Ukraine Lost in Bakhmut. But It Has Much Bigger Plans.

<p>After almost a year of deadly battle, Russia has claimed victory in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. But what happens now is uncertain.</p><p>Eric Schmitt, who covers national security for The New York Times, explains what this moment in the war means, and why the next few months could be critical for Ukraine.</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/eric-schmitt">Eric Schmitt</a>, a national security correspondent for The New York Times.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>A top Ukrainian official essentially acknowledged that<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/22/world/europe/bakhmut-russia-ukraine-retreat.html?searchResultPosition=2"> Bakhmut had been lost</a>. Thousands of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers died there, but the cost for Moscow was especially steep, experts say.</li><li>The battle for Bakhmut,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/world/europe/bakhmut-photos-ukraine.html?searchResultPosition=1"> in photos</a>.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p>