EU defense commissioner pushes back against Trump

5:44 PM

Video

For Putin, war is existential — Estonian foreign minister at NATO summit.

The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek sits down with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on the sidelines of the NATO summit to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's commitment to the Alliance, how the Israel-Iran escalation affects NATO's focus on Ukraine, and why Europe must take more responsibility for its own defense.

4:49 PM

Zelensky, Trump hold talks on NATO summit sidelines.

"We covered all the truly important issues," President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "We discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace. We spoke about how to protect our people. We appreciate the attention and the readiness to help bring peace closer."

3:33 PM  (Updated:  June 25, 2025 4:28 pm)

NATO allies set new 5% defense spending target, reaffirm support for Ukraine, but fail to condemn Russia.

The leaders also reaffirmed support for Ukraine, stating that direct contributions to Ukraine's defense and industrial capacity will be counted toward the 5% total.

4:08 PM

Donetsk Oblast city ‘on brink of humanitarian catastrophe,’ governor says as drones cripple infrastructure.

"The Russians are trying to fully control all movement in the city using their drones," a military spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent.

3:03 PM

Ukrainian ‘traitor’ behind Russian missile guidance system charged with treason, SBU says.

Oleg Borsuk, a 61-year-old Ukrainian national, allegedly oversaw the development and modernization of satellite guidance systems (GPS/GLONASS) used in Russian missiles.

12:44 PM  (Updated:  June 25, 2025 3:02 pm)

‘Dead and wounded everywhere’ — Russian attack on Dnipro kills at least 19, injures more than 300.

Russia launched a deadly missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on June 24, striking civilian infrastructure and a passenger train, local officials reported.

2:03 PM

UK to buy Ukraine weapons with frozen Russian asset proceeds.

The move represents the U.K.'s first direct use of Russia-linked funds to buy weaponry for Kyiv.

1:52 PM

Trump says Zelensky is a 'nice guy,' will discuss 'his difficulties' during meeting at NATO summit.

"Obviously we'll be discussing his difficulties, he's got a little difficulty," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

12:27 PM

Reforms

With Trump disengaged and EU complacent, Ukrainian reforms lose momentum

12:17 PM

'Crushing' Russia with sanctions would jeopardize Ukraine peace talks, Rubio says.

"If we did what everybody here wants us to do, and that is come in and crush them with more sanctions, we probably lose our ability to talk to them about the ceasefire and then who's talking to them?" U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

11:38 AM

US citizen wanted for child sex crimes arrested in Ukraine after 30 years on the run.

According to U.S. law enforcement, the suspect worked as the director of a preschool in Pima County, Arizona, and committed a series of sexual offenses against four children aged 4 to 9 between 1984 and 1991.

10:54 AM

At least 23 killed, more than 300 injured in Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine over past day.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces launched 71 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys from multiple directions, including Bryansk, Millerovo, Kursk, and occupied Crimea. Ukraine's air defenses destroyed 52 of them.

10:04 AM

'Something unknown' hits key Russian drone facility in Taganrog, Ukrainian official says.

"Something unknown flew into the Atlant-Aero plant in Taganrog," Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation center, said. "This is an important node in the Russian military-industrial complex, specializing in components for combat drones and control systems."

9:01 AM

'Treasonous' — Trump, Witkoff slam intel leak undermining US strikes on Iran, insist nuclear targets 'obliterated'.

"It goes without saying that leaking that type of information, whatever the information, whatever side it comes out on, is outrageous. It's treasonous," U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said during an appearance on Fox News.

7:05 AM

'You can count on us' — EU reiterates support for Ukraine at NATO summit.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated the EU's ongoing support for Ukraine at a NATO summit in The Hague.

4:25 AM

Lithuania signs memorandum with Northrop Grumman, Nammo amid Russian threat to regional security.

Lithuania has signed a memorandum with American defense firm Northrop Grumman and Norwegian Nammo to secure the production of ammunition amid Russia's war against Ukraine, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry announced.

3:22 AM

Italy commits $1.6 million to boost Ukraine’s battle against landmines.

Ukraine has reduced its mined territory by over 20% since late 2022, but around 137,000 square kilometers (52,900 square miles) — much of it farmland — remain hazardous, according to the State Emergency Service.

2:57 AM

Russia has launched over 28,000 Shahed drones at Ukraine since 2022, with nearly 10% fired in June alone, Zelensky says.

Speaking on June 24, Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that Russia would never have been able to carry out such drone attacks without support from Iran, and Ukraine, in turn, could not have intercepted most of the drones without the help of its international partners.

1:15 AM

Strikes didn’t destroy Iran’s nuclear sites, US intel finds, contradicting Trump, CNN reports.

The U.S. intelligence assessment, based on a battle damage report from Central Command, contradicts public statements by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who claimed the operation had "obliterated" Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

12:09 AM

Trump casts doubt on NATO defense pledge as alliance confronts Russian threat.

Although Article 5 is central to NATO’s security framework, U.S. President Donald Trump has previously expressed skepticism about honoring it, often criticizing member states for not contributing enough to shared defense efforts.

10:33 PM

Kyiv, Copenhagen aim to launch Ukrainian defense production in Denmark.

Denmark has already allocated $47 million for the project, and Ukraine's partners will provide further funding for production.

10:08 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: One of Russia's deadliest attacks against Dnipro kills at least 17, injures almost 280

9:44 PM

Ukraine evacuates 31 citizens, including 14 children, from Iran.

The evacuation was carried out in transit through Azerbaijan and Moldova to Kyiv, the statement read.

9:13 PM

War

‘Like any technology, it’s a race’ — UK’s largest ammo maker rebooting chemistry to break NATO’s dependence on explosive imports

8:37 PM

Council of Europe, Ukraine to sign accord on June 25 to set up Russian aggression tribunal.

The move marks a milestone in international efforts to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials accountable for launching the full-scale war against Ukraine.