Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian authorities have been forced to shut down airports in Moscow amid a barrage of Ukrainian drone strikes overnight, Russian officials and state media reported on May 23.

Operations have been suspended at Moscow’s Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports. According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Russian air defense allegedly shot down six drones that were “flying toward Moscow."

At 2:41 a.m. local time, Sobyanin reported that three more drones were allegedly shot down.

Emergency services are working at the impact site. There are no reported casualties.

For three consecutive nights, Ukraine has launched massive waves of drones deep into Russian territory.

Between the evening of May 20 and the morning of May 22, Russia claims to have shot down 485 drones on its territory.

The latest strikes come amid a concerted Ukrainian drone campaign to disrupt air travel in Russia. Ukraine has launched hundreds of drones, forcing at least 217 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1.

Trump tells European leaders Putin doesn’t want peace because he believes Russia winning war in Ukraine, WSJ reports

U.S. Donald Trump’s reported statement marked the first time he acknowledged to European leaders the thing they and Kyiv have long maintained — the Kremlin has no intention of ending its full-scale war against Ukraine.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

The Russian government is slashing budgets for major projects across a number of sectors in response to plummeting revenues from oil and gas, the pro-Kremlin news outlet Kommersant reported on May 22.

Earlier this month, oil prices in Russia dropped to a two-year low. Prices fell below $50 per barrel — about 40% lower than what was planned in the Russian budget, Reuters reported on May 6.

In response to the price collapse, the Kremlin has introduced sweeping budget cuts to several state programs, Kommersant reports. These include programs to develop Russia’s aviation, automotive, tech, shipping, and robotics industries.

The state will cut an aviation development program by 22%, reducing the original budget of 101.2 billion rubles to 78.8 billion. The aim of the program was to replace Western aircraft with Russian planes.

Ukraine’s new drone strategy — cripple Moscow’s airports, make Russian population ‘pay’

Hundreds of Ukrainian kamikaze drones have flown towards Moscow in recent weeks. None appear to have even reached the Russian capital, yet the effect on the city — and the wider country — has been hugely significant. Ukrainian drones have forced at least 217 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1,

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

A program aiming to increase the output of Russia’s civilian goods by 40% by the year 2030 has also been targeted for funding cuts and is set to lose 66.9 rubles in 2025.

Funds for the nation’s “high-tech industries” will lose 46 billion rubles, the automotive industry will be slashed by 35 billion rubles,  and support for “the production of innovative transport” will drop by 25 billion rubles. Funds for the production of ships and ship equipment will lose out on 12.6 billion rubles.

A program to boost the production of industrial robots will lose nearly a third of its budget (1.7 billion out of 5.6 billion rubles).  

The Russian state statistics agency Rosstat reported on May 16 that the country is experiencing a significant downturn in economic growth, exacerbated by oil prices, Western sanctions, and inflation.

Oil and gas revenues accounted for nearly 30% of Russia’s budget in January and February, according to government data cited by Bloomberg. Moreover, income from fossil fuel exports is a key funding source for Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

Soaring military expenditures have strained the Kremlin’s budget even as Western sanctions increasingly target Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers and the nation’s gas exports.  

Editorial: Russia just said it doesn’t want peace. This is what you need to do

Russia is now saying the quiet part out loud. It has no intention of stopping the war in Ukraine. We in Ukraine knew this all along, of course, but to sate the demands of international diplomacy, Moscow and Washington have engaged in a now more than two-month-long peace process that

The Kyiv IndependentKyiv Independent

Does a photo shared on social media authentically show Houthis missiles targeting Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in May 2025? No, that's not true: The Houthis' attempt to target the airport on May 18, 2025, failed when Israel's air defenses intercepted the rockets. There was a Houthi missile that hit near the airport on May 4, but none since. The image used to make the claim of the attack appeared to have been generated by artificial intelligence, as evidenced by a jet airliner on a runway featuring two tails -- one on each end -- and backward wings.

The claim appeared in a post (archived here) published on X by @MiddleEast01 on May 22, 2025. The image was captioned:

The Houthis target Ben Gurion Airport for the second time within 12 hours.

This is what the post looked like at the time of writing:

(Source: screenshot of X.com by Lead Stories)

The Google translation of the Hebrew text on the image reads:

#Your_airports_are_unsafe

Your airports are not safe

(Source: photo of an iPhone screen using Google translate by Lead Stories)

A major visual clue that the image was created by an AI tool is the structure of the airliner in the lower left section. Notice the plane has a tail on the rear and the front. Also note the odd shape of the wings. Artificial intelligence tools often make mistakes in those kind of details, but you'll never see a real jet that has those features.

(Source: screenshot of X by Lead Stories)

Israel's air defenses failed to intercept a single ballistic missile launched by the Houthis from Yemen on May 4, 2025, according to multiple news reports and the IDF. The Israeli military reported six people were injured, none seriously. This image is a screenshot of a video showing the missile landing close to Ben Gurion Airport.

(Source: screenshot of X by Lead Stories)

The IDF's air defenses successfully intercepted another Houthi missile that appeared to be aimed at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday, May 19, 2025.

The airport was functioning normally as of May 22, 2025, according the Ben Gurion Airport website.

(Source: screenshot of https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/ by Lead Stories)

The Council of the European Union will hold a hearing regarding the potential loss of Hungary’s voting rights at a meeting on May 27, according to the agenda on the Council’s web portal.

This will be the eighth hearing regarding Hungary since the European Parliament triggered Article 7 procedures against the country in 2018. Article 7 of the EU Treaty allows for the suspension of Council voting rights if a member state consistently breaches EU founding principles.

European ministers will discuss Hungary’s status at a meeting of the General Affairs Council on May 27, the Council said.

The hearing comes as the EU is looking for ways to override Budapest if it vetoes Ukraine’s accession to the bloc. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said on May 10 that Brussels has alternative plans in the event Hungary attempts to obstructs Ukraine’s candidacy.

“We have a plan B and a plan C. But our focus is plan A, the essence of which is to get everyone’s support,” Kallas told reporters.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly blocked or delayed EU aid packages for Ukraine while opposing sanctions against Russia. Hungary’s ongoing obstruction of support for Ukraine has repeatedly triggered threats to withdraw the country’s voting rights.

The European Parliament has also continuously raised Article 7 concerns regarding Hungary’s “erosion of the rule of law.” Under the Orban government, Hungary has faced increasing criticism from international watchdogs for limiting press freedom and undermining democracy.

Mass protests broke out in Budapest on May 18 in response to a controversial bill that would grant the government sweeping powers to investigate, penalize, or even ban media outlets and non-governmental organizations receiving any foreign funding. The bill, proposed by a member of Orban’s ruling Fidesz party, is similar to Russia’s restrictive “foreign agents” law.

Ukraine’s new drone strategy — cripple Moscow’s airports, make Russian population ‘pay’

Hundreds of Ukrainian kamikaze drones have flown towards Moscow in recent weeks. None appear to have even reached the Russian capital, yet the effect on the city — and the wider country — has been hugely significant. Ukrainian drones have forced at least 217 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1,

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on May 22 that he ordered the military to begin creating a “security buffer zone” along the border with Ukraine, Russian state media outlets reported.

The comments come a day after Putin made his first known visit to Russia’s Kursk Oblast, a border region where Ukrainian forces launched an incursion last summer. While the Kremlin claims to have fully liberated the territory, Ukraine says operations are ongoing in Kursk.

“I have already said that a decision has been made to create the necessary security buffer zone along the border,” Putin said in a video conference with government officials.

“Our armed forces are currently solving this problem.”

Putin did not provide additional details regarding the buffer zone.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry responded to the statement later in the day, saying Putin’s remarks are further evidence that Russia is not meaningfully interested in peace.

“I remind the world that Putin’s statements about the ‘buffer zone’ come amid active efforts to achieve a full, durable ceasefire, stop the killing, and advance peace,” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.

“These new aggressive claims clearly reject peace efforts and show that Putin has been and remains the only reason the killing continues. He needs to face more pressure to end this war.”

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi echoed these sentiments, calling Russia an “obstacle to peace efforts” and suggesting that any future “buffer zone” be confined to Russian territory.

“These words prove clearly that it is Putin, it is Russia that is an obstacle to peace efforts now and it is they who need to be pressured in all forms to force Russia and Putin to peace and to a full long-term ceasefire,” he said in a comment to multiple Ukrainian news outlets.

“And as for the ‘buffer zones,’ there can be a ‘buffer zone’ on the territory of Russia, which is why Ukraine has been conducting an operation there since last year."

Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, marking the first large-scale invasion of Russian territory by foreign forces since World War II. While a Russian counteroffensive — supported by North Korean military personnel — recaptured most of the Ukrainian-occupied land in spring 2025, Ukrainian troops continue to carry out missions across the border.

The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said on May 21 that while conditions in the region remain difficult, Ukrainian forces are holding their positions and inflicting losses on Russian troops.

The Kursk operation successfully thwarted Russia’s plans to establish a “buffer zone” in Sumy Oblast in northeastern Ukraine, Commander in Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said in November 2024.

Putin’s latest comments regarding a buffer zone comes as Russia has once again rejected U.S. and European proposals for a complete ceasefire in the war against Ukraine. Putin did not agree to the terms in a May 19 phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump and the Kremlin has doubled down on its maximalist demands.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed on May 21 that Russia has no interest in pursuing a ceasefire: “(W)e don’t want this anymore,” he sais.

Editorial: Russia just said it doesn’t want peace. This is what you need to do

Russia is now saying the quiet part out loud. It has no intention of stopping the war in Ukraine. We in Ukraine knew this all along, of course, but to sate the demands of international diplomacy, Moscow and Washington have engaged in a now more than two-month-long peace process that

The Kyiv IndependentKyiv Independent

Russia is now saying the quiet part out loud. It has no intention of stopping the war in Ukraine.

We in Ukraine knew this all along, of course, but to sate the demands of international diplomacy, Moscow and Washington have engaged in a now more than two-month-long peace process that has achieved nothing other than demonstrating that neither is willing to do what is necessary to achieve it.

Russia has apparently grown tired of its leading role in the charade and, emboldened by what is now the almost certain knowledge it will face no repercussions from the U.S. President Donald Trump, is openly bragging about having no interest in negotiations with Ukraine or a ceasefire.

"We don’t want this anymore," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on May 21, confirming what his boss told Trump in a phone call two days earlier — that the Kremlin is not ready for peace in Ukraine because it believes it is winning the war.

Trump was furious at the news, apoplectic that Putin had been stringing him along and humiliating him all this time, swiftly imposing the long-threatened sanctions, as European leaders rallied together.

Oh, wait, sorry, this is what should have happened if there had been even an ounce of logic and decency left in this situation.

In reality, Trump barely shrugged, apparently content that he’s keeping Russian money-making opportunities on the table, while the EU’s latest sanctions are so ineffective it’s been left up to Ukraine itself to explain to the bloc how it could maybe try and make them a bit tougher.

It’s beginning to feel a bit like, despite all the rhetoric, the only player who truly wants the war to end is Ukraine.

Any notion of a peace process is effectively over, and there’s only one remaining hope — those Americans who actually mean what they say and truly want the war to end must follow through and finally apply some good old-fashioned global superpower pressure on Russia.

Yes, U.S. senators, we’re talking to you.

One way the war can end is if the U.S. makes Russia end it. Russia, and Russia alone, is responsible for the violence being inflicted in this war.

Take a recent example — only two Ukrainian civilians were killed by Russian violence on May 8. Only two — that may sound cynical, and is in no way meant to detract from two tragedies, but the number is hugely significant.

The day before, on May 7, 14 people were killed and 54 others injured. In Kyiv on May 7, we spent the night in bomb shelters and hallways, listening to the sounds of ballistic missiles exploding, and attack drones flying overhead and crashing into people's homes.

Overnight on May 8, we slept uninterrupted throughout the night.

What was the difference between these two days? On May 8, a three-day ceasefire unilaterally proposed by the Kremlin came into effect.

Now let's get one thing straight — the Kremlin's ceasefire was a sham, announced without consulting Ukraine, with the sole purpose of not embarrassing Russian President Vladimir Putin by forcing the cancellation of his Victory Day parade on May 9.

The Kremlin also violated it, and in addition to the two deaths noted above, Ukrainian soldiers told the Kyiv Independent that Russian forces were still active and attacking on the front lines.

But Russia suspended a major part of its military operations — aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities — and the immediate effect was a dramatic reduction in civilian deaths.

April was one of the deadliest months for civilians during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine — at least 209 civilians were killed, including 19 children, and 1,146 others were injured, all by Russian missiles, drones, and bombs.

Inadvertently, Russia's ceasefire proved the one thing that Putin wouldn’t admit — that Russia and Russia alone is responsible for the violence being inflicted in this war.

It is in Russia’s power to stop the war any moment, unilaterally, and to end the violence, as it showed with the ceasefire. But it won’t do it.  

The same is true on the front lines.

Where their armies clash, Ukraine, as the defending side, is reportedly responsible for the majority of the killing, as it’s conducting just and legal self-defense against Russian soldiers committing an unprovoked and illegal invasion of another sovereign nation.

For this killing to end, Russia can simply stop attacking. Aside from the personal humiliation of one man — Putin — Russia would suffer nothing, and lose nothing, from stopping the war.

Ukraine doesn’t have the same choice. It cannot end the fighting as long as Russia keeps attacking. It has everything to lose, and the violence its armed forces inflicts is committed in the name of survival, not conquest.

Even Ukrainian offensive operations like drone strikes into Russian territory are carried out in an attempt to deprive the Kremlin war machine of ammunition, fuel, and money, in an effort to aid Ukraine's survival.

This is the prism through which Washington should have viewed the U.S.-led peace process, but since Trump took office, the opposite has been true.

The U.S. has been applying pressure not on Russia, but on Ukraine, which has no choice other than to do what is required to survive.

In stark contrast, Russia remains unpunished by the Trump administration and is instead being wooed.

But there is still hope — the U.S.'s actions towards Russia are not solely in the hands of the president, and we know there are plenty of people on Capitol Hill who don't agree with the course that is currently being charted.

For one, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham's sanctions bill, the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, needs to be passed. Americans need to reach out to their representatives in Congress to demand that their elected officials support the bill.

If Americans want to show they won’t be complicit in appeasement, they should raise their voices for Ukraine — and for accountability — starting with this bill.

Ukraine’s new drone strategy — cripple Moscow’s airports, make Russian population ‘pay’

Hundreds of Ukrainian kamikaze drones have flown towards Moscow in recent weeks. None appear to have even reached the Russian capital, yet the effect on the city — and the wider country — has been hugely significant. Ukrainian drones have forced at least 217 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1,

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

• Mass Ukrainian drone strike targets Moscow, Russia claims, multiple airports closed
• 9 Ukrainian children rescued from Russian-occupied territories, President's Office says
• Trump tells European leaders Putin doesn’t want peace because he believes Russia winning war in Ukraine, WSJ reports
• Kyiv proposes EU partners help directly fund Ukrainian military under new model
• Russia says 159 Ukrainian drones shot down in less than a day

Russian air defense systems shot down 105 Ukrainian drones overnight on May 22, including 35 intercepted over Moscow Oblast, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that all the drones were flying toward the Russian capital.

Due to the drone attack, all four Moscow airports — Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky — as well as airports in Tambov and Vladimir were temporarily closed.

Other Ukrainian drones were also shot down over the Oryol, Kursk, Belgorod, Tula, Kaluga, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Smolensk, and Bryansk oblasts, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Tula Oblast Governor Dmitry Milyaev said one of the drones crashed into the roof of an apartment building in Tula. The attack also damaged other residential and non-residential buildings, he said.

Russian authorities haven't reported any other damage or reported any casualties.

Later on May 22, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that 485 Ukrainian drones had been downed over the past three days, from May 20 to May 22, including 63 over Moscow Oblast.

Kyiv hasn't commented on the attacks. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the reports.

Ukraine’s new drone strategy — cripple Moscow’s airports, make Russian population ‘pay’

Hundreds of Ukrainian kamikaze drones have flown towards Moscow in recent weeks. None appear to have even reached the Russian capital, yet the effect on the city — and the wider country — has been hugely significant. Ukrainian drones have forced at least 217 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1,

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

9 Ukrainian children rescued from Russian-occupied territories, President's Office says

Ukraine has brought nine more children from Russian-occupied territories to Ukrainian-controlled areas, Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak said on May 22.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has identified over 19,500 children who have been forcibly deported to Russia, Belarus, or occupied territories. So far, only around 1,300 of them have been safely brought to Ukrainian government-controlled territory.

Among the rescued children is a girl whose life was in danger due to the lack of adequate medical care in the occupied territories, and a boy who, along with his mother, was locked in a basement by Russian forces while his father was tortured in a nearby room, Yermak said.

Others include two sisters who didn't leave their home for nearly three years because of constant shelling and the presence of Russian tanks, and a teenage girl who was cut off from online schooling due to communication blockades imposed by Russian forces.

"These children lived through horrors," Yermak said in a statement. "We are fulfilling the president's task: to bring all children back home."

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Trump tells European leaders Putin doesn’t want peace because he believes Russia winning war in Ukraine, WSJ reports

U.S. President Donald Trump told European leaders this week that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not ready for peace in Ukraine because he believes he is winning the war, the Wall Street Journal reported on May 22, citing three undisclosed sources.

Trump's reported statement marked the first time he acknowledged to European leaders what they and Kyiv have long maintained — the Kremlin has no intention of ending its full-scale war against Ukraine.

The conversation on May 19 reportedly included President Volodymyr Zelensky, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.

Earlier the same day, Trump held a phone call with Putin, days after largely inconclusive negotiations in Istanbul, where Russia sent a delegation of low-level officials.

European leaders on the call reportedly seemed "surprised" that Trump was "relatively content" with what he heard from Putin, Axios reported on May 20.

Why Washington failed to end the Russo-Ukrainian War

In the early 19th century, one of the founding fathers of modern war studies, the Prussian general and military historian Carl von Clausewitz, commented on the Napoleonic Wars: “The conqueror is always peace-loving; he would much prefer to march into our state calmly.” This remains an observation that applies to

The Kyiv IndependentAndreas Umland

Kyiv proposes EU partners help directly fund Ukrainian military under new model

Ukraine is requesting the EU begin financially supporting its armed forces starting in 2026, pitching the idea as a practical way to strengthen Europe's collective defense and share the cost of containing Russian aggression, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said on May 22.

The EU hasn't so far directly funded Ukraine's military, but member states provide weapons and other assistance through national programs and broader EU support packages.

Marchenko said Kyiv is proposing a new model: European partners would help fund the Ukrainian military, and in return, Ukraine would be further integrated into the continent's defense system.

"I am convinced that this decision has a number of strategic advantages for Ukraine, including maintaining financial stability in 2026 and beyond," Marchenko said in a statement following meetings with G7 finance leaders in Canada.

"And for the EU — protection from potential Russian aggression. After all, the Ukrainian army has all the experience necessary for this."

Under the proposal, the cost of supporting Ukraine's military would represent only a small fraction of the EU's combined GDP, Marchenko said, and could be shared among countries willing to participate. These contributions could count toward NATO defense spending targets.

Russia says 159 Ukrainian drones shot down in less than a day

Russian air defenses reportedly intercepted more than 150 Ukrainian drones over several regions, including areas near the capital, in what appears to be one of the largest such aerial assaults, Russia's Defense Ministry said on May 22.

For at least two days in a row, Ukraine has launched massive waves of drones deep into Russian territory. Between the evening of May 20 and the morning of May 22, Russia claims to have shot down 485 drones on its territory.

According to the Russian military, 159 drones were destroyed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Moscow time on May 22. The ministry said Ukrainian drones were intercepted across multiple central and western regions, including Moscow, where 22 drones were reportedly shot down. The surrounding regions of Kursk, Oryol, Tula, and others also came under attack, with dozens of drones intercepted in each area.

The ministry described the drones as fixed-wing, aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles. The Kyiv Independent couldn't independently verify the claims. Ukrainian authorities have not commented.

Note from the author:

Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community.

Russian air defenses reportedly intercepted more than 150 Ukrainian drones over several regions, including areas near the capital, in what appears to be one of the largest such aerial assaults, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on May 22.

For at least two days in a row, Ukraine has launched massive waves of drones deep into Russian territory. Between the evening of May 20 and the morning of May 22, Russia claims to have shot down 485 drones on its territory.

According to the Russian military, 159 drones were destroyed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Moscow time on May 22. The ministry said Ukrainian drones were intercepted across multiple central and western regions, including Moscow, where 22 drones were reportedly shot down. The surrounding regions of Kursk, Oryol, Tula, and others also came under attack, with dozens of drones intercepted in each area.

The ministry described the drones as fixed-wing, aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles. The Kyiv Independent couldn’t independently verify the claims. Ukrainian authorities have not commented.

The reported wave of drone activity follows a broader trend that has intensified in recent months. Ukraine has increasingly targeted Moscow and its surrounding regions.

While few drones appear to have reached the capital itself, their mere approach has already forced widespread disruption. Since the beginning of the year, Russian airports have been temporarily shut down at least 217 times due to drone threats.

Recently, Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s Bolkhov semiconductor plant in Oryol Oblast, which produces parts for Sukhoi warplanes and Iskander and Kinzhal missiles. The facility provides components to at least 19 Russian factories engaged in manufacturing Sukhoi fighter jets as well as Iskander and Kinzhal ballistic missiles.

In April President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine is ramping up drone production to the “maximum."

Ukraine’s new drone strategy — cripple Moscow’s airports, make Russian population ‘pay’

Hundreds of Ukrainian kamikaze drones have flown towards Moscow in recent weeks. None appear to have even reached the Russian capital, yet the effect on the city — and the wider country — has been hugely significant. Ukrainian drones have forced at least 217 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1,

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Ukraine is requesting the EU begin financially supporting its armed forces starting in 2026, pitching the idea as a practical way to strengthen Europe’s collective defense and share the cost of containing Russian aggression, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said on May 22.

The EU hasn’t so far directly funded Ukraine’s military, but member states provide weapons and other assistance through national programs and broader EU support packages.

Marchenko said Kyiv is proposing a new model: European partners would help fund the Ukrainian military, and in return, Ukraine would be further integrated into the continent’s defense system.

“I am convinced that this decision has a number of strategic advantages for Ukraine, including maintaining financial stability in 2026 and beyond,” Marchenko said in a statement following meetings with G7 finance leaders in Canada.

“And for the EU — protection from potential Russian aggression. After all, the Ukrainian army has all the experience necessary for this."

Under the proposal, the cost of supporting Ukraine’s military would represent only a small fraction of the EU’s combined GDP, Marchenko said, and could be shared among countries willing to participate. These contributions could count toward NATO defense spending targets.

“Over the past three years, Ukraine has received more than $133 billion in international financial aid,” he said. “This support enabled the government to preserve macro-financial stability during full-scale war, ensure salary payments to teachers, doctors, and public servants, and continue pensions and social support for the most vulnerable."

“The financial system still faces challenges, which makes continued external support absolutely critical,” the minister said.

With war still raging and Russia showing no signs of backing down, Marchenko argued that relying solely on building up national armies across Europe could take years and require enormous resources.

U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a full ceasefire in March. Ukraine immediately agreed, and the plan was supported by European leaders.

Russia has consistently refused, culminating in a phone call on May 19 between Trump and President Vladimir Putin, during which Putin once again rejected the proposal and instead demanded a “memorandum regarding a potential future peace treaty."

On May 16, Russia initiated peace talks in Istanbul but sent only a low-level delegation led by Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky and reiterated demands that Kyiv cede Crimea and four eastern regions. President Putin and Lavrov were both absent.

Recently, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov virtually confirmed Moscow has no interest in negotiations or a ceasefire, saying on May 21 that “we don’t want this anymore."

Why Washington failed to end the Russo-Ukrainian War

In the early 19th century, one of the founding fathers of modern war studies, the Prussian general and military historian Carl von Clausewitz, commented on the Napoleonic Wars: “The conqueror is always peace-loving; he would much prefer to march into our state calmly.” This remains an observation that applies to

The Kyiv IndependentAndreas Umland

Hundreds of Ukrainian kamikaze drones have flown towards Moscow in recent weeks.

None appear to have even reached the Russian capital, yet the effect on the city — and the wider country — has been hugely significant.

Ukrainian drones have forced at least 217 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1, independent Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on May 14, citing data from Russia’s state aviation agency Rosaviatsia.

The figure already surpasses the combined total for all of 2023 and 2024, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to put pressure on Russia, even in areas far from the border with Ukraine.

According to Serhii Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Defense Army’s Southern Division, the surge in disruptions reflects a strategic shift in Ukraine’s drone campaign.

“Moscow is the biggest aviation hub in the Russian Federation — flights go everywhere, not only across Russia, but worldwide,” he told the Kyiv Independent.

“This is about the potential disintegration of Russian regions and the weakening of internal control."

Surge in drones targeting Moscow

Three nights of Ukrainian drone raids before Russia’s Victory Day on May 9 forced Rosaviatsia to order temporary flight restrictions that disrupted travel plans for at least 60,000 passengers, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia.

Just shy of two weeks of calm have been followed by another wave. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that 485 Ukrainian drones had been downed over the past three days, from May 20 to May 22, including 63 over Moscow Oblast.

"The priority direction is clear — Moscow and the surrounding regions," Bratchuk said.

Bratchuk highlights that due to Russia's vast geography, air travel is essential for maintaining connectivity, and disruptions in aviation could increase the risk of regional disintegration and public unrest.

"These disruptions are not accidental. They are part of a pressure campaign against logistics, air defense systems, and public morale," he said.

"The Russian population has to pay for this war. Sleeping in tents at the airport is not the highest price, but it does affect morale."

Bratchuk also claims there is an economic cost to Russia in having to constantly close its airports.

"Aviation is not a cheap industry, and losses are incurred by airports, by airlines — but it also has a psychological effect on passengers and cargo clients," he said.

The economic damage

But experts who spoke to the Kyiv Independent said the immediate economic costs for Russia likely remain manageable, suggesting the campaign's primary objective is not to disrupt the economy.

"The economic impact is visible at the level of individual airlines... but the losses are minor," Sergei Aleksashenko, a U.S.-based Russian economist, said.

Fellow economist Andrei Movchan was even more skeptical of the financial impact of the campaign

"I don't think there are any economic considerations at all," he said.

While the economic fallout may be limited for now, Ukraine's drone campaign is also intended to serve a military purpose beyond financial disruption, Bratchuk said, saying the tactic also forces Russian air defense systems into a constant state of alert.

"Even the smallest aerial target must trigger a full air defense response," Bratchuk said. "That's how the system works — for us, for Russia, and for any country."

Russia's layered defense network is already under visible strain from Ukraine's now years-long campaign targeting Russian oil production in an attempt to deprive the Kremlin of money to fund its full-scale invasion, as well as military targets like ammunition dumps.

Targeting Moscow and the surrounding oblast with increasing numbers of drones could spread Russia’s air defenses even thinner.

With Russia's air defense units forced to react to every aerial threat, Kyiv appears to be testing the limits of the Kremlin's ability to protect its own territory — a tactic that could lay the groundwork for future strikes with greater precision and deeper penetration.

"Maybe this is one element that would enable our combat drones to strike more effectively at military targets," Bratchuk said."As for military targets, strikes will continue to hit military-industrial sites in Russia.

That's the only strategy. But the priorities now are somewhat different," Bratchuk concluded.

Hi, this is Tim. Thank you for reading this article. The Kyiv Independent doesn't have a wealthy owner or a paywall. Instead, we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism funded. We're now aiming to grow our community to 20,000 members — if you liked this article, consider joining our community today.

As Ukraine braces for an intensified Russian offensive, KI Insights invites you to an exclusive off-the-record briefing on the latest battlefield dynamics, military challenges, and Kyiv’s evolving strategic outlook.

Drawing from sources spanning the trenches of Donbas to the Office of the President, we’ll analyze the shifting threat landscape and its implications for Ukraine’s defenses, Western support, and the war’s trajectory.

This special edition features a guest contribution from Francis Farrell, war correspondent for The Kyiv Independent, who regularly reports from frontline regions. Alongside KI Insights Director Jakub Parusinski, the session will offer firsthand reporting and military insights, providing a rare glimpse into the evolving tactical and operational trends shaping the war’s next phase.

Event details:

Date: Tuesday, June 17.

Time: 18:00 Kyiv time (17:00 in Brussels, 16:00 in London, 11:00 in Washington D.C.)
Expected duration – 1 hour 30 minutes.

Format: Online, in English. The event will include a presentation by KI Insights Director Jakub Parusinski and Kyiv Independent War Reporter, Francis Farrell, before moving to a Q&A session.

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Opportunities to invest in Ukraine 2025

As Ukraine anticipates post-war reconstruction, a new wave of privatizations, regulatory reforms, and foreign investment opportunities is reshaping the country’s economic landscape. From energy and infrastructure to retail and agriculture, Ukraine is opening up key sectors to domestic and international investors. Join KI Insights for an exclusive online briefing on

The Kyiv IndependentKI Insights

Ukraine has brought nine more children from Russian-occupied territories to Ukrainian-controlled areas, Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak said on May 22.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has identified over 19,500 children who have been forcibly deported to Russia, Belarus, or occupied territories. So far, only around 1,300 of them have been safely brought to Ukrainian government-controlled territory.

Among the rescued children is a girl whose life was in danger due to the lack of adequate medical care in the occupied territories, and a boy who, along with his mother, was locked in a basement by Russian forces while his father was tortured in a nearby room, Yermak said.

Others include two sisters who didn’t leave their home for nearly three years because of constant shelling and the presence of Russian tanks, and a teenage girl who was cut off from online schooling due to communication blockades imposed by Russian forces.

“These children lived through horrors,” Yermak said in a statement. “We are fulfilling the president’s task: to bring all children back home."

The rescue mission was conducted as part of Bring Kids Back UA, a national initiative spearheaded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and coordinated by his office to return deported children to their families and communities.

Ukrainian children forcibly taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territories are placed in families or Russian camps, where they are known to be subjected to intense anti-Ukrainian propaganda, and at times, military training.

Kyiv has repeatedly stated that returning all these children is a key condition for any future peace agreement with Russia.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has also taken up the matter. In March 2023, it issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over their involvement in abductions.

On May 8, the European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning Russia’s forcible deportation and Russification of Ukrainian children, calling it a “genocidal strategy” aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity and demanding the unconditional return of all abducted minors.

As Russia trains abducted children for war, Ukraine fights uphill battle to bring them home

Around the world, abducting a child is a serious crime punishable by years behind bars. But when the kidnapper is Russia, justice remains a distant hope. So does the child’s return home. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has identified over 19,500 children who have been

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

Ukrainian defense manufacturers have issued a public letter to President Volodymyr Zelensky, urging him to lift export restrictions on domestically produced military-grade equipment, particularly drones, to help the sector grow and integrate better into Europe’s security architecture.

The open letter, signed by leading representatives of Ukraine’s defense-industrial sector, highlights the strategic potential of the country’s homegrown military technologies, from drones to electronic warfare systems, and calls for decisive political action to authorize the controlled export of surplus weaponry to allied nations.

“It is time to demonstrate that Ukraine is capable of being not only a party that receives international support, but also a full-fledged partner that exports security through cooperation, technology, and its own experience,” the letter reads.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s defense sector — and its drone industry in particular — has exploded. More than 200 drone companies have emerged, many producing cheap, adaptable systems that have reshaped modern warfare. Industry leaders have previously said many smaller firms are burning through capital with no lifeline in sight.

Under the current laws, drones and other dual-use military goods require a permit from the State Export Service. But drone producers earlier told the Kyiv Independent that those waivers are nearly impossible to obtain — even for companies the government cannot afford to contract. The system, they say, blocks access to global markets just as foreign demand is surging.

“As Europe grapples with transatlantic uncertainty and armed conflicts escalate worldwide, our strategic partners are actively seeking to strengthen their defense capabilities through innovative and affordable technological solutions,” the letter reads.

“And here, Ukraine holds a unique advantage. Our defense industry — evolving under constant battlefield conditions — is already producing the technologies the world is looking for."

Kateryna Mykhalko, executive director of Tech Force in UA, told the Kyiv Independent in May 2024 that Ukraine manufactures a lot of drones, but “not all of them can be used in the army.”

“Export is one way to ensure that companies do not go bankrupt, develop their R&D, and perhaps in the future the military will need their products,” she said.

Ukraine’s defense industry was capable of producing up to $20 billion in equipment in 2024, but the government could fund only half, then-Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin Minister said in May of last year.

Ukraine’s drone companies face ‘death, migration, or global acquisition’ amid defense spending squeeze

A surge of domestic drone companies in Ukraine has outpaced what the government budget can support, leading many companies to increasingly seek international partnerships or face consolidation. Drones have become a transformative part of Ukraine’s military strategy. The country’s ability to mass produce these cheap and effective weapons

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

The Kyiv Independent’s Asami Terajima sits down with Estonian ambassador to Ukraine Annely Kolk to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and why there’s little trust in Russia honoring any ceasefire agreements.

For many years, Vladimir Putin has sought to use sports as a symbol of Russian might – a tradition that goes back to Soviet-era Olympics showdowns with the West.

And lately the Russian Republic of Dagestan has been producing some of the country’s finest athletes in Mixed Martial Arts, a combat sport that combines elements from multiple different fighting disciplines.

Many Dagestani fighters have become among the best in the world’s premiere MMA promotion, the Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC.

These include such famous fighters as Khabib Nurmagomedov, his younger brother Usman Nurmagomedov, and his friend Islam Makhachev.

Khabib became the UFC lightweight champion in 2018, and is widely considered one of the greatest fighters ever.

His rise to stardom did not go unnoticed by the Kremlin, where the popularity and authority of Dagestani athletes are viewed as a valuable resource for achieving political aims. Putin and his inner circle attribute individual athletic successes to the state, pushing the narrative of a ‘strong Russia.’

Yet, there's a lesser-known part of Khabib’s life: his career got its start in Ukraine, using a method taught by his first coach from a small Ukrainian town. After the full-scale invasion, athletes like Khabib appear to avoid publicly mentioning their past in Ukraine. On the world stage, Khabib is perceived as purely Russian.

But Khabib repeatedly applied for Ukrainian citizenship – but failed to do so.

The omission of his Ukrainian ties helps bolster Russia’s reputation on the world stage. And ultimately, Russian leaders seem to be acutely aware that today's sympathy for a sports champion can turn into tomorrow's tolerance for the authoritarian state.

After the fighter’s 2018 victory to become the UFC’s lightweight champion, during a meeting with Putin, the Russian president emphasized that Khabib was competing as a symbol of Russian might:

"Yes, of course, you weren't competing for any team, you were there in a personal capacity, not even representing the country. You performed in a personal capacity, but you are, after all, a citizen of Russia.”

But in reality, the roots of Khabib’s skills and knowledge can be traced back to Ukraine. For example, Khabib's debut fight was in the Ukrainian city of Poltava on September 13, 2008. He lived here for some time and visited frequently afterward. This is also the city where his uncles and his father, his head coach, began their careers.

The Russian champion’s Ukrainian roots:

Khabib Nurmagomedov's career was largely shaped by his father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, who was himself an elite athlete and Khabib’s personal coach.

His father, as well as his uncles – Abdulnasir and Nurmagomed – were born in Dagestan. During the Soviet era, they all moved to the Ukrainian city of Poltava, where they enrolled in what is now the Poltava University of Economics and Trade.

Around that time, alongside their studies, they began practicing martial arts. At different times, they all trained with the same Ukrainian coach – Petro Butrii, now a 74-year-old master of Sambo and Judo.

"He [Abdulmanap, Khabib's father] came to train, and in four years of training, he achieved great success in Sambo and Judo," Butrii told The Counteroffensive.

According to Butrii, Abdulmanap's mother fell ill in the ‘90s, so at her request, Abdulmanap returned to Dagestan. He still traveled to Ukraine several times a year, though, and brought Khabib with him when he was a young boy.

During one of these visits, Butrii gifted him tatami mats, Japanese straw mats for covering the floor. Khabib's father took them to Dagestan and used them to equip his gym. He also utilized Butrii's training methodology, which he had learned at a Ukrainian university during the Soviet era.

Khabib's uncle also confirmed this: "Petr Ivanovych was constantly with us as a coach. Abdulmanap is currently training [in 2018] Khabib using the same methods. When it was difficult for him, he would bring his son here [to Ukraine]," Abdulnasir said in a 2018 interview with Sport Express.

The Ukrainian Butrii and the Russian Khabib family had a remarkably close relationship.

"They [Abdulmanap and Khabib] would come to me and train at my club and lived across the street... They have a very respectable, hardworking family... They treated me like a father. Even their grandfather, when he was here, once gathered them and said that their father was not him, but Petro Ivanovych was," Butrii said.

Eventually, Khabib Nurmagomedov also started training with Butrii as he got older.

"Then, as Khabib began his journey to the top, we constantly communicated, had conversations about his mistakes... We constantly analyzed each of his fights," Butrii told The Counteroffensive.

In 2008, Khabib began his professional career. That same year, in Poltava, he won his first fight, for which he earned approximately $2,000. After that fight, he gifted Petro Butrii a cup painted in the Dagestani style.

Competing for a Ukrainian club, and then applying for Ukrainian citizenship:

After that, Khabib trained in his homeland for a while. In 2009, he won the M-1 Global mixed martial arts competition in Russia. The next year, he won the same competition again, but this time in Ukraine, representing the Kyiv club 'Combat-Dobro.'

Overall, between 2010 and 2011, he had nine professional fights representing the Kyiv club. While in Poltava, Khabib trained continuously for four years, and for six years altogether.

He would eventually move to California, winning his debut fight in the UFC.

But Khabib continued to visit Ukraine. In 2016, he came to Poltava to see his two uncles, Abdulnasir and Nurmagomed, who are citizens of Ukraine.

Khabib also wanted to become a citizen of Ukraine but was repeatedly denied.

"We put in maximum effort for Khabib to receive Ukrainian citizenship. We value, love, and respect Ukraine and its people... I don't know how they considered it, but there was always a refusal. And it wasn't just once, but four or five times. So we stopped asking," Abdulnasir said in 2018.

Abdulnasir, who with Khabib's other uncle Nurmagomed moved to Germany after the full-scale invasion started, told The Counteroffensive the family unsuccessfully tried to get citizenship for Khabib around 2006-2007.

Rizvan Magomedov, Khabib's manager, did not respond to a request for comment from The Counteroffensive on the athlete's citizenship and stance on the war.

Ukraine's State Migration Service and Ministry of Internal Affairs said they can't disclose the reason Khabib Nurmagomedov was denied Ukrainian citizenship without his personal consent.

Khabib's last public visit to Ukraine was in 2018. At that time, he visited athletes at the 'Hermes' and 'Combat-Dobro' clubs, for which he had previously competed.

Putin’s usage of Khabib’s prestige for Russian pride

Despite these long-standing, deep ties with Ukraine, and even the desire at one point to obtain citizenship, Khabib continued to meet with Putin.

Recognizing the influence of Khabib and other athletes on youth in Russia and their international prestige, Putin used him for imperial benefit. His public dealings with Putin began in 2018, shortly after his victory over Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor. Putin congratulated Khabib by phone, and they later met in person. During their televised meeting, Putin stressed that the athlete represented Russia and played up their 'familial' unity.

"We, within the country – I believe we are one big family," Putin said.

Later that same year, Khabib Nurmagomedov was a speaker at the Synergy Global Forum, one of Russia's largest business forums. This event was organized by Synergy University, a private Russian university that partially received Russian state funding and has indirect ties to the Kremlin.

During the event, Khabib presented his autobiography, 'Khabib Time,' in which Putin's 2018 call and support for Khabib feature prominently.

"Public meetings with such athletes are part of the image of a 'strong Russiaʼ that values its own and nurtures values. Obviously, Russia is the last country that values its own and nurtures anything human, but the authorities regularly use athletes, both domestic and foreign, to create the image they need," Rozanov told The Counteroffensive.

In addition to Putin, Khabib met in 2018-2019 with the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov. His troops have fought in Ukraine and were implicated in the looting, torture, and killing of Ukrainian civilians in the Kyiv region in March 2022.

In October 2020, Khabib defended his championship of the UFC title for the third time and was invited by Putin to meet in the Kremlin once more, though the meeting never took place. Immediately after that fight, Khabib announced his retirement.

"He made a promise to his mother and on top of that, he’s 36 years old, now going to be 37. He always said 35 was the year he would retire," Javier Mendez, Khabib's former coach, told The Counteroffensive.

Khabib since Russia’s invasion:

Since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in early 2022, Khabib has maintained a silent stance. He has neither spoken with, nor met with Putin or Kadyrov, at least not publicly.

He has, however, found himself thrust into politics.

In June 2024, during a UFC tournament in New Jersey, footage captured a moment of Khabib speaking with Donald Trump. The athlete expressed hope that Trump could stop the war in Gaza.

Later, on the Impaulsive podcast, Trump clarified that Khabib had spoken about wars in the plural.

Also, according to Trump, Khabib is close to Putin.

"I think he's friends or was friends, but I think he is friends with Putin very much. But he said we have to stop the killing," Trump said.

Despite Khabib's past connections to Ukraine, he has stayed mum on the killings of civilians by Putin's army, even in Ukrainian cities that had once been his home away from home.

This silence is particularly striking given his previous stay in Poltava, a city now subjected to Russian shelling of civilian infrastructure.

NEWS OF THE DAY:

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

CHINA OPPOSES EU SANCTIONS TARGETING RUSSIA: Earlier this week, the EU adopted the 17th package of sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet and companies supplying components used to manufacture drones. Chinese and UAE enterprises were on that list, too.

A China spokesperson stated that China is promoting peace talks and “never provided lethal weapons to parties to the conflict and strictly controls the export of dual-use articles.”

However, it was reported that China is the leading supplier of critical components for Russian weaponry. Moreover, Ukrainian Armed Forces have captured Chinese soldiers fighting against Ukraine.

UKRAINE TO WITHDRAW FROM TREATIES WITH RUSSIA, BELARUS: The Ukrainian government has approved termination, withdrawal and denunciation of eight international agreements with Russia and Belarus, signed within the CIS – an organization created to regulate cooperation between post-Soviet states.

One of these agreements with Russia is reserve of supplies and payment for Russian natural gas to Ukraine. Amid EU’s and UK’s tightened sanctions, Ukraine is cutting all ties with Russia and terminating the treaties that have been ratified and in force.

RUSSIA GROWS MILITARY PRESENCE NEAR FINLAND: Russia is building up its troops and infrastructure near the border with Finland, The Guardian reported.

On Wednesday, Finland finished the first 35 kilometers of the fence on the border with Russia, out of 200 planned. This construction is intended to protect Finland from Russian immigrants, who Finland believes are deliberately redirected there by the Kremlin as part of a ‘hybrid operation.’ The fence is equipped with cameras and sensors that distinguish between people and animals.

Finland joined the alliance in 2023 and has significantly increased the presence of NATO troops on its territory. Each new NATO member is automatically at risk of a strike or attack from Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council, said in late April this year.

DOG OF WAR:

Today’s dog of war is this little dog who patiently waited while his owner did the shopping. He approved Zoriana’s grocery haul with a bark as she exited the store.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Veronika

The European Parliament approved on May 22 increased tariffs on fertilizers and certain agricultural goods from Russia and Belarus, seeking to reduce EU dependence on those imports.

Tariffs on some nitrogen fertilizers will rise from 6.5% to around 100% over three years, a level that will effectively stop trade. An additional 50% duty will be applied to agricultural products from the two allied countries.

The new tariffs target the remaining 15% of agricultural imports from Russia that were previously duty-free, worth 380 million euro ($429 million), Reuters reported. These include products such as meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.

Revenue from the sale of Russian and Belarusian fertilizers is considered a direct contribution to Moscow’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the statement read.

“The regulation gradually increasing customs duties for products from Russia and Belarus will help to prevent Russia from using the EU market to finance its war machine,” said Inese Vaidere, Latvian Member of the European Parliament.

The tariff increase is expected to take effect on July 1.

Previously, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that if the EU imposes steep tariffs on Russian nitrogen fertilizers, it would lead to higher costs and lower quality for the European Union.

Imports of urea and nitrogen-based fertilizers from Russia to the EU were already high in 2023 and rose even more in 2024.

The European Commission said that this shows the EU is economically dependent on Russia. If this continues, it could threaten the EU’s food security and make the bloc vulnerable to pressure from Russia, especially through fertilizer supply, the statement read.

‘We don’t want this anymore’ — Lavrov confirms Russia has no interest in Ukraine ceasefire

Russia rejects a ceasefire in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

Romania’s Constitutional Court on May 22 unanimously rejected an application by defeated presidential candidate George Simion to annul the election results, the court announced in a statement.

Days before, Simion, leader of Romania’s far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), appealed the results despite conceding defeat to pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan on May 18. He asked to annul the Romanian presidential elections due to “external interferences by state and non-state actors."

Simion cited a post from Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, who claimed a “Western European government” asked the company to restrict “conservative voices in Romania."

The court rejected Simion’s application as “unfounded."

Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, secured 53.6% of the vote in the runoff, defeating Simion’s 46.4%, according to Romania’s electoral authority.

“The massive vote on May 18 shows that Romanians believe in change and are calling for the reform of institutions that have disappointed them,” Dan said after the court approved the results.

Romania’s previous presidential election, held in November 2024, was annulled by the Constitutional Court following evidence of foreign manipulation, including pro-Russian disinformation campaigns.

That vote was won by populist candidate Calin Georgescu, who openly promoted conspiracy theories and described Ukraine as a “fictional state."

Bucharest has played a critical role in Ukraine’s defense, signing a bilateral security pact with Kyiv, facilitating grain exports, and providing key air defense systems.

Dan has pledged to continue Romania’s support for Ukraine, strengthen ties with the EU, and uphold democratic institutions. President Volodymyr Zelensky invited him to Ukraine for talks, noting the “nearest opportunities for us to meet."

Why Washington failed to end the Russo-Ukrainian War

In the early 19th century, one of the founding fathers of modern war studies, the Prussian general and military historian Carl von Clausewitz, commented on the Napoleonic Wars: “The conqueror is always peace-loving; he would much prefer to march into our state calmly.” This remains an observation that applies to

The Kyiv IndependentAndreas Umland

In the early 19th century, one of the founding fathers of modern war studies, the Prussian general and military historian Carl von Clausewitz, commented on the Napoleonic Wars: “The conqueror is always peace-loving; he would much prefer to march into our state calmly."

This remains an observation that applies to most military aggressions.

Yet, Clausewitz’s basic idea was ignored by most Europeans in their interpretation of Moscow’s behaviour after the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014.

Much of European diplomacy and commentary until 2022 instead built on the assumption that the Kremlin’s public insistence on the peacefulness of its intentions towards Kyiv implies that one can and should negotiate and moderate Russian aims and behaviour in Ukraine.

This inapt premise ignored that Russian President Vladimir Putin merely preferred Ukraine’s non-violent takeover to an uncertain future military campaign against Kyiv. When, eleven years ago, Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea and covertly invaded eastern Ukraine, the war as such had no benefits for Putin and his entourage.

Instead, a hybrid subversion of Ukraine by Russian agents and proxy forces, rather than a violent occupation of most of the Ukrainian lands by tens of thousands of regular Russian troops, was the preferred method.

During the last three years, however, the role of Russia’s - now full-scale - military invasion of Ukraine for Putin’s regime has changed. One the one side, the war itself has acquired a stabilizing function for the Russian political system that relies on an increasingly extremist ideology, militarized economy and mobilized society. On the other side, most European politicians, diplomats and experts now have fewer illusions about Putin’s putative love for peace than they had a decade ago.

In contrast, the hitherto largely adequate perception of Moscow’s strategy in Washington has been replaced, since January 2025, by an escapist approach to the Russo-Ukrainian War.

‘It’s all a farce’ — Ukrainian soldiers on Russia’s ‘smokescreen’ peace talks in Istanbul

The first direct peace talks in years between Kyiv and Moscow ended on May 16 with Russia once again rejecting an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. In turn, Russia demanded that Ukrainian troops leave four of the country’s regions, which Moscow partly controls. Such a demand is a non-starter for Ukraine. Ukrainian

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

The degree of the new U.S. administration’s political naivety, moral indifference and diplomatic dilettantism, during its first four months in office, has been astonishing. Even in view of the aberrations during Trump’s first presidency of 2017-2021, the inadequacy of the last months' statements and actions by the White House regarding the Russo-Ukrainian War has triggered shockwaves in Europe and elsewhere.

One suspects that not only strategic infantilism, but also political respect and even personal sympathy, in the Trump administration, for Putin, have been driving the recent zigzags of the U.S.

Four months of American shuttle diplomacy and mediation attempts have achieved only little. The results of this week’s two-hour conversation between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump have also been meagre. To be sure, the two presidents spoke, after their telephone talk, of success.

Yet, there are no tangible outcomes of the intense trilateral negotiations between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv, and of the direct interactions between the U.S. and Russian presidents.

Putin made it clear that there would not be any ceasefire soon.

Trump announced that there should be direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, as if the two countries had not been negotiating with each other, in different formats, for more than eleven years already.

In his comment about Monday's phone call, Putin, in fact, engaged in a trolling of Ukraine, the U.S., and the entire West in two ways.

First, the term that Russia has recently introduced and Putin used to label the primary aim to be achieved in upcoming negotiations is "memorandum." Everybody familiar with the history of post-Soviet Russo-Ukrainian relations will know that there exists already a historic security-related "memorandum" signed by Moscow and Kyiv (as well as Washington and London) at Hungary's capital more than 30 years ago.

In the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, Moscow guaranteed, in exchange for Kyiv's agreement to hand over all of its nuclear warheads to Russia, that it would not attack Ukraine. Washington and London too assured Kyiv that they respect the Ukrainian borders and sovereignty.

After Moscow has been demonstratively trampling the letter and spirit of the Budapest Memorandum for eleven years, the Kremlin is now offering to sign another Russo-Ukrainian "memorandum."

Second, Putin did not exclude, after speaking to Trump, that future negotiations with Kyiv may lead to a truce. Yet, the Russian president added that, "if appropriate agreements are reached," a "possible ceasefire" would only be "for a certain period of time." Even if the negotiations are successful, the armistice will be merely temporary.

That caveat by Putin is an apt admission: The Russian war economy and population's military mobilization are now so far advanced that they cannot be easily stopped. Moscow is not any longer able to abruptly discontinue warfighting. What would happen to Russia's hundreds of thousands of enlisted soldiers, large-scale weapons production, and routine bellicose as well as intense Ukrainophobic campaigns in many spheres of Russian social life (education, media, culture etc.), if there is suddenly a permanent peace?

These and similar signals from Moscow allow only one conclusion: To end the Russo-Ukrainian War, Russia needs to experience a humiliating defeat on the battlefield.

The lesson from the past is, moreover, that Russian military failures have triggered domestic liberalization, such as the Great Reforms after the Crimean War of 1854-1856, or the introduction of semi-constitutionalism following the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

One of the determinants of Glasnost and Perestroika was the disastrous failure of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979-1989.

Russian imperialism will not be neutralized by negotiations, compromises, or concessions. Instead, such approaches only promote further foreign adventurism in Moscow and military escalation along Russia's borders. The Kremlin will one day end Russia's expansionist wars as well as genocidal terror against civilians in Ukraine and elsewhere. Yet for that to happen, the Russian people first need to start believing that such behaviour cannot lead to victory, may trigger internal collapse, and will be resolutely punished.

‘There we go again’ — For war-weary Europe, Trump-Putin call yet another signal to ‘wake up’

After a two-hour call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia reiterated its refusal for a full ceasefire in the war in Ukraine while the U.S. once again failed to respond with any significant pressure. For observers across Europe, watching the way the negotiations

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

North Korea’s newly-built warship suffered damage during its launch ceremony on May 21, prompting outrage from the country’s leader Kim Jong Un, North Korean state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

According to the agency, a malfunction in the launch mechanism caused the stern of the 5,000-ton destroyer to slide into the water too early, while the rest of the ship remained stuck.  

Damage to the bottom of the ship threw it off balance, and the bow failed to move, resulting in “a serious accident."

Kim condemned the failed launch as a “criminal act” and placed blame on several state institutions, accusing relevant officials of “irresponsibility” which “could not be tolerated."

He reportedly described the vessel’s restoration as “a political issue directly tied to the prestige of the state."

The incident was attributed to “inexperienced command and operational carelessness,” KCNA said.

The news came amid North Korea’s focus on upgrading its conventional military alongside its nuclear and missile capabilities.

The incident is expected to be reviewed at the June plenary session of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea. According to KCNA, the recovery of the ship was ordered to be completed by then.

In recent weeks, Kim has also overseen the launch of a new naval destroyer and observed tests of new drone systems.

South Korean and U.S. officials believe that Pyongyang, Moscow’s ally in its full-scale war against Ukraine, may be receiving technical and military assistance from Russia.

What happens to all the guns in Ukraine post-war?

As peace talks ramp up, experts and officials are already working on a looming post-war threat: the potential large-scale proliferation of guns in Ukraine once they are no longer needed on the battlefield. “When the war ends, Ukraine will not only have to rebuild its infrastructure and resettle displaced people

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

U.S. President Donald Trump told European leaders this week that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not ready for peace in Ukraine because he believes he is winning the war, the Wall Street Journal reported on May 22, citing three undisclosed sources.

Trump’s reported statement marked the first time he acknowledged to European leaders what they and Kyiv have long maintained — the Kremlin has no intention of ending its full-scale war against Ukraine.

The conversation on May 19 reportedly included President Volodymyr Zelensky, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.

Earlier the same day, Trump held a phone call with Putin, days after largely inconclusive negotiations in Istanbul, where Russia sent a delegation of low-level officials.

European leaders on the call reportedly seemed “surprised” that Trump was “relatively content” with what he heard from Putin, Axios reported on May 20.

Despite U.S. efforts, Putin has shown little willingness to compromise to achieve a settlement. After the call, Putin reiterated Russia’s maximalist demands, denying full ceasefire agreement.

Since taking the office in January, Trump has been inconsistent in his rhetoric toward the Russian leader, at times voicing frustration with the stalled peace efforts but mostly avoiding direct criticism of Putin.

Although Trump now seems to recognize that Putin is not prepared to pursue peace, the White House so far has not yet imposed new sanctions or taken direct steps to penalize Russia, despite growing frustration among allies.

Ukraine accepted the U.S.-backed unconditional 30-day ceasefire when Washington first proposed it on March 11. Russia rejected the proposal and continued its attacks.

‘There we go again’ — For war-weary Europe, Trump-Putin call yet another signal to ‘wake up’

After a two-hour call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia reiterated its refusal for a full ceasefire in the war in Ukraine while the U.S. once again failed to respond with any significant pressure. For observers across Europe, watching the way the negotiations

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta