Politics

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

by Tim ZadorozhnyyOctober 10, 2026

When U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner told Ukraine's delegation on Oct. 9 that President Donald Trump was preparing to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports, the Ukrainians struggled to believe what they were hearing. The delegation had traveled to the United States to discuss a possible energy ceasefire with Russia. Instead, Kyiv's negotiators found themselves blindsided by a decision they feared would hand Moscow fresh revenue to finance its war against Ukraine while undermining

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Trump's Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire claim is news to Kyiv

by Tim ZadorozhnyyOctober 11, 2026

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Monday, October 12

04:02 PM

'A miracle that Dad didn't die today' — Russian daytime drone attack on Kyiv injures at least three

"I'm in shock... I don't know how to carry on. We're all exhausted," Kyiv resident Sheremet Yuliia told the Kyiv Independent as the Russian strike on Ukraine's capital injured her father and severely damaged her house.

01:51 PM

Ukraine's parliament passes minority schools bill to appease Hungary, advance EU talks

The vote paves the way for the EU to formally open two more accession clusters with Ukraine and Moldova at a meeting in Luxembourg on Oct. 13.

02:51 PM

Fire Point trolls Russia's Yandex after drone attack on data center

The incident follows a series of reported drone strikes on Russian data centers that have disrupted Yandex services.

02:45 PM

Kremlin has nothing to say on Trump's energy ceasefire, rejects Zelensky's truce proposal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Oct. 12 reiterated his readiness to adhere to the energy truce — provided that Russia follows suit.

02:29 PM

US threatens to cut intel sharing, arms shipments to Ukraine in push to protect Russian oil refineries, sources confirm

The Kyiv Independent has learned that the Trump administration threatened senior Ukrainian military and government officials in a push to protect Russian oil refineries. Two Ukrainian officials said their U.S. counterparts had made clear that Washington would hold Kyiv responsible if Russian energy infrastructure were struck during the recently announced ceasefire. "They called all the top military officials with threats," one Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent. "They're telling ever

02:11 PM

Russian assets are only leverage if Europe uses them, says Ukraine's FM Sybiha

"Europe can no longer stay immobilized on Russia's immobilized assets. The leverage is not in holding the money, but in using it for defense," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

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Politics

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

Politics

'He better damn well stop' — Trump slams Zelensky for attacking Russian refineries, says Ukraine should get 'new president'

Russia

Trump allows Russia to supply millions of tons of diesel to US, global markets

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Politics

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

Kremlin has nothing to say on Trump's energy ceasefire, rejects Zelensky's truce proposal

US threatens to cut intel sharing, arms shipments to Ukraine in push to protect Russian oil refineries, sources confirm

Ukraine's parliament passes minority schools bill to appease Hungary, advance EU talks

Russia-led military bloc launches joint military drills in Belarus

'We have one refinery' — Zelensky says energy ceasefire must cover power grid, not just oil

'To keep oil prices from rising' — Russian lawmaker questions Trump’s energy ceasefire claim

Trump's Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire claim is news to Kyiv

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'A miracle that Dad didn't die today' — Russian daytime drone attack on Kyiv injures at least three

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Fire Point trolls Russia's Yandex after drone attack on data center

Kremlin has nothing to say on Trump's energy ceasefire, rejects Zelensky's truce proposal

US threatens to cut intel sharing, arms shipments to Ukraine in push to protect Russian oil refineries, sources confirm

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