Opinion
Here's why Minneapolis reminds me of what I once saw in Ukraine
When the government asserts authority in ways that a growing share of the public experiences as arbitrary or vindictive, it begins to lose legitimacy.
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Saturday, January 31
Putin's envoy to meet with Trump team in Florida ahead of Abu Dhabi peace talks, White House confirms
Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev will meet with members of the Trump administration in Florida on Jan. 31, a White House official confirmed to the Kyiv Independent on Jan. 30.
Zelensky rejects Putin's Moscow invitation, signals possible delay in peace talks
"I can just as well invite him to Kyiv, let him come. I'm openly inviting him, if he dares," Zelensky said during a briefing with journalists.
US Senate committee backs sanctions bill cracking down on Russia's shadow fleet
The Shadow Fleet Sanctions Act, introduced by Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen in September 2025, expands Washington's authority to penalize shadow fleet vessels and slaps new penalties on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other energy sector projects.
The illusion of a ceasefire in Ukraine
Under immense pressure by weeks of Russian missile strikes, blackouts, and freezing cold, Ukrainians may get a few days of reprieve — at least, according to Washington. Trump surprisingly announced on Jan. 29 that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed not to strike Ukrainian cities for a week, though Moscow said that this would concern only Kyiv, and last only until Feb. 1 — just before another cold snap. The halt on strikes — provided it would be prolonged — could indicate Russia is feeling
With Iran's uprising suppressed, Trump signals that military strikes are back on the table
U.S. President Donald Trump issued another ultimatum to Iran on Jan. 28, threatening to strike the regime if it does not agree to a deal on limiting its nuclear weapons program. Earlier in January, Iran was rocked by nationwide protests fueled by high inflation and the sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial. The protests quickly took a political turn, with demonstrators calling for the removal of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The scale of the unrest was unusually broad, with demonstra
EU considers full ban on Russian oil services to replace price cap, source says
If approved, the measure would prevent European companies from providing key services for transporting Russian oil.
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This is Chris York reporting from Kyiv on day 1,435 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story: Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) on Jan. 28 released a video compilation of what it claimed was the destruction of more than $1 billion worth of Russian military aircraft in long-range drone strikes conducted by its "A" Special Operations Center, also known as "Alpha." "The enemy is used to feeling safe in the deep rear. But for the special forces of 'Alpha,' distance has long ce
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'Absurd' — Trump's Board of Peace project falls flat in Ukraine
Exclusive: Russian negotiators soften hardline stance in private, US officials say. Ukrainians urge caution
We asked an expert about Russia's 'updated' mass missile, drone tactics
