Ukraine’s retreat from Kursk Oblast appears more likely as the latest news shows Russia taking ground amid intense attacks to drive Ukraine out, experts and soldiers say. Retaking Ukrainian-held territory in Kursk Oblast could leave Kyiv without its hard-fought bargaining chip before potential negotiations with Russia. In recent days,
The Kyiv Independent's Chris York sits down with Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia and political scientist, to discuss the Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations, U.S. President Donald Trump's approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the ideological parallels between Putinism and MAGA.
After Ukrainian and U.S. officials met in Saudi Arabia for peace deal talks to end the war with Russia, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on March 12 that potential "territorial concessions" from Ukraine were part of the discussion. Since U.S. President Donald Trump was inaugurated
"I have repeatedly stressed that none of us trust Russia... but we will not play with narratives that we want the war to continue," President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference.
"Yeah, we’ve had conversations," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said when asked about potential discussions regarding Ukraine ceding territory.
According to Kommersant, the agencies agreed to maintain communication "to help ensure international stability and security, as well as to reduce confrontation."
The move follows U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, reigniting trade tensions between Washington and Brussels.
Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. director of national intelligence, confirmed on March 12 that the U.S. had resumed sharing intelligence with Ukraine per President Donald Trump's direction.
When asked if President Volodymyr Zelensky would be invited back to the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump responded, "Sure, absolutely."
"If we can get Russia to do it, that'll be great. If we can't, we just keep going on, and people are going to get killed, lots of people," Trump told reporters at the White House on March 11.
"I have confirmation that security assistance from the U.S. has been resumed. The agreements are being implemented," Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa wrote on March 11.
Speaking at a closed-door meeting in Paris on March 11, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said his country "will reject any form of demilitarisation of Ukraine."
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. officials would meet with Russian representatives in the coming days to discuss the ceasefire.
"President Trump has brought Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table through historic peace talks in Saudi Arabia in pursuit of peace," the official statement reads.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has deliberately set "maximalist" demands on land, peacekeepers, and Ukraine's neutrality, knowing they will likely be unacceptable to Kyiv and European nations, undisclosed officials told Bloomberg.
According to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 87% of Ukrainians believe that Russia intends to continue its aggression beyond the currently occupied territories.
Asked whether the Ukrainian delegation would push for renewed military aid during talks in Saudi Arabia, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded, "I can assure you this: We will not be providing military aid to the Russians."
"Elon, if you don't understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do," Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly wrote.
Key developments on March 10: * No threat of encirclement for Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Syrskyi says * Russia attempting to gain foothold in Sumy Oblast, Border Guard warns * Ukraine strikes Samara Oblast refinery producing fuel for Russian fighter jets, bombers, source claims * Ukraine to propose ceasefire at sea, in
"I say they (Ukraine) don't have the cards. Nobody really has the cards. Russia doesn't have the cards. What you have to do is you have to make a deal, and you have to stop the killing. It's a senseless war, and we are going to get it stopped," Trump said.
For members of the U.S.-based charity organization Razom for Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Feb. 28 verbal assault on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky felt like “a punch to the gut,” as it undermined years of the country’s diplomatic support for Ukraine in its ongoing fight
The U.S. has never stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine that is used for defensive purposes, Steve Witkoff said.
The unexpected negotiations between the United States and the Russian Federation that began in Saudi Arabia in February were strange. These off-line discussions in Riyadh, which included foreign ministers and presidential advisors from both countries, focused primarily on the fate of Ukraine and the future of European security. Yet, neither
During a heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Feb. 28, U.S. Vice President JD Vance accused the Ukrainian president of leading “propaganda tours” of Russia’s destruction in the country. Zelensky, in turn, asked Vance if he had ever been to Ukraine. Of
This comes as CNN reported, citing a source, that the U.S. will hold separate meetings with Ukrainian and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia this week.
As part of its strategy, Kyiv is reportedly prepared to propose a partial ceasefire covering long-range drone and missile strikes, as well as hostilities in the Black Sea, in hopes that progress in talks will prompt Washington to lift its freeze on military and intelligence support.
When asked whether the U.S. would end the suspension of intelligence sharing, Trump told reporters, "We just about have," according to Reuters.
"Are you comfortable with that? The fact that you walked away, and Ukraine may not survive?" Fox News correspondent Maria Bartiromo asked the president. "Well, it may not survive anyway," Trump said.
"I think I've been very tough to Russia. Tougher than anybody's ever been to Russia, if you think about it," Trump told the right-wing media outlet Fox News in an interview on March 9.
President Volodymyr Zelensky "took money out of this country under Biden like candy from a baby," U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News on March 9.
Key developments on March 8-9: * Trump won't resume Ukraine military aid after signing minerals deal, NBC News reports * Ukraine releases video of Russian attack via gas pipeline in Kursk Oblast * Ukrainian drone reportedly attacks oil depot in Russia's Chuvashia for first time * France to provide $211 million in military aid
At the time of the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, according to CBS News.
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