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

Explainer: What top Zelensky staffer's bail saga tells us about Ukraine's justice system

by Oleg SukhovOctober 12, 2026

Kremlin has nothing to say on Trump's energy ceasefire, rejects Zelensky's truce proposal

by Yevgeniya DoludaOctober 12, 2026

US threatens to cut intel sharing, arms shipments to Ukraine to protect Russian oil refineries, sources confirm

by Jimmy RushtonOctober 12, 2026

Poland investigates alleged plot to kill prime minister, his deputy

by Yevgeniya DoludaOctober 12, 2026

Ukraine's parliament passes minority schools bill to appease Hungary, advance EU talks

by Martin FornusekOctober 12, 2026

Russia-led military bloc launches joint military drills in Belarus

by Yuliia TaradiukOctober 12, 2026

'We have one refinery' — Zelensky says energy ceasefire must cover power grid, not just oil, as Russia strikes energy facilities across Ukraine

by Martin FornusekOctober 12, 2026

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Monday, October 12

01:51 PM

Update: Zelensky signs minority schools bill to appease Hungary, advance EU talks

The vote paves the way for the EU to formally open two more accession clusters with Ukraine and Moldova at a meeting in Luxembourg on Oct. 13.

12:29 PM

'We have one refinery' — Zelensky says energy ceasefire must cover power grid, not just oil, as Russia strikes energy facilities across Ukraine

Ukraine will halt its strikes against Russian refineries only if Moscow ceases its attacks against the Ukrainian power grid, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 12, signaling that a refinery-only truce makes little sense for a country with a single, badly damaged refinery.

07:45 PM

Explainer: What top Zelensky staffer's bail saga tells us about Ukraine's justice system

The release from custody of Iryna Mudra, a former deputy head of the President’s Office, last week followed an unusual development. While Ukrainians had been previously accustomed to corruption suspects easily escaping justice, now the trend was the opposite. Mudra had the money to pay the bail but banks refused to process payments for posting it, fearing that they could be accused of taking part in money laundering. Furthermore, decreasing political protection for corruption suspects may moti

02:29 PM

US threatens to cut intel sharing, arms shipments to Ukraine to protect Russian oil refineries, sources confirm

The Kyiv Independent has learned that the Trump administration threatened senior Ukrainian military and government officials in a push to protect Russian oil refineries. Two Ukrainian officials said their U.S. counterparts had made clear that Washington would hold Kyiv responsible if Russian energy infrastructure were struck during the recently announced ceasefire. "They called all the top military officials with threats," one Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent. "They're telling ever

07:34 PM

Poland investigates alleged plot to kill prime minister, his deputy

"We are taking this matter very seriously," National Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said at a press briefing on Oct. 11.

07:02 PM

New interceptor drone destroys two Russian Geran-5 drones in first week, Fedorov says

The successful test comes as Ukrainian cities are under repeated assault from Russia's new generation of jet-powered drones.

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Politics

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

Politics

'He better damn well stop' — Trump slams Zelensky for attacking Russian refineries, says Ukraine should get 'new president'

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

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Politics

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

Explainer: What top Zelensky staffer's bail saga tells us about Ukraine's justice system

Kremlin has nothing to say on Trump's energy ceasefire, rejects Zelensky's truce proposal

US threatens to cut intel sharing, arms shipments to Ukraine to protect Russian oil refineries, sources confirm

Poland investigates alleged plot to kill prime minister, his deputy

Ukraine's parliament passes minority schools bill to appease Hungary, advance EU talks

Russia-led military bloc launches joint military drills in Belarus

'We have one refinery' — Zelensky says energy ceasefire must cover power grid, not just oil, as Russia strikes energy facilities across Ukraine

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NewsLetters

News Feed

Update: Zelensky signs minority schools bill to appease Hungary, advance EU talks

'We have one refinery' — Zelensky says energy ceasefire must cover power grid, not just oil, as Russia strikes energy facilities across Ukraine

Explainer: What top Zelensky staffer's bail saga tells us about Ukraine's justice system

US threatens to cut intel sharing, arms shipments to Ukraine to protect Russian oil refineries, sources confirm

Poland investigates alleged plot to kill prime minister, his deputy

New interceptor drone destroys two Russian Geran-5 drones in first week, Fedorov says

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

'He better damn well stop' — Trump slams Zelensky for attacking Russian refineries, says Ukraine should get 'new president'

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