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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NewsLetters

News Feed

Saturday, October 10

07:55 AM

Russian guided bombs hit Zaporizhzhia residential neighborhood, killing at least 20, injuring 18

Three children were among those killed by a Russian airstrike in the early hours of Oct. 10. Some victims were trapped for hours beneath the rubble as rescuers searched for survivors.

A fire at an apartment that was hit in a Russian guided bomb attack.

06:01 PM

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

05:05 PM

Russian attacks kill at least 24, injure 47 across Ukraine as rescue operations continue in Zaporizhzhia

Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with 160 drones, including 110 jet-powered drones and Gerbera drones, Ukraine's Air Force said.

02:22 PM

'Every extra billion will be spent on this' — Zelensky warns as missiles hit Kyiv after Russia sanctions relief

Loud explosions rang out in Kyiv around 2 p.m. on Oct. 10, according to Kyiv Independent journalists in the city, as Russia launched a series of missiles at the city following a morning drone attack on energy infrastructure.

03:27 PM

Inside Ukraine’s robot army fighting Russia

The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell joins the Alter Ego Battalion of Ukraine’s 93rd Mechanized Brigade to see how Ukrainian soldiers are developing and deploying unmanned ground vehicles in the war against Russia.

12:37 PM

New compromise EU budget maintains Ukraine support, but trims help for EU integration

"Our commitment to Ukraine is central to our overall ambitions," reads a text explaining the EU's latest compromise budget proposal.

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Russia

Politics

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

Zelensky appoints former European integration minister Kachka as EU ambassador

US sanctions court that seeks to arrest Putin, prompts backlash

Exclusive: Putin puts a price on Trump's Ukraine energy truce — Kyiv fears the cost

Zelensky sends delegation to meet Trump envoys as he hints at secret US-Russia economic talks

US, Russia confirm Trump's latest Ukraine peace push is falling apart

South Korea to recall Ukraine envoy amid North Korean POWs dispute

US senators urge Trump administration to enforce new Russia sanctions law ahead of Oct. 18 deadline

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Russian guided bombs hit Zaporizhzhia residential neighborhood, killing at least 20, injuring 18

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

Russian attacks kill at least 24, injure 47 across Ukraine as rescue operations continue in Zaporizhzhia

'Every extra billion will be spent on this' — Zelensky warns as missiles hit Kyiv after Russia sanctions relief

Inside Ukraine’s robot army fighting Russia

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

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Editors' Picks

Exclusive: Putin puts a price on Trump's Ukraine energy truce — Kyiv fears the cost

In Kyiv district battered by Russian strikes, a protest to save trees turns ugly

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