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

09:53 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,555,700 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

The number includes 1,390 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

06:16 AM

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

The U.S. president's comments came after he unilaterally announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on Oct. 11, causing confusion in Kyiv. According to a senior Ukrainian official, Ukraine had no prior information about an energy ceasefire.

04:27 AM

French Navy intercepts Russian shadow fleet tanker in Indian Ocean

The tanker DF Peak, previously named Kaliningrad, has falsely sailed under the flag of Benin and is sanctioned by the U.S, EU, Switzerland, Canada, and Japan.

02:39 AM

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

01:41 AM

Russian missile attack on Kharkiv kills 3, injures at least 8, 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.

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Europe

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

Politics

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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US Democrats call on FBI Director Kash Patel to cancel upcoming trip to Russia

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

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

Zelensky appoints former European integration minister Kachka as EU ambassador

NewsLetters

News Feed

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,555,700 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

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

French Navy intercepts Russian shadow fleet tanker in Indian Ocean

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

Russian missile attack on Kharkiv kills 3, injures at least 8, including rescuer

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

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

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

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

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

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