Russian negotiator Dmitriev confirms talks in Washington between April 2-3
"Restoring dialog is a difficult and gradual process. But every meeting, every frank conversation allows us to move forward," Kirill Dmitriev said.
Donald Trump
'Difficult, but not critical' — Ukraine's economy minister reacts to Trump's tariffs
Ukraine's exports to the U.S. in 2024 amounted to $874 million, including $363 million in cast iron and $112 million in pipes, Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said.
Ukrainian delegation may visit US in coming days to discuss minerals deal, treasury secretary says
Scott Bessent said Kyiv has hired counsel and that the deal is "ready on our side."
Russia, Belarus excluded from Trump's sweeping tariffs due to existing sanctions, White House says
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that Russia and Belarus were left off the list because of the already imposed economic sanctions.
Trump's Ukraine envoy believes Russia and Ukraine nearing ceasefire
"Trump is frustrated with both Zelensky and Putin as well, but we’re going to get there," U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, told Fox News. "What we want to have is a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire."
Trump ignites trade war against all, slaps 20% tariff on EU, 10% on Ukraine
The European Union is set to receive a 20% tariff, while goods from China will be hit with an additional 34%. Ukraine is also included on the list, subject to a 10% tariff.
‘We're talking naval, air and land’ – Lithuanian foreign minister on the ‘Coalition of the Willing’
Since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office in January and launched a new effort to reach peace between Russia and Ukraine, turning American foreign policy upside down, Europe has been hit with a clear message: the age of the U.S. as a guarantor of European security is
'It's a trap' — Trump’s US minerals deal threatens Ukraine’s EU membership
The ongoing saga of the U.S.-Ukraine natural resources deal has already caused seismic ruptures between Kyiv and Washington, temporarily costing Ukraine American military support and crucial intelligence sharing. Yet in the quest to placate U.S. President Donald Trump, and secure his support in the fight against Russia's
Ukraine war latest: US sanctions Russian firms but lifts sanctions on Putin ally's wife
Key developments on April 2: * US sanctions Russian firms but lifts sanctions on Putin ally's wife * US sanctions network supplying Houthis with stolen Ukrainian grain, Russian arms * Trump admin officials say ceasefire unlikely in coming months, Reuters reports * Russian negotiator to meet Trump envoy in US on April 2, media
Updated: Russian negotiator meets with Trump envoy in Washington, media reports
Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, who played a role in backchannel diplomacy between Moscow and the Trump administration in 2016, is met Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's envoy, according to Reuters.
Ukraine’s sovereignty at stake in the US minerals deal
If you thought the United States’ first minerals deal with Ukraine was bad, the new version reads even worse. This one makes the previous deal look like charity by comparison. Check out the Financial Times piece and the link to the leaked document. Some might call it extortion; others might
NATO reportedly halts discussions on Russia strategy as US pushes for Ukraine ceasefire
The joint declaration at the Washington summit last year included a commitment to "develop recommendations on NATO's strategic approach to Russia, taking into account the changing security environment."
Trump's pick for top US general backs military support for Ukraine
Dan Caine told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Washington "should focus on what unique capabilities only the U.S. can provide," while European countries should increase their share of support.
Trump admin officials say ceasefire unlikely in coming months, Reuters reports
The U.S. is drawing up plans to exert additional pressure on both Kyiv and Moscow as the goal of a full ceasefire by April or May seems increasingly unlikely, Reuters reported.
Putin's negotiator to meet Witkoff in Washington this week, CNN reports
The U.S. reportedly temporarily eased sanctions to allow Kirill Dmitriev to obtain a visa for what will be the first high-level Russian official visit to the U.S. since the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022.
Ukraine war latest: Russia's territorial gains in Ukraine drop to lowest level since June 2024
Key developments on April 1: * Russia's territorial gains in Ukraine drop to lowest level since June 2024, monitoring group says * Some Russians celebrated Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow, intercepted calls suggest * 'So far, it doesn't mean anything' — Russia launches no mass drone strike against Ukraine overnight * 73% of Ukrainians say
US overestimated its ability to deal with Russia over past 35 years, Alexander Vindman says
Russia’s war against Ukraine is a continuation of Moscow’s centuries-long goal to obliterate Ukrainian culture and statehood. Over the past three decades, however, the United States has, through missteps and inaction, emboldened Russia’s aggression by failing to confront the looming threat — a failure which, under the administration
Lithuanian FM on Europe's role in ending Russia's war
The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell sat down with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys during his visit to Kyiv on April 1 to discuss the future of Europe during U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, whether European sanctions remain an effective instrument to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine, and Lithuania's contribution to the "coalition of the willing."
India looking for new oil suppliers amid Trump's threats to tighten sanctions on Russia, Bloomberg reports
Donald Trump previously threatened to impose additional tariffs against Russia, threatening a "25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil."
Trump's Ukraine ceasefire proposals don't address 'root causes' of war, Moscow claims
Russia takes U.S. proposals for a ceasefire in Ukraine "seriously" but cannot accept them "as they are now," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with Russian outlet International Affairs Journal published on April 1.
73% of Ukrainians say Trump is bad for Ukraine, poll shows
Last December, 54% of Ukrainians believed that the new U.S. president would have a positive impact on Ukraine.
'Not appreciated' — Trump unhappy with Russia's calls for transitional Ukrainian government, State Department says
"There was an idea from Russia about a temporary administration that was not appreciated by the president," State Department Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters during a press briefing on March 31. "Ukraine is... a constitutional democracy. Governance in Ukraine is determined by its constitution and the Ukrainian people."
Trump again threatens oil tariffs against Russia if peace deal not reached
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on March 31 to impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil exports if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not "make a deal" to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump not pleased with Russia or Ukraine, White House says
The U.S. president "has expressed his displeasure with comments that have been made by leaders of both sides of this conflict," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on March 31.
Ukraine war latest: There's 'psychological deadline' for Putin to agree to Ukraine ceasefire, Trump says
Key developments on March 31: * There's 'psychological deadline' for Putin to agree to Ukraine ceasefire, Trump says * Kremlin says it remains open to US talks despite Trump's reported anger at Putin * Ukraine-US talks on minerals deal ongoing, not tied to NATO membership, source says * Russia trying to bypass Ukraine's positions
What Russia really wants from the Black Sea ceasefire deal
With much fanfare, the U.S. on March 25 announced it had brokered an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to "eliminate the use of force" in the Black Sea after two days of talks in Saudi Arabia. But while Kyiv said it was ready to abide by it straight away,
Kremlin says it remains open to US talks despite Trump's reported anger at Putin
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed the reports, claiming Trump's comments were paraphrased rather than direct quotes.
Alexander Vindman: Trump repeats past US mistakes with Russia
Alexander Vindman served as the director of European affairs for the United States National Security Council in 2018-2020, during U.S. President Donald Trump's first administration. The Kyiv Independent's Kate Tsurkan sits down with Vindman to discuss how Washington has historically misjudged Russia, "succumbing to hopes and fears," and why there is no real prospect of peace between Ukraine and Russia now.
Ukraine-US talks on minerals deal ongoing, not tied to NATO membership, source says
Ukrainian and U.S. government and legal teams continue discussions on the mineral deal, a source in the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent on March 31 as U.S. President Donald Trump is escalating his rhetoric on the agreement.
Trump to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May, Axios reports
Earlier this month, Trump said his first trip during his second term would be to Saudi Arabia, as it had agreed to invest $1 trillion in the U.S. economy.
Trump's spiritual adviser visits Bucha, meets Ukraine's religious leaders
"The war in Ukraine is bigger than Democrats or Republicans, the Left or the Right. Whether you dislike President Trump or President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, real people are dying here," Pastor Mark Burns said.
CNN gives airtime to Russian ultranationalist ideologue who called for genocide in Ukraine
In an interview with CNN, ultranationalist Russian ideologue Alexander Dugin praised U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he represented an ideology that "changes the balance in the world."
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