Russian social media VK allegedly hacked, spreads truth about war in Ukraine.

3:38 PM

Kellogg meets Sybiha, Syrskyi, Yermak during Kyiv visit.

Keith Kellogg, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, met with top Ukrainian military and government officials as part of his visit to the country that began on Feb. 19.

3:21 PM

Russia claims to retake 64% of Kursk Oblast territories seized by Ukraine.

According to Sergei Rudsky, a senior Russian General Staff official, Ukrainian soldiers are in control of about 500 square kilometers (193 square miles) out of 1,268 square kilometers (490 square miles) initially seized by Kyiv.

3:01 PM

EU's Costa, von der Leyen to visit Kyiv on Feb. 24.

The visit aims to reaffirm the EU's "support to the heroic Ukrainian people and to the democratically elected President Volodymyr Zelensky," European Council President Antonio Costa said.

2:20 PM

Opinion

Europe, rearming is cheaper than war

2:00 PM

Kremlin 'concerned' by Starmer's reported peacekeeper plan for Ukraine.

"We are, of course, following all these reports most closely... This is a cause for concern because the discussion is about sending NATO military contingents to Ukraine," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said at a press briefing.

1:21 PM

Ukraine behind FPV goggles explosions in Russia, source claims.

According to the source, HUR bought a large batch of FPV goggles for the operation and rigged them with explosives and a detonation mechanism.

12:57 PM

Russian vessel sanctioned over North Korean arms shipments entering European waters, researchers say.

This would mark the first time that the Russian munitions carrier Maia-1, sanctioned by the U.S. and the EU, entered European waters, the Financial Times noted.

12:04 PM

Russian mass attack targets Ukraine's gas facilities, energy minister says.

"The purpose of these criminal attacks is to stop the production of gas needed to meet the household needs of citizens and centralized heating," Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said.

11:55 AM

Trump may seek simplified resources deal with Ukraine, Reuters reports.

The sources told Reuters that Trump wants to make a deal before potentially authorizing more U.S. military aid for Kyiv or moving forward with an attempt to broker formal Ukraine-Russia peace talks.

11:04 AM

Russia holds 'the cards' in possible peace talks, Trump says.

"I think the Russians want to see the war end, I really do. I think they have the cards a little bit, because they've taken a lot of territory. They have the cards," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

9:58 AM  (Updated:  February 20, 2025 10:29 am)

Updated: 7 killed, 30 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Russian aerial strikes targeted an energy facility of Ukraine's DTEK company in Odesa Oblast overnight, the company announced. Governor Oleh Kiper said that 49,000 consumers remain without power as of 9 a.m. local time as repairs continue.

10:36 PM  (Updated:  February 20, 2025 10:17 am)

Elections in Ukraine

A beginner's guide to elections in Ukraine (also suitable for US presidents)

10:16 AM

Starmer to pitch plan on 30,000 European peacekeepers in Ukraine to Trump, Telegraph reports.

The purpose of this support is to ensure that "whatever forces are deployed will not be challenged by Russia," an unnamed source told the Telegraph.

9:15 AM

Trump wants to 'resurrect' Ukraine resources deal 'or things are not gonna make (Zelensky) too happy.'

"I think I’m gonna resurrect that deal, you know, we'll see what happens, but I’m gonna resurrect it or things are gonna not make him (President Volodymyr Zelensky) too happy," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

8:47 AM

European leaders back Zelensky after Trump's accusations.

"Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's merciless war of aggression for almost three years... And it is simply wrong and dangerous to deny President Zelensky's democratic legitimacy," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on X.

8:10 AM

Macron, Starmer to visit Washington next week as they reaffirm support for Ukraine in calls with Zelensky.

French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit Washington next week to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, Fox News reported on Feb. 19.

8:07 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 863,580 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,190 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:27 AM

Sanctions remain vital for maintaining international pressure on Russia, Deputy PM says.

Sanctions against Russia remain a key tool of international pressure, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Olha Stefanishyna said on Feb. 19.

4:21 AM

Russian court issues first prison sentence under ‘LGBT extremism’ law.

A court in Siberia has issued Russia’s first prison sentence under the country’s ban on the so-called “international LGBT movement,” independent Russian outlet Mediazona reported on Feb. 19.

1:24 AM

Belarus exports rapeseed oil from occupied Ukrainian territories to EU, RFE/RL investigation finds.

The Belarusian company Agroproduct has been using raw materials from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine’s southern Kherson Oblast to produce rapeseed oil, which it then exported to the European Union.

11:39 PM

Oil prices near one-week high amid Russia supply disruptions, sanctions uncertainty.

Oil prices remained near a one-week high on Feb. 19 as concerns over supply disruptions in Russia and the U.S. continued to drive the market.

9:46 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Trump calls Zelensky 'dictator,' warns of Ukraine's demise without elections

9:43 PM

Video

Ukrainians react to Trump’s shocking accusation about the war.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest comments about Ukraine are raising eyebrows — and spreading misinformation. He claimed that Ukraine was the one who started Russia's war, said that Ukraine had been “blown to smithereens,” and claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has a 4% approval rating — none of which has a factual basis. How do actual Ukrainians feel about Trump’s words? The Kyiv Independent’s Masha Lavrova hit the streets of Kyiv to hear their raw, unfiltered reactions.

9:27 PM

Russian war crimes

British volunteer who lost arm and leg evacuating Ukrainian civilians: ‘Russia is the enemy. How can you not see it?’

9:23 PM

Interview

US-Russia talks are 'the last warning for Europe,' Gabrielius Landsbergis says