EU urges Ukraine to ratify Rome Statute

The Kyiv Independent is excited to introduce its 2025 Holiday Gift Guide — a handpicked selection of over 90 meaningful gift ideas from more than 75 Ukrainian brands.

Tetyana Berezhna had been serving as acting minister since August and previously worked as deputy economy minister from June 2022.

"We strongly support President Trump's position that the fighting should stop immediately, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations," a joint statement read.

Ivan Uss reportedly signed a contract with the Russian army on Jan. 17 but died just weeks into his service.

The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating Volodymyr Kudrytskyi over alleged abuse of official position and misappropriation of funds of a state-owned company, Ukraiska Pravda reported.

"In Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts, restoration work is underway across all affected areas following Russian strikes on our energy infrastructure. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, (Russian forces) even used FPV drones to target transformers," Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

"I cannot guarantee that an independent Polish court won't order the government to escort such an aircraft down to hand (Putin) over to the court in The Hague," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said.

A fire at the ATAN oil depot in the village of Hvardiiske, located in Russian-occupied Crimea, reignited with increased intensity, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported on Oct. 21.

"According to the military, a massive air attack was repelled last night," Rostov Oblast Governor Yuriy Slyusar said in a social media post.

"He's won certain property," Trump told Fox News, indicating that Putin would lay claim to Ukrainian lands as part of a U.S.-brokered peace deal.

Lavrov and Rubio are also scheduled to meet in person on Oct. 23, according to Reuters.

The announcement comes amid long-documented tension between Syrksyi and the 42-year-old Drapatyi, one of Ukraine's most highly-regarded generals.