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⚡️Trump-Putin meeting preparations already underway, Russia claims. The two leaders could discuss a broad range of global topics in addition to the war in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. The meeting would be a step toward "normalizing relations" between the U.S. and Russia.

submitted 52 minutes ago • 34 comments

⚡️'We're going to get our money back' — Trump on US-Ukraine resources deal. "I want them to give us something for all of the money that we put up," Trump said on Feb. 22. "We're asking for rare earth and oil — anything we can get."

submitted 1 hour ago • 144 comments

⚡️Russia exceeded mobilization goals in occupied Ukrainian territories last year, official says. "In 2024, Russia had to mobilize thousands of people from the newly occupied territories and those who had previously been under occupation. According to HUR, this plan has been fulfilled by 104%."

submitted 2 hours ago • 18 comments

⚡️US mineral deal offers no security guarantees for Ukraine, NYT reports. The terms of the revised proposal are virtually the same as those of an earlier version rejected by President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a draft dated Feb. 21.

submitted 3 hours ago • 91 comments

⚡️Ukraine expects further F-16 deliveries from the Netherlands, Zelensky says. Following his meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof at the Munich Security Conference, President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses remains a top priority.

submitted 5 hours ago • 28 comments

⚡️Explosions reported in Kyiv. Explosions were heard in Kyiv around 10:45 p.m. local time, according to a Kyiv Independent journalist on the ground. Air defense has been active in the capital, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported. Ukraine's Air Force warned of the threat of Russian drone attacks.

submitted 5 hours ago • 6 comments

As the world fixates on U.S. President Donald Trump and his alignment with Moscow’s narrative, a desperate struggle to stabilize the Donetsk Oblast front line continues. The Kyiv Independent spent two weeks on the front line speaking to infantry and artillery commanders, medics, and drone pilots.

submitted 6 hours ago • 14 comments

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has denied reports that the United States threatened to shut off Starlink in Ukraine unless Kyiv agreed to a minerals deal. Responding to a report by Reuters, Musk called the claim "false" and accused the news agency of lying.

submitted 6 hours ago • 103 comments

⚡️EU considers confiscating part of Russia’s frozen $280 billion, Bloomberg reports. The European Union is discussing how to seize Russia’s frozen central bank assets to provide financial and military aid to Ukraine, as concerns grow that the United States may scale back its support.

submitted 7 hours ago • 68 comments

⚡️Trump announces next round of Ukraine peace talks in Riyadh on Feb 25. U.S. President Donald Trump said a new phase of ceasefire negotiations between American and Russian delegations aimed to stop Russia's war against Ukraine would take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 25.

submitted 8 hours ago • 82 comments

⚡️ Ukraine’s work on finalizing minerals deal to start on Feb. 24, parliament speaker says. The U.S. is reportedly looking to obtain an interest in 50% of Ukraine's natural resources through a joint investment fund as payback for its support for Kyiv.

submitted 10 hours ago • 108 comments

NATO to reportedly extend jet fuel pipeline to Czechia, Poland in case of war with Russia. The current pipeline system of the alliance, dating back to the Cold War, ends in western Germany, Reuters reported.

submitted 11 hours ago • 18 comments

⚡️ Russian attacks on Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, kill at least 2. The number of casualties may rise as people could still be trapped under the rubble, Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

submitted 13 hours ago • 10 comments

⚡️ Fico says Zelensky 'needs this war,' justifies Russia's full-scale invasion. In a 15-minute speech at CPAC, Fico also backed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of President Volodymyr Zelensky.

submitted 14 hours ago • 91 comments

⚡️ Ukraine's SBU claims attack on Russian oil pumping station in Krasnodar Krai. Russian authorities are currently assessing the damage, the source said.

submitted 14 hours ago • 6 comments

To whip the European defense industry into shape, Brussels has appointed veteran Lithuanian politician Andrius Kubilius as its first-ever defense commissioner. The Kyiv Independent sat down with Commissioner Kubilius to ask whether the EU is ready to step up in the light of recent shifts in the U.S.

submitted 17 hours ago • 24 comments

These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Feb. 22, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

submitted 18 hours ago • 28 comments

⚡️US threatens to shut off Starlink if Ukraine won't sign minerals deal, sources tell Reuters. The U.S. first raised the prospect of shutting off Starlink after Zelensky rejected the deal presented on Feb. 12. Starlink terminals are critical in securing Ukraine's battlefield communications.

submitted 21 hours ago • 465 comments

⚡️EU preparing military aid package for Kyiv worth $20.9 billion, Bloomberg reports. The additional military support would supply Kyiv with air defense systems, artillery ammunition, long-range missiles, and drones.

submitted 23 hours ago • 292 comments

⚡️Trump admits Russia attacked Ukraine. "Russia attacked, but they shouldn't have let him attack," U.S. President Donald Trump said on Feb. 21, after previously blaming Ukraine for starting the war.

submitted 23 hours ago • 144 comments

⚡️US 'pretty close' to minerals deal with Ukraine, Trump claims. "I think (the Ukrainians) want it. They feel good about it, and it's a significant — it's a big deal, but they want it, and it keeps us in that country, and they're very happy about it."

submitted 23 hours ago • 104 comments

⚡️Austria offers to host Ukraine peace negotiations, ambassador says. Europe must participate in potential peace talks "not only because we are the biggest donors but because Ukraine is a European country fighting for our values and freedom," Austrian Ambassador to Ukraine Arad Benko said.

submitted 1 day ago • 39 comments

⚡️One person killed in drone attack on Kyiv Oblast, warehouse on fire. A 60-year-old man was killed at a railway crossing in Kyiv Oblast, amid a Russian drone attack on the region, the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration reported.

submitted 1 day ago • 12 comments

⚡️Bulgarian parliament votes against deploying troops to Ukraine. The Bulgarian parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of a non-binding declaration on Feb. 21 that would seek to halt any deployment of military forces to Ukraine.

submitted 1 day ago • 28 comments

⚡️Ukrainian, US officials negotiated throughout the night amid minerals deal dispute, Axios reports. Ukrainian and U.S. officials were at the table overnight and into the morning discussing an "improved" bilateral rare earth mineral deal on Feb. 21, Axios reported.

submitted 1 day ago • 46 comments

U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that Ukraine's president is an illegitimate "dictator" aligns with Kremlin war objectives and puts Volodymyr Zelensky in an almost impossible situation, experts and analysts have told the Kyiv Independent.

submitted 1 day ago • 56 comments

⚡️Trump's Ukraine remarks 'shocking,' echo Russian narratives, German opposition leader says. German opposition leader Friedrich Merz has criticized Donald Trump's statements about Ukraine, calling them "shocking" and aligned with Russian narratives. kyivindependent.com/trumps-ukrai...

submitted 1 day ago • 4 comments

Russia wants to declare 'victory' over Ukraine on Feb. 24, Ukrainian intel claims; Zelensky is not 'important' to negotiations on ending war, Trump says; and more.

submitted 1 day ago • 57 comments

We’re excited to introduce the Kyiv Independent’s first-ever print edition, a permanent record of Ukrainian resilience and life during wartime as told by our staff. The pre-order starts today: store.kyivindependent.com/products/the...

submitted 1 day ago • 11 comments

⚡️Canada opposes Russia's return to G7, vows to 'stand its ground,' ambassador says. Canada, which currently chairs the Group of Seven (G7), opposes Russia's return to the format, Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine Natalka Cmoc said on Feb. 21. kyivindependent.com/canada-oppos...

submitted 1 day ago • 16 comments

⚡️Putin orders ministers to prepare for Western companies' return to Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed his Cabinet of Ministers on Feb. 21 to prepare for the return of Western companies. kyivindependent.com/putin-orders...

submitted 1 day ago • 35 comments

After three years of full-scale war, Ukrainians have regressed from dreams of victory to hope for an unjust peace, writes Ukrainian poet and essayist Andriy Lyubka in his op-ed.

submitted 1 day ago • 12 comments

⚡️Zelensky is not 'important' to negotiations on ending war, Trump says. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Feb. 21 that President Volodymyr Zelensky is not essential to negotiations to end Russia's war in Ukraine. kyivindependent.com/zelensky-is-...

submitted 1 day ago • 63 comments

Elections in Ukraine must be held only after sustainable peace is achieved, ensuring a free, fair, and democratic process that reflects the will of the people, writes Olga Aivazovska of Civil Network OPORA in her op-ed.

submitted 1 day ago • 16 comments

⚡️Zelensky to sign US minerals deal soon, Waltz says. U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Feb. 21 that President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to sign a minerals deal with the U.S. "in the very short term," the Guardian reported. kyivindependent.com/zelensky-to-...

submitted 1 day ago • 67 comments

The Kyiv Independent team visited one of the last remaining operating mines in the region to highlight the resilience of the workers who continue their work despite danger and tough conditions.

submitted 1 day ago • 3 comments

⚡️Russia may offer frozen assets for Ukraine's reconstruction, demand funds for occupied territories, Reuters reports. Russia may be willing to use a portion of its $300 billion in frozen assets to help rebuild Ukraine, Reuters reported. kyivindependent.com/russia-may-o...

submitted 1 day ago • 36 comments

⚡️Lawmaker from Zelensky's party resigns after corruption charges, MP says. Iryna Kormyshkina, a member of parliament from President Volodymyr Zelensky's Servant of the People party, has submitted a resignation letter amid a corruption investigation against her. kyivindependent.com/zelenskys-pa...

submitted 1 day ago • 3 comments

The Kyiv Independent sat down with Gabrielius Landsbergis on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 14, where the growing divergence between the U.S. and the EU on NATO and Ukraine was at the center of the discussions.

submitted 1 day ago • 4 comments

⚡️ Most Danes back sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, poll shows. Around 53% of Danes are in favor of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale war ends, according to a poll published by Ritzau news agency on Feb. 21, Bloomberg reported.

submitted 1 day ago • 8 comments

Russia on Feb. 18 ended years of political isolation sparked by its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as a delegation of Kremlin officials met with their U.S. counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss how to end the very war it started.

submitted 1 day ago • 13 comments

As U.S.-Russian talks on ending the war in Ukraine kicked off in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18, Keith Kellogg, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, appears to have been partially sidelined from the negotiations.

submitted 1 day ago • 27 comments

⚡️ Kellogg praises Zelensky as 'courageous leader' after talks. "Extensive and positive discussions with (President Volodymyr Zelensky), the embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war, and his talented national security team," said Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine.

submitted 1 day ago • 16 comments

⚡️EU seeks more US gas to replace Russian supplies. The EU is also looking to develop renewable energy faster to reduce its overall dependence on the fuel, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said.

submitted 1 day ago • 15 comments

⚡️ 5.2 million Ukrainian refugees remain abroad, less than half plan to return, poll says. The Center for Economic Strategy projects that between 1.7 and 2.7 million Ukrainians may permanently remain abroad, potentially reducing Ukraine's annual GDP by 5.1% to 7.8%.

submitted 1 day ago • 7 comments

⚡️Over 130 Ukrainian NGOs say elections 'impossible' during war. "The legitimacy of the Ukrainian government is the exclusive prerogative of the Ukrainian people," the statement of the Ukrainian NGOs read.