'Strong' explosion heard in Russian-occupied Melitopol city center

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

9:05 PM

Vance says Zelensky 'badmouthing' Trump, calls it counterproductive.

"The idea that Zelensky is going to change the president's mind by badmouthing him in public media — everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration," U.S. Vice President JD Vance said.

8:28 PM

Lithuania's president unveils 6-point plan to support Ukraine, strengthen European security.

"We must act now to support Ukraine and boost Europe's security. No more talk shops — time for action," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda wrote on X.

8:04 PM

North Korean troops in Russia reportedly told they're fighting South Korean forces.

One of the captured North Korean soldiers admitted that he and his fellow soldiers believed they were fighting South Korean troops, which heightened their morale and aggression, South Korean newspaper Chosun Daily reported.

6:39 PM

Trump calls Zelensky 'dictator,' warns of Ukraine's demise without elections.

"A dictator without elections, Zelensky better move fast, or he won’t have a country left," U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

6:22 PM

Ukraine refutes Putin's claims of Russian offensive from Kursk Oblast.

President Vladimir Putin told Russian media on Feb. 18 that Russian forces had crossed into Ukrainian territory from Kursk Oblast, a claim General Staff spokesperson Dmytro Lykhovyi has dismissed as part of a disinformation campaign.

5:38 PM

Putin would 'gladly' meet Trump, says war in Ukraine should be 'worked out' in advance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Feb. 19 that he had been briefed on the outcome of U.S.-Russian talks in Riyadh, expressing willingness to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

5:18 PM

Czechia, Poland preparing decision on status of Ukrainians with temporary protection after ceasefire, war's end.

Prague and Warsaw are seeking to prepare a "rough version of the proposal," as the decision should be made later at the EU level, Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan told Czech news website Novinky on Feb. 18.

5:14 PM

Ukraine Business Roundup — Trump wants Ukraine's natural resources, and more

3:58 PM

Hungary again blocks EU sanctions against Moscow Patriarch Kirill.

"Hungary also blocked sanctions against 27 individuals and organizations, including Patriarch Kirill, arguing that targeting religious leaders undermines peace efforts," a Hungarian government spokesperson said.

3:46 PM

Russia offering US deal on natural resources, access to Arctic.

Moscow suggested that American oil companies may return to the country, Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev said before the talks started in Riyadh.

3:00 PM

US helping Putin escape isolation, Zelensky says after Riyadh talks.

"The fact that they are discussing bilateral issues in Saudi Arabia is their right, but I believe that the U.S. helped Putin escape many years of isolation," Zelensky said during a press conference, adding that Ukraine is nevertheless "ready for anything."

2:25 PM

US promises Europe to maintain sanctions against Russia at least until Ukraine peace deal, Bloomberg reports.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured a group of European colleagues that sanctions would not be lifted earlier. The phone call took place on Feb. 18.

1:31 PM

US provided Ukraine with $100 billion in aid, not $500 billion, Zelensky says.

"We, the people of Ukraine, (provided) $120 billion, the U.S. and the EU — $200 billion. We are talking about arms, this is a weapons package worth $320 billion," President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a press conference in Kyiv.

1:06 PM

Ukraine doesn't want to become 'center for extraction of raw materials,' Zelensky says.

"Ukraine is ready for investment, provided that the occupied territories are liberated and natural resources are protected," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

12:52 PM

Russian disinformation behind Trump's claim of 4% approval rating, Zelensky says.

Ukraine understands that U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a 4% approval rating comes from Russia, Zelensky said during a press conference on Feb. 19.

12:39 PM

Explainer

Who started the war in Ukraine?

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Feb. 18 that Ukraine "should have never started" the war.

12:22 PM

Zelensky's trust rating increases to 57%, survey shows, contradicting Trump's claims.

The poll, carried out between Feb. 4 and 9, was published shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump alleged that Zelensky holds a "4% approval rating" without providing a source to back his claim.

11:57 AM

Trump to 'probably' meet Putin before end of February.

Answering a journalist's questions at a press conference in Mar-a-Lago about whether the meeting would take place before the end of the month, Trump said "probably" without mentioning a specific date.

10:59 AM  (Updated:  February 19, 2025 11:48 am)

EU ambassadors agree on 16th package of Russia sanctions.

EU ambassadors agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia, targeting aluminum imports and the "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, Euronews reported on Feb. 19.

11:31 AM

Opinion

Slavoj Žižek: Fate no longer smiles on us, Europeans

10:36 AM

'Russia will try to divide us' — Kallas on US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia.

European foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after the U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh, Kallas said on X on Feb. 18.