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

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by Martin FornusekOctober 12, 2026

NewsLetters

News Feed

Tuesday, October 13

01:41 AM

Russian missile attack on Kharkiv injures at least 11, including rescuer

A State Emergency Service rescuer was also injured while responding to the attack and was hospitalized, RBC-Ukraine reported, citing the emergency service. His condition was not immediately confirmed.

A residential building damaged in a Russian attack on Kharkiv.

12:43 AM

Ukrainska Pravda demands investigation into Austrian police conduct after journalists' detention

Tkach is known in Ukraine for his investigations of high-level corruption. He alleged that the arrest could have been retaliation from subjects of his investigations, who could have manipulated Austrian authorities by filing a fake report.

Mykhailo Tkach and Yaroslav Bondarenko of Ukrainska Pravda.

Monday, October 12

10:23 PM

Kyiv under missile attack before air raid alert issued

Kyiv Independent staff reported powerful blasts in central Kyiv, with air raid sirens and mobile notifications sounding only afterward.

Multi-story residential buildings stand dark in Kyiv.

09:07 PM

Ukraine war latest: Russian drones strike Kyiv morning and evening, kill woman, injure 14

Key developments on Oct. 12: * Russian drone attacks throughout the day strike Kyiv apartment block, kill woman, injure 14 * Russia strikes Roshen confectionery factory in Vinnytsia * New interceptor drone destroys two Russian Geran-5 drones in first week, Fedorov says * SBU detains 19-year-old suspected of plotting bomb attack on bus full of soldiers * Fire Point trolls Russia's Yandex after drone attack on data center * Russia-led military bloc launches joint military drills in Belarus

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.

09:00 PM

Ukraine moves to speed up privatization of state-owned assets

If passed, the bill could help alleviate bottlenecks the State Property Fund has repeatedly faced when trying to sell state-owned assets and help shore up funds for the state budget.

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Europe

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

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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'

Russia

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

War

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

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

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NewsLetters

News Feed

Russian missile attack on Kharkiv injures at least 11, including rescuer

Ukrainska Pravda demands investigation into Austrian police conduct after journalists' detention

Kyiv under missile attack before air raid alert issued

Ukraine war latest: Russian drones strike Kyiv morning and evening, kill woman, injure 14

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

Ukraine moves to speed up privatization of state-owned assets

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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'

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

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