentions In Ukraine
In an exclusive interview Fareed talks to long-time Putin aide Dmitry Peskov about Moscow’s demands for NATO, threats against Ukraine, and further sanctions. Then, fmr. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, and former NSC Russia director Thomas Graham, on how the West should re ... Show More
39m 53s
Apr 2023
Zelensky and Xi talk; Disney takes DeSantis to court, and more
Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, spoke for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 
3m 18s
Feb 2022
Pres. Biden Says Vladimir Putin Has Decided to Invade Ukraine
CNN correspondents in Moscow and Kiev give Fareed the latest developments on the ground. Then, top former foreign policy officials lay out the diplomatic options that remain to try to stave off a Russia invasion of Ukraine. Plus, Fareed sits down with former Secretary of State Co ... Show More
39m 20s
Jun 2023
Putin Failing? - June 26th, Hour 1
Sean reviews the latest on the military failures in Russia and what is next for Ukraine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
34m 3s