Politics

U.S. Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 6, 2026.
Politics

Exclusive: Ukraine, Russia are done with Steve Witkoff. Trump sees no problem

by Tim Zadorozhnyy

Kyiv and Moscow are growing increasingly frustrated with the U.S.-mediated peace process — and with Washington's Envoy Steve Witkoff, people familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent. Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who has emerged as a key peace negotiator, traveled to Russia and Ukraine in early September in an attempt to restart stalled negotiations. They left both countries with little to show for the effort. Behind the scenes, however, several separate efforts are

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Trump says he'll use Graham bill's Russia sanctions 'if necessary'

"Last week, in honor of Senator Lindsey Graham, I signed a powerful new law passed by Congress, providing me with enormous new tariff authorities," Trump said in his address at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. "And, if necessary, I will have to use them. It's time to stop the killing."

Fertilizers: End the free pass for the merchants of death

Ever since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian fertilizer industry has had a sanctions-free pass. One can see why such a free pass was granted. When it came to Russian fertilizer exports, both the U.S. and the EU prioritized food security. They did not want to increase food prices and reduce food security by banning Russian fertilizer. While that was an understandable reaction, it overlooked the role that fertilizer plays in munitions production. Fertilizer produc

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