Opinion

Editorial: Donald Trump is helping Russia win the war

by The Kyiv IndependentOctober 14, 2026

It's already been said many times that the U.S., under President Donald Trump, was turning its back on Ukraine. But the past few days show something worse than abandonment: Trump is now actively helping Russia win the war. Many media and commentators have been far too careful in their phrasing, saying that Trump is "squeezing Ukraine" or putting pressure on it. We all need to do the responsible thing and call it what it is, as ugly as it sounds: Trump is not trying to reach a deal — he is tryi

Futureless Russia

by Nina L. KhrushchevaOctober 14, 2026

British soldiers work at a command post during a military exercise in Hohenfels, Germany, on March 12, 2025.

How the Russian army is learning from Ukraine and NATO

by Liubov TsybulskaOctober 13, 2026

Letters to the editor: Readers question Trump's Russian diesel deal and US sanctions policy

by The Kyiv Independent Opinion DeskOctober 13, 2026

Russian tanks move during the military exercises near Borisov, Belarus, on Sept. 15, 2025.

Why have EU sanctions missed the company behind Russia’s tank industry?

by Nezir SinaniOctober 9, 2026

Putin arrives for his inauguration ceremony in Moscow, Russia, on May 7, 2024.

Open letter to the US administration: The G20 invitation to Putin should come with conditions

by David J. KramerOctober 8, 2026

Recruits undergo Basic Military Training at the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade in Ukraine on April 5, 2026.

War in Ukraine spreads across 3 different dimensions

by Kateryna LisunovaOctober 7, 2026

A sign reading "No drone zone" at Brussels Airport in Zaventem, Belgium, on Nov. 5, 2025.

Europe is learning the wrong lesson from Russia's drone war

by Megi BeniaOctober 6, 2026

NewsLetters

News Feed

Thursday, October 15

05:02 PM

Europe shuts US out of Russian assets conversation

"These are frozen Russian assets held in Europe, belonging to Russians who are destroying Ukraine and killing people there every day... the idea of releasing these assets is completely out of the question," said Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

04:56 PM

Russian attacks kill at least 17, injure 67 across Ukraine, as drone waves wreak havoc in central, western oblasts

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia used a total of 850 Shahed-type drones since 09:00 a.m. on Oct. 14.

04:45 PM

Ukrainian special unit destroys Russian drone operator training center, military intelligence says

The operation also destroyed the residenceof the Russian officer corps, in particular of those training the sabotage groups of the 18th Army.

04:16 PM

Zelensky arrives in Belgium, prepares to meet Prime Minister De Wever

"All of us in Europe want this war to end. And for that to happen, strong signals are needed — more real pressure on Russia and more defense support for Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on social media upon arrival.

02:45 PM

Russian drone strikes Kyiv, injures 7, sets car ablaze

The Russian drone crashed near a 5-story residential building, damaging the facades of nearby buildings, as well as setting a car on fire.

03:58 PM

7 sailors missing as two ships off Romanian Black Sea coast catch fire amid drone incursion

Romanian authorities opened an investigation into the possibility of a drone strike on one of the tankers, after drones violated the country's airspace overnight.

Most Popular

War

'This cannot be a coincidence' — Ukraine's Starlink access restricted without warning, Zelensky adviser says

Ukraine relies on Starlink to operate its mid-strike drones in Russian-occupied Ukraine. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that only the U.S. president has the right to determine speed and usage restrictions for Starlink military systems.

Europe

UK sanctions Dutch businessman exposed by Kyiv Independent for shipping EU machinery to Russian missile suppliers

Politics

As Russian missiles slip through Kyiv's air defenses without warning, officials say US intelligence sharing remains intact. For now

War

'Absolutely unacceptable' — 11 crew members lost at sea after commercial ships hit by drones near Bulgaria's Black Sea coast

War

Opinion

Editorial: Donald Trump is helping Russia win the war

Futureless Russia

How the Russian army is learning from Ukraine and NATO

Letters to the editor: Readers question Trump's Russian diesel deal and US sanctions policy

Why have EU sanctions missed the company behind Russia’s tank industry?

Open letter to the US administration: The G20 invitation to Putin should come with conditions

War in Ukraine spreads across 3 different dimensions

Europe is learning the wrong lesson from Russia's drone war

More from Opinion

Washington should pay attention to Ukraine's new robotic counteroffensive

Russia's methodical use of starvation in Oleshky

After Nestle and Auchan seizures, Russia is coming for others

Ukraine's defense industry gets a second chance

Russia's faster Shaheds could rival ballistic missiles this winter

Washington attempts dealmaking, Moscow sticks with warmaking

There are no elections in Russia, only theater

Fertilizers: End the free pass for the merchants of death

NewsLetters

News Feed

Europe shuts US out of Russian assets conversation

Russian attacks kill at least 17, injure 67 across Ukraine, as drone waves wreak havoc in central, western oblasts

Ukrainian special unit destroys Russian drone operator training center, military intelligence says

Zelensky arrives in Belgium, prepares to meet Prime Minister De Wever

Russian drone strikes Kyiv, injures 7, sets car ablaze

7 sailors missing as two ships off Romanian Black Sea coast catch fire amid drone incursion

Most Popular

'This cannot be a coincidence' — Ukraine's Starlink access restricted without warning, Zelensky adviser says

UK sanctions Dutch businessman exposed by Kyiv Independent for shipping EU machinery to Russian missile suppliers

As Russian missiles slip through Kyiv's air defenses without warning, officials say US intelligence sharing remains intact. For now

'Absolutely unacceptable' — 11 crew members lost at sea after commercial ships hit by drones near Bulgaria's Black Sea coast

Trump says Ukraine, Russia agree to energy strike ceasefire 'because I said they agreed'

Editors' Picks

Editorial: Donald Trump is helping Russia win the war

Draft EU summit conclusions reveal what leaders will and will not say on Ukraine

'Blown out of proportion' — Domestic politics at the core of South Korea's rift with Ukraine

Exclusive: 'It felt like a trap.' How Ukraine was blindsided by Trump's Putin pivot