Politics

U.S. Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 6, 2026.
Politics

Exclusive: Ukraine, Russia are done with Steve Witkoff. Trump sees no problem

by Tim Zadorozhnyy

Kyiv and Moscow are growing increasingly frustrated with the U.S.-mediated peace process — and with Washington's Envoy Steve Witkoff, people familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent. Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who has emerged as a key peace negotiator, traveled to Russia and Ukraine in early September in an attempt to restart stalled negotiations. They left both countries with little to show for the effort. Behind the scenes, however, several separate efforts are

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How Russia used parliamentary elections to legitimize occupation of Ukrainian territories

As Russia held its parliamentary elections from Sept. 18 to 20, it also organized, for the first time, the vote in Ukrainian territories that Russia illegally claims as its own. Ukraine and the European Union have rejected the vote as illegal. The purpose of holding the sham election in occupied territories goes far beyond choosing Russian lawmakers. Russia uses the elections in Ukrainian territories under military occupation to project the image that residents accept Russian rule and are inte

A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Donetsk, Russian occupied part of Ukraine, on September 20, 2026.

Ukraine war latest: Russia imposes restrictions near Estonian border amid mobilization concerns

*Russia imposes restrictions near Estonian border amid mobilization concerns *Ukraine confirms strikes on 2 Russian oil refineries in Ufa, Samara *SBU says it foiled FSB-linked plot to assassinate K-1 kickboxing federation president in Kyiv *Trump says he'll use Graham bill's Russia sanctions 'if necessary' *Ukraine strikes Russian drone storage and launch site in Oryol Oblast, damages 5 launchers

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