Team
Tim Zadorozhnyy
ReporterTim Zadorozhnyy is the reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in foreign policy, U.S.-Ukraine relations, and political developments across Europe and Russia. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations and the European Studies program at Lazarski University, offered in partnership with Coventry University. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa in 2022. After relocating to Warsaw, he spent a year and a half with the Belarusian independent media outlet NEXTA, initially as a news anchor and later as managing editor. Tim is fluent in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.
Articles
Russia's coy game: Why Kremlin won't commit to Trump's peace push
As U.S. President Donald Trump accelerates his push for a settlement in Moscow's war against Ukraine, analysts say Russia's ambiguous stance is clouding the process.
Even though the original peace plan unveiled by the U.S. last week was skewed in Russia's favor, it is not clear if Moscow would have accepted it since it still falls short of its sweeping demands. Observers note that Moscow has never clearly signaled readiness to accept the proposals.
"They've been very coy about the negotiations
US to discuss Ukraine security guarantees after peace deal signed, Rubio tells allies
Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured allies during a Nov. 25 call that the U.S. plans to address security guarantees once an agreement is reached, Politico reported.
'Echoes of 1938' — Trump's peace plan undermines Europe's security, experts warn
U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for ending Russia’s war has been criticized as effectively imposing the Kremlin's terms for Ukraine’s surrender.
But the plan also poses a direct threat to Europe's security architecture, analysts and diplomats believe.
The proposal requires Ukraine to cede territory, limit its alliances, and sharply reduce its military — conditions far more sweeping than any proposal discussed in previous negotiation rounds.
The plan is a major blow to the principles on whi
How Steve Witkoff pushed Ukraine sympathizers out of White House, and led the US into Russia's arms
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is running a shadow operation inside the White House in an effort to sideline pro-Ukraine officials, the Kyiv Independent has learned.
Witkoff — a real estate mogul with no diplomatic background before his appointment — has emerged as one of the central architects of a new Washington peace proposal that Ukrainian officials say revives the Kremlin's most sweeping demands.
A source in Ukraine's President's Office earlier said that Witkoff is shaping the plan in d
Everything we know about Trump’s 28-point peace plan for Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump is pressing Ukraine to accept a new peace proposal built around sweeping Russian demands, giving Kyiv until Nov. 27 to decide whether it will accept the demands or lose American support.
The push marks Trump's latest attempt to end Russia's all-out war, now approaching its fourth year, and as President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 21, "Ukraine may soon face an extremely difficult choice. Either the loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner."
The Kyiv In
US official contradicts Ukraine’s Umerov’s claim that he didn’t amend peace plan
The draft reportedly originally proposed an audit of all international aid to Ukraine, but the language was later changed to offer "full amnesty for actions during the war" to all parties involved.
New US peace plan pushes Ukraine toward capitulation — here's what we know so far
* Ukrainian officials say the plan closely mirrors Russia's maximalist demands and revives previously dropped concessions.
* The framework calls for Ukraine to cede Donbas, halve its military, suspend NATO ambitions, and grant certain political concessions to Russia.
* Kyiv and European partners were largely excluded from drafting the plan, though President Volodymyr Zelensky has received the draft.
* A senior U.S. official said some reported elements could still change.
* The negotiations
Kyiv alarmed as US pushes Ukraine peace framework aligning with Moscow's maximalist demands
U.S. President Donald Trump is mounting yet another push to end Russia's war against Ukraine, as Washington begins testing a new peace framework that has already sparked unease among Ukrainian officials.
A source in the President's Office told the Kyiv Independent that a new peace plan is being crafted by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who's been in direct contact with Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's senior economic negotiator.
An Axios source in the Trump administration confirmed that the U.S. i
Zelensky to visit Turkey to 'reinvigorate' stalled negotiations with Russia
"We are preparing to reinvigorate negotiations, and we have developed solutions that we will propose to our partners," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Congress to move on passing Russia sanctions bill following Trump's 'blessing,' US Senator Graham says
The White House has "signed off on the bill" to impose secondary sanctions on Russian trading partners, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said on Nov. 19.
Russia's flagship oil price drops as buyers retreat ahead of US sanctions
Discounts on Urals relative to Brent reached $23.5 per barrel, the widest gap since June 2023.
Russia's largest silicon plant 'forced' to halt output as demand collapses
Kremniy, located in east-central Irkutsk Oblast, is the country's largest refined silicon producer with a yearly capacity of 34,000 tons.
Poland says 2 Ukrainians tied to Russian intel likely behind railway sabotage
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said both suspects crossed into Belarus shortly after the explosion.
Dmitriev, Lavrov, Ushakov: How a trio of power brokers turned Putin’s US strategy into a quiet turf war
Russian President Vladimir Putin's outreach to the Trump administration — once seen as one of Moscow's most coordinated diplomatic efforts — now appears increasingly fractured.
Putin's longtime foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, is reportedly losing ground to Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, who aims to take a leading role in Russia's contacts with the Trump administration.
Experts caution that Russia's internal dynamics are more nuanced than they appear.
"They might be
EU ministers to meet in Lviv to discuss Ukraine's integration progress, sources say
The gathering aims to demonstrate political support for Ukraine's EU aspirations as Kyiv faces opposition from Hungary, which has the power to block any future steps in the accession process.
