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

Trump refuses to accuse Russia of breaking energy ceasefire, says Ukraine 'hit sites the day before'

by Yevgeniya DoludaOctober 13, 2026

Ukraine's parliament supports several bills tied to Western funding, with dozens remaining ahead

by Kateryna DenisovaOctober 13, 2026

As Russian missiles slip through Kyiv's air defenses without warning, officials say US intelligence sharing remains intact. For now

by Jimmy RushtonOctober 13, 2026

Kyiv stopped attacking Russia's oil refineries, Moscow continues pounding Ukraine's energy grid, Zelensky says

by Yevgeniya DoludaOctober 13, 2026

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

by Oleg SukhovOctober 12, 2026

Poland investigates alleged plot to kill prime minister, his deputy

by Yevgeniya DoludaOctober 12, 2026

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

by Yevgeniya DoludaOctober 12, 2026

NewsLetters

News Feed

Wednesday, October 14

11:13 PM

Large-scale Russian missile attack on Kyiv strikes power plants, residential buildings, killing 3, injuring 22

Russia launched yet another large-scale ballistic missile attack on Kyiv overnight on Oct. 13-14, wreaking destruction in a residential neighborhood and targeting several energy facilities in Kyiv.

06:37 AM

Fire breaks out near Russian metallurgical plant after reported drone attack

Footage shows an explosion and subsequent fire after a reported drone strike near a large metallurgical plant in Balakovo, located in the Saratov region, according to reports by the Exilenova+ Telegram channel.

03:00 AM

Russia detains Japanese journalist on espionage charges

Russia's Security Service (FSB) said that a Japanese citizen working for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper was arrested in the country's far east near islands disputed by Russia and Japan before being taken to Moscow.

Tuesday, October 13

08:58 PM

Ukraine war latest: Russian missiles slam central Kyiv before air raid alert sounds

Key developments on Oct. 13: * Kyiv under 'particularly vile' missile attack before air raid alert issued * French Navy intercepts Russian shadow fleet tanker in Indian Ocean * Trump says Ukraine, Russia agree to energy strike ceasefire 'because I said they agreed' * 'Absolutely unacceptable' — 11 crew members lost at sea after commercial ships hit by drones near Bulgaria's Black Sea coast * Russian forces use group of civilians as 'human shields' near Kupiansk, fire at them afterwards, Uk

08:58 PM

Trump refuses to accuse Russia of breaking energy ceasefire, says Ukraine 'hit sites the day before'

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Kremlin attacked six energy facilities on Oct. 11, injuring 33 people across the country.

08:56 PM

'Even isolated Shahed strikes cause power and water outages' — Zelensky criticizes Kyiv's preparedness for Russian attacks

Zelensky said he had begun consultations on urgent security and administrative measures to address the situation and accelerate the implementation of Kyiv's resilience plan.

Most Popular

Europe

UK sanctions Dutch businessman exposed by Kyiv Independent for shipping EU machinery to Russian missile suppliers

The U.K. has sanctioned Alexander Tattersall, a Dutch national, and Redwing Metal, the Turkish company he co-owns, nearly four months after a Kyiv Independent investigation revealed the firm had funneled EU-made industrial machinery to Russian metallurgical plants that supply the country's missile and fighter jet manufacturers. Tattersall and Redwing Metal were blacklisted as part of a package of 38 designations announced by the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Oct. 8

Politics

Politics

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

Trump refuses to accuse Russia of breaking energy ceasefire, says Ukraine 'hit sites the day before'

Ukraine's parliament supports several bills tied to Western funding, with dozens remaining ahead

As Russian missiles slip through Kyiv's air defenses without warning, officials say US intelligence sharing remains intact. For now

Kyiv stopped attacking Russia's oil refineries, Moscow continues pounding Ukraine's energy grid, Zelensky says

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

Poland investigates alleged plot to kill prime minister, his deputy

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

More from Politics

Update: Zelensky signs 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

'To keep oil prices from rising' — Russian lawmaker questions Trump’s energy ceasefire claim

Trump's Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire claim is news to Kyiv

Zelensky says if Trump, Putin want elections in Ukraine, a two-month ceasefire is needed

Ukraine will only stop attacking Russian oil as part of an energy ceasefire, Zelensky says

'Will only lead to more slaughter' — Bipartisan backlash erupts in US over Trump-Russia diesel deal

NewsLetters

News Feed

Large-scale Russian missile attack on Kyiv strikes power plants, residential buildings, killing 3, injuring 22

Fire breaks out near Russian metallurgical plant after reported drone attack

Russia detains Japanese journalist on espionage charges

Ukraine war latest: Russian missiles slam central Kyiv before air raid alert sounds

Trump refuses to accuse Russia of breaking energy ceasefire, says Ukraine 'hit sites the day before'

'Even isolated Shahed strikes cause power and water outages' — Zelensky criticizes Kyiv's preparedness for Russian attacks

Most Popular

UK sanctions Dutch businessman exposed by Kyiv Independent for shipping EU machinery to Russian missile suppliers

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

Russia behind Britain's Brexit vote, UK prime minister admits for first time

Exclusive: Finland pushes to all but eliminate Russian travel in EU

Trump says Ukraine, Russia agree to energy strike ceasefire 'because I said they agreed'

Editors' Picks

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

Drones above, robots below — inside Operation Vivaldi, Ukraine’s push to recapture territory in Donetsk Oblast

In Kyiv district battered by Russian strikes, a protest to save trees turns ugly

He fled Maduro's Venezuela. Now he leads Ukraine's South American battalion.