Peace by piece? Zelensky and Trump meet again

<p>After an inconclusive summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, the stakes are high for <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/08/17/fear-of-a-new-oval-office-fiasco-over-ukraine?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting</a> with the US president in Washington today. Enter the <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2025/08/11/how-ai-could-create-the-first-one-person-unicorn?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“solopreneur”</a>: why AI is allowing entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses on their own. And a 400-year-old Chinese <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2025/08/14/a-400-year-old-chinese-cough-syrup-is-winning-over-westerners?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cough syrup</a> is enjoying new-found popularity.</p><br><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+</em></a></p><br><p><em>For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account.</em></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>