Over 160 Chinese nationals fight for Russia in Ukraine, obtained documents show
The documents, obtained by the Kyiv Independent, list the names, personal data, brigades, and ranks of Chinese nationals fighting for Russia.
Oleksiy Sorokin
Articles
Ukraine-US talks on minerals deal ongoing, not tied to NATO membership, source says
Ukrainian and U.S. government and legal teams continue discussions on the mineral deal, a source in the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent on March 31 as U.S. President Donald Trump is escalating his rhetoric on the agreement.
200,000-500,000 men could leave Ukraine after war ends and borders open, minister says
Speaking at a press conference attended by the Kyiv Independent, Deputy Prime Minister and National Unity Minister Oleksii Chernyshov stressed the demographic challenges facing Ukraine in the fourth year of the full-scale war.
'We're ready' — Ukraine heads into US peace talks with everything at stake
Kyiv officials will meet their Washington counterparts in Jeddah on March 11 for talks which will impact the future of diplomatic relations between the two countries and likely the future of the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian side hopes the meeting would help mend ties with the White House and
Zelensky, Trump get into heated argument while speaking with journalists in Oval Office
President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump held a 45-minute-long press briefing in the Oval Office that ended in a heated argument about American aid to Ukraine.
Trump holds talks with Zelensky following his 1.5-hour-long conversation with Putin
"The conversation went very well. He, like President (Vladimir) Putin, wants to make peace. We discussed a variety of topics having to do with the war, but mostly, the meeting that is being set up on Friday in Munich, where Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the delegation," U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Russian economy after 3 years of sanctions
The Kyiv Independent sat down with Timothy Ash, an associate fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at Chatham House, to discuss Russia's current economic situation.
Kyiv, Damascus hold 'similar view' on Russian military presence in Syria, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed Kyiv's position on Russia's military presence in Syria to leaders of the new Syrian administration during a diplomatic visit to Damascus on Dec. 30, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said at an online meeting attended by the Kyiv Independent.
As military options dwindle, US support is key to Ukraine's peace talks
Ukraine is exhausted. Low on manpower, ammunition, and, most importantly, morale, the country is slowly reckoning with the fact that the ongoing war may be unwinnable on the battlefield — at least for now. According to a Gallup survey published on Nov. 19, 52% of Ukrainians now say they want their
We see that Russian economy is in a very dire state, EU top diplomat Kallas says
With the fate of further U.S. support for Ukraine, and thereby the future of the country, up in the air as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, the EU wants to send the message to Kyiv that it has its back. Kaja Kallas, the EU's new
We shouldn't overestimate Russia's power, EU top diplomat Kallas says
In an exclusive interview with the Kyiv Independent, Kaja Kallas, the newly appointed vice-president of the European Commission and top EU diplomat, discusses Ukraine support and recent EU sanctions against Russia. Kallas visited Kyiv on Dec. 1, the first day in her new role.
EU delivered 1 million shells to Ukraine, fulfilling pledge, Kallas says; no estimate for 2025 yet
The European Union has delivered 1 million artillery shells to Ukraine, fulfilling the pledge it initially promised to deliver by the spring of 2024, the EU’s new top diplomat Kaja Kallas told the Kyiv Independent on the sidelines of her visit to Kyiv.
Dutch Defense Minister Brekelmans on F-16s, Victory Plan, Ukraine’s NATO bid
Sitting at Kyiv's main train station moments before wrapping up his trip to Ukraine, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans had a lot to discuss. Brekelmans has just announced that the first batch of Dutch F-16s are flying Ukrainian skies, defending the country from Russian air strikes. He also announced that
Estonian President on Russia's threats of escalation
In an exclusive interview, Estonian President Alar Karis emphasizes his country’s support for Ukraine, advocating for the removal of restrictions on Western-provided long-range weapons so Ukraine can strike Russian territory.
Estonian President Karis: We have to cross all ‘red lines,’ then start forcing Russia out of Ukraine
Estonian President Alar Karis is very diplomatic. His country of 1.3 million people borders Russia, while the ongoing messy election campaign in Washington, D.C. forces European diplomats to question whether the U.S. will help countries like Estonia in case of a direct confrontation with Moscow. Despite that,
Zelensky gave detailed pitch to Blinken, Lammy on need for long-range strikes, source says
It remains unclear whether the decision on the long-range strikes will be taken during the meeting between U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden this Friday or later in September during a U.N. assembly in New York, the source said.
F-16s, multi-billion pledge, more Patriots, 'irreversible' membership – what Ukraine will and won't get at the NATO Summit
While 75th birthdays are usually a cause for joy and celebration, NATO's marking of this milestone at a three-day summit in Washington from 9-11 July is likely to be a rather more muted affair. Ukraine is understandably top of the agenda, with a Russian mass missile attack on July 8
Why is Scholz blocking provision of Taurus for Ukraine?
Ukraine officially asked Berlin to provide one of the most powerful long-range missiles at the end of May 2023 but heard uncertainty in response and, later — consistent refusals.
Source: Ukraine hits Russia's Engels air base. Can it change how Russia attacks?
Russia's Engels air base has once again come under attack on April 5 after what the Kyiv Independent's sources in the military intelligence claimed was a drone strike on one of the Kremlin's most strategically important military installations, deep inside Russia. According to a source in the military intelligence, who
Borrell: 'We can't impose sanctions on third countries that help Russia’
Josep Borrell, the European Union's top diplomat, held a two-day visit to Ukraine to meet with a variety of the country’s top officials in what has now become a regular tour of support. Visiting Ukraine for the fourth time in two years, Borrell has been sharp in urging his
This Week in Ukraine S2 E2 – Does Russia really want to negotiate peace?
Season 2 Episode 2 is dedicated to Ukraine’s Peace Formula and the possibility of successful peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in 2024.
American microchips are killing Ukrainians
Despite the West's effort to suffocate Russia's war machine through sanctions by banning export of crucial components, Western-made parts such as microchips are still found in Russian weapons. How did they end up there? Find out in our video.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Kuleba: 'Europe doesn't know how to fight wars'
Sitting down with the Kyiv Independent for an interview in Kyiv, Ukraine's top diplomat is sharply dressed and in a good mood. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is among the last Ukrainian top officials who still prefers a suit to a military-style garb. He's happy with the work his ministry has
This Week in Ukraine Ep. 39 – After 2023, what's next for Ukraine?
Episode #39 is dedicated to Ukraine’s biggest events of 2023, and what to look forward to in 2024.
Dutch minister: 'If you don't stop Russia now, they'll go further. It's not just Ukraine'
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Netherlands has taken a leading role in providing Ukraine with what it needs to survive. Seven years after voting down an EU Association Agreement with Ukraine in a referendum, effectively delaying it for a year, the Netherlands now ranks eighth in terms
Charles Michel: 'I don't think this counteroffensive has failed'
Ten years after Ukrainians took to the streets their dissatisfaction with what many saw as a nail into the coffin of the country's European future, the European Council president was in Kyiv promising that Ukraine would soon begin accession talks. "My goal is to do everything to make a positive
This Week in Ukraine Ep. 34 – What's wrong with Hungary?
Episode #34 is dedicated to why Hungary's pro-Russian government is blocking Ukraine's European integration.
Biden all in on aid to Ukraine, yet House remains an issue
In a prime-time address from the White House, U.S. President Joe Biden said he was going to send Congress an "urgent" funding request for aid to Ukraine and Israel on Oct. 20. The administration will attempt to push for $105 billion in assistance to Ukraine and Israel, as the
Ukraine uses ATACMS. Will it change the war?
Oleksiy Sorokin, deputy chief editor of the Kyiv Independent, explains how the ATACMS provided to Ukraine work, how they differ from other long-range missiles, and what will now change on the battlefield.
Polish opposition wins election. What does this mean for Poland, Ukraine, and EU?
Parliamentary elections were held in Poland on Oct. 15, with the opposition receiving 53% of the total vote. After eight years of conservative rule, the liberal pro-EU opposition will have a chance to form a government.
This Week in Ukraine Ep. 29 – Is support for Ukraine declining worldwide?
Episode #29 is dedicated to the risk of declining support for Ukraine around the world.
This Week in Ukraine Ep. 24 – Will Ukraine hold elections during war?
Episode #24 of our weekly video podcast “This Week in Ukraine” is dedicated to the challenges Ukraine would need to overcome to hold elections during war.
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