Ukraine: The Latest - 22 April 2026
Ukraine names territory ‘Donnyland’ to appease Trump & ‘breakthrough’ as EU approves €90bn loan for Zelensky
Episode Notes
Day 1,518.
Today, after months of back-room negotiations, delays and doubts, we go live to Brussels as the EU finally approves the €90 billion loan for Ukraine. How significant is this decision for Kyiv’s war effort – and what happens now that the funding is secured? We also report on the proposal of “Donnyland”, a suggested name for territory in Donbas Ukraine may dedicate to Donald Trump. Then we round up the latest headlines from Russia and Central Asia.
Contributors:
Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.
Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.
Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.
James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.
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:
Ukraine to launch EU-funded weapons spending spree after Orban defeat (Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):
The Ukrainian negotiator who can silence Russia’s guns with one call (Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/20/ukrainian-peacemaker-swapping-prisoners
Ukraine proposes creating ‘Donnyland’ to satisfy Trump (The Telegraph):
A banking crisis made in the Kremlin is gripping Russia (Melissa Lawford in The Telegraph):
Putin closes major oil pipeline to Germany (The Telegraph):
Russian economy is faltering despite oil windfall, Sweden warns (Financial Times):
https://www.ft.com/content/04a9d05d-2502-44d4-b7e0-041aaa4f83cd?syn-25a6b1a6=1
‘Donnyland’? Ukraine Proposes Naming Part of the Donbas in Trump’s Honor (New York Times):
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/21/us/politics/donnyland-ukraine-donbas-trump.html
Russia and North Korea Celebrate Joining of First Road Bridge (Moscow Times):
New biography on author Mikhail Bulgakov labeled under 'drug propaganda' law in Russia (Kyiv Independent):
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HIGHLIGHTS:
EU approves €90 billion loan for Ukraine.
A territory in the Donbas region of Ukraine may be named ‘Donnyland’ in tribute to Donald Trump.
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