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Politics

President Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels, Belgium, on Oct. 16, 2026.
Politics

As Trump turns toward Russia, Zelensky drops his restraint

by Kateryna Denisova

President Volodymyr Zelensky has spent much of the past two years trying to win over Donald Trump. Flattery, constant meetings, and carefully calibrated concessions have become hallmarks of his dealings with the U.S. president. But the strategy has failed, prompting Zelensky to change course and adopt a more confrontational tone. "Frankly, Trump has crossed the Rubicon," a Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent, summing up the mood in Kyiv following Washington's latest deals with Moscow

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News from occupied Ukraine: Former Oleshky resident warns people 'won't survive this winter'

This weekly update from the Kyiv Independent aims to shed light on the situation facing Ukrainians living under Russian occupation and the ever-tightening control of information imposed by the Kremlin. Key news as of Oct. 25: * Oleshky native warns residents may not survive winter as evacuation hopes rise * Russian-occupied Crimea imposes power and water restrictions after drone attack * Russia sentences 77-year-old Crimean activist to 18 years over alleged plot against Moscow's proxy * At

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