Politics

Exclusive: 'Be careful' — European leaders warned Zelensky to assess Trump's real stance at Mar-a-Lago

by Tim ZadorozhnyyDecember 29, 2025

A day before President Volodymyr Zelensky met U.S. President Donald Trump, European leaders privately warned the Ukrainian president that the talks could go badly and urged him to "be careful," according to detailed notes from the call shared with the Kyiv Independent by a senior diplomatic source. The caution came ahead of Zelensky's Dec. 28 meeting with Trump at the U.S. president's Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago — a high-stakes encounter focused on Washington's latest push to broker a peace f

Croatia and Romania to join NATO-backed plan to purchase US weapons for Ukraine

by The Kyiv Independent news deskDecember 31, 2025

Zelensky calls out India, UAE over their support of Putin's 'assassination attempt' claim

by Kate TsurkanDecember 30, 2025

Trump 'very angry' about alleged Ukrainian attack on Putin residence

by Lucy PakhnyukDecember 30, 2025

Trump, Putin hold phone call following Zelensky's visit to Florida

by Kateryna DenisovaDecember 29, 2025

US security guarantees set for 15 years, with Ukraine pushing for extension, Zelensky says

by Kateryna DenisovaDecember 29, 2025

Trump holds call with Putin hours before scheduled meeting with Zelensky

by Sonya BandouilDecember 28, 2025

Trump's Mar-a-Lago meeting with Zelensky ends without agreement on how peace in Ukraine should look

by Linda HouraniDecember 28, 2025

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Wednesday, December 31

11:47 PM

Finland detains Russia-linked ship suspected of sabotage

Early in the morning on Dec. 31, the Finnish telecommunications service provider Elisa reported that an undersea cable linking Finland and Estonia had been damaged. The cargo ship Fitburg, sailing from Russia, may have been responsible.

10:48 PM

Kyiv names new board members of state nuclear energy company in wake of corruption scandal

The four independent members of the new board have been unanimously approved, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said. Three additional state representatives will be selected for the board in the beginning of January 2026.

06:59 PM

Russia shares dubious 'evidence' of Ukrainian drone attack 3 days after claiming Kyiv tried to assassinate Putin

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, speaking to Reuters, called the footage "laughable."

10:29 PM

Ukraine claims strike on oil refinery on Russia's Black Sea coast, fires reported in occupied Luhansk

Ukraine's military reportedly struck oil depots in the various Russian and Russian-occupied regions late on Dec. 30, Russian Telegram media channels reported.

08:57 PM

Ukraine damages major Russian oil assets in New Year's Eve strikes, military reports

Targets included Russia's Tuapse Oil Refinery, the Tamanneftegaz oil terminal, a Rosreserv oil base, a temporary military base for river boats, and ammunition depots in occupied Ukraine, the General Staff said.

05:46 PM

Ukraine strikes oil facility north of Moscow, source says

The operation targeted a large oil depot in Rybinsk, a city 160 miles north of Moscow in Yaroslavl Oblast, the sources said.

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War

'We can't just withdraw from our territories' —Zelensky says following his meeting with Trump

Zelensky tells Fox News' Bret Baier that Ukraine has demonstrated concrete steps toward peace over the past month and raised the possibility of a referendum on the peace plan. At the same time, a referendum would not legitimize withdrawing from Ukrainian territory, given the current security realities.

Politics

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Children take part in Malanka celebrations in Krasnoilsk, Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukraine, on Jan. 14, 2022.

Politics

Exclusive: 'Be careful' — European leaders warned Zelensky to assess Trump's real stance at Mar-a-Lago

Croatia and Romania to join NATO-backed plan to purchase US weapons for Ukraine

Zelensky calls out India, UAE over their support of Putin's 'assassination attempt' claim

Trump 'very angry' about alleged Ukrainian attack on Putin residence

Trump, Putin hold phone call following Zelensky's visit to Florida

US security guarantees set for 15 years, with Ukraine pushing for extension, Zelensky says

Trump holds call with Putin hours before scheduled meeting with Zelensky

Trump's Mar-a-Lago meeting with Zelensky ends without agreement on how peace in Ukraine should look

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NewsLetters

News Feed

Finland detains Russia-linked ship suspected of sabotage

Kyiv names new board members of state nuclear energy company in wake of corruption scandal

Russia shares dubious 'evidence' of Ukrainian drone attack 3 days after claiming Kyiv tried to assassinate Putin

Ukraine claims strike on oil refinery on Russia's Black Sea coast, fires reported in occupied Luhansk

Ukraine damages major Russian oil assets in New Year's Eve strikes, military reports

Ukraine strikes oil facility north of Moscow, source says

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'We can't just withdraw from our territories' —Zelensky says following his meeting with Trump

Exclusive: 'Be careful' — European leaders warned Zelensky to assess Trump's real stance at Mar-a-Lago

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Trump 'very angry' about alleged Ukrainian attack on Putin residence

Editors' Picks

Malanka: Ukraine's winter ritual of masks, mischief, and good fortune

2025 in 25 stories from the Kyiv Independent

Carol of the Bells: the song that made the world speak about Ukraine

With his right-hand man gone, Zelensky learns to rule Ukraine alone