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Ukrainians and hope

People directly affected by the war share their experiences at home and abroad.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky knows that if he has any hope of victory in the war in his country he needs his international friends to keep backing him.

Although the size of that task was pretty clear this week, in both the United States and Europe, when he returned largely empty handed - for now, at least.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, says he remains up for the fight and talked confidently about ultimate success.

It is now approaching two years of war in Ukraine. Despite both leaders talking of victory, the fighting and losses continue and neither side has been making much progress on the battlefield.

In this edition, we hear conversations among Ukrainians. They talk about the emotional impact of the fighting but also how they are able to have plans despite the war.

Three residents of Kyiv share their experiences, including Iryna, on how the approach of a second Christmas at war has affected her wedding plans to her British fiance.

鈥淲hen first he proposed I said yeah, we鈥檙e going to do it after the war, after we will win,鈥 says Iryna. "But now it鈥檚 so long already and I feel like I just paused my life. So we decided to get married next year.鈥

Host James Reynolds also hears from a woman whose brother was captured in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol and brings together Ukrainians in the UK and Poland.

A Boffin Media production in partnership with the 麻豆视频AV OS team.

(Photo: Iryna and her fiance Reese)

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23 minutes

Last on

Sun 17 Dec 2023 12:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 15 Dec 2023 20:06GMT
  • Fri 15 Dec 2023 21:06GMT
  • Sat 16 Dec 2023 09:06GMT
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  • Sun 17 Dec 2023 00:06GMT
  • Sun 17 Dec 2023 12:06GMT