S9 Ep31: Espresso Martini | A Russian Spy Ring in the UK, Ukraine’s Ceasefire Gamble, and AI Warships on the Horizon

Another Russian spy ring in the UK is exposed—what were they up
to, and what does it reveal about Moscow’s intelligence
operations? Chris and Matt dive into the details of the case,
including a botched plot to track Ukrainian soldiers and bizarre
honey trap plans. Then, they break down the latest on the Ukraine
ceasefire proposal. Will Putin play ball, or is this just a naive
delay tactic? Plus, the US Navy’s new autonomous warship raises
big questions about the future of naval warfare, and they analyze
the claim that “Putin has won.” Has he really? All that and more
in this week’s Espresso Martini.

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Articles discussed in today’s episode

"'The dumbest thing I’ve ever done': spy trial’s tales of
scheming, bluster and a love triangle" by Dan Sabbagh | The
Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/07/spy-trial-scheming-bluster-tangled-relationships


"Bulgarian trio convicted of conspiring to spy for Russia" |
Crown Prosecution Service:
https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/bulgarian-trio-convicted-conspiring-spy-russia


"Trump’s Ukraine ceasefire plan: What we know so far" by Tim Ross
| Politico Europe:
https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-ceasefire-plan-ukraine-jeddah-saudi-arabia-russia-fighting/


"Mysterious Naval Vessel Spotted In Washington State Is A New
DARPA Drone Ship" by Joseph Trevithick | The War Zone:
https://www.twz.com/sea/mysterious-naval-vessel-spotted-in-washington-state-is-a-new-darpa-drone-ship


"Putin Won" by Franklin Foer | The Atlantic:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/03/putin-russia-won/681959/


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Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.
Music by Andrew R. Bird

Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence,
covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a
way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris
Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode unpacks global events
through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring
expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.