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Demonstrators attend a rally in support of Ukraine opposite Downing Street in London, England, on March 2, 2025.
Opinion

Jan Lipavsky: What is our Ukraine policy? Victory, victory at all costs

by Jan Lipavsky

As Churchill said of another war, Ukraine and the West must have "victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be." As the fifth year of Russia's war against Ukraine is poised to begin, the end still seems nowhere in sight. It is a time to reflect, and not just for Ukrainians. The West, too, and especially NATO, should finally acknowledge a truth that too many still deny — that Russia's war against Ukraine is also a war against us, against our way of life and our

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Chart of the week: Ukraine's reconstruction needs rise 12% to $588 billion

The total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine is $588 billion, the World Bank said in a new report published Feb. 23, as Russia's full-scale invasion enters its fifth year. Housing, transport, and energy sectors are most affected, with the total needs amounting to almost three times Ukraine's entire gross domestic product — $210 billion in 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund. The sum needed for reconstruction in those sectors covers damage caused in the 46 months from

Damage and recovery needs in Ukraine.

Inside the Kyiv Independent: See how we survive the Russia-inflicted energy crisis

At 4 p.m. every day, the Kyiv Independent office goes dark. After hours of working without heating, the electricity disappears too. The generator shuts off for thirty minutes to cool down. Laptop screens become the only light in the room. The only sound is the tapping of fingers on keyboards. Cold hands move slowly, stopping every so often as people breathe warm air into them to regain feeling. Outside, temperatures drop to -15 degrees Celsius (4 degrees Fahrenheit). Inside, it doesn't feel mu

Part of The Kyiv Independent team works in its office in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 14, 2026.

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