Lukoil agrees to sell most of its foreign assets to US investment group
The Carlyle deal does not include Lukoil's assets in Kazakhstan and is still subject to approval by the U.S. Treasury Department, the Russian energy giant said.
Team
Martin Fornusek
ReporterMartin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.
Articles
Germany's Merz says Ukraine joining EU in 2027 'not possible'
The comments come after President Volodymyr Zelensky set 2027 as the target date for Ukraine's entry into the bloc.
Spain escorts shadow fleet vessel sanctioned for carrying Russian oil, Reuters reports
The Chariot Tide, formerly known as Marabella Sun, was flying a Mozambique flag when its engine broke down on Jan. 22 in international waters within Spain's search-and-rescue zone.
'Absurd' — Trump's Board of Peace project falls flat in Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump's unveiling of his new "Board of Peace" drew a divided response from the international community.
Most of Europe — including Ukraine — was absent from the signing ceremony in Davos, which featured mainly Middle Eastern leaders and Trump's ideological allies, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban or Argentinian President Javier Milei.
Despite seeking Trump's favor in peace talks with Russia, Kyiv remains reluctant to join as long as the war lasts.
The reason
European coastal countries warn Russia's shadow fleet, step up maritime safety
Fourteen European countries warned on Jan. 26 that ships sailing in the Baltic Sea and North Sea under multiple flags may be treated as stateless vessels.
Fact-check: Russia's 'most successful disinformation campaign' targets free speech in Europe
Moscow's propaganda machine has been hard at work depicting Europe as a "digital gulag," hellbent on suppressing free speech online.
The latest campaign has targeted efforts by the U.K. and the EU to regulate X (formerly Twitter), even as the platform remains blocked in Russia, alongside Facebook, Instagram, and others.
Russian propagandists appear to be drawing on the ire of U.S. leaders and their ally, X's owner Elon Musk, who attack European legislation as "censorship."
Experts who spoke t
UK shipping company helped Russia raise $3.2 billion in LNG trade revenue in 2025, campaigners say
Seapeak's share of Yamal LNG's trade in 2025 amounted to 37.3%, more than any other company, according to Urgewald's analysis based on Kpler data.
Exclusive: Iran gave Russia over 350 Fath-360 missiles. Ukraine has yet to see one launched
The reasons could be "possible limitations of a technical or political character," Ukraine's military intelligence told the Kyiv Independent.
EU gives final approval to ban on Russian gas by 2027
A full ban on Russian LNG will take effect in early 2027, followed by pipeline gas imports in the autumn of that year.
Putin tells US envoys 'no point in hoping' for peace without Ukraine's capitulation on territories
"We are interested in resolving the (war) through political and diplomatic means. But until that happens, Russia will continue to pursue its goals on the battlefield," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.
French Navy boards Russia's 'shadow fleet' oil tanker in Mediterranean Sea, captain detained
"We will not tolerate any violation," Emmanuel Macron said. "We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions."
Exclusive: Trump's new Board of Peace could tackle Russia-Ukraine war, source says
A White House official told the Kyiv Independent that the Board could play a role in different situations, without ruling out engagement on Russia's war in Ukraine.
Europe's far-right parties face growing obstacle: Donald Trump
Donald Trump's bulldozer-style foreign policy is a gut punch for the far-right.
Nationalist parties in the U.K., France, and Germany — endorsed by the U.S. president — have pushed back against the American leader's claim on Greenland and the temporary threat of tariffs against those who stand in his way.
While aligned with Trump on immigration, enmity toward the EU, and a dovish stance on Russia, Europe's hard-right populists see their interests clash with MAGA's "America First" policy.
Exper
Trump's envoys Witkoff, Kushner to meet Putin in Moscow
"The Russians have invited us to come, and that's a significant statement from them," Witkoff said in an interview with Bloomberg TV in Davos on Jan. 21, amid a Washington-led push to broker peace between Kyiv and Moscow.
Military invasion 'can't be ruled out,' Greenland's prime minister says amid US threats
Greenland must start preparing for the possibility of a military invasion, even though the scenario remains unlikely, the island's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said.
Editors' Picks
'Absurd' — Trump's Board of Peace project falls flat in Ukraine
Exclusive: Russian negotiators soften hardline stance in private, US officials say. Ukrainians urge caution
We asked an expert about Russia's 'updated' mass missile, drone tactics
