USA on Tracking information about the Russian War against Ukraine

Putin congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei on becoming Iran’s supreme leader, pledges Russia’s steadfast support

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 02:26:54 +0100

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei, who was appointed Iran’s Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts, pledging Tehran “steadfast support” and expressing solidarity with “Iranian friends.”

“Russia has been and will remain a reliable partner of the Islamic Republic. Now, as Iran confronts armed aggression, your work in this high office will undoubtedly demand great courage and selflessness. I am confident you will carry on your father’s work with honor and rally the Iranian people in the face of harsh trials,” Putin said in a message published by the Kremlin.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was “unhappy” with the Assembly of Experts’ decision. According to Trump, Washington wants to see someone who will bring “peace” at the helm of the Islamic Republic. Israeli authorities have threatened to kill the new Supreme Leader if he continues the policies of the previous ayatollah.

News of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death emerged on the first day of joint Israeli and U.S. strikes: Trump first disclosed it, and the next day, on March 1, it was confirmed by Iranian state media.

Khamenei’s nearly 37-year tenure made him the Middle East’s longest-serving head of state at the time of his death and Iran’s longest-ruling leader since Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Critics view him as a repressive despot responsible for political repression and mass killings.

In late 2025, demonstrations erupted across Iranian cities amid mass anti-government protests and a deepening economic crisis, becoming the largest uprising since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. On Khamenei’s orders, police and troops opened fire on protesters, leading to mass killings that left tens of thousands of demonstrators dead.

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EU rejects easing Russian oil sanctions despite global price surge

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:00:32 +0100

Despite a sharp rise in energy prices amid the war in Iran, the European Union has pushed back against a possible relaxation of sanctions on Russian oil.

“We must continue to exert maximum pressure on Russia,” EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said Tuesday, March 10, in Brussels.

He said lifting part of the oil sanctions would be “counterproductive” and “would strengthen Russia’s military capability.” “It is very important to uphold the price cap on Russian oil in the strictest possible way,” the commissioner added.

Dombrovskis was responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement about plans to suspend some previously imposed restrictive measures on Russia’s oil exports, made after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In October, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil.

Any easing of sanctions on Russia discussed amid rising global oil prices was also rejected by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

“I share the American president’s hope for a quick end to this war,” he said. “And if it ends quickly, we will see a relatively fast return to normal conditions in the oil and energy markets.”

According to Merz, if there is a choice between sanctions and solidarity, Germany’s position is clear: it supports Ukraine and is ready, if necessary, to endure a period of high energy prices.

As Bloomberg reports, the U.S. told its G7 partners that any easing of sanctions on Russia in response to the sharp rise in energy prices would be temporary.

That decision by the U.S. administration is “largely limited both in time and in the scale of the measures,” the agency quoted Commissioner Dombrovskis as saying.

He said Washington does not expect this move to have a significant impact on Russia’s oil revenues.

At the same time, the U.S. “broadly shares” Europe’s aim of maintaining economic pressure on Russia over its ongoing war against Ukraine, he added.

According to Bloomberg, U.S. officials told Europeans that easing sanctions on Russia’s oil sector would primarily affect deliveries to India.

Global oil prices have jumped sharply because of the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran.

Authorities in Tehran, amid the fighting, have blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of the world’s oil trade.

After that, Trump issued a temporary waiver for India to purchase oil from Russia.

Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg, India’s largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), is refusing to process payments for Russian oil over doubts about the durability of Trump’s decision and potential risks.

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US officials ask 'What does Putin have on Trump?' over downplayed Russian intel to Iran

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:03:18 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration have downplayed reports that Russia has been providing intelligence to Iran used to target American forces, drawing frustration from U.S. officials who spoke with the Kyiv Independent.

The reaction comes amid reports that Moscow has shared with Tehran information on the

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Trump alleges interpreter changed meaning during talks with Putin, raising doubts about Ukraine negotiations

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 19:00:45 +0100

A new wrinkle in negotiations between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin involves translation difficulties, which the U.S. president blamed on an interpreter.

US President Donald Trump unexpectedly raised the issue of translation at international talks and effectively acknowledged that, in meetings with world leaders, the meaning of his words might have been distorted. His remarks sparked a stir because, judging by the context, he was referring to talks with Putin, writes the news outlet Agentsvo.

At the “Shield of America” summit in Florida, Trump told participants about a situation that occurred during negotiations with “a very influential person from another part of the world.”

According to the US president, he noticed the translation sounded significantly shorter than his original remarks. That raised suspicions for him.

“When you deliver a long, flowing sentence and the interpreter renders it in a quarter of the time, you start to think something’s off,” Trump said.

He added that such translation can sometimes create the impression that a meeting went well, even though the substance of the conversation may have been conveyed differently.

Almost immediately after those remarks, Trump mentioned Putin, prompting observers to link his account to negotiations with the Russian leader. The US president also said that in one instance the interpreter allegedly even changed the meaning of what was said because she “disagreed” with the substance of the conversation.

“So what now - should we consider her the foreign minister?” Trump said wryly.

Trump’s statement raises an important question: could the US president have been receiving a distorted picture of talks with the Kremlin? Moscow has long been known for employing complex diplomatic and information maneuvers. If the translation was indeed inaccurate or controlled by the Russian side, it could have affected perceptions of the negotiations and the Kremlin’s true intentions regarding Ukraine.

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US warns Russia not to share intelligence with Iran, Witkoff says

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 17:00:43 +0100

The United States has told Russia not to share intelligence with Iran — and even if Tehran is receiving information from Moscow, it isn’t helping the ayatollahs’ regime on the battlefield, according to the White House.

Washington underscored to Moscow that providing intelligence to Iran is unacceptable.

The message was delivered by President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One.

“I stated that firmly,” Witkoff told reporters when asked about the warning. He added that he hopes Russia took his advice.

President Donald Trump said Washington has no confirmation that Moscow is providing such assistance - and even if it is, it hasn’t shifted the situation on the ground.

“We don’t know. But things are not going very well. If they are getting information, it’s not helping them much,” Trump told reporters.

The Washington Post has reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is receiving from Russia the coordinates of U.S. ships and aircraft in the Middle East.

That would amount to Moscow unofficially and indirectly joining the conflict on Iran’s side, White House officials say.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country is prepared to apologize and halt strikes on neighboring nations.

Even so, Tehran again attacked Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where explosions were heard.

On March 8, CNN reported that Israel announced a new phase of the war in Iran, launching strikes on the country’s oil storage facilities.

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Zelensky: Russia transferring drone tech to Iran for war against the U.S. and Israel

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 16:00:41 +0100

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is assisting Iran in its war against the United States and Israel, transferring parts of its technology to support the regime in Tehran.

One of the main elements of that assistance is the transfer of parts and know-how related to the use and deployment of drones, Zelensky said at a joint news conference with new Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.

According to the president, Ukrainian intelligence has recorded the transfer of the specified set of resources and technologies. He added that Iran is not currently supplying Russia with missiles or other weapons for strikes on Ukraine.

Zelensky said Kyiv is ready to help partners in the Middle East counter Iranian Shahed drones and will send specialists if necessary. He said the first group of Ukrainian military personnel and experts will head to Gulf countries on Monday to train them to combat drones.

“It’s too early to talk about other details; that will likely come next week. The experts will arrive on the ground immediately with capabilities to help [counter the drone threat],” Zelensky added.

He said several specialist teams have been formed and that there are interested states among the Gulf countries. Ukraine is ready to sell its interceptor drones to partners, and three countries have already expressed interest in purchasing them.

Earlier, Kyiv offered Gulf countries Ukrainian interceptor drones. The president said he considers exchanging drones for PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems to be fair and mutually beneficial.

Subsequently, it was reported Zelensky agreed to send troops to the Middle East to shoot down Shahed drones. Ukraine will dispatch its specialists in the coming days, at the request of the Trump administration.

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'If they are, it's not doing much' — Trump dismisses report on Russia helping Iran against US

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 11:37:32 +0100

"We don't know but it's not doing very well, if they are," Trump told journalists. "It's not doing much, if you take a look at what's happened to Iran over the past week."

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Trump says that Ukraine "has no cards." But is that really the case? #shorts

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:30:00 +0100

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Kadyrov ally urges Putin to back Iran against the U.S. and Israel, warns Russia is next

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:00:37 +0100

Apti Alaudinov, commander of Chechnya’s “Akhmat” special forces, says he is “ready to go today” to fight the United States and Israel on Iran’s side.

A key associate of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov effectively called on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to enter a war with the U.S. and Israel on Iran’s side.

Alaudinov, who leads the “Akhmat” units posted a video message in which, commenting on the Middle East, he urged the Kremlin to arm Iran with Russian weapons and even claimed he was personally ready to fight for Tehran.

Calling the situation in the Middle East difficult, he said Moscow must support its ally “no matter what happens.”

“If it were up to me, I would sell them, transfer to them, probably all types of weapons I have... We need to give Iran everything we can, support them in every possible way. If the country’s leadership made such a decision, calmly, even today, I’m ready to go and stand with them to help repel a ground advance,” the “Akhmat” commander said.

Alaudinov went on to call U.S. President Donald Trump the “Antichrist” and urged Russia to “unite” and “strengthen,” arguing that “the next target for the Americans will be the Russian Federation.”

“Next, unequivocally, will be us, and that should surprise no one. If they manage now to finish off Iran, we will be next, guaranteed,” he added.

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U.S. asks Ukraine for help countering Shahed drones in the Middle East, Zelensky says

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:36:42 +0100

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the United States has asked Kyiv to provide support to defend against Shahed-type attack drones in the Middle East. Ukraine plans to assist partners by supplying necessary equipment and deploying Ukrainian specialists.

Zelensky said on his Telegram channel that Kyiv received an official request from the United States. The request concerns assistance in countering Shahed-type attack drones in the Middle East, in the context of the United States and Israel’s war against Iran. According to the president, Ukraine is ready to help protect its allies and has already issued orders to organize the support.

“We received a request from the United States for specific support in defending against Shahed drones in the Middle East region. I ordered the provision of the necessary assets and the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security. Ukraine helps partners who help our security and the protection of our people’s lives. Glory to Ukraine!” Zelensky said.

The president emphasized that Ukraine is ready to share its experience countering attack drones, gained during the full-scale war with Russia. Kyiv also plans to provide technical means and send specialists capable of helping the United States defend against Iranian unmanned systems.

Ukraine’s Salyut interceptor drone has already been tested in combat conditions. It can catch up to and destroy Russian Shahed kamikaze drones.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Forces began using a new domestically produced strike drone called “Ptashka.” The system features a fiber-optic control channel and can carry out missions at nearly 50 kilometers - a record range for drones of its class.

US President Donald Trump praised his own actions related to the operation against Iran while sharply criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Even as the situation around Iran remains in the international spotlight, Trump said talks on the war in Ukraine are continuing and again expressed dissatisfaction with the Ukrainian leader’s actions, demanding that he sign a peace agreement.

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Alaska presses Trump to extend humanitarian protections for Ukrainian refugees amid labor shortage

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:00:36 +0100

More than 100 of the roughly 1,000 Ukrainian refugees living in Alaska have left the state after President Donald Trump paused a temporary stay program last year.

In January, Alaska’s Republican congressional delegation urged an extension of status for some Ukrainians, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy sent a letter to Trump, Anchorage Daily News reported.

“Alaska is facing a persistent and well-documented labor shortage. At the same time, we are preparing for a period of significant infrastructure and resource development that closely aligns with your program to strengthen America’s energy capacity and national self-sufficiency,” Dunleavy wrote to Trump.

He said those projects will require a reliable, skilled workforce.

“Ukrainian refugees currently residing in Alaska provide an immediate and practical solution,” the governor argued.

From a purely economic standpoint, he added, keeping this workforce benefits Alaska businesses that already employ them. “It helps ensure on-time completion of major infrastructure projects and reduces reliance on costly out-of-state labor. More broadly, it reinforces the American tradition of encouraging lawful work, self-sufficiency and contributions to the national interest,” Dunleavy wrote in his appeal to the White House.

Despite some reports of humanitarian status extensions for certain Ukrainians in Alaska through 2028, others are still awaiting decisions on applications filed months ago.

Zori Opanasevych, director of the nonprofit New Chance United, which helps Ukrainians resettle in Alaska, said she asked the governor to advocate for Ukrainians in the state, citing their work ethic and readiness to fill jobs as Alaska increasingly relies on newcomers to meet labor needs.

Opanasevych said she hopes Ukrainians in Alaska receive broad relief that lets them continue working, noting the state’s pressing need.

David Rittenberg, chief program officer at Catholic Social Services, which assists refugees arriving in Alaska, said 678 Ukrainians in the state currently hold humanitarian status. Over the past year, 119 Ukrainians have left Alaska.

Late last year, Alaska’s congressional delegation sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asking that Ukrainians be allowed to remain in the state as long as the war in their country continues.

Tatyana Robbins, president of the nonprofit Project Alaska, which supports Ukrainian refugees, said there has been “encouraging progress” since the start of the year. Those who applied to extend their humanitarian status this year have received extensions through 2028. “This sends a clear signal that Ukrainians are expected to remain in the United States for the foreseeable future, and we are very grateful for this progress,” she said.

On March 6, 2025, White House sources said the Trump administration planned to strip roughly 240,000 Ukrainians of temporary legal status and expedite their deportation.

The move was part of broader steps targeting millions of migrants who received humanitarian protections during Joe Biden’s presidency.

The loss of status affected not only Ukrainians but also citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Afghans who fled after the Taliban takeover. At the time, the Department of Homeland Security made no official statements, and the White House and the Ukrainian Embassy did not respond to requests for comment.

In August, it emerged that the end of the Uniting for Ukraine humanitarian program could leave thousands of Ukrainian refugees without legal status.

In November 2025, 50 Ukrainians who had fled to the US returned home via the Shehyni checkpoint on Ukraine’s border with Poland.

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Kremlin trap! Merz pressures Trump - Russia's economic catastrophe inevitable?

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:00:37 +0100

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Why Trump needs Ukraine to stop Iranian drones

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:11:29 +0100

Editor’s note:

We’ve started a new Iran-focused sister-publication delivering real-time reporting on the war from neighboring Armenia and Iraq.

If you’re interested in The Counteroffensive’s human-centered perspective on the ongoing conflict with Iran, subscribe now!

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Among dense trees, on the bank of the Dnipro River – the main artery through Kyiv – sits a ship.

But instead of sailors, its crew is a group of judges who, once every two weeks, become air defense soldiers. This is no ordinary vessel. Instead of oars, it carries machine guns.

“They brought us here for the romance,” said Vitalii Zuiev, a Ukrainian supreme court judge, looking up at the starry sky above the city. “Look — there’ll be a river, a ship, we’ll have it all. But the Shaheds will be coming over the Dnipro, and you’ll be the ones meeting them.”

That night was unusually calm. Hardly any Shahed drones were flying over Ukraine, allowing air defense servicemen to catch their breath, if only for a moment.

Silence is a rarity for them.

In the last week, it has become rare in the Middle East as well. Just a few weeks after The Counteroffensive visited the capital’s air defense positions, the world would be stunned by waves of deadly drones thousands of kilometers away from Ukraine.

Suddenly, other countries are asking Ukraine to stop them.

The shooting down of the Shahed drones with machine guns. Photo provided to The Counteroffensive by Supreme Court Judge Yurii Chumak.

After the U.S. and Israel launched a war on Saturday, Iran started imitating Russia’s tactic of combined mass strikes using Shahed drones and ballistic missiles. By deploying cheap, small drones, Iran is exhausting the air defense systems of the U.S. and other Middle Eastern countries, making interceptions by Western systems costly and inefficient.

This Wednesday Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine will send its experts who specialize in shooting down Shahed drones to the Middle East. As the country which experienced the most extensive drone attacks in the world, Ukraine’s air defense managed to gain Shahed interception rates of up to 90 percent.

The escalation in the Middle East has demonstrated that Ukraine is much more than a country in need of aid to repel Russian aggression. It is also an equal partner capable of its tremendous battlefield experience.

Iran attacked several buildings in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, on February 28, 2026. Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images.

Before February 2022, Ukrainian Supreme Court Judge Yurii Chumak lived a comfortable life. He even managed to go on vacation with his wife several times, though by then he had already bought himself a helmet and a thousand rounds of ammunition.

In the first days of the full-scale invasion, the city emptied before his eyes, turning gray, unusually quiet and bristling with concrete anti-tank obstacles. His acquaintance, Vitalii Zuiev, told him that a battalion was being formed in Kyiv of about 400 servicemen, several dozen of them judges. Then volunteers guarded strategic sites with rifles — government buildings, prosecutors’ offices, hospitals and maternity wards.

Supreme Court judge Vitalii Zuiev, who voluntarily serves in the capital’s air defense. Photo by The Counteroffensive.

“We were the ‘third’ line of defense,” Vitalii Zuiev said. “They told us we would be called in when things got really bad.”

When Russian forces withdrew from Kyiv, their role changed. The volunteers began helping with the city’s air defense, guarding their assigned sector along the river.

The judges settled on an old decommissioned ship. They brought in old furniture from their homes and set up monitors to watch for enemy targets entering the airspace. Above the vessel, they built makeshift structures with their own hands to mount three machine guns — the same guns they now use to shoot down Shahed drones.

One of the machine guns that is fired by the judges. Photo by The Counteroffensive.

“These aesthetes, these Supreme Court judges, were cleaning with a rag the walls and the floors,” said one of those judges, Nataliia Kovalenko, who also serves in the battalion just from the start.

Since the fall of 2022, when Russia first began launching Iranian Shahed drones at Ukraine and attacking its energy infrastructure, the judges have worked on a rotating schedule, taking shifts once every two weeks. They ask for time off from their day jobs and take up 24-hour duty, monitoring the airspace for threats.

If things are relatively calm, they drink tea in the kitchen or rest in their ship’s ‘cabins.’ But the moment Shahed drones start approaching, chaos erupts on the ship — they have to throw on body armor and helmets and rush upstairs to the machine guns.

Photo from the kitchen of the air defense crew. Photo by The Counteroffensive.

“Ten years ago we used to go hiking, and a sleeping mat and a couple of pine trees were enough to sleep well through the night. Now there’s even a bed here, but the next day you still feel completely drained,” Vitalii said.

After more than four years of aggression from Moscow, the Iranian-designed drones have undergone constant upgrades. Those improvements now help not only Russia but also Iran wage its own fight against the United States and countries in the Middle East.

Iran started developing its drones in the 1980s, when it came under sanctions and started producing weapons based on stolen Western designs. Economic isolation prevented the country from building advanced aircraft, but it found a way to focus on drone manufacturing instead. By the 2010s, the first Shahed models had entered Iran’s arsenal and were used in its military operations across the Middle East, gradually undergoing upgrades.

Now Shaheds are relatively small drones about 3.5 meters long with a wingspan of roughly 2.5 meters, capable of flying up to 2,500 kilometers. That range is enough to strike military targets or critical infrastructure not only in Ukraine, but as far away as Cyprus in the Mediterranean.

Iranian drones were launched at the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus. Map by BBC.

While Shaheds are much slower than ballistic missiles (of which Iran has relatively limited stockpiles), their large numbers allow Iran and Russia to overwhelm air defenses.

Ukraine, which is unable to afford to use costly Patriot missiles or F-16 fighter jets, has built a multi-layered air defense system. Shahed drones are hunted by mobile fire units mounting machine guns on pickup trucks, as well as electronic warfare specialists who jam the drones to knock them off course.

“A Shahed is actually quite hard to shoot down because it has several vulnerable points — the explosive payload, the engine and the control elements. It’s like a big double-door refrigerator. But those vulnerable spots are small. So you can pepper it, you might even see hits, but it can still keep flying,” Vitalii said.

Shooting down Shahed drones is usually a team effort. Air defense units are allowed to fire only within their assigned sectors to avoid hitting residential buildings. One group may damage a drone, while another finishes it off. Russia constantly tries to reroute the drones to bypass known military positions.

The judges often joke bitterly when a Shahed drone hits somewhere nearby, wondering whether their battalion can count it as a ‘downed’ drone.

“One of our colleagues went to a bomb shelter with his wife during an air raid,” Vitalii said. “When he came back, the apartment had burned down, and a Shahed engine was lying inside. He asked if it could be counted as a shootdown.”

As Yurii explained, sometimes air defense crews simply do not spot a Shahed in their sector quick enough. And when they do aim, they have to shoot ahead of the drone rather than directly at it. Otherwise, by the time the bullets reach it, the drone is already gone.

According to Yurii, artificial intelligence could calculate those trajectories and automatically guide machine guns onto the target. But he and his fellow volunteers cannot afford to buy such a system on their own yet.

The most significant breakthrough Ukrainian forces have made in taking down Shaheds is the design of interceptor drones. These low-cost drones can detect and neutralize Shahed drones using AI. In Kyiv alone, interceptor drones have shot down about 70 percent of the kamikaze drones launched by Russia. Ukraine has the potential to share this technology with Western partners.

U.S. officials now believe its air defense systems might fail to reliably intercept Iranian drones CNN. Since the drones fly lower and slower than ballistic missiles, they can more easily evade traditional air defenses. The Pentagon and at least one Persian Gulf country have reportedly already begun talks with Kyiv to buy interceptor drones.

“The issue is not that the United States or wealthy Arab countries lack the means to shoot them [Shaheds] down… but those are all expensive systems. They don’t have cheap ones. We do,” said Yurii.

At the same time, the high intensity of the fighting is rapidly depleting stocks of interceptor missiles for American Patriot systems, which are critical for Ukraine’s ability to defend its skies from Russian missile strikes.

This winter, Kyiv briefly ran out of Patriot missiles when temperatures dropped to minus 20 degrees Celsius, nearly triggering a humanitarian disaster as Russia launched devastating attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.

“On Jan. 6 we were standing there, and missiles were just flying in one after another. Almost nothing was being shot down — not because people weren’t firing or weren’t hitting their targets, but because, it seemed, there were already no missiles left in stock. We were watching it all, flying in and exploding,” Yurii recalled.

Supreme Court judge Yurii Chumak. Photo by The Counteroffensive.

Iran is also seeking to replicate some of Russia’s tactics in choosing targets. Tehran has begun implementing a strategy aimed at sowing complete chaos in the Middle East, according to The Financial Times.

Under a plan designed by the country’s killed Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and Tehran’s top commanders, Iran is expected to target energy infrastructure and other facilities whose damage could disrupt regional airspace. By doing so, Tehran allegedly seeks to destabilize global markets and increase pressure on Israel and the U.S.

Yurii believes Ukraine should offer its partners help in countering Iranian Shahed drones. But he is skeptical about whether the United States might just steal their hard-fought technology

“They may purchase them, test them, see how effective they are, and then say: ‘Thank you for your technologies and for everything you developed during years of war, testing it all in real conditions and bringing it to a more or less practical level of perfection. Now we’ll handle it ourselves.’”

Editor’s note:

We’ve started a new Iran-focused sister-publication delivering real-time reporting on the war from neighboring Armenia and Iraq.

If you’re interested in The Counteroffensive’s human-centered perspective on the ongoing conflict with Iran, subscribe now!

Subscribe to Iran War Dispatches!

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Tania Novakivska

IRANIAN DRONES ATTACK AZERBAIJAN: One of the drones crashed into the airport terminal building in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, while another crashed near a school building in the village of Shekerabad.

Two people were injured.

IRGC TAKES THE LEAD: Anticipating the decapitation of its leadership, even before Saturday’s attack by the US and Israel, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps delegated its powers to much lower ranks.

This leads to the preservation of Tehran’s tough strategy and its use of drones and missiles in the region. Potentially, this could complicate the outbreak of protests and further regime change, as repressive mechanisms remain controllable.

CHINA HALTS GASOLINE AND DIESEL EXPORTS: Amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, which is disrupting crude oil supplies from one of the world’s key producing regions, the Chinese government has ordered leading refineries to stop signing new contracts and to cancel those already agreed upon, according to Bloomberg sources.

QATAR SUSPENDS GAS LIQUEFACTION: The country will not be able to return to normal production for at least a month, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

IRAN THREATENS ISRAELI NUCLEAR FACILITIES: Iran threatened to strike the facilities if Israel and the U.S. seek to change the regime, reported by the semi-official ISNA news agency, citing an Iranian military official.

It threatens the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center, near the city of Dimona, which is considered key to Israel’s nuclear program. The site is one of the most secure in Israel.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Spring has arrived in Kyiv! On her way to get groceries, Nastia spotted this gorgeous cat bathing in the sunlight in her neighborhood.

Stay safe out there!

Best,
Mariana and Nastia

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What We Know About 'Jesus', 'Signal Fire', 'Armageddon' Alleged Quote Of US Commander Ahead Of Iran Strikes -- Single, Anonymous Source

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:52:02 +0100

Did a U.S. military commander tell troops that President Trump was "anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon"? Here's what we know so far: The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) said on its website that it has received hundreds of similar complaints. Asked to provide the original email or identifying information, the organization declined, citing client confidentiality, though its president offered to connect Lead Stories with any clients who voluntarily waive anonymity. Lead Stories asked the Pentagon whether it was aware of these allegations, had received any formal complaints, and was investigating any of them. A duty officer with Pentagon Press Operations said, "We have nothing further to provide on this."

The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on the MRFF website on March 3, 2026, titled "MRFF Inundated with Complaints of Gleeful Commanders Telling Troops Iran War is 'Part of God's Divine Plan' to Usher in the Return of Jesus Christ." It opened:

This morning our commander opened up the combat readiness status briefing by urging us to not be 'afraid' as to what is happening with our combat operations in Iran right now. He urged us to tell our troops that this was 'all part of God's divine plan' and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. He said that 'President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.' -- MRFF active duty NCO [noncommissioned officer] client, writing on behalf of themself and 15 other unit members

MRFF has received over 200 calls from more than 50 military installations across all the services since Saturday reporting similar disturbing pronouncements from their Christian zealot commanders.

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

(Image source: post on MRFF website.)

Conflict in the Middle East

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, which killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an airstrike on his compound in Tehran. Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes against the U.S. and allied targets across the Middle East.

Military Religious Freedom Foundation

The nonprofit MRFF supported its claim by publishing what it said was an email it received from an "active duty military NCO." Any information that might identify them was redacted. It said:

Mr. Weinstein thank you for taking my calls and the calls of some of my colleagues as to what happened earlier this morning with our combat unit.

Please protect my identity and the identities of those I'm speaking for as we discussed.

Our unit is not currently in the combat zone AOR (Area of Responsibility) regarding the Iranian attacks but we are in a "Ready-Support" function where we could be deployed there at any moment to join and augment the combat operations as participants.

I am a (NCO rank withheld) in our unit. This morning our commander opened up the combat readiness status briefing by urging us to not be "afraid" as to what is happening with our combat operations in Iran right now. He urged us to tell our troops that this was "all part of God's divine plan" and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. He said that "President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth". He had a big grin on his face when he said all of this which made his message seem even more crazy. Our commander would probably be described as a "Christian First" supporter. He has been this way for a very long time and makes it clear that he desires all of us under him to become just like him as a Christian. But what he did this morning was so toxic and over the line that it shocked many of us in attendance at the ops readiness briefing. Besides myself I am reaching out to MRFF on behalf of 15 fellow troops. I know you asked me about the religious views of our group who has requested help from the MRFF. I can only tell you that I am Christian and at least 10 of the others are also Christians. One of the others is Jewish and one is Muslim. I don't know the religious or non-religious status for the other three at this time.

I and my fellow troops know that it is completely wrong to have to suffer through what our commander said today. It's not just the separation of church and state as we discussed Mr. Weinstein. It's the fact that our commander feels as though he is fully supported and justified by the entire (combat unit's name withheld) chain of command to inflict his Armageddon views of our attack on Iran on those of us beneath him in the chain of command.

I hope by sending this email to you that this will help expose these wrong actions which destroy morale and unit cohesion and are in violation of the oaths we swore to support the constitution.

The MRFF website says the group works to make sure everyone in the U.S. Armed Forces has the religious freedom promised to them -- and to all Americans -- under the First Amendment.

Independent journalist Jonathan Larsen first reported the story on Substack (archived here) before it went viral.

In a March 4, 2026, phone call, MRFF President and Founder Mikey Weinstein refused a request to provide a copy of the original email with the sender's address, name, and any other identifying information redacted so Lead Stories could confirm its veracity. He said:

I have to decline to send you that original email . . . We just don't do that here. People are too terrified, and they should be of reprisal, revenge, and retribution. We've been doing this for over 20 years. . . .

We cannot. We're not going to send anything with the headers or metadata or anything like that. . . . It's a policy we have here. We will never . . . come within light years of doing anything to reveal anything like remotely close, closely get to any of our sailors, soldiers, marines, airmen.

Weinstein said if any MRFF clients volunteered to waive their anonymity about these claims, he would put them in touch with Lead Stories.

Pentagon

In a March 4, 2026, email to the Pentagon Press Operations duty officer, Lead Stories asked the Department of War to respond to these questions about the MRFF claim:

Is the Department aware of these allegations?

Has the Pentagon received any formal complaints through official channels regarding commanders making religiously framed statements about current or potential combat operations involving Iran?

Has any inquiry or investigation been initiated into these claims?

What guidance, if any, does the Department provide to commanders regarding religious expression in official briefings, particularly in operational or combat-readiness contexts?

Does the Department have any comment on the specific allegation that a commander characterized U.S. military action as divinely ordained or connected to Christian eschatology?

The duty officer did not directly respond to the questions but instead referred Lead Stories to a pair of videos (here and here) with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from March 2, 2026. Neither addressed the questions posed in our original email.

In a second email, Lead Stories again asked the Pentagon duty officer to respond to the five questions. They said:

We have nothing further to provide on this.

Source

Ukraine's experience priceless as Iran war sees long-range strike drones go global

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:08:03 +0100

The Trump administration's move to launch a large-scale strike operation in Iran has seen state-on-state war return to the Middle East with a vengeance.

Hours after the first U.S. and Israeli strikes began hitting the country on Feb. 28, Tehran — despite its leadership being decapitated on

Source

Merz urges Trump to increase pressure on Russia

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:37:33 +0100

"Russia is playing for time here, and in doing so is also acting against the will of the American president. In today's talks, I called for increasing the pressure on Moscow," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on March 3 after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Source

'They are the same evil' — Ukrainian lawmaker appeals to Trump after Iran comments

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:59:02 +0100

A Ukrainian lawmaker has urged Donald Trump to recognise that Russia and Iran "represent the same evil," after the U.S. president once again criticized Ukraine whilst commenting on the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Kyiv was among the first to publicly back the U.S.-Israeli

Source

How Trump’s war gives Putin’s war machine a chance

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:48:08 +0100

Editor’s Note: We’ve launched a new Iran-centered publication where we’re providing up-to-the-minute coverage of the war from neighboring Armenia.

Want The Counteroffensive’s human interest lens, focused on the ongoing Iran war? Check it out below:

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Dmytro Lioushkin, photo from Facebook.

More than two decades ago Dmytro started a company that owns a network of Ukrainian gas stations.

So after the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, he noticed that oil prices jumped fast, reaching above the $80 per barrel mark within days, the highest price in more than a year.

The Strait of Hormuz. Provided by Wikimedia commons.

The price surge was driven by the safety risk around the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route that links the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world. Through this key passageway transits about one-fifth of the world’s oil.

There have already been reports of attacks on tankers, and now many vessels have slowed down or anchored near the strait.

Russia’s economy is teetering. According to The Washington Post, some experts’ had forecast it could collapse as early as this summer due to falling oil and gas revenue and budget deficits despite high military expenditures.

25 percent of Russia’s total governmental budget is driven by oil revenues, according to Reuters.

Before the Iran strikes, this increasing tension would create pressure for the Russians to sit down at the negotiating table.

But Trump’s decision to open fire on the Iranian regime is an unexpected gift. As oil prices rise, Moscow will be able to generate more income to sustain its military operations, blunting the effect of Western sanctions on authoritarian countries.

Dmytro with his daughter, photo from Facebook.

Dmytro Loushkin might be among those who desire the downfall of the Russian economy, as it not only ruined his business but also took away his homeland.

In 2006, the logistics business was something new for Ukraine, and Dmytro, along with his partners, was interested in implementing something new.

Moreover, the region had ports, and promising growth in the fields of metallurgy, agriculture, and mining — a great environment to start a transportation business. So Dmytro started a logistics company in his native city Kadiivka, in the Luhansk region.

“My youth was there. My best years were there. My home is there, and my loved ones are buried there,” Dmytro said.

He left the Luhansk region in 2014, not long after an assassination attempt was made against him with the aim of seizing his business, after Russia began invading the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. He was stabbed in the chest. It forced him to flee with the family to Kharkiv.

“A raider seizure of the business took place, they tried to kill me, and they almost succeeded,” Dmytro said.

The puppet state of Russia, the Luhansk People’s Republic, imposed sanctions against Dmytro and nationalized — that is, took away — his business. Dmytro has not been home since.

After moving to Kharkiv his company expanded into a network of gas stations. He jokes about current situation in Iran:

“If the whole world were populated only by Ukrainians, [we] would not pay attention to this, because [we] have long been accustomed to it. But since the world is experiencing for the first time what it is like when bases and oil depots explode, [oil traders] are very frightened. That is why oil and gas prices skyrocketed, and everything went up”.

Percentage-point change in share of spending in the federal budget, between 2021 and 2025, Russian Federation. Diagram by The Guardian.

For the average Russian, the economic crisis is already tangible. Over the last four years, budget expenditures increased only for defense spending and national debt payments.

Declining spending on civilian sectors of the economy will, in practice, mean constant infrastructure accidents, housing sector failures, and cuts to public sector workers’ pay, which, by the way, can already be seen by scrolling through Russian news.

For example in Omsk, a city in Siberia with a population of over one million one of the city’s districts had no heating for more than two weeks, 70-80% of the city’s heating networks are in disrepair according to the local authorities.

Because of U.S. and European price caps implemented due to the full-scale invasion, Russia is forced to sell oil, one of the biggest sources of its budget revenue, at a steep discount. Western countries are actively trying to reduce their dependence on Russian energy resources, which has significantly cut Russia’s export volumes and weakened a key pillar of its economy.

However, the war in Iran will flip the table.

If buying oil from the Persian Gulf countries becomes too expensive, it could shift the buyers’ behavior. They may look for alternative sources — including Russian crude. Analysts have suggested that India could increase purchases of Russian oil again if the disruption continues, while China continues to buy large amounts of oil.

Therefore, if Russian oil sells at prices higher than those provided for in the budget for a long time, it will allow the Russian Federation to reduce the state debt and use ‘extra’ money to fund its campaign of murder and torture in Ukraine.

“I believe that the prices are gonna be really high for oil and gas for a couple of weeks, but they will stabilize more or less by then,” Dmytro said.

For millions of Ukrainians, the stability of the Russian economy will mean the continuation of Russian terror.

This includes Dmytro, who in 2022 was forced to move again from Kharkiv to western Ukraine due to Russian aggression, as they were trying to occupy at the time, bombarding the city daily with all possible weapons.

Now he lives with his family in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne and hopes he won’t have to flee anywhere else. After all, it is relatively safe here; power outages, if not entirely absent, are at least much shorter.

Europe has sharply reduced its dependence on Russian oil and gas since the start of the full-scale invasion. But a handful of countries still purchase Russian energy.

One of the biggest buyers of Russian oil in the EU is Hungary and Slovakia, whose leaders claim that buying oil elsewhere would be more expensive and endanger their energy security.

They’re allowed to do so because of a temporary EU exemption intended to help them prevent energy shortages as landlocked countries. Europe had planned a full oil embargo on Russia, but amid an oil crisis, this may become harder to implement.

Russian energy purchases by EU countries. Data as of August 2025. Provided by Al Jazeera

When oil prices rise, it reduces pressure on the Russian government to raise taxes, borrow more money, or draw down reserves, so expensive oil makes it easier for Russia to sustain high military spending for longer.

However, ISW analysts believe the benefits for Russia are only medium-term, as Iran will not be able to block the strait indefinitely.

As one of the biggest Russian oil buyers, it’s possible that China and India might increase the purchases of Russian oil. More demand from them would help Russia keep their export revenues steady, further weakening the impact of Western sanctions.

Dmytro is cynical about the way the current situation might go, saying it might be similar to Iraq or Libya — a seemingly quick operation turning into a messy conflict.

“We’re Ukrainians so we’re used to living with this kind of threat,” he said. “But the rest of the world isn’t, so they’re terrified – and that fear is pushing the prices higher.”

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NEWS OF THE DAY

By Anastasiia Lutsenko, Alessandra Hay, Jacqueline Cole, Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova, Mariana Lastovyria

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

U.S., ISRAEL STRIKE IRAN AGENCIES TARGETING PROTESTORS: The U.S. and Israel have struck police stations and intelligence offices in Iran, which could be an effort to weaken the forces that brutally cracked down on protesters earlier this year, according to the New York Times. Targets have included bases of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Crops (IRGC) and the Basij, a volunteer paramilitary milita within the IRGC. The strategy hinges on whether degrading these security forces can embolden civilians to rise up.

UAE AND QATAR LOBBY FOR A SHORT US OPERATION AGAINST IRAN: The United Arab Emirates and Qatar are working with partners to convince Trump not to prolong a US operation against Iran. They advocate for a swift diplomatic resolution to avoid escalation and a spike in energy prices.

GAS PRICES JUMP AFTER QATAR HALT: Gas prices in Europe rose sharply after production stopped at the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in Qatar. The shutdown followed an Iranian drone strike. Europe’s main gas benchmark, climbed nearly 30% to the highest level in more than a year. Analysts say this is the biggest risk to global gas markets since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

RUSSIA CONTESTS EU FREEZE OF STATE ASSETS: Russia’s central bank has filed a case at the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg, challenging the bloc’s decision to freeze its sovereign assets indefinitely. About $300 billion in Russian funds have been frozen by Western countries since 2022. European leaders have discussed whether the frozen assets could be used to help fund Ukraine’s recovery.

US DEPLOYS NEW LUCAS DRONE SIMILAR TO IRAN’S SHAHED: The United States has used a new long-range drone called LUCAS in strikes against Iran. Analysts say the drone closely resembles Iran’s Shahed-136 loitering munition.

Some open-source analysts have suggested LUCAS could be based on reverse engineering of captured Iranian drones, though U.S. officials have not confirmed this. Washington has acknowledged the drone’s first use in Iran.

DOG OF WAR:

Anastasiia saw this stray dog on her way to the store. The fluffy one’s name is unknown, but he was clearly enjoying the first rays of the spring sun.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Tania and Oksana

Source

'Wars can be fought forever’: Trump claims US has ‘virtually unlimited’ weapons stockpile

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:44:02 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 3 that U.S. munitions stockpiles are stronger than ever, stating in a post on Truth Social that supplies at the medium and upper-medium levels have “never been higher or better” and that the country has a “virtually unlimited supply of these weapons.”

Source

Zelensky backs Trump’s Iran war — but Ukraine may see little in return

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:47:13 +0100

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was one of the first world leaders to back the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, which started on Feb. 28.

For Ukraine, the choice was logical: Iran is a Kremlin ally that has backed Russia's aggression against Ukraine and supplied drones to

Source

Iran's leadership DESTROYED "IN ABOUT AN HOUR": Trump SHOCKS with Middle East operation details

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:41:04 +0100

Source

Any comparison of the US-Iran conflict to the Russia-Ukraine war is ignorant

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:13:11 +0100

As President Donald Trump ordered U.S. forces to begin their assault on Iran, David Hearst, the editor-in-chief of the Middle East Eye, a Qatari-funded, Al Jazeera offshoot, declared, "There is a chilling but uncanny resemblance in the way Donald Trump is preparing to attack Iran, and the way

Source

Trump: Iran planned to attack America – we stopped it! #shorts

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:12:15 +0100

Source

TRUMP MAKES STATEMENT ON IRAN! 🚨 Major announcement happening right now – follow the live stream

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:45:52 +0100

Source

"Lay down your weapons or die", – Trump's harsh address #shorts

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:39:08 +0100

Source

Iran 'will not negotiate,' official claims after Trump says Tehran agreed to new talks

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:00:35 +0100

The U.S. may consider suspending attacks if Iran "can satisfy us," Trump told NBC News on March 1, adding that "they haven't been able to." He separately told the Daily Mail he expected the operation to last four weeks.

Source

NEWSFLASH: Iran's Supreme Leader dead, Israel and Trump say

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:20:41 +0100

Editor’s note:

One of our reporters is en route to the region as you read this. This work comes at great expense — The Washington Post cut their international desk, in part due to the huge costs. Let us build the next generation of global news coverage. Support us now!

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The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is dead, President Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The deaths come after joint military strikes carried out by U.S. and Israeli forces on Saturday morning, targeting sites across multiple Iranian cities. Israeli forces attacked multiple parts of the capital city, Tehran, targeting a gathering of senior officials and military leaders.

Source

Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show U.S. Fighter Jets Involved In Real Dogfight Over Iran -- It's Game Video

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 16:55:08 +0100

Does a video show U.S. fighter jets in a real dogfight over Iran in the Feb. 28, 2026, conflict? No, that's not true: The clip from a video game was posted on a U.S. Army spoof account two days ahead of the conflict and has been circulating on social media since at least May 2025. It was originally purported to be an air battle between India and Pakistan.

The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on X on February 26, 2026. It read:

War started 🚨🚨

US fighter jets entered Iran and destroyed several Iranian military bases.

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

(Image Source: Lead Stories screenshot of X.)

The video can be watched here:

War started 🚨🚨

US fighter jets entered Iran and destroyed several Iranian military bases . pic.twitter.com/Zi6Nc42aWG
-- US Army (@UsArmyspoof_) February 26, 2026

Conflict in the Middle East

The United States and Israel launched (archived here) an attack against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, targeting Iranian political and military leaders, sources said. President Donald Trump urged the Iranian people to "seize control of your destiny" by standing up to the Islamic leadership that has governed the country since 1979. Iran retaliated, hitting U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.

Video clip

Lead Stories found multiple online versions of the video. The earliest appeared in a post (archived here) on YouTube on May 11, 2025. Its description says:

#pakistan #Army Pakistan destroy India Pakistani news #jf17thander #piolet

It also appeared in another post (archived here) on X in the hours after the Feb. 28 conflict started:

This is one of the most AMAZING videos I have ever seen.

It doesn't even look real!
pic.twitter.com/X5hnHMYqWv

-- The Nikki V. (@TheUnHeard_One) February 28, 2026

Lead Stories also ran the video through Gemini, Google's AI assistant. It reached these conclusions (archived here):

This video is a CGI [Computer-Generated Imagery] simulation from a video game. It is not real-world footage.

The specific game featured is almost certainly DCS World (Digital Combat Simulator), though similar "ultra-realistic" mods for Arma 3 also produce this style of footage. These simulations are frequently used to create cinematic combat scenes that go viral on social media, sometimes being mistaken for real conflict footage.

Why this is a Video Game:

The Aircraft: The jet is a Sukhoi Su-57 "Felon," a Russian fifth-generation stealth fighter. In reality, these are extremely rare and expensive aircraft that would not be flown this aggressively and low over a city in these conditions.

Artificial Camera Shake: The shaky "handheld" camera effect is a common post-processing trick used by flight sim creators to make digital footage feel more grounded and "real."

Flare & Tracer Physics: The way the flares (the bright orange lights) are dispensed and drift in the air is a signature of the DCS World particle engine. The green and white tracers (Anti-Aircraft fire) also follow the distinctive straight-line "laser" pathing typical of game assets.

Visual Lighting: The "bloom" effect on the streetlights and the way the orange flare light reflects off the jet's skin are typical of modern game lighting engines (like the T-4 or EDGE engine used in DCS).

Risky Maneuvering: At approximately 0:13, the jet performs a high-G bank very close to buildings. In real life, the risk of a bird strike, mechanical failure, or pilot error in a dense urban environment would make such a flight path virtually impossible for a high-value stealth fighter.

Source

TRUMP launched OPERATION EPIC FURY against IRAN #shorts

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 16:10:04 +0100

Source

Russia condemns Israeli and US strikes on Iran as an unprovoked act of aggression

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 15:30:43 +0100

Russian Foreign Ministry has called Israeli and US strikes on Iran an “unprovoked act of armed aggression”.

An official statement from Russia’s Foreign Ministry was published on the ministry’s website.

“The scale and nature of the military-political and propaganda preparations that preceded this reckless step—including the deployment of a large US military contingent to the region—leave no doubt that this is a premeditated and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state, in violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international law,” the statement reads.

“Washington and Tel Aviv have once again embarked on a dangerous adventure that is rapidly pushing the region toward a humanitarian, economic and, possibly, radiological catastrophe. The aggressors’ intentions are clear and openly declared—to dismantle the constitutional order and eliminate the leadership of a state they find objectionable, one that has refused to submit to the diktat of force and hegemony,” the ministry added

Moscow placed responsibility for any “negative consequences of this man-made crisis” on Israel and the United States and condemned their actions.

The Foreign Ministry urged a return to diplomacy, saying Russia, “as before,” is ready to help facilitate a resolution to the conflict.

Israel and the United States, meanwhile, have justified strikes on Iranian territory by citing a growing threat from Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the main goal of Operation “Lion’s Roar” is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. US President Donald Trump said the operation’s main objective is “to protect the American people,” arguing that Tehran threatens the United States and its allies.

Russia’s embassies in Israel and Iran advised Russian citizens to leave those countries if possible. The embassy in Israel said people can depart via the “Begin” (“Taba”) border crossing with Egypt. The embassy in Tehran said the optimal routes out of Iran are via the land border with Azerbaijan.

Source

Kyiv: Ukraine backs Iranian people, condemns Tehran regime

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 15:12:16 +0100

Ukraine voiced support for the Iranian people amid an escalation in the region and accused Tehran’s leadership of terror and repression, the Foreign Ministry (MFA) said in a statement published Saturday, February 28.

“The Iranian regime, which has mocked the Iranian people for decades, has unleashed a sweeping policy of violence against its own citizens and other countries. This includes mass human rights violations at home, support for militants who brought chaos to other countries in the region, and direct military support for the aggressor state, Russia, in its unprovoked war of conquest against Ukraine. We remember and will never forget the strikes by thousands of Shahed drones on our peaceful cities and people,” the statement reads.

Such cooperation between the regimes in Moscow and Tehran is a gross violation of international law and undermines global efforts to restore peace and stability, the MFA added.

Years of systematic human rights abuses, brutal repression, executions and persecution of dissidents in Iran point to a deep crisis in the country’s domestic policy and a lack of proper protection for basic rights and freedoms, the ministry said.

“The regime has spent colossal resources on violence, killings and chaos, rather than on providing for its own people, whose economic situation has worsened year after year. As the President of Ukraine has repeatedly emphasized, the Iranian regime should have gone a long time ago,” the diplomats said.

The ministry said the current events stem from the regime’s violence and arbitrariness, including killings and repression against peaceful protesters that have grown markedly in recent months.

Kyiv believes Tehran had every opportunity to prevent a military scenario. It was offered avenues for diplomacy and solutions, but the regime ignored those efforts and instead dragged out time in hopes of misleading the international community, the statement said.

“We reaffirm our unwavering position: we wish security, prosperity and freedom to the Iranian people, and stability and prosperity to the Middle East. We thank everyone around the world who has stood and continues to stand with the Iranian people in this difficult time,” the MFA concluded.

Earlier Saturday, Israel and the United States carried out strikes on Iran. The Israelis called the operation Roaring Lion, while the Americans dubbed it Epic Fury.

Later, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the United States had begun military action against Iran. He said Iran would never obtain nuclear weapons, its missile industry would be leveled, and its navy destroyed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also issued a statement, saying Israel and the United States had decided to eliminate the existential threat posed by Iran’s regime.

In response, Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel and at U.S. bases in the Middle East.

Source

NEWSFLASH: U.S. strikes Iran with regime change intent

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 09:26:31 +0100

Editor’s note:

We’re tapping our sources in Iran right now, reaching out to people we know who have a little internet bandwidth.

If this reporting matters to you, support it.

Get Full Access to Newsflashes

Hit Our Tip Jar!

Trump gives a statement on U.S. strikes on Iran. You can see his statement here.

Donald Trump announced that the United States had begun “major combat operations in Iran,” warning that “we may have casualties” as a result.

The attacks have been conducted with an intent to overthrow the Iranian regime.

“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,” Trump said, in an apparent message to the Iranian public. “Now is the time to seize control of your destiny... This is the moment for action.”

An Iranian source living in Armenia told The Counteroffensive that anyone with the Islamic-Persian calendar app BadeSaba — 5 million downloads on Google Play — received an alert that said:

Source

BREAKING: US, Israel launch ‘major combat operations’ in Iran, Trump says, explosions in Tehran

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 08:18:19 +0100

"Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime," Trump said in a video posted to his Truth Social, confirming U.S. invovlement in the strikes.

Source

Reporters say Putin’s alleged sons live in near-total seclusion at the Valdai residence

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:00:26 +0100

Russian opposition media have once again sought to shed light on the alleged sons of Vladimir Putin with Alina Kabaeva. The children, said to be named Ivan and Vladimir, are reportedly kept under tight secrecy.

Putin and Kabaeva have never publicly acknowledged a relationship, and any children attributed to them are kept out of public view.

Journalists with “Navalny LIVE” published a segment on the Russian leader’s children, focusing in particular on his youngest, about whom very little is known.

For context, Putin’s elder daughters have also long been kept out of the spotlight. Katerina and Maria were born during his first marriage to Lyudmila Putina, so more is known about them. Both attended a German school while Putin served in East Germany. Afterward, Maria studied biology and Katerina pursued Japanese studies. Classmates have said the two were rarely seen in lectures and were taught separately by professors. They now use different surnames—Katerina as Tikhonova and Maria as Vorontsova—are involved in business and appear in public more often, though they are not officially identified as Putin’s daughters. Media have also reported that Putin has grandchildren, but their number and ages are unknown.

According to the reporters, the Kremlin leader also has two sons with Kabaeva who live in near-total isolation from the outside world. They are named Ivan and Vladimir and are listed in documents as Spiridonov - apparently chosen in reference to the patronymic of Putin’s grandfather.

The report says the elder boy, Ivan, was born in Switzerland, and the younger followed three years later in Moscow. While their mother occasionally appears in public - albeit rarely - the boys have never been seen publicly.

The investigation alleges that to secure work caring for Ivan and the younger Vladimir, staff must undergo a two-week quarantine and a full medical screening, and effectively agree to isolation with no contact with the outside world. “Every whim is catered to, and they treat all residences where they live as personal property. Ivan and Vladimir rarely see their parents but are constantly surrounded by security, tutors and other staff,” the journalists say.

Among their security detail is Putin’s aide-de-camp, Vitaly Kemenov, according to the report. The boys primarily reside at the Valdai residence. Staff for the half-brothers are hired by a company owned by one of Putin’s daughters, the journalists say. No other children reportedly live at the Valdai residences.

The reporters claim the boys’ “socialization” happens mostly through contact with household staff. They say the elder, Ivan, already eats and drinks only from his own dishes - “no doubt, like his father, he has a favorite mug.” A mobile laboratory allegedly travels with the boys to test all their food for poison - even fish they catch themselves.

Ivan and Vladimir each reportedly have a car and driver. In addition to the main house, the presidential compound includes a study house, a spa center and a hockey rink, where Ivan sometimes plays with his father. Their routine is described as regimented: breakfast at 9 a.m., schoolwork until lunch, then a nap followed by sports. They study English and German and spend time with their ponies, rabbits and a St. Bernard.

Kabaeva occasionally appears in public but always without the children.

At times, the boys travel—to Sochi, St. Petersburg, Novo-Ogaryovo and Russian-occupied Crimea, the report says. For transport, the family allegedly uses one of 10 yachts and also has access to an armored train, six planes and nine helicopters.

“Everyone knows who the children of Obama and Trump are, and their public profiles are even higher than Putin’s. As for the sons of the Russian leader, they’re growing up in a gilded cage, isolated from ordinary Russians. God forbid this power passes to them by inheritance,” the journalists conclude.

Overnight on January 27, unknown vandals defaced the Galerie L art gallery in Paris with anti-Putin slogans. For several months, Elizaveta Krivonogikh (Luiza Rozova - often described as Putin’s “unacknowledged daughter” - has been working there.

Source

Ukraine war latest: Claiming Ukraine threat, Orban deploys troops to 'protect energy infrastructure'

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:44:08 +0100

Key developments on Feb. 25:

Claiming Ukraine threat, Orban deploys troops to 'protect energy infrastructure'
Corruption exposed in aircraft shelter project, Ukrainian military officials detained
Zelensky, Trump hold phone call ahead of Ukraine-US talks in Geneva
Ukrainian defense companies sign European partnership deals worth $950 million

Hungary will

Source

Zelensky, Trump hold phone call ahead of Ukraine-US talks in Geneva

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:46:24 +0100

President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call on Feb. 25 with his American counterpart Donald Trump ahead of planned talks between senior officials from both countries in Geneva.

Source

Zelensky says he’s ready to meet Putin, urges Trump and Xi to pressure Russia to end the war

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:26:00 +0100

In an interview with German broadcaster ARD, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to achieve peace, but argued the only way to stop the war in Ukraine is to force Russians to end it,

Asked whether he had a message for Russians, he said he had nothing new to tell citizens of the Russian Federation because his words no longer influence them.

“At least they don’t want to take action. They have handed over all their voices, their rights, their bodies entirely for the use of one person — Putin. So I have no message for Russians, and my message to Putin is very simple: I am ready to meet. We have to end the war. Period,” Zelensky said.

He added that the only way to end the war is to compel Russians to stop it.

“I know that Putin and Russia do not want the end of this war. I think many people in Russia… they want to continue the war, and thus encourage Putin. In addition, I think the defense industry motivates Putin to continue, since a lot of money is allocated for defense,” Zelensky said.

He said U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s leader Xi Jinping could push the Russian leader toward a peace deal through economic and technological pressure.

“Even if Putin doesn’t want to, I’m sure these two people can make him do it,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky stressed that any peace must rest on terms acceptable to Ukrainian society, with partners providing reliable security guarantees.

On January 27, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Zelensky is ready to meet Putin to discuss temporarily occupied territories and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

On January 30, Zelensky called proposals for a meeting in Moscow categorically unacceptable and invited Putin to Kyiv. Despite that, on February 2, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov again invited Zelensky to Moscow during a briefing.

In a phone interview with Axios on February 17, Zelensky said he wanted to meet Putin in Geneva - but the Kremlin ignored the proposal.

Source

US, Ukraine to hold talks in Geneva Feb. 26, Trump envoy says

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:26:20 +0100

Witkoff said he would meet with Ukraine's security chief Rustem Umerov on Feb. 26, though the primary purpose of his visit would be negotiations with Iran.

Source

If TRUMP wants to end the WAR by July 4, I'm all for it, says Zelenskyy #shorts

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:23:13 +0100

Source

Trump and Putin reportedly in secret talks to restart Nord Stream under U.S. control

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 16:35:15 +0100

While Germany and the EU insist that dependence on Russian pipeline gas is a thing of the past, behind-the-scenes diplomacy around Nord Stream is ongoing. U.S. President Donald Trump is discussing with Russian President Vladimir Putin a potential restart of the pipelines, but under American control, reports the newspaper Berliner Zeitung, citing informed sources.

Sources describe backchannel contacts exploring an unexpected option: Russian gas could once again flow to Europe, but not under Moscow’s control. One possible scenario envisions U.S. involvement in managing the project.

It is notable that the United States had long opposed Nord Stream, which critics said entrenched Europe’s dependence on Russian gas. Now, with Donald Trump back in power, the policy appears to have shifted.

The pipeline issue is reportedly being raised in closed-door discussions between Trump and Putin. One interlocutor claims Nord Stream is “an absolute part of the secret negotiations.” There has been no official confirmation of these claims, but the mere prospect is prompting serious questions across Europe.

American business interests are also emerging. Among potential buyers for Nord Stream 2 is Texas banker Gentry Beach, who is linked to Trump’s circle. The discussion concerns a possible purchase of the infrastructure if it is legally and politically unblocked.

Experts stress that even if a U.S. entity becomes the operator, the gas would still come from Russia—meaning the strategic dependence would remain. Russia has previously used energy as a tool of pressure, a fact well remembered in Europe.

Opinion in Germany is divided. Some politicians categorically oppose any return to the project. Others point to high energy prices and mounting pressure on industry.

In September 2022, explosions in the Baltic Sea damaged three of the four strings of Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. Gas deliveries to Germany were halted entirely. Investigations are ongoing, with no final judicial conclusions yet.

At the start of February, the EU’s RePowerEU provisions took effect, prohibiting new gas contracts with Russia, including both long-term agreements and spot market purchases. In addition, in October last year, Nord Stream was included in the EU’s 19th sanctions package, making any potential restart extremely complex from a legal standpoint.

Against this backdrop, discussions around the pipeline carry added weight. The issue is not only about gas prices, but also about Europe’s politics and security. And if talks are indeed underway, Europe risks finding itself in a position where key decisions are made without its direct involvement.

Source

DOJ emails expose Trump and global elites, says Glen Grant #shorts

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 23:30:06 +0100

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Trump’s Positions WEAKEN Over EPSTEIN FILES – What Does This Mean for UKRAINE? | Wrap-Up Analytics

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 23:00:25 +0100

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Belarus unable to secure visas for Trump's Board of Peace meeting

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:32:01 +0100

Belarusian officials said Feb. 19 that they were unable to obtain visas to travel to the United States for the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, despite receiving an official invitation to attend.

Source

Trump extends Ukraine-related national emergency, certain US sanctions against Russia for another year

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:37:44 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump on Feb. 19 approved a one-year extension of the national emergency and related sanctions first introduced following Russia’s 2014 occupation of Crimea.

Source

The Kremlin offered Trump $12 trillion as part of the STA (“selling air”) strategy #shorts

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:30:56 +0100

Source

'Ready to fight' — Baltics face NATO fragility fears in the age of Trump

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:09:53 +0100

As the crisis in Washington’s relations with its European allies escalated in recent months, it raised a stark question: how secure are the U.S. guarantees for countries bordering Russia?

U.S. President Donald Trump has not just antagonized NATO allies but even threatened to annex one of

Source

How Elon’s satellites nearly led to Ukrainian disaster

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:05:56 +0100

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“Humans constantly try to find ways to kill their own kind more efficiently,” said ‘Friend Barber’, head of the electronic warfare group of the 125th Separate Mechanised Brigade.

He’s asked to be identified by only his callsign for security reasons.

Over more than eleven years of war, he’s seen enough of how Russian forces constantly adapt to the battlefield. Each time, it has forced him to search for ways to counter the enemy — seeking creative solutions to protect what matters most: his people.

But recently, Russians tried to provoke a massive shift on the battlefield that could have been disastrous for the Ukrainian army.

Friend Barber, head of the electronic warfare group of the 125th Separate Mechanised Brigade. Photo provided by the brigade.

About a month ago, Ukraine recorded the first cases of Russians using Elon Musk’s Starlink terminals on strike drones, allowing them to bypass Ukrainian efforts to jam their signals. Previously, the Ukrainian army could disrupt the drones’ navigation so they would fail to reach their target. With Starlinks, however, Russia can operate the drones live to avoid disruption.

This time, Ukraine managed to respond to this new upgrade before it could be scaled, blocking the use of communication terminals for Russian forces on the front line.

Russian forces then lost their connectivity, leading to chaos within their ranks, and they even experienced a temporary halt to assault operations. Ukrainians also launched a counterattack that, according to ISW analysis, may have exploited this Starlink blackout, yielding about 201 square kilometres of recaptured territory.

Russian forces are now actively trying to restore Starlink connectivity by any means necessary. They’ve now begun blackmailing the families of prisoners of war, pressuring them to facilitate a workaround to new Starlink restrictions by registering Starlink terminals in their own names.

This constant adaptation to new circumstances on the battlefield and search for non-linear solutions is the only effective way of fighting an enemy with a significant resource advantage.

An antenna from a Starlink satellite-based broadband system stands in a yard next to shoes left out to dry on April 7, 2024 in Kupiansk, Ukraine. Photo by Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images.

Friend Barber has been taking part in asymmetric warfare against Russians for more than a decade. It’s a form of combat where unconventional tactics are used to fight back against an adversary who has more resources or manpower.

Before joining the army, he led a regular civilian life: he worked in furniture assembly and car repair, for example.

After completing his mandatory military service around twenty years ago, he decided he really liked the army. He signed a contract in 2011. He’s been in the military ever since.

“When the war began [in 2014], I could have left the Armed Forces, but I didn’t, because I believed the war had to be seen through to the end. We’ll rest later,” Friend Barber recalled.

After the full-scale invasion, he grabbed his bags and kissed his wife before setting off for the frontline. He performed various roles, from combat missions to training others in technical surveillance. For him, the turning point was when he realised the war would not end on its own. On the contrary, it required him to stay and learn new skills.

“In 2023, I was badly wounded during an assault, and after that, my career as an assault soldier ended. I got an assignment from the squad commander to start developing a new area of countering enemy small UAVs. In short, it’s electronic warfare,” he explained.

It’s difficult to explain electronic warfare in a way that everyone can understand. Friend Barber accomplishes this through everyday metaphors, just like he used when giving briefings to infantrymen.

“If we take a flashlight and shine it in someone’s eyes, they stop because they can’t see anything. Or it could be the headlights of a car, making it very challenging to drive. This is exactly what electronic warfare devices do when they emit their radio waves; they ‘blind’ the control elements.”

So think of electronic warfare devices, or ‘jammers,’ as emitting chaotic and powerful signals that make it difficult for drones to understand the genuine information they should be receiving.

An employee demonstrates radio-electronic warfare systems of the Ukrainian company Kvertus during its presentation in the Lviv region on May 28, 2024. Photo by YURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP via Getty Images.

In reality, it’s not that simple, and the Russians always try to figure out ways to make sure “the high beams from oncoming cars don’t get in the way.”

In these conditions, electronic warfare experts like Friend Barber have to deal with new challenges all the time. And the most recent one — with potentially devastating ramifications for Ukraine — was the use of Starlink-enabled strike drones.

Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite internet service, built on a large network of satellites in low Earth orbit. The main difference between such systems and traditional satellite communications is significantly faster internet and potentially greater stability in dynamic conditions.

Elon Musk opened access to Starlink for Ukraine in the early days of the full-scale invasion after an appeal from Kyiv, and it became a crucial communication channel.

During the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kherson region in the fall of 2022, Starlink helped the military maintain stable communications on the battlefield.

Russia has no official access to Starlink, and SpaceX does not operate there.

But Russians have made a habit of acquiring contraband terminals by having devices registered in countries where the service is permitted, and then physically transporting them to the front lines.

The first signs of Starlink use by Russia were detected some time ago, with analysts tracking Russian drones equipped with Starlink gear since 2024.

But in early 2026, things escalated when BM-35 drones, which are similar to ‘small’ Shaheds and can fly up to 500 kilometres, were discovered for the first time in the city of Dnipro, a sign that Russia could soon use Shahed-drones with Starlinks to make attacks on civilians even deadlier. A BM-35 drone with a Starlink was also used in Kyiv in late January.

Debris of the BM-35 drone in the Dnipro area. Photo from Serhii Flash’s Telegram Channel.

Previously, many drones could be blinded using electronic warfare, jamming their navigation or control channels.

But this isn’t possible with Starlink since the connection is – without getting into all the technical details – less vulnerable to electronic warfare methods. The drones can therefore fly at low altitudes, adjusting their route mid-flight to avoid air defence.

“That makes it harder to shoot down, complicates its route, and it transmits data directly to the operator’s screen… the operator can see exactly where it is, what it’s flying over, and gather intelligence in real time,” an air-defence serviceman in Kyiv with the callsign ‘Kit’ (‘Cat’ in English) told The Counteroffensive.

Friend Barber said he has not directly encountered Shaheds equipped with Starlinks in his work, but Russia has used the terminals in other types of drones that operate within smaller ranges near the frontline.

He works against small drones — such as FPVs — protecting infantry units on the Kharkiv front.

“The enemy uses a large number of drones in combined attacks, and we are taking losses because of this. The hardest part is when I lose a brother-in-arms to the very thing I am now fighting against. It leaves a certain weight, a sense that I failed to do something that was within my power,” he said.

Not a single day goes by that Friend Barber does not experience drone attacks on his positions in the Kharkiv region. But there are times when even the infantrymen don’t fully realise how much effort he puts into keeping his comrades safe.

“Some infantrymen holding positions say: ‘Come on, guys, there were tons of FPV drones flying. So what were you even doing?’ But when you start explaining it to them, and show the numbers — how many drones actually reached their positions versus how many were launched overall — their attitude changes a bit,” he said.

On February 2, 2026, the Ukrainian government sought to block Russian access to the network by introducing a “white list.” The idea is simple: only verified devices can operate in the country, while all others are disabled. In early February 2026, Kyiv reported that the Starlink terminals used by Russian forces had been deactivated.

But Barber doesn’t believe in permanent decisions.

“There will be an analogue of Starlink that Russians will try to use for further strikes against Ukraine…I’m ready to work with the consequences,” he explained.

Russia is announcing “searches” for Ukrainians who want to make money by registering Russian Starlinks. Photo from Serhii Flash’s Telegram Channel.

After Ukraine began to disconnect illegal Starlink terminals, the Russians turned their attention to the vulnerability of prisoners’ families, according to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

The headquarters reported cases of threats and demands to officially register Starlink terminals so they could be used for attacks against Ukraine.

Friend Barber has stayed in the army even after being wounded, since for him it’s not just a job or profession, but a way to regain a future for himself and his family that Russia is trying to take away.

Map showing the locations mentioned in the story. Kharkiv region (where “Friend Barber” is currently deployed), and Polohy in Zaporizhzhia region (his hometown, currently under Russian occupation).

Every time he sees an FPV drone strike in his native Zaporizhzhia region, he feels the urge to drop everything and go there to help. But he knows he is ultimately fighting for his hometown of Polohy, even though it’s hundreds of kilometres away and under Russian occupation.

Right now, he’s needed in the Kharkiv region.

The war forced Barber not only to adapt to constant military upgrades but also to keep his own life in limbo. Whenever he talks about his future and kids, it sounds like a dream that’s bound to come true.

“I want children. First, we need to end this war. And we must restore our territories, we will have to... After all, this is my country, my home, and I want my children to live here.”

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Tania Novakivska

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

RUSSIA PREPARES TO DRAFT RESERVISTS: On 18 February, the Russian State Duma passed a bill in its first reading that would strengthen preventive measures against draft evasion, according to the latest ISW report.

The bill is likely intended to provide a legal basis for prosecuting Russians who criticise conscription of reservists.

ISW analysts believe that the forced conscription of reservists indicates Moscow’s desire to compensate for the almost complete exhaustion of voluntary recruitment in 2026.

UKRAINIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRY GREW 50-FOLD DURING THE WAR: The sector’s production capacity increased to $50 billion- multiplying 50 times compared to pre-war levels, enabling Ukrainian manufacturers to supply more than half of the Ukrainian army’s weapons needs, said Defence Minister Advisor Hanna Hvozdar at the Munich Conference.

IRAN STRENGTHENS PROTECTION OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES: Amid tensions with the US, Iran is rebuilding facilities destroyed by American and Israeli strikes and strengthening their security, Reuters reported after analysing changes in satellite images of key facilities in Iran’s nuclear programme.

At the same time, CBS News sources report that the military is ready to launch full-scale strikes on Iran as early as this Saturday, as senior National Security officials have informed Trump.

However, Trump has not yet made a final decision on whether to strike.

DOGS OF WAR:

Tania spent her weekends babysitting these three good boys. Their names are Mike, Ron, and Kyi, and their favourite things to do are playing, eating and competing for a place nearest to Tania in bed.

Stay safe out there!

Best,
Oleksandra and Mariana

Source

Russia publicly pitches $14 trillion economic deal to Trump tied to lifting US sanctions

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:21:31 +0100

"The portfolio of potential U.S.-Russia projects is over $14 trillion," Kremlin economic negotiator Kirill Dmitriev said.

Source

Could Witkoff be ousted from Ukraine talks? Senators hear 'chatter' of Russian deals

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:06:39 +0100

U.S. senators visiting Odesa on Feb. 18 struck a cautious tone when asked whether Special Envoy Steve Witkoff should remain at the center of negotiations with Russia.

The remarks place Congress in a delicate position: aware of mounting controversy around the Trump envoy, yet reluctant to directly challenge the

Source

Russia and Ukraine resume U.S.-mediated talks in Geneva

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:09:41 +0100

Representatives from Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday, February 17, restarted U.S.-mediated negotiations in Geneva, dpa reported. Kyiv aims to focus on humanitarian issues and security guarantees, while Moscow is pushing for territorial concessions, according to the agency.

A plane carrying the Russian delegation, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, landed in Geneva after an eight-hour flight, Interfax reported. The aircraft reportedly flew over Turkey, the eastern Mediterranean and Italy.

The Ukrainian delegation, headed by the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, arrived in Geneva on February 16.

Umerov posted several photos from the meeting on social media, writing: “On the agenda — security and humanitarian issues. We are working constructively, with focus and without excessive expectations. Our task is to advance as much as possible the decisions that can bring a sustainable peace closer.”

Last week, Umerov said one goal of the next round would be to secure a partial ceasefire to protect Ukraine’s energy system.

The Russian and Ukrainian delegations are meeting at the InterContinental hotel behind closed doors. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said not to expect details of the discussions on February 17.

“I don’t think it’s worth expecting any news today, because, as you know, the work is planned to continue tomorrow,” Peskov told reporters, according to Interfax. “There are no announcements planned on this. Everything will be closed to the press,” the agency quoted him as saying.

Trump: Ukraine should sit down for talks soon

U.S. President Donald Trump earlier urged Kyiv to reach an agreement with Moscow as soon as possible. “Ukraine should sit down at the negotiating table as soon as possible,” Trump told reporters on February 16 aboard Air Force One.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on February 16 that Russia’s delegation for the Geneva consultations on Ukraine would be expanded. He said the team would be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Russia’s General Staff. The group numbers more than 20 people, dpa reported.

Ukraine’s delegation - in addition to Umerov - includes the head of Volodymyr Zelensky’s office Kyrylo Budanov, deputy Serhiy Kyslytsya, deputy head of military intelligence Vadym Skibitskyi, Ukraine’s Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov, and David Arakhamia, head of the ruling Servant of the People party’s parliamentary faction.

The talks are expected to run in Geneva through February 18. Two earlier U.S.-mediated rounds in Abu Dhabi produced no breakthrough.

Source

Moscow condemns U.S.-Armenia nuclear plant agreement as Shoygu warns of risks and 'experiments'

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:39:43 +0100

The signing of a U.S.-Armenia agreement to build an American-designed nuclear power plant has drawn a sharp reaction from Moscow.

The Kremlin publicly criticized the deal between Washington and Yerevan, which provides for $9 billion in investment to construct a U.S. nuclear power station in Armenia.

Former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin and now secretary of Russia’s Security Council, weighed in with a statement carried by Russian media.

The agreement was announced during U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit to Yerevan.

It envisions a new U.S.-built nuclear plant in Armenia that could eventually replace the Metsamor station, which supplies about 40% of the country’s electricity. That facility is currently controlled by Moscow, leaving Armenia heavily dependent on Russia. Closer cooperation between Yerevan and Washington would deprive the Kremlin of a key lever of pressure.

“In the event that construction of small reactors using American technology on Armenian territory moves into a practical phase, we, (...), and the population of Armenia itself will be forced to take these new nuclear safety risks into account... Right next door, (...), American experiments in atomic technologies will be carried out... This should be regarded as a threat,” he said.

According to Shoygu, Russia has several fundamental objections to the project.

He also sought to pressure Armenia by invoking the country’s difficult energy situation in the early 1990s. “Although things were very hard in Russia then, we managed to find a way to help our Armenian friends,” he said.

Shoygu further questioned the project’s economics. He said that if it involves NuScale Power’s 77‑megawatt modules, “it was precisely the high cost of energy that caused the failure of its project in the state of Utah.” He added that spent nuclear fuel would be stored in Armenia and argued that the deal resembles a purchase of a plant rather than full-fledged investment in the national economy.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova had earlier claimed the United States is offering Yerevan allegedly untested solutions whose eventual cost could exceed initial estimates.

The agreement is part of a broader U.S. strategy to strengthen its position in the South Caucasus. Months earlier, Donald Trump acted as a mediator in preparing a draft peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The document provides for a transit corridor through Armenian territory called the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.” It had previously been assumed that Moscow could gain control of the so‑called Zangezur Corridor. Russia has since lost that opportunity.

Amid the new energy project, Russia’s influence in Armenia’s nuclear sector is in question. Construction of a U.S. plant could significantly shift the regional balance, reducing Yerevan’s economic and technological dependence on Moscow. For the Kremlin, that would mark another geopolitical setback.

Source

US offers Ukraine 15-year security guarantees as Kyiv seeks 30–50-year commitments, Zelensky says

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 21:00:04 +0100

At a news conference, while speaking with reporters in Munich, Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that Kyiv wants security guarantees for 30 or 50 years, not 15, as proposed by the Trump administration.

The duration of those guarantees, he said, depends on the White House’s position.

He noted that Ukraine hopes to end the war this year. But Zelensky is pessimistic about upcoming talks in Switzerland due to changes in Russia’s delegation.

At the same time, he emphasized that Ukraine will still do everything it can to achieve peace.

“First and foremost, our task is to maintain contact with the American side. Our second task is to avoid a situation in which the only parties left at the table are us and Russia. Because, unfortunately, Europe is not very present in the talks so far... We are doing everything for this, and Europe wants it too, by the way... Russia does not really acknowledge them, but that is unfair. Security guarantees from Europe are important to us. And today, the money being spent on Ukraine is primarily coming from Europe. Let’s be honest. Our partners from Canada and Japan provide humanitarian assistance, but most of the money is coming from Europe. We need them,” Zelensky said.

He also said Ukraine maintains contacts with the American side across all channels. The president noted that in Munich he is meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and later will speak with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

“We will do everything so that no party to this negotiation process can accuse Ukraine of dragging its feet, of not supporting an end to the war, of something depending on us. We sometimes hear signals in the press that allegedly the end of the war depends on us and that we are not moving toward it... I believe we are doing everything to avoid mistakes. Playing with this will cost us dearly, diplomatically,” the President said.

In a February 13 interview with POLITICO, Zelensky reminded that Vladimir Putin continues to stall peace talks, despite the fact that the Kremlin leader does not have much time left, given his age.

Source

Zelensky has to 'get moving' on peace deal, Trump says

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:14:48 +0100

"Russia wants to make a deal and Zelensky is going to have to get moving, otherwise he's going to miss a great opportunity," Trump claimed when speaking to reporters on Feb. 13. "He has to move."

Source

LAVROV IN EPSTEIN'S FILES. The Kremlin knew TRUMP's secrets! #shorts

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:30:00 +0100

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Epstein files: 1,000 claims on Putin, Trump secrets, Lavrov’s alleged role

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:00:01 +0100

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Russia confirms $12 trillion pitch to Trump tied to Ukraine deal — White House stays silent on proposals

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:43:44 +0100

Russia appeared to confirm on Feb. 13 the existence of a sweeping U.S.-Russia economic proposal known in Kyiv as the "Dmitriev package," days after President Volodymyr Zelensky first disclosed it publicly.

The Ukrainian president said on Feb. 6 that intelligence had briefed him on what he

Source

Whither Trump's peace in Ukraine?

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:42:27 +0100

Since the beginning of this year, President Donald Trump has turned much of his personal attention to foreign policy, from Venezuela to Greenland to Iran. Cuba, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria, Syria, and perhaps other countries are also in his sights.

The pace of foreign forays has been frenetic and

Source

Several Ukrainian children abducted to Russia returned in initiative backed by Melania Trump, White House says

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 05:06:01 +0100

Several Ukrainian children previously taken to Russia have been returned to their families in Ukraine, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump announced on Feb. 12.

Source

UK commits £150 million to PURL for U.S. weapons for Ukraine

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:49:41 +0100

The United Kingdom is allocating £150 million (€172 million) to purchase U.S. weapons for Ukraine under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), UK Defense Secretary John Healey announced Wednesday, according to Politico and Reuters.

“I’m pleased to confirm the United Kingdom is allocating £150 million to the PURL initiative,” Healey said, as quoted by Politico. “Together we must provide Ukraine with the critical air defenses it needs to repel Putin’s fierce onslaught.”

On Tuesday, February 10, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker said during an online briefing that Washington expects NATO allies to take on new commitments to procure weapons for Ukraine under PURL at the upcoming meeting of defense ministers.

The program was launched in the summer of 2025 at the initiative of U.S. President Donald Trump and is coordinated by NATO. According to Ukrainian authorities, contributions to PURL totaled $4.3 billion in 2025, with nearly $1.5 billion in December alone.

Politico estimates that in 2025 Ukraine’s allies allocated €5 billion to PURL. In early February, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed “absolute confidence” that allies could raise another €15 billion in 2026.

NATO defense ministers will meet on February 12 in Brussels. Defense chiefs from all 32 member states are expected to attend, along with Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Sources cited by Reuters say the agenda will include not only purchases of U.S. weapons for Ukraine but also a broader discussion of a more active European role in ensuring its own security.

Source

Lavrov says U.S. has not provided Ukraine peace plan to Russia

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:00:12 +0100

Washington has not yet handed Moscow the new plan to end the war, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russian media.

Lavrov claims the Kremlin does not have the 20-point plan to end the conflict, which the White House approved with Kyiv and Europe in January 2026.

He said the U.S. has not passed the plan to Russia, while also asserting the document aligns only with the interests of Kyiv and Europe—suggesting Moscow is familiar with its contents.

Speaking with Russian journalists, Lavrov again invoked the “spirit of Anchorage,” which he said “opened a path to peace.” In August 2025, then-President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. The two discussed several issues, including terms to end the war against Ukraine. No breakthroughs were achieved in Alaska, but the Kremlin maintains Trump agreed with Putin on some points and that the U.S. and Russia “found a balance of interests.” Since then, Moscow has frequently cited the “spirit of Anchorage” when referring to peace talks with Ukraine.

In January 2026, a Ukrainian delegation met with a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi, with U.S. mediation, to discuss terms for ending the war. Talks continued February 4–5. The sides discussed ways to implement a ceasefire, mechanisms to monitor a truce, the future of Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied by Russian forces, and the fate of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which remains under Russian control.

Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov called the February 4–5 talks in Abu Dhabi constructive. He said both sides agreed to hold a third round of consultations. Unofficially, the next meeting could take place in the United States.

Source

Lavrov says Ukraine peace remains distant as talks focus on military details

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 20:00:10 +0100

Reaching a settlement to the “Ukrainian crisis” will require covering a long negotiating distance, Lavrov said in an interview with the NTV television channel.

“We’ve said more than once that we must not succumb to an exuberant perception of what’s happening: that US President Trump ‘put the Europeans and Zelensky in their place’ and is demanding that they implement… All that is fine if we want to achieve peace in Ukraine, but we’re not there yet,” Lavrov said.

He noted that talks are ongoing and a second round was held in Abu Dhabi, but “there is still a long way ahead.”

According to Lavrov, “the negotiating track consists of a whole set of components: the root causes - this is the basis of our position - Russia’s security and the rights of Russians and Russian-speaking people in Ukraine, in full accordance with international law and the UN Charter.”

He added that recognition of territories “directly follows from the root causes.” In his telling, Russia seized Ukrainian territories because there were allegedly “attempts to create a threat to us, to destroy people who had lived there for centuries.”

Lavrov said the “details being considered between the militaries are multifaceted and significant,” so “everything must be worked out to the smallest details.”

He expressed hope the United States would “force” Ukraine and Europe “to behave properly” when a settlement is reached.

“The mechanisms to monitor how this will be implemented will require meticulous coordination, including - and above all - through military channels,” Lavrov emphasized.

He also complained that, at the moment, security guarantees for Ukraine are being discussed in the West “not in the context of pan-European security, but so that it can continue hostile actions against the Russian Federation.”

Earlier, Moscow said that work on a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine would take at least a month and a half even under favorable negotiating conditions.

Meanwhile, Kyiv said the latest talks in Abu Dhabi focused on methods to implement a ceasefire and monitor the cessation of hostilities.

Source

Japan to join PURL to buy U.S. weapons for Ukraine, limited to nonlethal equipment

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:00:08 +0100

Japan plans to purchase U.S. weapons for Ukraine under the PURL program, but only nonlethal items, NHK reports, citing anonymous NATO sources familiar with the matter

According to NHK, the Japanese government is expected to formally announce its participation in PURL soon. Tokyo has informed some NATO countries and Ukraine of its plans, but has not officially commented yet.

NHK’s sources say Japan will buy only nonlethal equipment for Ukraine, such as radar systems and body armor. It is not yet clear how much Tokyo will contribute to the program in 2026. Even nonlethal aid could be significant for Ukraine; for example, radars can more effectively detect hostile aerial targets striking Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Japan has provided extensive support to help Ukraine repel Russian aggression but does not transfer lethal weapons to the Ukrainian military. According to Olena Kondratiuk, deputy speaker of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, Tokyo will allocate $6 billion in humanitarian and technical support in 2026. In total, as of early 2026, Japan has provided more than $15 billion in financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

The PURL program was launched in the summer of 2025 after U.S. President Donald Trump declined to provide Ukraine with free military aid. Under the program, NATO countries (excluding the United States), as well as Australia and New Zealand, purchase American weapons and then transfer them to Kyiv. Before that, Ukraine compiles a list of critical U.S. weapons, military equipment, and ammunition, and coordinates it with partners in the North Atlantic Alliance.

More than 20 countries are currently taking part in purchasing U.S. weapons for Ukraine under PURL. In 2025, they allocated a total of $4.3 billion for these purposes, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Source

J.D. Vance’s Armenia visit brings drones, TRIPP corridors, and US nuclear and AI deals

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:39:23 +0100

US Vice President J.D. Vance on February 10 wrapped up a two-day trip to Armenia, the first-ever visit to the country by a US official of this rank.

In talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the two sides locked in agreements on deliveries of US defense technologies, the rollout of large-scale energy projects and the launch of a new economic initiative, the Trump Road to International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).

With a follow-on trip to Azerbaijan, the visit signals an intensification of Washington’s mediation push to stabilize the South Caucasus, analysts say.

Official Yerevan and the White House delegation all but framed the visit as the start of a new chapter in bilateral ties. The top agenda item: implementing TRIPP to build cross-border economic links and unlock transport routes across the region, particularly between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The TRIPP project is viewed as a key instrument to stabilize the South Caucasus after more than 30 years of conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. The “Declaration of Peace” signed in Washington in August 2025 laid the groundwork for this major infrastructure effort.

Plans call for rail lines, pipelines, power transmission and fiber-optic cables to run through Armenia’s southern regions. The infrastructure is designed to ensure unhindered connectivity between mainland Azerbaijan and its exclave, Nakhchivan.

Yerevan and Washington have already agreed on the technical and legal parameters for managing the future corridors. Under the deal, a dedicated project company will operate the transport logistics - specifically, the railway. Ownership would be split with 74% controlled by the US side and 24% by Armenia. The concession term is 49 years, which both sides say guarantees long-term US capital and technology engagement.

After talks with Pashinyan, Vance said the TRIPP fund is ready to invest private capital in regional infrastructure, including railways and pipelines. “This will open an entirely new world of trade, transit and energy flows in this region and create unprecedented linkages between Armenia and its neighbors,” Vance said.

Russia also remains interested in the project’s logistics component; it currently operates Armenia’s railway under a concession. While Yerevan had not sharply objected in the past, Armenia’s leadership has taken a harder line. National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan recently ruled out Russia’s involvement, arguing the project could not function effectively otherwise.

One of the visit’s most consequential outcomes was the first major defense-technology deal: Washington confirmed the sale of V-BAT reconnaissance drones to Armenia, totaling $11 million. Vance said the delivery is part of a deterrence concept, stressing that access to modern defensive technologies underpins sustainable peace in the region. Pashinyan expressed hope the sale—executed through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program—will lay the groundwork for deeper defense cooperation.

Vance’s statements drew wide reaction among Armenian experts and the public. Many see the drone transfer not as a one-off but as the beginning of a systematic, long-term defense partnership with Washington. Supporters argue the visit could set a precedent that allows Armenia to diversify its arms purchases with modern US systems. “This is a significant step forward in developing defense cooperation and a valuable asset from Shield AI. There are many avenues ahead to explore and advance,” said Leonid Nersisyan, a military expert at APRI Armenia.

On energy, the talks concluded negotiations on a “123 Agreement” for peaceful nuclear cooperation. Once formalities are finalized, the agreement would open a legal path for exporting US civilian nuclear technologies to Armenia, including small modular reactors. “This means initial exports from the US of up to $5 billion, plus an additional $4 billion in long-term support in the form of fuel and maintenance contracts,” Vance said.

Framing the nuclear prospects, the vice president called the pending deal a classic example of cooperation that strengthens energy security for both countries while creating new US high-tech jobs. “This means American technologies—small modular reactors—will come into the country. Armenia is one of the few countries we trust enough to invest at this scale and to transfer technologies of this kind,” he said.

For Armenia-the only country in the South Caucasus with nuclear power and aiming to replace its nuclear plant by 2036-opting for US reactors would significantly diversify a sector long dominated by Russian technology.

Moscow’s response came almost immediately. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Izvestia that Russia is ready “to launch the new NPP project as soon as possible,” insisting there are no real alternatives to what he called Russia’s proven technologies and financing, including workforce training.

Armenia’s government has already decided it needs a new modular nuclear plant with a capacity of 400–500 MW. Until recently, Yerevan stressed it was reviewing proposals and consulting with key market players—Russia, the US, China, France and South Korea.

Still, Vance’s comments about potential US nuclear exports to Armenia prompted many to ask whether Yerevan has already chosen its main technology partner. Whether that’s the case remains unclear. Official Yerevan has yet to offer further clarification.

In high tech, the sides finalized agreements to build an artificial intelligence plant and a large data center in Armenia with US company Firebird. The project will rely on high-performance NVIDIA graphics processors; export clearance has already been obtained. Vance said the cooperation underscores a high level of trust in Armenia as a reliable innovation partner.

Following Vance’s visit, Firebird announced phase two of the “AI megaproject in Armenia,” expanding its scope eightfold—from an initial $500 million to $4 billion. Boosting capacity to 50,000 NVIDIA GPUs by 2026 would turn the country into one of the “five largest global supercomputing hubs.”

The regional agenda also included steps to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey, including reopening the Gyumri–Kars railway, Pashinyan said after talks with the US side.

The visit’s political context was underscored by Vance’s direct endorsement of Pashinyan ahead of elections set for June. “I know elections are approaching—we discussed that. If my support carries any weight, he certainly has it, because he (Nikol Pashinyan) is exactly the person who can build a long-term partnership to successfully implement projects like this,” Vance said when asked about progress on the “Trump Route” project.

That stance from Washington broadly aligns with sentiment in Armenian society toward the US. According to the latest International Republican Institute (IRI) poll in June 2025, 69% of respondents rate current relations with the United States as good.

As officials discussed economic prospects, activists and opposition figures staged a protest outside the Armenian president’s residence, where talks with the US delegation were underway. Demonstrators urged the vice president to use his upcoming trip to Baku to push for the release of Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan. According to official figures, there are 19. Protesters stressed that humanitarian issues must remain a priority alongside economic and energy deals.

Source

Kremlin pushes for closed-door Ukraine talks, says Alaska summit understandings are foundational

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:00:42 +0100

Russia is urging that details of the understandings discussed during U.S.-Russia talks in Alaska in August 2025 not be made public. That meeting brought together Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin says future negotiations should be conducted behind closed doors, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told state-run RIA Novosti.

He emphasized that Moscow does not intend to share details of any understandings publicly.

“Indeed, there are a number of understandings that were reached in Anchorage (a city in Alaska), which were voiced even before Anchorage, during the visit here by Mr. Witkoff (Donald Trump’s special representative for Middle East affairs). And after that, the need for a summit meeting arose,” Peskov said.

He added that the Kremlin plans to keep subsequent discussions private rather than engage in “public, megaphone diplomacy.”

Russia considers the understandings reached during the Alaska summit to be fundamental and a basis for potential progress, Peskov suggested.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed the United States initially proposed understandings to end the war in Ukraine but has since backed away from them. He said he was referring to the Anchorage summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

Before that, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said the agreement resulting from the Alaska talks already allegedly included compromises from the Kremlin.

In the early hours of Saturday, August 16, talks were held in Alaska between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Focus examined whether the meeting brought peace in Ukraine any closer and how events might unfold next.

The Kremlin assessed the leaders’ meeting positively. Afterward, Peskov said the conversation would allow Moscow to “move forward confidently” in seeking ways to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war.

Source

Kremlin says Ukraine breakthrough hinges on 'Anchorage' understandings

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:00:41 +0100

A breakthrough in negotiations to end the “Ukrainian conflict” is possible only if the positions agreed at the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, are observed, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media on Monday, February 9.

“It is obvious that the understandings reached in Anchorage are fundamental, and it is precisely these understandings that can move the settlement process forward and make a breakthrough possible,” he said.

Asked about the current status of those understandings, Peskov said “the work continues.”

He did not elaborate on what he means by the “spirit of Anchorage” and stressed that, as before, the Kremlin believes talks should be conducted behind closed doors in the interests of a settlement. He noted that these “understandings” were voiced ahead of the Anchorage summit.

Peskov was responding to a question about whether Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s statement—that the United States is unwilling to accept Russia’s proposals on Ukraine—means the “spirit of Anchorage” is already dead.

Earlier Monday, Lavrov said the United States is no longer ready to follow through on what he claimed were its proposals on Ukraine made in Anchorage.

“By accepting their proposal, we supposedly fulfilled the task of resolving the Ukrainian issue and moving on to full-scale, broad, mutually beneficial cooperation. So far, in practice, the opposite is true: new sanctions are being introduced, and a ‘war’ is being waged against tankers on the high seas, violating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Lavrov said in an interview with the international TV BRICS network.

Moscow earlier said that work on a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine would take at least a month and a half even under favorable negotiating conditions.

Meanwhile, Kyiv said the latest talks in Abu Dhabi addressed methods for implementing a ceasefire and monitoring a halt in hostilities.

Source

Norway's defense chief warns of potential Russian invasion to protect nuclear assets in the north.

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 01:00:00 +0100

General Eirik Kristoffersen, Norway’s chief of defence since 2020, stated in February 2026 that Russia could potentially launch an invasion to safeguard its nuclear weapons and related infrastructure. Kristoffersen emphasized the seriousness of Russian military activities in the Arctic, particularly near Norway’s northern boundaries and the Svalbard archipelago, where Russia maintains a settlement. He rejected previous claims by former US President Donald Trump that NATO troops stayed off frontlines in Afghanistan, asserting that Norwegian forces had been active. Norway is preparing for the possibility of increased Russian aggression by enhancing its military readiness and cooperation with NATO allies. The defence chief underscored the importance of vigilance over Russia’s strategic assets and warned that such aggressive posturing threatens regional security. The article includes images showing Norwegian military personnel and the Arctic landscape, with an emphasis on the strategic importance of the region for nuclear and military assets.

Category: Military & Paramilitary Operations

Subcategory: Conventional Military Pressure

Country: Norway

Source report: www.theguardian.com/world/202…

Source

Lavrov says US walked back Ukraine understandings accepted by Russia, urges to 'approach it like men'

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:30:20 +0100

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov complained that the United States first proposed understandings to end the war in Ukraine, then backed away from them. He said the talks took place in Anchorage, Alaska, during a summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

Lavrov said the US position was what mattered to Moscow. His interview was cited by TASS.

“For Russia, the US position on Ukraine was important, no matter what was said in Kyiv or by the ‘cave-dwelling Russophobes’ in the EU,” Lavrov said.

According to him, the US proposed understandings to Russia for resolving the Russia-Ukraine war. Moscow allegedly accepted those proposals, but Washington has now walked them back.

Lavrov called to “approach it like men” to resolve the issue. He also said that after the Alaska summit, Russia and the United States should have moved toward broader cooperation, but the opposite happened.

The foreign minister said Russia must ensure its security because, he claimed, there are threats from Europe of a possible war.

Lavrov said the West has unleashed a global war against Russia and is “trying to punish its partners.”

He added that the Kremlin will oppose the deployment on Ukrainian territory of any weaponry that would threaten Russia’s security. He did not specify which systems he had in mind.

Lavrov also commented on US sanctions against Russian oil companies, calling them an attempt to suppress competitors. He further complained that the United States is trying to control Russia’s military-technical ties with India and other parts of the BRICS alliance.

He said the West allegedly invented Russia’s “shadow fleet,” and that ships are being detained in a struggle to preserve “waning dominance.”

“Russia sees no ‘bright future’ in economic relations with the United States,” Lavrov said.

According to him, the Trump administration has not only failed to lift sanctions imposed by the previous Joe Biden administration “to punish Russia,” but has introduced new ones.

At the same time, Lavrov said Russia remains open to cooperation with the United States, but that American politicians are creating artificial obstacles.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said the agreement following the Alaska talks allegedly already contained compromises from the Kremlin.

Earlier, Lavrov accused Ukraine of being the first to strike Russia’s energy infrastructure, while the Kremlin decided to hit energy targets only in response.

Lavrov has also warned that Russia does not plan to attack Europe, but if the West strikes Russia first, Moscow will respond with all available means. He said it would not resemble the “special military operation.”

Source

We’re approaching our breaking point

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:02:58 +0100

Editor’s Note:

Our team continues reporting under freezing temperatures, power outages, and constant instability in Ukraine. Heat, electricity, and reliable internet are never guaranteed, but the work doesn’t stop.

Your subscription covers backup power and warm essentials. Internally, I’ve seen a surge of our team asking for mental health services. Your subscription covers that too.

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It’s hard to admit, but we’re exhausted, like so many other Ukrainians.

The year started off on an especially brutal note, with Russian attacks battering cities almost every night. The cold takes a particular toll on the body, increasing stress and exhaustion – and that’s even without considering the heating problems

With your permission, the Ukraine-based team at The Counteroffensive will take a break this week.

Tim is hard at working trying to commission a story from outside the country that we’ll run later in the week. And if there’s breaking news, we’ll jump into action.

We are sincerely grateful to our readers for their constant support, which allows us to continue working even in such circumstances.

Read on to see what our reporters say they’ll do with their week:

Myroslava, managing editor

Me and my little boy in the Kyiv region, January 2026.

Every time I get even the smallest break from work, I feel a kind of joy that’s almost childlike. A whole week off feels like a rare gift. Lately, I’ve been working so much that I hardly get to just be with my little son, not multitasking, not rushing, but truly just being present for every moment. I am not planning any trips or big events.

I just want to spend quiet time with my family, which has become tough after I had to leave Kyiv while my husband needed to stay behind.

This rest comes with a quiet sadness; we’re not all together. Still, I want to fill these days with the smallest, most important things: playing with my son, hugging him, watching him learn to sit, stand, and eat on his own. These are our little daily victories. I also hope to see my parents in Kyiv, whom I don’t visit nearly as often as I’d like.

It won’t be an extraordinary week, but it will let me slow down and take a break from constant thoughts of work. Right now, that’s exactly what I need.

Mariana, creative editor

I’ll sound unhinged saying this, but I want to go back to my cold apartment in Kyiv.

For more than two weeks, I’ve stayed with my parents in the Volyn region because I felt I couldn’t cope on my own: my mental and physical health had deteriorated badly. I’m still dealing with heightened anxiety, depressive episodes, and the swing between emotional overload and complete numbness — all of which come and go whenever I feel I’m losing control. Now it seems like I’ve truly lost it.

I’m tired. It sounds to me like a failure, like a weakness I sometimes feel I’m not allowed to have. At the same time, I’m slowly learning to look for the smallest things that give meaning to living another day. I already ordered puzzles to my home address in Kyiv, bought concert tickets, and want to visit the theater. For the first time in a long while, the darkness has brought back my fear of being alone. This week, I want to feel at peace being by myself again.

Video: One evening, my parents and I watched my childhood videos after I arrived in my hometown, Kovel, in the Volyn region.

Nastia, reporter

I would like to view the news as simply a professional task. But news reports with dry statistics tell of the new reality facing everyone I’m close to. When I am safe, I still receive messages from my friends about how cold it is in Kyiv, that there was a nearby hit, or that they barely have power.

Me with my mom Natalia and my cat Frosia. January 2026.

You can’t separate yourself entirely from the experiences of other people that you’re covering either: each of them leaves another scar in your chest and drains you emotionally. I feel like I could use the break to restore my mental state.

This week, I want to do quiet things — reading, watching new television series or my favorite old ones, spending time with my sister, who isn’t going to school because of blackouts and the cold, and doing something creative — drawing or building small animal Lego sets. I haven’t allowed this for myself in a long time.

Tania, reporter

This winter, my favorite city in the world is plunging into darkness and cold due to Russian attacks. As a reporter, I serve as a quiet observer. But I am also a person who lives through the stories we talk about. Almost every day, I feel the cold creeping through two layers of sweaters and automatically scream in fear during another ballistic attack on the city, when even the foundations of our house seem to shake.

Now I am recovering from another depressive episode and returning to my studies at the university. The time we will get for ourselves will help me breathe a little, ground myself, start working on my thesis, and maybe even visit my hometown and my parents!

Sasha, reporter

I value my personal space and time, but at some point, lonely days in a small Kyiv apartment with no electricity and no heat became unbearable. I see this week off as a chance not to worry about my family in Zaporizhzhia from afar, but to spend some time with them, despite the danger. Also, I will use this time to work on my Master’s thesis – it’s high time to start!

My laptop died, so I joined my evening classes using a smartphone. January 2026

Oleksandra, reporter

I’m usually a busy bee, trying to keep up with my career goals, being a good mom, and generally working towards making my dreams come true. I’m in remission after cancer and battling severe depression, so routine and mental stability are essential for this whole system to work. But blackouts and constant cold throw me off my usual daily routine more than I’d care to admit.

I really appreciate the opportunity to stop and redirect my attention to myself, to focus on how I feel and what my current mental state is. A week seems like a short time, but for me it’s five extra days to relax with a cup of coffee, spend time with my child, or schedule a long-delayed doctor’s appointment.

My daughter and I went to feed the ducks on the banks of the Dnipro river. January 2026.

Oksana, reporter
For a person like me, whose nervous system craves certainty, power outages proved to be challenging. When the power outages are unpredictable, I begin to second guess every part of my day. “Should I go to sleep or wash my hair? Should I cook or go to sleep?” My inner dialogue starts to feel like a hyperactive roommate — always rushing somewhere and incapable of giving me time to breathe.

It would be lovely to just breathe during the break. Perhaps I will read some books that might help my creativity awaken from its slumber. It often feels as though power outages chip away at my imagination and curiosity. Perhaps I will recover my buried whimsy? Maybe my boyfriend, who is in the military, will be able to get a day off, and I will go to Kharkiv to visit him so we can spend a few rare, delightful days together.

My silly beaver plushie, who looks as stressed as I feel, is looking at “Dracula” by Bram Stoker, a book I might read during my time off.

Nastia, reporter

After four years of war, living with constant stress and tension has started to feel like the norm. We go through our daily routines on autopilot, despite ongoing danger, power and heating outages, freezing cold, and endless challenges.

I want to focus on what helps me stay grounded. To remind myself what a real normal life should look like: not a dark and cold home, but meeting loved ones in cozy cafes, spending time with my 2-year-old daughter in playrooms filled with joy, children’s laughter, and the kind of carefree fun childhood is meant to be.

Me and my baby girl in a playroom, January 2026

Earlier, spending a week off this way might have seemed mundane to me, something that wouldn’t truly feel like rest in a bigger sense. But now, creating small pockets of warmth and normality has proven to be more than enough to help me keep moving forward.

Liza, office manager

Constant drone and missile attacks practically destroyed my sleep schedule and my desire to study and read more books. I would like to use this as a chance to study and get back on track with my daily routine - walks, reading, yoga when I feel overwhelmed.

I don’t want it to be a strict schedule, but rather flexible, so there won’t be any harsh deadlines that make me more anxious in these circumstances.

Also, because of the cold weather I haven’t had a chance to meet up with friends or visit my grandma in the village where she lives, a place with no wi-fi that feels like a retreat from social media. This will be a great chance to spend a week socializing and recharging my mental battery with comforting people and cozy conversations.

Editor’s Note:

Your subscription helps us cover the basics our journalists need to keep going, from backup power to warm essentials. Despite everything, we keep bringing you stories because we understand our responsibility to you, our readers.

Support our work — upgrade to a paid subscription today.

Get Full Access!

Tip Jar!

Tim Mak and candidate for Congress George Conway talk about post-Trump reforms, and his Ukraine strategy.

DARK KYIV:

Instead of the usual Dog of War, today we are publishing a photo of Kyiv in the dark. This is how Mariana’s neighborhood looks now.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
The Counteroffensive team

Source

Zelensky says US proposed renewed energy ceasefire; Kyiv agrees, Russia yet to respond

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 01:12:21 +0100

At trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, US representatives proposed returning to an energy ceasefire. President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Saturday, February 7. Kyiv agreed to the proposal, he said, while Moscow has yet to respond. The Russian side had not commented at the time of publication.

Zelensky said Russia typically responds to such initiatives only after its negotiators return to Moscow.

Talks among delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the United States took place in the UAE capital on February 4–5 behind closed doors. Kyiv described the meeting as difficult but constructive. According to TASS, Russian participants reported progress on a peace deal with Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the list of unresolved issues had “shrunk significantly,” but “the most difficult” remain. The future of Ukrainian territories occupied by Russian forces is still unclear.

The United States proposed that the negotiating teams from both countries meet in Miami next week, Zelensky said. Ukraine confirmed it will participate. Russian representatives have not yet commented.

Russia has long targeted the neighboring country’s energy infrastructure. On January 29, US President Donald Trump said that after his personal appeal, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to stop shelling Ukrainian cities for the next seven days amid freezing temperatures.

Zelensky confirmed there was an arrangement with Russia on a temporary halt to strikes on energy infrastructure, but clarified there was no direct dialogue with Moscow. Hundreds of thousands of Kyiv residents remain without electricity and heat, and until recently temperatures stayed below minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Overnight on February 2, Russia resumed strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and in preceding days attacked the country with hundreds of drones and several Iskander-M missiles. However, on February 3, Trump said the Kremlin leader had allegedly kept his word on the energy ceasefire.

Source

Zelensky: US pushing for Ukraine-Russia ceasefire by June 2026

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 19:00:36 +0100

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says US representatives in trilateral peace talks are proposing that Ukraine and Russia end the war by the summer of 2026. He made the comments to reporters, according to Ukrinform.

Negotiations among Ukraine, the United States and Russia have been underway since January 2026, with two rounds of consultations already completed.

Zelensky said White House envoys participating in the talks — identified as Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner — are expected to press the Ukrainian and Russian delegations to sign a ceasefire agreement this spring, by June.

He linked Washington’s stance to US domestic politics, saying the White House will soon be focused on congressional elections and other internal issues.

The United States will hold midterm elections in November 2026, when the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate are on the ballot. Currently, the Republican Party led by Donald Trump holds a formal majority in both chambers, giving Trump a freer hand in domestic and foreign policy.

Democrats hope to win back the House in the fall, which would limit Trump’s ability to enact his agenda. An impeachment effort is not ruled out, Zelensky suggested, adding that Trump’s attention is therefore likely to shift increasingly to domestic matters.

Direct Ukraine-Russia negotiations on ending the war began in January 2026 with US mediation. US figures Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also taking part, making the format trilateral — the first such consultations since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Two rounds have been held so far, on January 23–24 and February 4–5, in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. In January, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to an “energy truce,” which the Kremlin quickly violated, according to Ukraine. In February, the sides agreed to — and carried out — a prisoner exchange, and discussed territorial issues, the fate of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, potential steps toward a truce, and mechanisms to monitor a ceasefire. Kyiv calls the talks constructive. Another trilateral meeting is expected soon in the United States.

Source

Trump lifts extra 25% tariff on India after pledge to curb Russian oil imports

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 15:03:44 +0100

India's Ministry of Commerce has not publicly confirmed the White House's claim that New Delhi agreed to halt imports of Russian oil.

Source

🎲 NUCLEAR BLACKMAIL TRAP: can Trump CONTROL the situation, or the Kremlin plays its OWN GAME?

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:00:51 +0100

Source

Lavrov says Ukraine struck energy infrastructure first, claims Russia is responding

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:00:43 +0100

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed Ukraine was the first to strike Russia’s energy infrastructure, adding that the Kremlin decided to target Ukraine’s energy facilities only in response.

He also referenced an “energy truce” with Ukraine that he said Kyiv violated in 2025. He made the comments in an interview with Russian media, TASS reported.

“Russia’s patience is not limitless. It measured for a long time before cutting,” Lavrov said.

Lavrov argued that Moscow had shown “goodwill,” including the purported energy truce in 2025, which he said Ukraine broke.

He added that Russia has explained to the United States that the key issue for Moscow “is not about territory but about people.”

The foreign minister also said Moscow has a “clear conscience,” asserting it had recognized Ukraine as a neutral, non-nuclear country.

Lavrov repeated claims that the West sought to wage war against Russia using Ukrainians as proxies.

He called it “stupidity” to suggest Moscow would try to attack Europe.

Lavrov also accused Europe of seeking to derail US–Russia talks on Ukraine and said European officials’ public remarks do not differ from their confidential contacts.

In the early hours of February 3, Russian forces launched a mass strike on Ukraine using more than 60 missiles and hundreds of drones. Energy infrastructure was hit, leaving people without electricity and heat amid temperatures near minus 20 Celsius.

During a joint news conference with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia deliberately disregarded the conditions of the energy truce between the sides.

“Either Russia now thinks a week has fewer than seven days, or it is truly betting on war,” the president said.

In his evening address on February 3, Zelensky said he expects a US response to Russia’s violation of the energy truce. He noted it was the American side that proposed such understandings for the duration of talks and harsh weather conditions.

On January 29, US President Donald Trump said he personally asked Russian President Vladimir Putin not to attack Ukrainian cities for a week. Putin agreed, he said.

Zelensky later commented that there were no formal agreements between Russia and Ukraine to halt strikes on energy facilities, but said Kyiv was prepared to adhere to such understandings .

The New York Times reported the energy truce emerged after Kyiv over the weekend requested a pause during three-way talks in Abu Dhabi.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later said the truce would be in effect until February 1. That coincided with the end of a brief warm spell in Ukraine.

Source

US ambassador questions troop presence in Poland after official says Trump doesn't deserve Nobel Prize

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:26:34 +0100

Poland has been among the United States' closest allies in Europe since the 1990s.

Source

Trump backs Orban ahead of April elections in Hungary

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 02:16:55 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections in a Feb. 5 post on his Truth Social platform.

Source

New START expires, frees US, Russia from decades of nuclear arms restrictions

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:10:49 +0100

"If it expires, it expires," U.S. President Donald Trump said in his interview with The New York Times when asked about his intentions to extend the New START treaty that officially ended on Feb. 5.

The expiration would put an end to the last bilateral agreement limiting

Source

Lavrov says U.S. is forcing Russian companies out of Venezuela

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:00:25 +0100

The United States, after gaining control over Venezuela, has begun forcing Russian companies out of the country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with RT. “Right now, following what’s happening in Venezuela, they are openly trying to remove our companies from Venezuela,” he said, without specifying which companies he meant.

Among other hostile steps taken by the U.S. against Russia after the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Lavrov cited sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil and the imposition of additional tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, primarily India. “And everywhere the line is: Russian oil and Russian gas will be replaced by U.S. oil and U.S. LNG. Very recently, a document on Cuba was adopted stating that a national emergency is declared due to the threat Cuba poses to U.S. interests in the Caribbean, including because of Russia’s hostile and malign policy.”

Lavrov voiced doubts about the future of economic and investment cooperation between Russia and the United States, and said Putin was surprised when the U.S. imposed new sanctions shortly after the Alaska meeting.

In May of last year, Russia and Venezuela signed a strategic partnership and cooperation agreement. As of October, five joint oil production ventures with Russia were operating in Venezuela. Russian assets in the country are managed by the state company Roszarubezhneft.

In early January, the United States carried out an operation in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was detained in Caracas and taken to New York, where he was charged with drug trafficking. After that, the Venezuelan government began cooperating with the U.S. administration. President Trump said the U.S. would take control of Venezuelan oil sales.

In late January, the U.S. lifted some sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control authorized U.S. companies to buy, sell, transport, store and refine Venezuelan oil. The authorization explicitly excludes firms and individuals from Russia, as well as from China, Iran, North Korea and Cuba.

Source

Pentagon invites Ukrainian firms to co-produce attack drones under Drone Dominance Program

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:00:23 +0100

The Pentagon plans to build a stockpile of hundreds of thousands of attack drones by 2027 and has invited 25 companies to participate, including two Ukrainian firms - General Cherry Corp and Ukrainian Defence Drones Tech Corp, according to a posting on the U.S. military’s website.

The goal of the Drone Dominance Program (DDP) is the “rapid deployment of low-cost, one-way attack drones across the country as part of strengthening America’s arsenal of freedom.”

Phase I is set to begin February 18 at Fort Benning, where the military will test and evaluate vendor systems. It’s expected to wrap in early March, when the Pentagon plans to place prototype orders worth about $150 million.

Deliveries would begin soon after and continue for the next five months.

The program envisions four phases overall. In fall 2025, President Donald Trump spoke about potential cooperation with Ukraine on drones, saying the use of drones on the battlefield “has really come to the forefront” in recent years and that Ukraine produces “very good drones.” He also said at the end of summer that the United States is studying Ukraine’s experience in its war with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier announced two major deals with Washington — a “Mega Deal” for Kyiv to buy U.S. weapons in exchange for security guarantees, and a “Drone Deal” to sell Ukrainian drones to U.S. forces.

He stressed that Kyiv would prioritize arming itself first, exporting only surplus, and underscored the need to control sales to other countries so Ukrainian weapons do not end up in Russia.

Ukraine is also producing interceptor drones jointly with the United States, Zelensky has said.

Source

Zelensky says Russia has tried to kill him multiple times and he’s grown used to it

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:00:23 +0100

Russia has made multiple attempts to eliminate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he said, adding he has “gotten used to it” after repeated efforts to “take him out.” The Ukrainian leader spoke during an interview published February 4 by FraceInfo.

The interviewer noted the heavy security surrounding the meeting, recalling numerous roadblocks and checkpoints on the way to see Ukraine’s president.

“They checked our phones, we were searched several times before we reached the sixth floor,” the correspondent said.

Asked if he fears for his life amid Russia’s war on Ukraine, Zelensky said there have been numerous assassination attempts by Russian services.

“When we talk about fear - you know, Russia has tried to eliminate me several times,” the president said.

He added that he no longer feels the same fear he did earlier in the war. “In a certain way, I no longer feel the fear I had at the beginning of the war. I’ve gotten used to it; it’s part of my life,” Zelensky said.

He did not disclose how many attempts there have been or give specific examples.

The interview, which aired February 4, also covered the war with Russia and prospects for peace talks.

Discussing negotiations with Moscow, Zelensky said Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin “really fears only” US President Donald Trump. According to Zelensky, Trump has leverage over Putin, while the Russian leader does not fear European leaders.

Zelensky also disclosed official Ukrainian losses in the war with Russia, saying many service members are missing and total deaths have reached 55,000.

In addition, he discussed how much time - and how many Russian military deaths - Moscow would need to fully capture the Donbas region.

Source

“Train of invincibility” keeps Kharkiv rail passengers warm during coldest winter since Russia’s full-scale invasion

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:54:47 +0100

UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Feb. 5 — Leaning against the wall of the long train corridor, Yulia Berko watches her son play with other children in the compartment. She waits for her train to Odesa, the city south of Ukraine, one of the places in the country where the weather is still around 0°C (32°F).

“It’s cozy here, and kids can draw and play, so we came here to warm up,” Yulia says.

The carriage is full of visitors, some of them covered in blankets. In some compartments, large thermoses with hot drinks and instant food are on display. The train isn’t moving — it’s not supposed to, for now.

On Feb. 4, Russia launched another massive attack at Kharkiv, severely damaging power infrastructure, and leaving nearly 100,000 locals without heating as temperatures dropped to -20°C (-4°F).

To help Kharkiv, Ukrainian railway company Ukrazaliznytsia sent six carriages of invincibility, where anyone could keep warm, find an internet connection, charge their devices, and so on. Two other carriages were sent to Kyiv, which also suffered from the Russian attack.

The name “trains of invincibility" refers to the “points of invincibility” — special places set up by Ukrainian authorities across the country that operate around the clock and free of charge during power, heating or communications outages. They provide basic necessities, including heat, water, internet access, electricity for charging devices and lighting.

From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., each carriage accommodates up to 50 people at a time and includes a separate children compartment with children’s literature, coloring books and cartoons — and pet-friendly compartments.

“We heat up carriages, and provide hot drinks for those who come to warm up,” says train conductor Natalia Mykhailenko when asked about her duties.

Zhanna Andriianova, another visitor of the “train of invincibility” shares that she came here to drink a hot coffee and spend time with her family, while waiting for her train. She doesn’t share where she’s going.

“This is really helpful, during these cold times," Zhanna says with a smile on her face.

Earlier, the US Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham urged President Donald Trump to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk long-range missiles in response to Russian attacks on the country’s power infrastructure.

Russian forces continue their attacks on Kharkiv energy infrastructure, leaving people without heating, electricity

Hi, Nazar’s on duty! I visited “trains of invincibility" to show you how Ukrainians even in the coldest and darkest times find the way to pull themselves together and keep warm and hope in their hearts. If you want to warm us up in Gwara’s newsroom, please consider buying us a (hot) coffee or becoming a member of our community.

The post “Train of invincibility” keeps Kharkiv rail passengers warm during coldest winter since Russia’s full-scale invasion appeared first on Gwara Media.

Source

Keith Kellogg says he left Trump's White House to be 'free to talk' about Ukraine

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:34:47 +0100

Keith Kellogg, formerly U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy on Ukraine and widely regarded in Kyiv as one of the most pro-Ukrainian voices in the White House, said his work on Ukraine is far from over after leaving government at the end of 2025.

A highly decorated, retired

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🚀 Arm UKRAINE with "TOMAHAWKS" – NOW! Senator GRAM’s appeal to TRUMP #shorts

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:30:05 +0100

Source

Kyiv groans a collective ‘WTF?’ to Trump’s latest Putin comments

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 20:32:28 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that his Russian counterpart "kept his word" by not launching mass missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure for a week has been met with bewilderment and dismay in Kyiv.

"I believe this is either a

Source

Kremlin: India has not told Russia it will stop buying oil despite Trump claim

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:00:58 +0100

The Kremlin said Tuesday it has not received any notification from India about halting purchases of Russian oil. “So far, we have not heard any statements to that effect from Delhi,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, responding to comments by US President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, US ratings agency Moody’s said it is unlikely India will immediately cease all purchases of Russian oil, despite a recent decline in crude imports from Russia. Such a move could “disrupt India’s economic growth,” Moody’s noted in a report cited by Reuters.

India’s refineries will need time to wind down operations before they can stop imports from Russia, and the government in New Delhi has not issued such an order yet, Reuters reported, citing two refining industry sources.

A day earlier, Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed in a call to stop buying Russian oil. According to Trump, India is ready to increase purchases from the United States and possibly Venezuela. “This will HELP STOP THE WAR in Ukraine, which is going on right now and taking thousands of lives every week!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added that Washington agreed to immediately cut the tariff rate for India from 25% to 18%.

For his part, Modi wrote on X that he had a “wonderful” conversation with the US leader. “When two major economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and opens up tremendous opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation,” he said.

In October, the United States announced new sanctions on Russia, citing “Russia’s lack of serious interest in the peace process” to end the war Moscow launched in Ukraine.

Violations could trigger “civil or criminal penalties for US persons and foreign nationals.” Afterward, reports said China and India would sharply cut imports of Russian oil.

Source

Why cold, darkness worsen PTSD among ex-POWs

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:02:55 +0100

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Editor’s note: The following article depicts scenes of violence and torture.

“I’ve started having bad dreams. I remember my punishment cell. It was constantly cold there. Even in summer, it was always cold in our cell,” said Oleksii Anulia, who spent nearly ten months in Russian captivity in 2022.

It has been three years since he was released from the punishment cell, where the air was saturated with mold and the stench of urine and feces.

Yet, this winter Oleksii has begun waking in the middle of the night to flashbacks, as the darkness and cold in his own home resembles the conditions of captivity.

He is not alone. Traumatic memories have intensified among former prisoners of war, with the onset of blackouts, as power outages have become a powerful trigger.

Cold is one of the forms of torture Russian forces systematically use against Ukrainians held in Russian prisons. Today, that same cold has turned into a tool of pressure on civilians, aimed at breaking society and forcing Ukraine into concessions.

Former Ukrainian POW Oleksii Anulia holding his book about his experience in captivity and well-known Patron, the dog. Photo from his social media.

February 1 marked the end of the so-called ‘energy ceasefire’ between Russia and Ukraine, initiated by Donald Trump and purportedly meant to shield Ukrainians from mass strikes during the harshest cold of the winter. This month, Ukraine is experiencing its most severe cold spell of the season, with temperatures in some northern cities dropping to −28°C (−18.4°F).

For prisoners of war, cold has become an all-consuming psychological trigger, demonstrating how exposure to low temperatures can evoke long-lasting consequences for mental health…

… And how methods of torture in captivity can be adapted far beyond the trenches.

Oleksii’s flashbacks to his captivity started again in late autumn when Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure sent it into its first major blackout of the year.

It had been a long time since Oleksii last had nightmares — almost two years — so long that he started to think he might even be free from them.

At the time, he was returning home to Chernihiv after a trip to the United States, where he presented his book about captivity.

“I came back into darkness. The moment I arrived in Kyiv, I realized it was a one-way road — fifty kilometers of uninterrupted darkness. Two or three cars coming toward you, that’s it. The contrast after California felt like I’d arrived in the afterlife,” Oleksii recalled.

A vehicle with headlight on a non-illuminated road during blackout hours in Kyiv on December 10, 2025. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP via Getty Images).

His legs and arms began to seize up again because of the cold, reminding him of how his limbs had rotted in captivity. For the first time in a while, his dreams showed him the days he had tried to forget.

Oleksii Anulia was captured by the Russians in March 2022 when he was defending Chernihiv from the Russian offensive alongside his father. He was the only survivor among his unit at their positions in the village of Lukashivka, 18 kilometers from the city, where he hid in a ditch while the Russians cleared the settlement.

He hid there for a full day until a local resident handed him over to the Russians. Forty minutes later, Russian soldiers surrounded him.

The Russians initially intended to execute him. Instead, Oleksii was taken in for interrogation, marking the start of his personal hell.

Oleksii was taken to a torture site near the border of Belarus, in the village of Vyshneve. In front of him, during interrogations, other prisoners were shot, raped, and stabbed to death. Oleksii himself was stripped naked, and positioned in such a way that he was forced to defecate onto another prisoner lying beneath him.

Oleksii was writing his book about captivity on the torture side in Vyshneve in the Chernihiv region. Photo from his social media.

Later, Oleksii was moved to Russia’s Kursk region, where he spent a little over a month in a pretrial detention center.

“There was very severe ‘intake’ there. They beat us for seven hours straight. I couldn’t go to the toilet even once during the 40 days I was there. I had [bruises] so bad that I couldn’t sit down,” Oleksii said.

In May 2022, he was flown to a maximum-security penal colony in the town of Donskoy in Russia’s Tula region. There, Russians use the most brutal methods of torture: Ukrainian prisoners are not allowed to sleep at night, to move, or to sit.

This colony now appears in Oleksii’s dreams.

Cold is a traumatic event even in peaceful circumstances. In February 2021, when Texas was hit by a severe snowstorm accompanied by freezing temperatures, 4.5 million people were left without electricity.

Nearly one in five who experienced this showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Those who were left without electricity for the longest time were three-times more likely to develop PTSD symptoms.

Winter exacerbates the symptoms of the disorder among veterans like Oleksii. When the days become shorter, circadian rhythms, which regulate sleep, metabolism, hormones and body temperature, are disrupted. Serotonin production decreases, which directly affects mood.

People who have experienced trauma like Oleksii can be triggered by signals, both external (darkness, feeling confined, lack of light) and internal (trembling, numbness, physiological reactions to cold). The brain and body continue to react as if the danger is still present, even though the person is now in a safer environment.

“For [POW], a sudden change in light, darkness – these are triggers [of flashbacks]. Some people even experience disorientation… A person freezes, sits with a stony face as if they are not here. And sometimes the opposite – they start to move chaotically, waving their arms, making sudden movements,” said Hanna Khomenko, a crisis psychologist who works with released Ukrainian POWs.

A worker of the penal colony in the town of Donskoy, Russia. Photo by Media Initiative for Human Rights.

While he was in the penal colony in the Tula region, Oleksii was placed in a punishment cell for more than 100 days, where he remained until his release on December 31, 2022.

It was impossible to get warm in the cell. He was brutally beaten and starved, with no option besides eating a worm or a mouse to calm his exhausted stomach.

“Now I dream about dampness, constant cold urine. I’m standing in it in my slippers, my legs are constantly freezing and festering,” Oleksii said.

In his dreams, he constantly tries to wrap himself in a mesh blanket which lets the cold through the holes in the fabric.

The warmest thing in captivity was a thin sheet. Under it, Oleksii curled up into the fetal position and wrapped himself, rubbing his legs to warm his body. Now, as soon as it gets cold in his home, he feels it through his broken toes, later seeping into his nightmares.

People with PTSD are generally more sensitive to cold than others, which is why the lack of heating in their homes can be harder for them to endure.

Their nervous systems are in a state of heightened stress which causes the body to increase blood flow to vital organs such as the heart and lungs while reducing circulation to the extremities. In addition, chronic stress can constrict blood vessels, further impairing blood flow. This causes an affected person to feel even colder.

In Oleksii’s hometown of Chernihiv, city authorities suspended hot water service citywide last week because the current energy capacity is insufficient to heat residential buildings. Indoor temperatures which can drop to only a few degrees above freezing trigger Oleksii’s physical reactions.

“I can see it in the children. I can see that they have no opportunity to develop or study, no chance to get enough sleep or wash with warm water. For my son, taking a hot shower has already become something like a luxury,” the former serviceman said.

A Ukrainian serviceman released from Russian captivity waves from the bus during POW exchange on August 14, 2025 in Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine. Photo by Maksym Kishka/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC “UA:PBC”/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images.

Meanwhile, prisoners of war who remain in Russian captivity are forced to endure freezing temperatures in even worse conditions. POWs are subject to constant darkness and cold which are inescapable. About 2,500 Ukrainian prisoners of war are still held in Russia or in occupied territories.

Russia has effectively stopped or delayed prisoner exchanges, using them as a tool of pressure on Ukraine in negotiations. Earlier, Ukraine announced a planned exchange of 1,000 for 1,000, scheduled for the end of 2025, but the Russian side postponed it.

Oleksii feels a deep sense of injustice. After fighting to survive against hunger and cold, he has returned to similar conditions. However, Oleksii believes he does not have the right to give up either. Movement and walks in the forest have become his escape. In captivity, he was forbidden even to move.

For Oleksii, it is evident that hardship brings people together.

At home, his family tries to keep warm together, huddling in one room so it doesn’t feel quite as cold. Between the moments of cold conditions and trauma, Oleksii has fully devoted his time to his children, rediscovering how to play board games by candlelight.

“There is no such phrase as ‘I’m tired’ in my vocabulary. I can see how much my children need this. And I see it in other children — those whose parents were killed in torture prisons [whom Oleksii helps]. Right now, I feel like I am the same kind of father to them as well,” he said.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Anastasiia Kryvoruchenko

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

RUSSIA-U.S. NUCLEAR PACT EXPIRES: On Thursday, the last U.S.-Russia nuclear deterrence pact expires, AP reported. Opening up the possibility of the resumption of a nuclear arms race between the two largest nuclear arsenals in the world, after a half-century of nuclear deterrence.

Russia is willing to restrain the growth of its nuclear weapons for another year if the U.S. does the same, Putin said. However, a White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that Trump is expected to make a decision regarding nuclear arms control on his “own timeline”.

Trump has repeatedly advocated for limiting nuclear arms and would like to include China in a pact on nuclear arms control.

EU STATES LEAVE ZOOM AND TEAMS TO DISTANCE U.S.: Last week, Paris announced that 2.5 million public sector employees will stop using American video conferencing tools by 2027, AP reported.

An increasing number of other European governments, including Austria and Germany, are following this move. This will strengthen confidentiality and cyber security while also distancing the U.S. amid the recent tensions between the U.S. and Europe over Greenland.

MORE UKRAINIANS READY TO CEDE DONBAS, BUT WITH SECURITY GUARANTEES: In 2022, more than 80 percent of Ukrainians considered ceding territory to Russia unacceptable. Now, 40 percent are willing to give up Donbas, but only under the condition of lasting peace and strong security guarantees from European and American partners, The New York Times reported.

The issue of control of the Donbas territory is a key point in the Abu Dhabi peace talks. Zelensky has previously mentioned the possibility of creating a demilitarized zone separating the two countries.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Today’s Cat of Conflict is Oleksandra’s cat Compote (it’s also the name of a Ukrainian winter drink made from boiled fruit). Compote isn’t the biggest fan of his new sweater, but without it he gets really cold.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Mariana, Oleksandra

Source

As Budanov takes charge, Russia replaces diplomats with military officers in Ukraine talks

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:00:55 +0100

The nature of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine shifted after the head of the President’s Office changed Andriy Yermak was replaced by Kyrylo Budanov. From that moment, the makeup of not only the Ukrainian but also the Russian delegation changed.

Ukrainska Pravda notes a fundamental shift in the Kremlin’s approach to the talks: instead of long-winded diplomats, Moscow sent professional military officers, reports Ukrainska Pravda.

“Previously, our side had to listen to hour-long sermons about who conquered whom in the past. Now there are military officers at the table discussing very specific issues: withdrawal mechanisms, guarantees, timelines, and so on. This is perhaps the key change that came with Budanov’s arrival,” said one source familiar with the negotiations.

During Andriy Yermak’s tenure as head of the President’s Office, he tried to create a monopoly over the talks. In reality, there were three different channels: the official one led by Yermak together with the Foreign Ministry, and two unofficial ones - Budanov’s contacts and the contacts of Davyd Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People faction.

The official channel conveyed the need to implement the “peace formula,” while the unofficial channels relayed the real position on the situation and processes in Ukraine.

The change at the top of the President’s Office has unified all communications by the Ukrainian negotiating team under Budanov’s control.

Another key detail is the return of Davyd Arakhamia to the delegation. He offers three advantages for Ukraine:

- Arakhamia has a broad network of contacts in the United States;

- Arakhamia worked closely with Budanov back when Andriy Yermak led the President’s Office;

- Since the Istanbul talks, Arakhamia has had direct contacts with Russian counterparts, including Roman Abramovich.

The decision to bring Arakhamia back into the negotiating group was made jointly by Zelensky and Budanov.

Ahead of the overnight strikes on January 3, US President Donald Trump said talks between Ukraine and Russia were going very well and hinted at good news.

Earlier, Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported that US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff would hold another round of talks with Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday and Thursday.

In an interview with Czech outlet Český rozhlas Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv is ready for any format of talks with Russia and the United States. He emphasized that the issue of territory can be effectively resolved only in a personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Zelensky, a trilateral contact among Ukraine, Russia and the United States must come first; without such a format, the teams will not be able to agree on territorial questions.

Source

Ukraine to recalibrate position in talks after Russia breaks 'energy ceasefire'

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 05:30:18 +0100

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia ignored a request from U.S. President Donald Trump and broke an “energy ceasefire.” “The Russians once again disregarded U.S. efforts. The President of the United States asked them to refrain from strikes on the energy sector and critical infrastructure,” he said Tuesday, February 3, at a joint news conference in Kyiv with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Zelensky noted that Trump had asked Russia’s leadership to refrain from strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for one week. The “energy ceasefire” began overnight January 29, and “last night, in our view, the Russians broke their promise,” he added.

In Zelensky’s view, Russia intends to keep fighting and “waited for the coldest days of this winter, when temperatures in large parts of Ukraine are below minus 20 Celsius.” Overnight on February 3, Russia’s military hit Ukraine with 71 missiles and 450 drones in a massive attack timed to the peak of the cold, he said.

Zelensky said Russia used Trump’s proposal for a short pause in strikes not to support diplomacy, but to stockpile missiles and wait for the coldest days of the year for a large-scale attack. As a result, Ukraine will adjust how its delegation approaches the trilateral talks on February 4–5, he warned.

“Each such strike by Russia confirms that attitudes in Moscow have not changed: they still count on war and the destruction of Ukraine and do not take diplomacy seriously,” he emphasized. Zelensky expressed hope that Ukraine’s partners “will not stay silent.” He said Kyiv needs more munitions, including missiles for Patriot air defense systems.

Zelensky also said he was grateful for Rutte’s visit to Kyiv at such a difficult moment and thanked him for his support. Rutte, in turn, said Western partners are considering three levels of security guarantees. The first is strengthening Ukraine’s military with partners’ help so it can defend against any new Russian attack.

The second level is a “coalition of the resolute,” led by France and the United Kingdom, aimed at providing Ukraine’s armed forces with everything they need, as well as guaranteeing other steps in the event of an attack, Rutte said, without specifying what those steps would be. “And the third level is the United States, which said in the summer it wants to join,” the NATO chief added.

Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on the morning of February 3. In addition to talks with Zelensky, he addressed the Verkhovna Rada and honored the memory of fallen Ukrainian soldiers at the People’s Memorial of National Memory on Independence Square.

Source

Putin 'kept his word' — Trump reacts to latest Russian strike on Ukraine

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:57:43 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Feb. 3 that Vladimir Putin had "kept his word" on a temporary truce on strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, remarks that came after Russia targeted Ukraine's power plants overnight.

Source

What will TRUMP say about Russia breaking the truce? – Zelenskyy #shorts

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 20:58:44 +0100

Source

Zelensky says he may run for president again but will decide after the war

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 18:30:24 +0100

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he does not rule out running for president again, but he will give a definitive answer only after the war ends.

Zelensky does not rule out a second run (illustrative photo). Photo: Office of the President.

Zelensky suggested he would likely seek the presidency again, speaking to Czech journalists.

He emphasized that his final decision depends on how the Russia-Ukraine war concludes.

He also admitted he sometimes thinks about running again.

On December 9, US President Donald Trump said Ukraine should hold elections because there has not been one “for a long time.”

The American President argues that Ukrainian authorities are “using the war” to delay the re-election of the president and parliament.

Zelensky responded to Trump’s calls to hold elections in Ukraine by saying, “I’m always ready.”

On December 15, Zelensky instructed lawmakers to prepare a bill enabling elections under martial law.

In January 2025, Zelensky said he was ready to hold a presidential election in the country. He stressed that a ceasefire and security guarantees from Ukraine’s partners are necessary.

Earlier, Zelensky told foreign journalists he is tired of the war. He said he is ready to hand over his office to another politician chosen by Ukrainians, but given the ongoing fighting, he believes he is currently the most experienced person for the job.

Source

Russia's Duma threatens weapons of retribution strikes on Ukraine amid deep freeze

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 22:00:13 +0100

Russian lawmakers are calling for the use of powerful weapons against Ukraine. Members of Russia’s State Duma want to employ them starting next week, coinciding with the peak of a cold snap.

The Russian State Duma is pressing for strikes on Ukraine with the so-called “weapons of retribution,” Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said.

“State Duma deputies insist on using more powerful weapons - ‘weapons of retribution,’” Volodin said, without specifying what kind of weapons he meant.

He added that lawmakers say the goals of the so-called “special military operation,” as Russia refers to its war against Ukraine, are being achieved.

Volodin noted that “new problems for Ukrainians” will be created starting next week, that is, in February.

The threat comes as a severe cold spell grips the country, with the peak expected on February 3–4. Forecasters predict temperatures could fall to minus 30 degrees Celsius in northern Ukraine and the Poltava and Kharkiv regions, with nighttime lows of minus 21 to minus 27 degrees elsewhere.

A day earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said he personally appealed to Putin not to attack Ukrainian cities for a week.

Overnight on January 27, Russian forces struck an energy facility in Odesa. Energy officials say repairs will take a long time because the damage is “colossal.”

Source

Putin's envoy to meet with Trump team in Florida ahead of Abu Dhabi peace talks, White House confirms

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:49:29 +0100

Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev will meet with members of the Trump administration in Florida on Jan. 31, a White House official confirmed to the Kyiv Independent on Jan. 30.

Source

The illusion of a ceasefire in Ukraine

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 21:29:10 +0100

Under immense pressure by weeks of Russian missile strikes, blackouts, and freezing cold, Ukrainians may get a few days of reprieve — at least, according to Washington.

Trump surprisingly announced on Jan. 29 that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed not to strike Ukrainian cities for a week, though Moscow said

Source

With Iran's uprising suppressed, Trump signals that military strikes are back on the table

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:59:46 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump issued another ultimatum to Iran on Jan. 28, threatening to strike the regime if it does not agree to a deal on limiting its nuclear weapons program.

Earlier in January, Iran was rocked by nationwide protests fueled by high inflation and the sharp depreciation of

Source

Russia strikes Ukraine despite Trump’s request for pause

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:58:00 +0100

Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Friday, January 30, hitting Ukraine with 111 drones and one Iskander-M ballistic missile, Ukraine’s Air Force said.

The Ukrainian military reported strikes from the missile and 25 strike drones at 15 locations.

Air defenses shot down or intercepted 80 drones, but the attacks continued into the day.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported a major fire in a suburb of Kharkiv after a missile strike hit a warehouse at a civilian enterprise.

The blaze covered more than 5,000 square meters; deminers and more than 80 rescue workers were deployed.

The latest Russian barrage came less than a day after reports of a temporary halt in strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.

On Thursday evening, U.S. President Donald Trump said Moscow had agreed to stop striking Ukrainian cities for a week due to extreme cold.

“I personally asked Putin not to fire on Kyiv and various cities for a week. He agreed,” the U.S. President said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed there was an understanding with Russia on a temporary pause in attacks on energy infrastructure and praised Trump’s mediation efforts.

He later clarified there had been no direct dialogue and no signed agreements with Russia. Zelensky said that if Russia refrains from striking Ukraine’s energy system, Kyiv will respond in kind.

“I think that’s the response the mediator was counting on, namely the United States,” he said.

Moscow confirmed a call between the U.S. and Russian leaders. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Trump made a personal request that Vladimir Putin refrain from strikes on Kyiv until February 1.

That was needed to create favorable conditions for talks, Peskov said.

He added that Putin agreed to the U.S. president’s request. Peskov declined to specify whether the pause referred to an “energy truce” or a halt to all strikes.

“I have nothing to add on the details,” he said.

Source

Zelensky says Ukraine won’t cede Donbas or Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as U.S. peace plan remains stuck on territory concessions

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:00:51 +0100

A compromise on Donbas has not yet been reached, and Ukraine is not prepared to accept decisions that would violate its territorial integrity.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will not give up Donbas or the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant without a fight, reports Novosti.LIVE.

According to the head of state, U.S. partners have proposed a compromise in the form of a free economic zone. But no agreement has been reached so far. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine must continue to control the territories it currently holds.

“Ukraine is not ready for compromises that lead to a violation of territorial integrity; we will not give the Russians Donbas and the ZNPP without a fight,” the President said.

Zelensky said that of the 20 points in the current American plan, Ukraine disagrees with two. The remaining provisions are acceptable to Kyiv. He also emphasized that the document should be signed at the presidential level.

“When we talk about compromise, it’s about what both sides have to do, not only about the Ukrainian side and a Ukrainian compromise. We believe tough demands on Ukraine are definitely not a compromise. That’s a change to Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” he said.

Zelensky also said that during a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, Donbas was likely discussed.

At the same time, Ukraine was not informed about any understandings reached in Anchorage, though there are signals that key issues were discussed there.

A representative of the UAE government said last week’s discussions among U.S., Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place in a constructive and positive atmosphere.

After talks in the UAE, Donald Trump gave a positive assessment of the momentum toward ending the war.

However, some sources noted that the trilateral meeting among Ukraine, Russia and the United States in the UAE did not lead to significant changes on political issues. In particular, Russian representatives continue to insist that Ukraine withdraw its units from the non-occupied part of Donetsk region.

According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the number of unresolved issues has been reduced to one - territory. The next meeting in the UAE on February 1 may not necessarily include the United States - it could involve only the Ukrainian and Russian delegations.

Source

Zelensky says Russia is targeting logistics during energy truce

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:30:51 +0100

There were no strikes on energy facilities overnight, but there were more attacks on logistics. Drone strikes on urban residential areas also continue.

During the energy truce, Russian occupying forces have reoriented their strikes toward Ukrainian logistics, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday, January 30, on Telegram following a conference call.

“There were no strikes on energy facilities overnight, but even yesterday afternoon there were hits specifically on energy infrastructure in several regions. We are currently recording a reorientation of the Russian army toward strikes on logistics. Drone strikes on typical urban housing also continue,” he wrote.

According to Zelensky, a ballistic missile strike in the Kharkiv region damaged warehouses used for civilian production belonging to a US company.

“In Zaporizhzhia, Shahed drones hit one of the city’s districts. FPV drone strikes continue almost around the clock on Kherson, on cities in the Dnipropetrovsk region, and most of all on Nikopol. The situation is difficult along the border in the Chernihiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions,” the head of state noted.

He said the situation in the Cherkasy region was reviewed separately. In particular, Zelensky said, “much more needs to be done to guarantee people’s basic needs, especially for homes with electric heating.”

Additional resources are being deployed for Kyiv: as of the morning, 378 multi-story residential buildings were without heating.

“Reports also covered the situation in the Kyiv region, Poltava region, Kirovohrad region, Odesa region, Mykolaiv region, Vinnytsia region, Chernivtsi region, Khmelnytskyi region and Zhytomyr region,” the president said.

He tasked Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Anatolii Kryvonozhko, with strengthening counter-drone defenses along the line between Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

“Last year, the Staff made corresponding decisions that have so far been implemented only partially. I instructed that an appropriate inspection be carried out and response measures be presented,” the head of state concluded.

As a reminder, on the evening of January 29, US President Donald Trump unexpectedly said he had allegedly reached an agreement with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin for a week-long pause in shelling Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities due to severe frost. The Kremlin has pledged not to conduct strikes until February 1.

Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the energy truce with Russia. And today he issued a new statement regarding the truce.

Source

Russia agrees to energy truce, halting strikes on Ukraine’s grid until Feb. 1 at Trump’s request

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 15:56:00 +0100

The Kremlin has confirmed that Russia agreed to an “energy truce,” during which it will refrain from striking Ukraine at the request of Donald Trump. The pause will last until February 1, when a deep freeze is forecast to peak in Ukraine.

The truce is purportedly aimed at creating “favorable conditions for negotiations,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, according to RIA Novosti.

“Russia agreed to refrain from strikes on Ukraine until February 1 in connection with Trump’s request,” Peskov said.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service earlier issued a red danger level for February 1–3 because of the coming cold. Rescuers said the coldest conditions are expected in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Sumy, Poltava and Kharkiv regions, where temperatures could range from -20 C to -27 C. In Kyiv, temperatures are forecast at -20 C to -25 C.

Meteorologist Natalka Didenko said the cold will peak February 1–4, with nighttime lows of -20 C to -28 C and locally lower. Environmentalist Oleksandr Sokolenko also warned that severe frosts will return in the coming days and temperatures could drop to -27 C in some regions, including the capital. Ukraine’s Hydrometeorological Center forecasts lows reaching -30 C in the Rivne, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava and Kharkiv regions.

On January 29, U.S. President Donald Trump said he personally appealed to Vladimir Putin to refrain from attacking Ukrainian cities for a week. Putin, he said, agreed to the proposal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later said there were no official agreements between Russia and Ukraine to halt strikes on energy facilities, but Kyiv is prepared to abide by such an arrangement.

The New York Times reported the energy truce was reached after Kyiv requested a pause in strikes during three-way talks in Abu Dhabi over the weekend.

Zelenskyy had earlier warned, citing Ukrainian intelligence, that Russia was preparing a new barrage. (Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba also said Russian forces could target Ukraine’s power system in the coming days as the weather worsens.

Monitoring channels have warned of a large-scale assault late in the week, potentially unfolding in two phases on different days. The first phase would target the capital, which the attackers believe could be decisive for Kyiv’s power and heat supply. The second phase would focus on major energy and gas infrastructure in western Ukraine.

Source

Kremlin says Trump asked Putin to halt Kyiv strikes until February 1

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 15:29:53 +0100

US President Donald Trump made a personal request to Russian president Vladimir Putin to refrain from striking Kyiv until February 1, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a Friday briefing.

“Indeed, President Trump made a personal request to President Putin to refrain for a week — until February 1 - from carrying out strikes on Kyiv in order to create favorable conditions for negotiations,” Peskov said.

Asked whether February 1 itself is included in the timeframe Trump requested, Peskov replied: “Until February 1.”

He declined to say whether Putin agreed to Trump’s request or whether the pause would apply to all strikes or only to attacks on energy infrastructure.

“I have nothing to add on the details beyond what has already been said. I want to emphasize again that this is about creating favorable conditions for talks,” Peskov said.

On the evening of January 29, Trump unexpectedly said he had reached an understanding with Putin for a one-week halt to shelling Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities due to severe cold.

Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed an “energy truce” with Russia. And today he issued a new statement regarding the truce.

Source

Trump’s weeklong ceasefire? Russia says 2 days

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 15:12:18 +0100

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Russia will refrain from striking Ukrainian energy facilities for only two days, officially commenting on the temporary energy ceasefire that was rumoured to start last night.

Yesterday ,Trump said that he had “personally asked President Putin not to fire into Kyiv and various towns for a week during this extraordinary cold,” and that Putin agreed.

Tent Camps Set Up In Kyiv Amid Blackout. Photo by Andrii Khodkov/Apostrophe/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images.

After the Paywall:

What is the context of the so-called ‘energy truce’ taking place?
Is Russia really refraining from striking Ukraine, as Trump claimed?
What’s in it for Russia?

Source

Confusion reigns as Russia says it was only asked to stop attacking Kyiv until Sunday

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:41:44 +0100

The comment from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov came a day after Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to his request not to strike Kyiv as well as other Ukrainian cities and towns for a week.

Source

NEWSFLASH: Trump, Zelenskyy announce energy ceasefire in Ukraine

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:04:24 +0100

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Putin has agreed not to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure for a week at Donald Trump’s request, the U.S. president said during a conversation with journalists at the White House.

US President Donald Trump speaks alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R) during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 29, 2026. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images).

This statement came on the eve of extreme cold weather in Ukraine, with temperatures expected to reach -30°C this weekend. Meanwhile, the energy crisis has been going on for more than two weeks, and some Kyiv residents have been without heating for even longer.

After the paywall:

What preceded the energy truce?
How are Russian officials and society reacting to the energy truce?
What measures is the Ukrainian government taking to endure the harshest winter of the war?

Source

Trump claims Putin agreed not to strike Kyiv, other Ukrainian cities 'for a week'

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:31:44 +0100

"I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week," Trump said. "And he agreed to do that."

Source

Putin aide invites Zelensky to Moscow for talks, vows security guarantees

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:06:21 +0100

Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Vladimir Putin, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can come to Moscow if he is ready to meet the Russian leader. He added that Russia would guarantee the Ukrainian leader’s security.

Ushakov’s remarks about potential peace talks were published on January 28 by Russian state TV journalist Pavel Zarubin. Responding to comments by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha about Zelensky’s readiness to meet Vladimir Putin, Ushakov said the issue is “not new” for the Kremlin.

According to Putin’s aide, a meeting with Zelensky was discussed several times during phone contacts with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ushakov said Russia has “never refused and is not refusing” such a format for peace talks.

“The main thing is that these contacts be well prepared and aimed at achieving concrete, positive results. And our president has said several times in conversations with journalists that if Zelensky is truly ready to meet, we invite him to Moscow and will guarantee his security and the necessary conditions for work,” Ushakov said.

Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Zelensky is ready to meet with Putin, in an interview with European Pravda published on January 27. According to Sybiha, the Ukrainian president is prepared to discuss the occupied territories and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Zelensky said on January 23 that parameters for ending the war and the logic of the negotiation process were discussed during trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, noting that ending hostilities requires Russia’s willingness.

U.S. President Donald Trump praised the Russia-Ukraine talks and told reporters that “very good things are happening” in relations between Kyiv and Moscow.

Source

Exclusive: Trump's top envoy negotiating Ukraine's fate displays 'shocking' lack of knowledge about war, politics

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 20:46:33 +0100

A senior U.S. envoy involved in efforts to end Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has displayed a lack of basic understanding of Ukraine's political system and the war itself while speaking to reporters, the Kyiv Independent has learned.

The official is engaged in high-level negotiations

Source

14 countries close the Baltic Sea to Russia’s shadow fleet, vow to detain stateless tankers

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:30:22 +0100

Russia’s shadow fleet will no longer be allowed into the Baltic Sea. An official letter says growing interference with satellite navigation in European waters “originating from the Russian Federation” is creating risks. As a result, ships that conceal their nationality by changing flags and names will be detained.

Vessels may sail under only one flag and must carry valid safety and insurance documentation, according to a joint statement published by the UK Department for Transport.

Tankers that do not meet these requirements will be treated as stateless vessels and will be detained.

The statement said Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom issued the warning after publishing a joint open letter through the UK government.

In that letter, the countries said the growing interference with satellite navigation in European waters “originating from the Russian Federation” undermines the safety of international shipping. All vessels are at risk.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, interference with satellite navigation has been documented for years, with European aviation regulators warning about an increase in GNSS jamming and spoofing incidents affecting areas around the war zone and disrupting air and maritime traffic.

“Maintaining trust in maritime navigation requires more than just technology — it requires accountability, transparency and decisive action. We must ensure the safety of our seas, including in the event of failures or disruptions to systems,” the statement said.

The signatories warned that shadow tankers concealing their origin — changing flags, switching off transponders or operating without proper documentation — will be considered stateless. Such ships may be detained without legal risk.

On January 22, French Navy personnel boarded an oil tanker sailing from Russia under a false flag. The operation took place in the Mediterranean Sea.

And on January 20, the United States detained the oil tanker Sagitta in the Caribbean, a sanctioned vessel that is part of Russia’s shadow fleet. The tanker violated a quarantine in the Caribbean imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump for sanctioned vessels.

Source

Ukraine: U.S. to sign separate deals with Kyiv and Moscow amid dispute over Donbas-linked guarantees

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:24:41 +0100

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said that, at this stage, a direct agreement between Ukraine and Russia to end Russia’s war of aggression is not under discussion.

“Speaking strictly about this 20-point framework (an agreement to end the war in Ukraine), for now it’s a bilateral document to be signed by the United States and Ukraine.”

“As for Russia — the United States would sign with Moscow as well.”

“That’s the structure currently being discussed, but negotiations are ongoing — it’s a process,” Sybiha said in an interview with European Pravda.

European partners, whose signatures are not envisaged on the agreements, “are present in the peace process and in the arrangements on security guarantees,” Sybiha added, noting that “for the first time we are talking specifically about ‘security guarantees,’ not ‘assurances’ or something similar.”

He also confirmed there will be no U.S. peacekeepers on Ukrainian territory under any outcome of the talks.

Two “sensitive issues” remain unresolved in the negotiations — territory and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, he said.

To resolve them, President Volodymyr Zelensky is ready to meet personally with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sybiha emphasized.

According to The Financial Times, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated to Ukraine that Washington’s security guarantees depend on Kyiv agreeing to a peace deal that would likely include ceding Donbas to Russia.

Two of them said Washington also promised Kyiv additional weapons deliveries to support the country in peacetime if Ukraine meets that condition.

Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly rejected the article’s claims, accusing the FT of “allowing malicious and anonymous lies to spread in order to derail a peace process that is in an excellent stage after the historic trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi.”

A senior official in Kyiv said the U.S. is “using guarantees to push Ukraine” toward concessions that, in Washington’s view, could “bring Russia to the negotiating table.”

Several Ukrainian officials and military analysts warned that if Russia takes Donbas, it would give its forces a springboard for deeper advances into Ukraine.

The Trump administration expects a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement to be concluded by May 15 this year, Oleksiy Honcharenko, a Verkhovna Rada lawmaker from the European Solidarity party, said on the Ranok.LIVE online program on January 27, citing his sources.

He said May is viewed in the U.S. as an informal deadline for a deal between Kyiv and Moscow, after which the American side may exit the talks.

Over the weekend, Abu Dhabi hosted the first trilateral negotiations among representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the United States on ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president later praised the talks and said delegations will meet again on February 1.

Source

Secret US cyber operations shielded 2024 election from foreign trolls, but now the Trump admin has gutted protections

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:00:00 +0100

US intelligence and cybersecurity officials secretly conducted operations to shield the 2024 US election from foreign troll interference, effectively preventing widespread online disinformation and election interference. However, these protective measures have been significantly weakened under the Trump administration, which has rolled back key cybersecurity protections, raising concerns about the resilience of future elections. The article, authored by Sean Lyngaas and published 10 hours ago on CNN Politics, details how the proactive cyber defenses worked to counter foreign influence campaigns and how changes in policy now expose voter infrastructure to increased risks. The reduction in protections comes amid broader debates on election security, foreign interference, and disinformation threats from adversarial actors.

Category: Cyber & Information Warfare

Subcategory: Cyber Attacks

Incident Type: Hacking, malware, ransomware

Country: United States of America

Source report: www.cnn.com/2026/01/2…

Source

Zelensky sought China’s involvement in Russia talks, but Beijing backs Moscow, diplomat says

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:00:03 +0100

Ukraine is seeking broad international backing to hasten the end of the war, but some countries continue to defend the Kremlin’s interests. Among them, China plays a prominent role, actively supporting Russia and supplying it with economic and technical resources.

In comments to the outlet Telegraf, Ukrainian lawmaker from the Servant of the People party and diplomat Bohdan Yaremenko said China is working to prevent Moscow’s defeat — and is not hiding it.

Moreover, Beijing’s support for Russia has a clear strategic purpose, he said. China supplies equipment, transport and material resources that Moscow cannot produce at such scale.

Yaremenko argued that Beijing views the Russia-Ukraine war as a confrontation between the Kremlin and the West and seeks to prevent a U.S. and European victory.

He also emphasized that it is virtually impossible for Ukraine to change China’s position.

“China recognized its national interests long ago, and we cannot convince them that their understanding of what is happening in Ukraine is wrong. They understand it the way they do, and we will not impose our vision on them under any circumstances. Believe me, the president tried,” he added.

Yaremenko said some experts see Donald Trump’s outreach to Vladimir Putin as an attempt to pull Russia away from China. However, he said, that does not change Ukraine’s situation.

He explained that Trump does not view Putin as an enemy and does not seek an escalation with Russia, which is why support for Ukraine - compared with previous U.S. administrations - has significantly decreased.

“An attempt to please Martians, or someone else… And what do we get out of it? Trump does not consider Putin an enemy and does not want any escalation in relations with Russia. That’s what matters! I do not know the real reasons for Trump’s love for Putin, but all this results in us not receiving the kind of support we had under the previous administration,” the lawmaker concluded.

As a reminder, Ukraine and Russia buy key components for combat drones from the same factories in China. Notably, those companies have reportedly been forced to set up “dual schedules” so clients from the warring countries do not physically cross paths.

According to ISW analysts, Russia continues to deliberately drag out the negotiating process over the war in Ukraine and insists on its initial military demands.

Source

'Absurd' — Trump's Board of Peace project falls flat in Ukraine

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:27:08 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump's unveiling of his new "Board of Peace" drew a divided response from the international community.

Most of Europe — including Ukraine — was absent from the signing ceremony in Davos, which featured mainly Middle Eastern leaders and Trump's ideological

Source

WATCH LIVE! Jake Broe on Trump and “peace”: why the Kremlin won’t end the war, and Ukraine’s future

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:12:11 +0100

Source

Russia plans new missile and drone strikes to bolster leverage ahead of UAE talks

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:00:03 +0100

This week, Russia is expected to carry out another act of what he calls missile terror and mass “Shahed” drone raids, military observer Aleksandr Kovalenko warns. The logic, he says, is simple: Moscow wants to bolster its position before negotiations in the UAE and sees no other trump card than terror against civilians.

Ahead of the next round of talks in Abu Dhabi, Russia plans at least one combined missile strike -likely on Kyiv - and at least two mass drone raids of more than 200 drones each.

Beyond continued attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine’s rear, the enemy will intensify pressure on the Hulyaipole axis to seize the city of the same name, and on the Pokrovsk axis to try to lock in control of the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad agglomeration.

Throughout January, the 5th Combined Arms Army operating on the Hulyaipole axis with the 127th Motor Rifle Division and the 57th and 60th Separate Motor Rifle Brigades received support from adjacent armies, including the 38th and 64th Separate Motor Rifle Brigades, as well as the 69th Separate Covering Brigade from the 35th Combined Arms Army. Earlier, the 37th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade of the 36th Combined Arms Army and the 5th Separate Tank Brigade were also forced to reinforce the worn-down resources of what used to be the main breakthrough force on the Southern Donbas axis.

The command of the Russian occupation forces is now weighing the introduction into the battle for Hulyaipole of full-strength reserve forces—the 34th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade of the 49th Combined Arms Army, which is part of the Dnepr Group of Forces, as well as elements of the 90th Tank Division. These forces were meant to be used only after reaching the right bank of the Haichul River, but they could be committed soon to accelerate the occupation of Hulyaipole.

The Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad agglomeration may be approached from the north, through Krasnyi Lyman, Rodynske and along the Hryshynka River, with an advance to the outskirts of Hryshyne itself.

In addition to these two main tasks, activity by Russian forces will be catalyzed along the entire front line, with heightened attention to Kupiansk, Vovchansk, Kostiantynivka and Chasiv Yar.

Moscow’s aim, he argues, is straightforward: before the next round of talks, significantly harden its ultimatum-style negotiating position by terrorizing Ukraine’s rear areas and seizing new territory to demonstrate it has the means to continue the war.

The anticipated missile strike would combine ballistic missiles such as the 9M723 with a subsonic cruise component, most likely the 3M14 Kalibr. The most likely days for a strike are Wednesday or Thursday. Although the readiest launch platforms for such an attack are sea-based, their use could be affected by factors ranging from weather conditions to strikes on Russia’s Black Sea flotilla in Novorossiysk or even at sea.

Weather conditions are also complicating tasks on the battlefield, where the enemy has to gnaw through the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ stable defenses in frost and snow.

From all of the above, one can conclude that for the Russian negotiating team the first round of talks in Abu Dhabi ended in failure, so they will try to strengthen their position through terror.

Source

Ukrainian MP: No end to the war as Putin seeks brief truces to buy time

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:00:01 +0100

Russian President Vladimir Putin does not intend to end the war in Ukraine but will try to buy time for U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian lawmaker and secretary of the Verkhovna Rada’s national security committee Roman Kostenko said. The politician outlined how long a ceasefire might last and whether strikes on energy infrastructure would pause.

Moscow will make statements so that Washington does not seize the entire shadow fleet at once, Kostenko said in a clip published by UNIAN. Given that, a 1–2 day or even weeklong ceasefire is possible. An “energy truce” could also happen. In his view, there will be no end to the war in the near term; Russia’s actions will focus on protecting key interests, producing new missiles and resuming hostilities.

Kostenko’s comments were published midday January 26, after the latest round of talks in Abu Dhabi. The Ukrainian politician said Putin “will play with negotiations”: short-term understandings with Trump are possible to signal apparent “readiness,” but the Kremlin has no real plans to end the war.

“There definitely won’t be an end to the war; I don’t see it. Well, anything can happen, but I don’t see it in the near future. Putin will toy with such negotiations: with energy truces, with one- or two-day or weeklong ceasefires, just to keep Trump’s attention,” Kostenko said.

According to the lawmaker, Russia is using the talks so its shadow fleet isn’t seized, to avoid 100% sanctions on Russians or their satellites, and to keep building missiles.

“This is part of a game that will lead back to renewed hostilities. It’s simply Putin’s game,” he concluded.

The third round of trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi was held January 22–24 with delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Russia. Washington expressed confidence in the talks’ effectiveness; Ukraine put forward proposals for an international military peacekeeping contingent and a demilitarized zone. Russia’s proposal, meanwhile, was Ukraine’s capitulation and ceding part of Donetsk region. A representative of the United Arab Emirates told media there was reportedly “unexpected chemistry” between the delegations. On the morning of January 26, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “constructive negotiations” were underway and stressed the importance of adhering to the “spirit of Anchorage.”

During the Abu Dhabi talks, Russia carried out a massive strike on Ukraine, launching nearly 400 drones and Zircon and Kh-22 missiles.

Source

Putin secretly sends 'special tasks' general to Abu Dhabi talks with Ukraine, signaling a Kremlin strategy shift

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:00:28 +0100

Russia sent not a diplomat but a professional Kremlin “fixer” to the Abu Dhabi talks - a figure who for years has operated on some of the grittiest fronts of President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy, according to media reports.

The Abu Dhabi meeting revealed a key detail: alongside GRU chief Igor Kostyukov, Moscow dispatched one of the Kremlin’s most secretive and seasoned negotiators, Lt. Gen. Alexander Zorin. His participation was not officially announced, but journalists from the news outlet Agentstvo identified him from meeting videos.

Within Russia’s system, Zorin is known as a man for “special tasks.” In the West, he is seen as an architect of gray-zone operations and no-rules talks. Over the years, he handled the Syria portfolio, took part in negotiations around Azovstal, and oversaw the recruitment of Syrians for entities linked to the Wagner private military company.

Zorin’s presence at the table signals something larger: Moscow no longer appears confident. The Kremlin has concluded that its previous tactics - pressure, delay, and performative dialogue — no longer work, the outlet reports.

Sources describe Zorin as a specialist in “hard negotiations,” where the aim is less to agree than to compel the other side to accept terms. Bringing him in suggests Russia views the talks as both critically important and potentially risky for itself.

Notably, delegations were seated intermingled rather than in separate blocs - a setup that underscored the tense format and a lack of Moscow’s usual control.

The Kremlin understands the U.S. posture has shifted. Donald Trump is signaling a readiness to exert pressure - economically, politically, and with force. For the first time in a long while, Russia finds itself reacting rather than setting the agenda, the outlet writes.

That is why Moscow sent GRU operatives rather than Foreign Ministry diplomats - an attempt to retain leverage where traditional diplomacy no longer suffices.

Zorin’s own profile is another signal. His biography is directly tied to gray operations, coercion, manipulation, and military negotiations. Experts note figures like him surface not when things go to plan, but when they are slipping out of control.

Source

Jake Broe: Trump's reasons for participating in peace talks – attention and publicity #shorts

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 21:30:06 +0100

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⚔️ARMED FORCES COMMANDER PREPS OFFENSIVE, TRUMP – SANCTIONS:UAE talks. New stage of the war in 2026

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 17:00:31 +0100

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Europe defenseless? Zelenskyy said it out loud and backed Trump

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:00:29 +0100

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Zelenskyy: Security guarantees agreed upon — Trump needs to sign

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:01:33 +0100

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Inside Trump’s chaotic Ukraine peace process

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:01:58 +0100

The Kyiv Independent's Chris York speaks with Adam Entous, an investigative reporter at The New York Times, about his new investigation into the first year of U.S. President Donald Trump administration's peace efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine.

Source

Zelensky 'counting on' more US air defense missiles, security guarantees following meeting with Trump at Davos

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:01:11 +0100

"We spoke with President Trump about additional anti-air missiles – the PAC-3s, against ballistics, which are what we need," Volodymyr Zelensky said. "I'm counting on a positive result."

Source

Zelensky ready to make a peace deal, Trump claims after Davos meeting

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:08:13 +0100

"He said he'd like to make a deal. ... He came and he said he wants to make a deal," Trump said. He mentioned the "tough" situation Ukrainians face amid a worsening energy crisis, without bringing up Russia's attacks on critical infrastructure.

Source

Trump and Zelenskyy REACHED A DEAL? Kremlin drags out PEACE PROCESS again | News Pulse

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 21:00:33 +0100

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Trump says he will meet Zelensky today in Davos

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:13:08 +0100

Ukraine's Presidential Office has not confirmed that the meeting will take place.

Source

Trump says Putin accepted Board of Peace invite — while Russia mulls paying for permanent seat with frozen assets

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 03:53:51 +0100

"Given the special relationship with the Palestinian people, Russia could direct $1 billion from Russian assets frozen under the previous U.S. administration to the Board of Peace," Putin said, referring to Trump's indications that a $1 billion payment would secure a permanent seat on the board.

Source

Trump LEAKED PRIVATE CHATS with Macron and Rutte about Ukraine #shorts

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:30:06 +0100

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Chat with MACRON & RUTTE – TRUMP starts SCANDAL? Ukrainian air defense SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHENS!

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:00:23 +0100

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❗️Trump: meeting with Zelenskyy! Deal with Putin incoming – signing tomorrow?! #shorts

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:55:57 +0100

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Republican congressman slams Trump's Russia policy, Greenland threats

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:17:07 +0100

The Kyiv Independent’s Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R) about U.S. President Donald Trump's approach to ending Russia's war against Ukraine, arguing that appeasing Russia would only invite further aggression and calling on tougher sanctions on Moscow.

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Budanov says Ukraine is on path to end the war but urges caution on quick peace

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:00:36 +0100

Ukraine is “on the path to a fundamental resolution of the war,” but talk of a quick peace is premature, Head of the President’s Office Kyrylo Budanov said during a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“To be frank, we are moving forward. And ‘cautious optimism’ is the term I would use to clearly describe this situation,” he said.

Budanov expressed hope that Ukraine is “on the path to a fundamental resolution of the war.”

“We are moving forward. You can’t say peace is guaranteed tomorrow. If someone says that, it’s definitely not true,” he said.

At the same time, he stressed that “a lot of effort is being made.”

“First and foremost, efforts are being made by us and by the United States. Whether someone likes it or not, there is movement. It truly exists. And we are indeed making progress. Will we be able to succeed in the near term or not? That also depends a lot on the Russian Federation. You understand who we’re dealing with,” Budanov said.

The head of the President’s Office emphasized that Ukraine is directly involved in the negotiation process, so it’s incorrect to say that “Ukraine should have a seat at the negotiating table.”

Speaking about the key conditions for a future peace, Budanov underscored that Ukraine needs a just peace, security guarantees and a clear plan for recovery.

“We are pooling efforts, mobilizing and will see this through. We need a just peace, that’s right. We need security guarantees. We need a plan to rebuild and revive Ukraine. But infighting will not help,” he said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky currently remains in Kyiv, which was hit by a massive Russian attack. A condition for traveling to Davos and meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is the presence of concrete results.

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Trump demands 'immediate negotiations' to acquire Greenland, says war in Ukraine is Europe's problem

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:29:49 +0100

"I'm seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

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Trump SEIZES Russia's "SHADOW FLEET"! China, North Korea, and Iran AGAINST NATO

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:16:07 +0100

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🔴URGENT! Donald Trump's special address at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos!

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:57:36 +0100

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Trump's envoys Witkoff, Kushner to meet Putin in Moscow

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:09:06 +0100

"The Russians have invited us to come, and that's a significant statement from them," Witkoff said in an interview with Bloomberg TV in Davos on Jan. 21, amid a Washington-led push to broker peace between Kyiv and Moscow.

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Lukashenko agrees to join Trump’s Peace Council

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 02:22:34 +0100

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday, January 20, signed a document to join the “Peace Council”, a body created by US President Donald Trump to help broker a settlement in the Gaza Strip and around the world, reported Belarusian state news agency BelTA.

The Telegram channel “Pul Pervogo,” which is close to Lukashenko’s press service, posted a photo of the document. In it, an address to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio states that Belarus accepts the Peace Council’s charter.

Reuters noted the move marks another step in Minsk’s rapprochement with Washington after years of international isolation.

In 2025, Trump began easing sanctions on Belarus following the release of several political prisoners. The US president also called Lukashenko a “highly respected president.”

A draft charter sent by the US administration to about 60 countries proposes that members contribute $1 billion (€853 million) in cash if they want their membership to last more than three years, Reuters reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he had received an invitation from Trump to join and said Ukrainian diplomats are studying the proposal.

“For me it’s very hard to imagine how we and Russia will be together in one council or another. And this is not about this Council (of Peace). It’s just that Russia is about a ‘council of war.’ And Belarus along with it,” Ukrainska Pravda quoted Zelensky as saying.

Trump initially pitched the Peace Council as a body to address the conflict in the Middle East. In October 2025, it received a corresponding UN mandate.

But the US president appears to be seeking to broaden the Council’s remit. The Gaza Strip wasn’t mentioned at all in the founding charter that the White House sent to world leaders on January 16 along with invitations to join. Instead, the first paragraph of the preamble asserts that ensuring sustainable peace requires “abandoning approaches and institutions that too often have failed.”

The document doesn’t mention the UN in this context, but Trump has repeatedly criticized the organization, accusing it of inaction.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accepted an invitation to join the Peace Council, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on January 18. The next day, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also accepted Trump’s invitation “with sincere gratitude,” according to his spokesperson Ruslan Zheldibay, adding Tokayev aims to contribute to durable peace in the Middle East, stronger interstate trust and global stability.

Germany received an invitation from Trump to take part in the Peace Council on the Gaza Strip and is ready to discuss with the US and partners how to achieve a long-term settlement, the German government said. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin received a similar invitation on January 19, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. Moscow has not yet responded.

In all, Trump has invited about 60 countries to the Peace Council, according to media reports. Invitees include leaders of Turkey, Canada, Uzbekistan, several EU countries and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Also named to the structure are US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US special envoy Steven Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, World Bank President Ajay Banga and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Trump will chair the body. Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov has been appointed High Representative for the Gaza Strip.

News of the Peace Council’s formation came shortly after the announcement of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic administration tasked with managing day-to-day life in the Gaza Strip.

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Trump blames Ukraine war negotiations deadlock on Moscow, Kyiv failing to align on talks

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 02:08:30 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Jan. 20 that he has been unable to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, claiming that neither side is consistently willing to agree to a deal at the same time.

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Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov likens Russia’s Crimea annexation to Trump's ambitions in Greenland

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:28:42 +0100

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov compared Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea to the situation involving Greenland and the United States.

Speaking Tuesday, January 20, at a year-end 2025 news conference, Lavrov said: “Put the people of Crimea in the place of the people of Greenland, and a lot will probably become clear to you.”

According to Lavrov, in Crimea “people went to a referendum after an unconstitutional coup.”

“And in Greenland no one staged any coups. Simply, as President (U.S. Donald) Trump said, that territory is important for the security of the United States. Crimea is no less important for the security of the Russian Federation than Greenland is for the United States,” the foreign minister continued.

At the same time, the minister said there is no evidence that this autonomous Danish territory will be “seized by Russia or China.”

“We proceed from the fact that… we have nothing to do with this issue. We are observing — it is, without question, a serious geopolitical situation,” Sergei Lavrov added. He said Moscow will draw conclusions “based on how this problem is resolved.”

Earlier, the U.S. President said: “If you look now (at the situation) beyond Greenland, you will see there are Russian destroyers everywhere, Chinese destroyers... as well as Russian submarines.” “We will not allow Russia or China to occupy Greenland, and that is exactly what they will do if we do not take action,” PBS NewsHour quoted Trump as saying.

Danish and other European officials have emphasized that Greenland is protected by NATO’s collective defense provisions. In addition, the American military presence on the island is ensured under a 1951 agreement.

At the news conference, Sergei Lavrov also addressed the situation surrounding the tanker Marinera (Bella1), detained January 7 in the North Atlantic under a U.S. federal court warrant for violating American sanctions.

According to the foreign minister, the United States assured Moscow “that same day or the next morning” that a decision to release two Russian citizens from the ship’s crew “was made at the highest level.” However, “the following days showed that this decision is not being carried out,” he said, expressing hope that “our American colleagues will keep their promise.”

The Bella 1 initially sailed under the Panamanian flag and tried to approach Venezuela’s shores despite a U.S. blockade.

In December 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard sought to detain it, but the crew - citizens of Russia, Ukraine and India - refused to comply and sharply changed course. The crew painted a Russian flag on the hull. A few days later, the Bella 1 was renamed Marinera and entered into the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

The interdiction operation was carried out with the assistance of the U.S. Departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Defense after a Coast Guard vessel tracked the ship. A boarding party reportedly took part. The boarding occurred before the arrival of Russian warships and a submarine that had set course toward the Marinera shortly beforehand.

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Trump, Putin envoys call Davos talks on Ukraine 'very positive,' and 'constructive'

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:28:28 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys met with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Davos on Jan. 20 to discuss Washington’s peace plan for Ukraine, with both sides describing the talks as constructive.

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TRUMP'S "PEACE COUNCIL" – invites BOTH UKRAINE AND RUSSIA?! Europe EXPOSES Kremlin's spy networks

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 21:00:17 +0100

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Europe loads 'trade bazooka,' ready retaliatory measures against Trump's Greenland tariff threats

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:23:32 +0100

The European Union is preparing a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on NATO allies over Greenland, with leaders set to discuss retaliation options at a summit on Jan. 22, two people familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent.

The dispute escalated

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Kyiv hesitant as Trump invites Ukraine to his Peace Board

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:43:42 +0100

Zelensky said Ukrainian diplomats are reviewing the invitation but stressed it would be "difficult to imagine" sitting at the body alongside Russia and Belarus, who were also invited.

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Trump unleashes chaotic late-night tirade against Europe, vows to take Greenland

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:37:32 +0100

Editor’s Note: The Kyiv Independent has made an editorial decision not to edit messages from U.S. President Donald Trump for grammar or clarity.

When European officials woke up on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump hadn't gone to bed yet. He was busy attacking European

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Denmark 'substantially increases' Greenland troops as Trump won't rule out using force

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:29:06 +0100

Chief of the Royal Danish Army Major General Peter Boysen will also deploy to the island alongside soldiers.

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Kremlin: Putin invited to Trump’s Gaza peace council

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:30:59 +0100

Russian president Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join the Gaza “Peace Council” being set up by US President Donald Trump, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Monday, January 19.

“At the moment, we are reviewing all the details of this proposal and hope to establish contacts with the American side to clarify all nuances,” Peskov said, according to the Interfax news agency.

On January 18, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Prime Minister Viktor Orban received an invitation from the US president to join the new international body.

“He is flattered by this invitation and will, of course, take part in the Council’s work,” Szijjarto said.

A day later, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev “gratefully” accepted a similar invitation from Trump.

Tokayev aims to contribute to a lasting Middle East peace, strengthen inter-state trust and global stability, his spokesperson Ruslan Zheldibay said.

Bloomberg reported that the US president also invited several other world leaders to join the executive council of the “Peace Council,” including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney.

On January 16, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin is ready to take part in the “Peace Council.”

“We expect concrete discussions on this topic soon and perhaps an invitation will follow,” the top diplomat said after meeting his Austrian counterpart, Beate Meinl-Reisinger.

“I think the ‘Peace Council’ will be an important institution,” Wadephul emphasized on January 16. He added that Gaza’s future can only be successful if Hamas - designated a terrorist organization by the EU and US - plays no role.

The Telegraph previously reported that the “Peace Council” will likely include representatives from the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.

News of the “Peace Council” came shortly after the announcement of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic administration tasked with handling day-to-day governance in Gaza.

On January 14, US President Trump’s special envoy Witkoff announced the start of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire. The phase includes, among other steps, the disarmament of Hamas and the deployment of International Stabilization Forces (ISF) in Gaza to support the Palestinian police.

According to a White House press release, Major General Jasper Jeffers, former commander of US Central Command special operations forces (CENTCOM), was named ISF commander.

In December, Hamas said it would be ready to lay down its arms under certain conditions, including a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. “The presence of our weapons is explained by occupation and aggression. If the occupation ends, these weapons will be placed under the control of the state,” Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya said.

Hamas - designated a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States - launched an October 7, 2023 assault on Israel that escalated the Middle East conflict. Militants fired rockets, crossed into Israeli territory and carried out the deadliest mass killing of civilians in modern Israeli history, killing about 1,200 people. They also took around 250 hostages to Gaza. Some hostages were later exchanged or freed; some were killed.

Israel responded by declaring war on Hamas. More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 169,000 wounded during the ground operation and airstrikes in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The methodology behind those figures is unclear, including how many Islamist fighters are among the dead and whether deaths from natural causes among hospitalized Palestinians are included.

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Putin invited to join Trump's new Gaza Peace Board, Kremlin claims

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:17:24 +0100

Moscow is currently studying the proposal, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to state news agency TASS.

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Trump vows to eliminate 'Russian threat' to Greenland as he ramps up pressure on Europe

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:47:10 +0100

"NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that 'you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland,'" Trump said, accusing Denmark of being unable to counter it.

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EU prepares to retaliate against Trump's Greenland threats

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 22:21:23 +0100

The European Union is preparing possible retaliation against the United States, including up to 93 billion euros ($101 billion) in tariffs or restrictions on U.S. companies operating in the bloc, amid escalating tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump over Greenland, the Financial Times reported Jan. 18.

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SHOCKING STATEMENT! Trump Names Who’s Blocking Peace in Ukraine

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 21:00:16 +0100

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Russia welcomes Trump's tariffs on NATO allies over Greenland as 'collapse' of alliance

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 15:18:29 +0100

"The transatlantic alliance is over," Kremlin economic negotiator Kirill Dmitriev said.

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'No intimidation or threat will influence us' — Europe hits back at Trump tariff warning

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 21:45:55 +0100

French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and other officials voiced support for Denmark, Greenland, and principles of international law in statements denouncing Trump's tariffs on Jan. 17.

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Does Russia or China actually threaten Greenland? Experts say Trump's warnings don't match reality

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 18:28:43 +0100

President Donald Trump has been fixated on controlling Greenland, suggesting that U.S. ownership of the island is crucial in blocking Russian and Chinese expansion.

"If we don't go in, Russia's going to go in, and China's going to go in," Trump

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Ukrainian delegation arrives in U.S. for Miami peace talks on security guarantees and economic aid

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:40:31 +0100

A Ukrainian delegation arrived in the United States on Saturday, January 17, for a new round of talks with American mediators on ending the war waged against it by Russia. The delegation includes the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, and Servant of the People parliamentary faction leader Davyd Arakhamia.

Talks between the U.S. and Ukraine on potential paths to end the war are set to continue the same day in Miami. According to Kyiv, the focus will be on security guarantees and Ukraine’s long-term economic development.

Washington’s mediation efforts have been underway for weeks, but on key issues — including possible NATO membership for Ukraine and Russia’s territorial claims — Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart. Russia is pushing maximalist demands that Kyiv says amount to Ukraine’s capitulation.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump again accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of dragging out peace talks. Zelensky, for his part, has repeatedly called for increased pressure on Moscow. He also said a bilateral document with the U.S. on security guarantees for Ukraine is largely ready for finalization at the highest level.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., Olha Stefanishyna, said work is planned in Miami on agreements covering security guarantees and the “economic uplift of Ukraine” totaling up to 690 billion euros. If progress is made, the documents could be signed as early as next week at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Russia is not taking part in the Miami talks, but U.S. officials are expected to travel to Moscow soon. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Russia is expecting a visit by U.S. special representative on Ukraine Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to discuss ways to end the war. Both visited Moscow in early December for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In his evening address the day before, Zelensky warned of the risk of new massive Russian air attacks. He cited a shortage of air defenses and urged the West to speed up deliveries.

Amid bitter cold, with overnight temperatures in some regions dropping to minus 20 Celsius, Ukraine is facing serious power disruptions. Russian missile and drone attacks on energy infrastructure have triggered electricity and heating outages across many regions. The situation remains especially difficult in Kyiv, where emergency power cuts have been imposed in recent days.

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Trump steps on the gas: fast peace for Ukraine – can diplomacy stop the drones?

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:01:21 +0100

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Only reliable U.S. aid for Ukraine: McDonald’s

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:00:39 +0100

Editor’s Note:

We first started to do a story about McDonald’s after we realized how much of a reaction there was in Ukrainian society when McDonald’s breakfasts resumed during the war.

In recent days, it’s become blisteringly cold – with forecasts this week of lows down to -30° Celsius (-22° F). Help us avoid the temptation to hang out in McDonalds for warmth and Big Macs. Support our team today!

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Disclaimer: The Counteroffensive team urges you to eat fast food in moderation. And no, this isn’t a sponsored post! In fact, the corporate offices of McDonald’s Ukraine declined to comment or cooperate at all for this article.

A firefighter shines a flashlight as he searches the debris of a damaged metro station and Mcdonald’s, following a rocket attack in Kyiv, on January 18, 2025. (Photo by TETIANA DZHAFAROVA/AFP via Getty Images)

The smell of burgers. A Happy Meal with a cool toy. A McFlurry for dessert. A carefree childhood. No war, power outages, or missiles overhead.

This is the picture that McDonald’s paints for many Ukrainians. Reopening its Ukrainian storefronts in September 2022 was a massive event — a speckle of joy amidst the war.

“It’s nostalgia and a kind of return to childhood, to times when you’d come with your parents for a quick bite — those are wonderful memories,” said Vitalii Lazarenko, an employee at one of Kyiv’s McDonald’s locations.

Vitalii Lazarenko at work. Photo from his Instagram.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion, McDonald’s completely suspended its operations in Ukraine due to uncertainty about the future and concerns for employee safety. But by September 2022, it began to seem like Ukraine would sustain its fight, and the chain gradually began to resume operations.

In 2025, the McDonald’s network in Ukraine expanded by 12 restaurants, a rate of opening restaurants that surpasses previous year. The chain now counts 120 restaurants, exceeding the pre-war number of 109.

After the mass Russia’s attack on January 8, when Kyiv lost most of its heat and electricity, McDonald’s has also become an invincibility point, as people can come here to work, use their wifi, or recharge their devices.

One McDonald’s, near Lukianivska metro station in Kyiv, was hit by shrapnel recently - making it possibly the most war torn McDonald’s in the world. This is also the oldest McDonald’s in Ukraine.

The walls of the McDonald’s near Lukianivska metro station are pockmarked from shrapnel due to numerous shellings. Photo by The Counteroffensive, January 9.

McDonald’s was one of the first foreign chains in Ukraine when it opened its first store here, symbolizing the final fall of the Iron Curtain and integration into the global economy. For many Ukrainians, it’s a cultural touchpoint, a point of commonality with the United States.

McDonald’s restarted operations on September 20, 2022, after 7 months offline due to the invasion. It may seem silly, but at the time, it was seen as a point of celebration.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively worked on talks with McDonald’s and even the U.S. officials to reopen its restaurants in Ukraine. “This is primarily a signal to the international business community that it is possible to operate in Ukraine, even under wartime conditions… Ultimately, this is part of Ukraine’s recovery,” Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of foreign affairs at that time, said on his Facebook when McDonald’s announced its gradual reopening.

Ukrainians, as they always do with both bad and good news, reacted with jokes and memes.

Post on Twitter on September 19, 2022, taken from Dzerkalo Tyzhnia: Glovo [delivery company in Ukraine, that also works with McDonald’s] couriers after Mcdonald’s reopening.

When the restaurant was gradually renewing its operation, Vitalii got a job there.

“I just needed some extra income. I thought I’d work for two weeks, buy everything I had planned… There was a huge number of visitors because everyone missed McDonald’s, everyone missed burgers,” Vitalii said.

Ukrainians initially became familiar with the American fast-food chain in 1997, when the first restaurant was opened in Kyiv.

In the days following the opening, lines stretched for dozens of meters. About 30,000 people visited McDonald’s on the first day. It was not just about a new fast-food brand — it symbolized that Ukraine was finally open to the Western world, and the Soviet Union no longer limited its connection.

All the popular Western things felt glamorous for Ukrainians, who just opened to the outer world. That’s why visiting it felt like a holiday and a special occasion.

Lines to the first McDonald’s in Ukraine in 1997 after it was opened. Photo from Oboz.ua.

Ukrainians have many fast food chains now, both domestic and foreign. But McDonald’s remains incredibly popular.

Vitalii’s path to McDonalds was certainly random. He has been obsessed with TV shows, anime and video games since he was about 12. Even when he turned 27, his adoration for cosplay (a hobby in which people dress up as their favorite characters from movies, video games, TV shows) only grew. The turning point in his love for cosplay was when he made his first costume and attended Comic Con in 2021 — the largest comics and cosplay festival in Ukraine, uniting tens of thousands of people with similar interests.

Comic Con Ukraine. Photo from its website.

“I was inspired that all the people are the same kind of geeks, just like me — talented, dreamers, [with] very interesting personalities. I really loved this celebration of geek culture, this atmosphere where anyone can feel part of a festival of their passions,” Vitalii recalled.

Vitalii promised himself that he would not stop at Comic Con and would make it a more permanent hobby. The next cosplay costume he created was Spider-Man, which is one of many costumes he shared on his social media.

Vitalii Lazarenko in his Spider-Man costume. Photo from his Instagram.

This hobby led him to McDonald’s in September 2022. His passion is a costly one – so he needed money at that time. His friend who worked there told Vitalii that the restaurants were just starting to reopen and faced a staffing shortage.

In September 2022, three restaurants opened in Kyiv, but only for delivery. Then, the doors actually opened and people were able to come and eat. Huge lines of people gathered near reopened spots waiting for hours to have a nostalgic burger that they had last tasted during a time of peace.

Lines to one of the Kyiv McDonald’s after it was reopened in September 2022. Photo from RBC-Ukraine.

Myroslava, Managing Editor of The Counteroffensive, had a birthday at the period of McDonald’s reopening and it was a big birthday present for her.

“I began joking with my husband that if it opens before my birthday, I want a cake made of burgers or a mountain of burgers — basically, I begged him to bring me those burgers…He told me that he stood in line at McDonald’s for two hours because there were so many people, and he was already cursing those burgers, but as we know — a woman’s wish is law,” Myroslava told.

Myroslava’s birthday cake in October 2022 made of cheeseburgers and fries. Photo provided by her.

Recently McDonald’s had a huge attention from visitors again due to collaboration around an American cultural phenomenon. Now, you can order meals and receive a toy related to the U.S. sitcom ‘Friends’ – meaning figures of Rachel, Ross, Joey, Chandler and Phoebe are available for Ukrainians.

(The Counteroffensive also has an article about Ukrainians’ obsession with the ‘Friends’ television show).

The ‘Friends’ menu from McDonald’s with figurines. Photo from RBC-Ukraine.

Vitalii confessed that the Ukrainians are so obsessed with the show that they asked to buy caps that were part of workers’ uniform and said ‘McDonald’s - Friends’.

Even though the popularity of the restaurant remains high, war affects how and when you can visit. As soon as an air raid alert goes off, all the visitors are evacuated and the work stops.

“I’m a pretty stress-resilient person. I felt like I was in my element [from the very first day],” Vitalii said.

At first, Vitalii handled various tasks. He worked in the kitchen and as an assistant to the cooks.

“Sometimes I go up and ask people how they’re enjoying the restaurant, and it even lifts their mood. They’ll say things like, ‘Seriously, thank you, you just made my day,’” Vitalii said.

It was this attention to guests that earned him the role of hospitality specialist. His main responsibility is now to create an environment that enhances the customer experience.

Vitalii’s favorite memory about McDonald’s is his 8th birthday celebration. Though his recollection is foggy, he still remembers the party hosts. He also recalls a special tram car, which used to serve as a tram on Kyiv roads, but became entertainment for kids’ birthdays at McDonald’s, as it was remade and decorated for special occasions.

Photo of the tram car at one of Kyiv’s McDonald’s. It says on it: “Birthday at McDonald’s!”. Photo from Village.

Many establishments in Ukraine have already gotten used to air raid alerts as part of everyday protocol, something one has to learn to adjust to. Most establishments do not close and continue working if the attack is not nearby.

Not McDonald’s. Each time the sirens sound, McDonald’s locations stop their work and evacuate visitors to the nearest shelter.

This safety policy is one of the reasons that McDonald’s is still closed in Kharkiv, a city in the north east of Ukraine. Kharkiv suffers from strikes on a near-daily basis, sometimes even before the air raid alert sounds.

Kharkiv citizens share on social media that they are ready to go to another city just to have their favorite combo.

Post on Threads: “McDonald’s in Kharkiv doesn’t work – so what now? Kharkiv citizens started storming Poltava [a city in the neighbouring region two hour drive from Kharkiv] en masse to satisfy their burger cravings. We weren’t an exception. Every trip [to the city] it [McDonald’s] worked at turned into a burger coma with 9 nuggets and a final touch of a McFlurry. Yes, exactly like that. We went for the taste and our favorite combo far outside the city! And we just sat there thinking, well, this can’t really be normal.”

Another post on Threads: “My friend brought me McDonald’s from Kyiv to Kharkiv. I’m blown away.”

McDonald’s near the Lukianivska metro station in Kyiv, the oldest one in Ukraine, has become one of the restaurants hit most frequently by Russian attacks.

As of February 2025, the restaurant has already been damaged five times due to Russian strikes.

Workers board up and repair a McDonald’s restaurant in the Lukyanivska metro station in Kyiv after a Russian attack. At least three were killed. (Photo by Jen Golbeck/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

On the night of January 8, most of Kyiv citizens were left without heat or electricity during the most brutal winter weather in recent years, when temperature at day can drop to –15°C.

McDonald’s became one of the places that turned into an invincibility point for people. Vitalii says there are a lot of people coming to his spot to work on their laptops.

“We fully support people coming in to charge their devices and rest after difficult nights of shelling,” Vitalii said.

Editor’s Note:

We first started to do a story about McDonald’s after we realized how much of a reaction there was in Ukrainian society when McDonald’s breakfasts resumed during the war.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Oksana Stepura

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

TRUMP’S TEAM “BOARD OF PEACE” EXPANSION: The Trump administration is considering expanding its “Board of Peace” for Gaza to serve in global hotspots like Ukraine and Venezuela. While the board was originally formed to oversee Gaza’s post-war transition, officials are now proposing it as a mechanism to monitor and guarantee a 20-point peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

The group has been called a “substitute for the UN” and the original board intended for Gaza has still not been fully realized and many details are yet to be clarified. The board is expected to be formally unveiled at the World Economic forum in Davos.

CHINA STOPPED BUYING RUSSIAN ELECTRICITY: As of this January, China has stopped importing electricity from Russia because Russian energy prices have risen above China’s domestic rate.

This mark is part of a continuing decline of Russia-Chinese trade in 5 years which began in 2025.

RUSSIA FAKES TERRITORIAL GAINS TO SWAY PEACE TALKS: Russian military officials are falsely claiming control over Kupyansk to influence peace talks and pressure the U.S. into accepting a peace deal on the Kremlin’s terms, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

While Moscow claims it has seized the city, visual evidence and even pro-Russian military correspondents confirm that Ukrainian forces maintain control over most of the city and surrounding areas.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have taken out heating for many in Ukraine – including Oksana’s Mary, who, despite her luscious fur, is so cold that she has to sleep in a bathrobe.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Nastia

Source

Trump floats tariffs on countries opposing his Greenland ambitions

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:52:41 +0100

"I may put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security. So I may do that," Trump said.

Source

Ukraine embassy in Iran temporarily closed as Trump eyes possible strikes

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:23:48 +0100

The embassy said it would provide further updates on the resumption of activities and any additional measures.

Source

Zelensky sends Budanov and Umerov to the U.S. for peace talks on Ukraine’s peace plan

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:03:55 +0100

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a Ukrainian delegation led by Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov and National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov is already en route to the United States for talks. A peace plan for Ukraine is expected to be one of the main topics.

Zelensky announced the planned peace talks with the U.S. during a joint media appearance with Czech President Petr Pavel on January 16. He noted that despite everything, the Ukrainian team continues active work with representatives of U.S. President Donald Trump.

“In the coming days, meetings for our Ukrainian representatives in the United States are planned. The Ukrainian delegation is now on its way to the United States. And we hope there will be more clarity both on the documents we have effectively prepared with the American side, and on Russia’s response to all the diplomatic work that has taken place and is ongoing,” the president said.

Zelensky added that Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure speak volumes about the Kremlin’s intentions.

“They’re not interested in agreements, but in the further destruction of Ukraine. And that is precisely why diplomacy is ‘stalling,’” he said.

Zelensky detailed the delegation’s planned meetings in the U.S.

On January 8, Zelensky said that following talks in Paris, the Ukrainian side agreed with U.S. and European negotiators on security guarantees and “basic parameters for ending the war.”

In an interview published January 15, U.S. President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin is “ready to enter into a peace agreement,” while Ukraine is “less ready.”

Also on January 15, during a meeting with foreign diplomats, Putin said Russia would “consistently pursue its goals” if the Kremlin’s conditions are not accepted.

Source

Ukrainian delegation en route to US to meet Trump's team

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:08:12 +0100

Ukraine hopes to gain more clarity on "documents that we have actually drafted with the American side, and regarding Russia's response to all this diplomatic work," Zelensky said.

Source

France replaces US as main intelligence provider to Kyiv, Macron says

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:40:31 +0100

The change works to solve Kyiv's heavy dependence on the U.S. for military intelligence, which has been wielded as leverage against Ukraine by the Trump administration on several occasions.

Source

Venezuelan opposition leader Machado meets Trump at White House, gifts him her Nobel Peace Prize medal

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 04:59:28 +0100

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado presented U.S. President Donald Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal during a White House meeting on Jan. 16.

Source

⏰ 60 SECONDS to answer TRUMP'S question – what did the AMERICAN ask? #shorts

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:30:14 +0100

Source

European forces arrive in Greenland as Trump threatens to acquire island by force

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:08:02 +0100

A meeting between U.S., Danish, and Greenlandic officials on Jan. 14 failed to defuse tensions.

Source

Armenia and the U.S. launch 'Trump Route' corridor without Russia

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:00:20 +0100

Russia will not participate in the TRIPP initiative, which is designed to connect Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through Armenia.

The launch of the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) underscores shifting power dynamics in the South Caucasus, where Moscow is losing influence. The logistics-focused project is moving ahead without Russia.

At a news conference in Washington, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said Russia’s participation in the new transport corridor was not discussed and that the project’s parameters are already set.

Mirzoyan’s remarks came after he and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a joint statement to implement TRIPP. The sides also agreed to create the TRIPP Development Company, which will hold development rights to the route for 49 years.

Under the deal, the United States will own 74% of the company and Armenia 26%, with Yerevan’s stake potentially increasing to 49% over time, according to a statement published by Armenia’s Foreign Ministry.

The joint statement says the project is expected to bring Armenia investment and economic development, while providing the United States with new transport routes and access to additional markets.

Armenia will retain full sovereign control over its territory, laws and borders. Yerevan commits to actively facilitate the project by coordinating state bodies, issuing necessary permits, maintaining constant contact with the U.S. side and expanding cooperation with neighboring countries.

The top U.S. diplomat said TRIPP will open Armenia to business and help it prosper economically.

The TRIPP concept was agreed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in August last year, when a Washington-brokered declaration to cease hostilities laid the groundwork for the infrastructure push.

The route is set to link mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic via Armenia’s Syunik region.

Plans call for building highways and rail lines, as well as oil and gas infrastructure, along a stretch of roughly 42 kilometers.

The project is viewed as a key element of regional economic integration and long-term stabilization in the South Caucasus.

Source

Trump claims Putin ready to reach peace deal, Zelensky in the way

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:29:12 +0100

"I think (Russian President Vladimir Putin is) ready to make a deal. I think Ukraine is less ready to make a ‍deal," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

Source

Republican congressman blasts Trump's Greenland invasion talk as 'one of the dumbest things' that could wreck NATO

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:43:07 +0100

A U.S. invasion of Greenland would be "one of the worst things" any American president has done in recent years, Republican Representative Don Bacon told the Kyiv Independent on Jan. 14, as White House escalates rhetoric toward Denmark's autonomous territory.

U.S. President Donald Trump

Source

From Venezuela to Iran, Trump shows 'how weak Russia really is,' ex-US envoy says

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:52:24 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump demonstrates he is "increasingly comfortable with the use of force" on the global stage, Kurt Volker said in an interview with the Kyiv Independent.

Source

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief says Russia planned to reach Odesa and end the war in 2025

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 22:00:14 +0100

Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russia intended to finish the war in 2025 with a decisive defeat of Ukraine, aiming to cut the country off from the sea - plans that Kyiv says were thwarted.

“The past year was a major test for us. The Russian aggressor sought to end the war against Ukraine - planning to end it with a rout, imposing its conditions from a position of strength,” the general said in a post on Facebook.

According to Syrskyi, Russian forces tried to occupy the remaining parts of Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as the right-bank part of Kherson region. Moscow’s objective, he said, was to push to Odesa and completely cut Ukraine off from the sea. But Ukraine’s Defense Forces prevented critical breakthroughs, disrupted the Russian plans and repeatedly forced Russia to delay scheduled operations.

“We held on. Because our soldiers worked to the limit, with full dedication, inflicting maximum losses on the occupiers and reducing the enemy army by more than 418,000 killed and wounded over the year,” Syrskyi said.

He added that, thanks to the defenders’ results on the battlefield, Russia has been unable to build up its forces for a long time. Each month, more Russian troops are eliminated on the front line than Moscow calls up, he said, while Ukrainian losses declined by 13% over the past year.

“This year proved we can systematically exhaust the enemy and significantly reduce its potential. The Defense Forces did not allow the aggressor to realize its plans, preserved strategic positions and laid the groundwork for further actions,” Syrskyi concluded.

On January 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia may be preparing a new large-scale combined strike on Ukraine. He urged people not to ignore air-raid alerts and said the enemy wants to exploit the cold.

Bloomberg reported that in 2025, the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine rose by nearly 30% compared with the previous year. The outlet also analyzed that efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to push negotiations were followed by more extensive attacks against civilians.

Source

Ukraine says it's preparing for elections, referendum. Is it realistic?

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:31:01 +0100

In recent weeks, President Volodymyr Zelensky began actively promoting the idea of holding a referendum and potentially presidential elections immediately after a ceasefire is reached.

The goal of these preparations is to convince U.S. President Donald Trump that Ukraine is serious about a potential peace deal.

However, there are

Source

Ukraine officially awards lithium deposit to Trump-linked investors, $179 million set for development

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:07:41 +0100

Ukraine’s prime lithium deposit has been officially awarded to a U.S.-linked group of investors as the country courts U.S. President Donald Trump with business deals amid ongoing peace proposal talks.

Source

EASTERN DONBAS: WHO WILL OWN THESE LANDS according to TRUMP'S plan? #shorts

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:30:18 +0100

Source

How a drought drives Iran’s protests

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:53:16 +0100

Editor’s Note:

From Ukraine to Iran, The Counteroffensive tells human stories behind global struggles for democracy.

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“Before, the younger generation was complaining about having no future or no employment… but now [the issue] is much more fundamental: It’s about food,” said Mehdi, an agriculture expert who was born and raised in Iran.

Mehdi left Iran decades ago, but is now witnessing his country at a boiling point. As someone who has studied the space deeply, he believes water and agriculture are at the center of it all.

Since late December, massive protests have surged across Iran’s 31 provinces.

Iranians poured onto the streets after the Iranian rial hit its lowest-ever value against the U.S. dollar. But even before runaway inflation, water was already running short in Iran. Years of mismanagement and drought have driven up food prices and made everyday life harder for Iranians nationwide.

The rising cost of food in Iran is a multi-faceted problem that includes export policies, sanctions and the depreciating currency — but Iran’s water shortage has only accelerated the crisis. Scarcity has made water significantly more expensive for farmers and has reduced their crop yields, contributing to the rising food inflation which has now reached about 64 percent, according to Fanack Water.

Now, the country is in a state of severe unrest as the government suppresses resistance: at least 500 people have been reported dead according to human rights groups and over 10,000 detained as protests flood through the streets.

Trump has been threatening military action against Iran as protests intensify and death tolls climb. The Iranian government has responded by shutting off access to the internet, making it incredibly difficult to get news out of the country.

Beyond Iran, this serves as an example of how resource shortages, layered onto fragile economies, can accelerate a crisis to the point of potential collapse.

Iranian protesters block a street during a protest in Tehran, Iran on January 9, 2026. (Photo by MAHSA / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images).

Iran’s water management policies changed course drastically with the Ayatollah-led regime that came to power in 1979.

Under the Shah modernisation and industrialization were the state’s priority, meaning that agriculture fell by the wayside. However, after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, which had drawn support largely from rural areas, the new regime made agricultural expansion a cornerstone of their political agenda.

Agricultural expansion required arid areas to be irrigated and led to the construction of wells and dams, and ultimately resulted in the damaging overuse of Iran’s water resources.

As a child, Mehdi watched his family manage a farm in Iran, but the situation for farmers back then was different. Today, the required distance to drill to obtain water is three times what it was when Mehdi was a child — he doesn’t even remember his relatives having any problem getting water, but today “water is like gold,” Mehdi said.

The dried-up riverbed of Zayanderud in Isfahan, Iran, on December 1, 2025. (Photo by Hozi / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images).

In 2025, Tehran, a city of roughly 10 million people, was facing its driest fall season in over 50 years. Over the past 20 years, Iran’s renewable water resources have declined by over 30 percent, according to Geopolitical Monitor. This past year, rainfall was so scarce that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made an announcement in November that if rain didn’t come, parts of Tehran could face evacuations.

The drought, along with the spiraling currency, has exposed the government’s mismanagement, and driven protesters onto the streets.

“Without water, farming doesn’t mean anything,” Mehdi said.

Mehdi’s own family in Iran has felt the effects of these water shortages.

His brother who lives on the fourth floor repeatedly has water cuts and is forced to take showers in the middle of the night, when the apartment’s water consumption is low. His sister, meanwhile, often finds that her fridge is empty due to the rocketing food prices the water shortage has caused.

Mehdi has tried to convince his brother to leave Iran, but with no success.

Mehdi believes that it’s not just the overuse of Iran’s water resources but the misallocation of them — overprioritizing water-intensive industries rather than basic needs. Companies linked to the government began growing water-intensive crops like watermelon around Lake Urmia, a lake which largely dried up due to the agricultural activity surrounding it, the dams and climate change.

Those who refused to stay silent were immediately punished.

In 2018, Iranian hydrologist and environmentalist Kaveh Madani left a teaching job in London to become the deputy head of Iran’s environment department. However, four months into his time in Iran things turned sour.

Madani had publicly criticised the government’s water management policies and was detained amidst a government crackdown on environmentalists in Iran. After a few days he was released and fled the country.

Protests over similar frustrations of rising food prices erupted in Iran in 2017 and 2018. Over 20 people were killed and hundreds arrested.

In the last three years alone, Iran’s food prices have tripled and water has only become more scarce. Mehdi has witnessed whole families sorting through the trash for food. Reports of children fainting at school due to hunger have come out of Iran just last year.

“I wouldn’t call this food insecurity – I would call it a food crisis,” he added.

Last week, the Iranian government announced a plan to roll out payments worth the equivalent of $7 USD to try to simmer protests.

A market in Iran as people shop amid soaring prices and the worst economic crisis since 1979, in Tehran, Iran on January 7, 2026. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images).

But it’s not only water mismanagement which is running the country dry – leaky pipes and failing infrastructure reportedly account for more than 40 percent of treated water being lost before it can be used.

“[The sanctions] impact everything…even when I went to go get a new ID card, after the documents were finished they said it would still take two years to just print the ID card,” Mehdi said.

As the protests in Iran became increasingly violent, the regime cut off Iran’s internet: 90 percent of internet traffic in Iran has disappeared, according to The Guardian.

Mehdi hasn’t been able to talk to his family in multiple days. Their last conversation was about how unlivable life had become in Iran.

“When I check their Whatsapp, I just see that their ‘last seen’ was a few days ago,” Mehdi said.

*Mehdi’s name was changed in this story for security purposes.

Editor’s Note:

From Ukraine to Iran, The Counteroffensive tells human stories behind global struggles for democracy.

Your support helps us keep reporting from the ground.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By: Yelyzaveta Kolos

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

TRUMP THREATENS NEW TARIFFS ON COUNTRIES TRADING WITH IRAN: Trump announced an immediate 25% tariff on any country doing business with Iran, a move that could sharply raise costs for imports into the United States.

The details on how defined “doing business” were not clarified, neither was the way the tariff would be enforced. But this could hit Iran’s major trade partners such as China, India, and Turkey.

The move shows Washington’s readiness to use trade pressure against countries tied to its geopolitical rivals. As Russia, Iran and China deepen connections, such measures could affect global markets and indirectly shape the balance of support and resources linked to the war in Ukraine.

NORTH KOREA DEFENDS RUSSIA AT UN AFTER STRIKE ON UKRAINE: North Korea criticized a UN Security Council meeting convened to discuss Russia’s recent missile strike on Ukraine, calling it prejudiced and unfair. Pyongyang’s UN ambassador defended Russia’s actions as self-defense and accused Western countries of politicizing the discussion.

The reaction underlines deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, as North Korea backs Russia diplomatically and militarily. This growing alignment helps Russia offset international isolation and sustain its war effort.

GERMANY TO FUND DELIVERY OF RHEINMETALL LYNX VEHICLES TO UKRAINE: Rheinmetall will supply Ukraine with its first Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles, with deliveries expected to begin in first half of 2026. The initial batch will include five vehicles, funded by the German government and is estimated to be worth around 50 million euros.

The Lynx vehicles will be adapted to Ukraine’s military needs and equipped with a two-man Lance turret. Further deliveries are planned, with the possibility of producing additional vehicles inside Ukraine.

The deal strengthens Ukraine’s ground forces and helps modernize its army and sustain resistance against Russia’s ongoing invasion.

US VETERANS GROUP MOBILIZES SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE:

American Veterans for Ukraine works to unite and empower U.S. veterans in support of Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression. The organization focuses on raising public awareness and using veterans’ voices to build understanding of why Ukraine matters to the United States.

The group also prioritizes protecting continued U.S. government funding for Ukraine by engaging policymakers and the public. By leveraging veterans’ credibility and leadership, the initiative aims to keep Ukraine firmly on the US political agenda during the war.

DOG OF WAR:

Today’s dog of war is this cutie that Liza met when she was working in the cafe during a long power outrage in her district. The puppy was patiently waiting for its owner to finish her work.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Alessandra and Jacqueline

Source

Russia aims to seize all of Donetsk region by April, with four scenarios for what comes next

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 02:26:29 +0100

Moscow has two priorities for 2026 - the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions - according to sources. There are at least four possible paths ahead, ranging from a full halt to the war to continued fighting with little prospect of talks.

For 2026, Russia’s top objectives are the full capture of Donetsk region by April 1 and expanding the territory it controls in Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian outlet RBK-Ukraine reports, citing sources.

Unnamed interlocutors view the Donetsk timeline as unrealistic, a conclusion echoed by various analytical centers, including the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

“Putin is demanding the entire Donetsk region from us. And at the same time he’s starting active fighting in Zaporizhzhia. Their plan is this: while you resist and don’t want to give up Donbas, I’ll advance in Zaporizhzhia, so choose what to defend,” one source said.

A sharp change in the nature of the war is not expected. The key variable is negotiations, which could either reach a climax or fizzle. The outlet outlines four scenarios for how events in Ukraine could unfold next.

Scenario 1

- The United States fails to bring Ukraine and Russia to common ground as Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to abandon maximalist terms unacceptable to Kyiv. The White House organizes fewer talks and applies no coercion.

- After a “seasonal” lull, Russia’s offensive intensifies in the spring and slowly expands its temporarily occupied territory. Moscow fails to fully capture either Donetsk or Zaporizhzhia regions by 2027.

- “Russian offensive actions on the front run in parallel with the negotiation process. The enemy has clearly defined battlefield objectives, already prepared. And they will keep advancing until Putin himself says ‘stop,’” a senior military source said.

Scenario 2

- Russia fails to break Ukraine’s Defense Forces at the front - or Ukrainian society through strikes - and raises the stakes. Controlling roughly 75% of Zaporizhzhia region, the Russians expand their claims there.

- Those demands are unacceptable to Ukraine, and the war continues.

Scenario 3

- The United States and Russia force Ukrainian troops to withdraw from Donetsk region. Fighting stops and the sides finalize other parameters to end the war.

- The peace is largely formal, leaving long-term risks hanging over Ukraine.

Scenario 4

- U.S. President Donald Trump manages to freeze fighting along the front line. Using that line as a baseline, the sides begin hashing out a peace deal.

- Ukraine has a chance to retain de facto and de jure control over parts of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

“Right now Putin wouldn’t mind stopping, but only on his terms - the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donetsk region. Is that the only prospect? No. He’ll stop either when he gets the terms he wants, or when he’s boxed in — when continuing the war becomes unjustifiable and too costly for him,” one source emphasized.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (GUR) has said that in early 2026 Russian forces used a Geran-5 strike drone against Ukraine for the first time. The drone is about 6 meters long with a wingspan of up to 5.5 meters. Intelligence says Russia is considering arming the UAVs with R-73 air-to-air missiles.

The agency later released images of a downed Geran-5 drone. The stated strike range is roughly 1,000 kilometers. Military-political analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko said the drone’s use appeared to be a hostile experiment and that Russia’s high command is unlikely to be satisfied with the results.

Source

US imposes 25% tariffs on countries that do business with Iran as anti-government protests continue

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:30:24 +0100

"Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America. This Order is final and conclusive," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

Source

Trump wants Venezuela's oil — markets may not care

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 20:18:12 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump made no secret of his plan for Venezuela.

"One of the things the United States gets out of this will be even lower energy prices," Trump said in a Jan. 9 meeting with energy executives.

“Our giant oil companies will be spending

Source

Fact Check: Satirical Post Said Trump Smelled Like Rotten Beef, Farted Audibly During White House Meeting With Oil Executives -- Not Real News

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:38:44 +0100

Did an actual news outlet report that an oil executive said Donald Trump "smelled like rotten roast beef" and audibly farted multiple times during a White House meeting with oil industry leaders? No, that's not true: The viral message making those claims originated on a satirical X.com account. There were no actual news reports that any participant in the Jan. 9, 2026 meeting with Trump had made on-or-off-the-record comments of that sort to journalists.

The Jan. 10, 2026 X post (archived here) was published by The Halfway Post and read:

BREAKING: A top oil company executive says Donald Trump "smelled like rotten roast beef" during his big White House meeting on Venezuela, he farted audibly no less than a dozen times, and he kept getting up to look at and compliment the nonexistent ballroom like he's senile.

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

(Image source: The Halfway Post on X.com)

The Halfway Post bio (archived here) reads:

Dadaist graffiti news. Halfway true comedy and satire for your doomscrolling by @DashMacIntyre. I don't report the facts, I improve them.
Subscribe to my Substack ➡️substack.com/@thehalfwaycafe

Lead Stories searched the Google News index of thousands of news sites for articles with the terms "oil executive" and "Trump and "smelled like rotten roast beef", finding no coverage (archived here) of any such report, which would have been widely re-posted and covered if it were a real report.

Source

Inside Venezuela’s oil refineries

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 15:00:32 +0100

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The location of Puerto La Cruz in Venezuela, where José Bodas worked.

CARACAS, Venezuela – José Bodas says you could blindfold him, place him anywhere inside the Puerto La Cruz oil refinery, and he’d know exactly where he was.

The sensation of the winds, the rhythmic percussion of the machinery, the sounds of valves and compression pumps, and the pungent smells – he can segregate them all and associate them with a specific section.

He was in 11th grade when he first started working at Puerto La Cruz refinery in Anzoátegui, Venezuela. At that age, José was fascinated by cars and the way gasoline could power almost anything. He earned a technical diploma in petrochemical operations upon graduating high school and began working at Puerto La Cruz in 1987, when he was 18.

“I found it extremely interesting because it was something totally different,” said José. “I was thrilled to acquire a great amount of knowledge, and it was going to give me an opportunity to develop professionally in the main industry of the country.”

Almost four decades later, José still works at the refinery as a plant operator. He is also the secretary of Venezuela’s Unitary Federation of Petroleum and Gas Workers, the largest labor union in the Venezuelan oil industry.

Workers like José have kept Venezuela’s oil industry alive, an industry based on what makes up about a fifth of the world’s crude oil reserves. In return, they are often forced into an uneasy balance, caught between the threat of repression by the regime, the moral obligation to speak up for workers’ rights, and pressure to sustain the oil necessary for the world to run.

A man emerges from a portable toilet next to a mural depicting former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 8, 2026 in Caracas, Venezuela. (Photo by Carlos Becerra/Getty Images)

The Trump administration’s strike on the capital, and subsequent capture of President Nicolás Maduro, was an escalation of the campaign in the Caribbean.

Trump framed the offshore strikes and rising tensions as a fight against drug trafficking and criminal networks. But he has since claimed the right to seize oil – and its revenues – from the Venezuelan government.

Venezuela’s oil sector was once the backbone of its economy, but it has plummeted under decades of authoritarian rule. Since 2013, when Maduro took over for Hugo Chávez, Venezuela’s oil output has dropped from 2.8 million barrels per day to 800,000, according to Axios.

There are major geopolitical implications, including for Ukraine. Russia’s close ties to Venezuela – and its dependence on oil revenues to fund its war effort – means that Russia will suffer from the latest changes.

The U.S. has seized at least five oil tankers from the region, one of which was Russian-flagged, since the beginning of December. Last year, most Venezuelan crude oil went to China, while Cuba, Iran and Russia all received imports, too.

A graphic showing global crude oil reserves by country in 2023, showing Venezuela as the world’s largest holder. (Screenshot from CNN)

Meanwhile, inside Puerto La Cruz, the work never stopped.

“We have three work shifts at the refinery: the early shift from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., the second one from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., and the night shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., or more if there was no one to replace us or an emergency,” said José.

They were constantly repairing pumps and compressors, preempting problems before they boiled over.

“What was our goal? To prevent emergencies and disasters. That is in our DNA: to protect the refineries. Because if you protect the refinery, you protect lives and the environment,” he explained.

Despite long hours and less-than-ideal working conditions, José loves his job:

“Many say that this privilege belongs to athletes, scientists and artists, who work in a job that pleases them. But it’s essential for every human being to have a job that pleases them. That’s part of freedom.”

José had long identified with the political left. He recalls being 18 when he saw armed forces massacre Venezuelan citizens during protests.

“I didn’t learn that in books,” he said. He lived it. He voted for Chávez hoping for change:

“We wanted to dance salsa, we wanted to change organized life. But we were not experiencing a deep crisis”.

But when Chávez ordered a mass purge of oil workers, José knew that bad times were ahead. The regime was replacing managers not according to merit, but according to allegiance to the ruling movement, known as chavismo.

Photo of José Bodas, at a protest for fair wages. Photo provided by José to The Counteroffensive.

Over the course of his early career, José witnessed first-hand the strict refinery rules that led some of his co-workers to utter exhaustion.

Overtime, if requested of a worker, was absolutely mandatory.

“One colleague had a son’s birthday,” José recalled. “Their family is waiting for them at home with a cake. But he couldn’t leave the refinery. That kind of exception doesn’t exist.”

It’s a hard job, he said, but it pays well – at least for the region.

The minimum wage in Venezuela is 130 bolivars (less than $0.40 American dollars) per month. There are other governmental bonuses that can increase that monthly payment anywhere between $100 and 400 USD.

During his young-minded observations of injustices in the refineries, he felt compelled to start studying law at Santa María University in his country. By his late 20s, he had joined the union.

“My ultimate goal is to defend Venezuelans workers’ rights, no matter their ideology, their religion… because we are human beings first and foremost”, he said.

In 2002, management told him to wear red on Fridays in celebration of the Bolivarian Revolution, he remembers. The Bolivarian Revolution is an ongoing movement that was started by President Hugo Chávez and named after Simón Bolívar, a leader of Latin America’s independence movement. It promotes nationalism and a state-led economy, often associated with working-class politics.

José refused. He wore white. Sometimes, managers denied him entry to the refinery when he wore anything but red.

Threats to civil rights freedoms have only worsened since then, said José. He witnessed colleagues detained for protesting and watched the military try to dismantle large gatherings of oil workers.

On February 3, 2014, José and 10 other union leaders were arrested in Puerto La Cruz. They were protesting for labor rights and fair wages. Venezuela was going through a state of hyperinflation, and the minimum wage was less than 10 dollars a month.

José spent three days in prison. For months, he was under probation and had to visit the court periodically to prove to the regime that he and his colleagues hadn’t left the country.

“To denounce a regime carries a lot of risk, but my responsibility to the people, with the oil workers’ rights, motivates me to continue,” he said. “There is a great responsibility to all Venezuelans.”

Today, according to José and other oil workers at Amuay and Cardón refineries who will remain anonymous for safety purposes, the Venezuelan military monitors workers’ phones at the start and the end of their shifts to hunt for any criticism of the regime.

Union leaders are routinely charged with “terrorism,” he said. As of January 2026, José and his colleagues at the union are tracking more than 100 cases involving detained energy sector workers in Venezuela.

Ivan Freites was once a former union leader in Venezuela ‘s oil industry. But he fled to Miami amid political repression – he relates to the hard hours, the intolerance for political dissent, and hopes that Maduro’s capture will be a positive moment for the country.

Ivan Freites at a worker’s assembly at the Amuay refinery. Photo provided by Ivan to The Counteroffensive.

“One of the most important days for us was seeing Nicolás Maduro being handcuffed,” said Ivan. “Venezuelans tried everything to have a transition, but his regime was relentless… I thought his regime would not end.”

There is a real drive, said Ivan, to revive the success of the Venezuelan oil industry.

Friends of his who moved away, some to Saudi Arabia, to work in oil in a place with a better quality of life, say they still want to come back to Venezuela and be part of this revival movement, even if it means living on 130 Bolivar a month.

José’s attitude continues to be hopeful, too.

“We, at the Puerto La Cruz refinery, have a motto: Through challenge, the working class will have rights,” said José.

He hopes that oil workers have a say in the future of Venezuela and, hopefully, in a democratic transition of power. Where every worker can earn a livable wage, speak freely, organize without fear, and choose how Venezuelan oil benefits its own people.

“I will try to stay on the same path to defend working class rights”, he repeats again and again. “I stand with the liberation of all political prisoners in Venezuela”.

Editor’s Note:

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Oksana Stepura

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

MI6 CHIEF WARNS ABOUT RUSSIAN SABOTAGE: The UK’s new MI6 Chief warned about Russia’s strategy to destabilize the West in her first public appearance since taking on the position.

She emphasized that Russia will resort to using non-state actors, including petty criminals recruited online to individuals and shell companies who operate via legitimate-looking businesses. These agents are often paid by Russia via untraceable cryptocurrency to conduct deniable sabotage and economic warfare on behalf of the Russian state.

U.S. URGES CITIZENS TO LEAVE VENEZUELA: The State Department has urged all Americans to leave Venezuela immediately due to extreme security risks.

Armed pro-regime militias, known as ‘colectivos’, are reportedly setting up roadblocks to search vehicles for U.S. citizens or supporters.

POTENTIAL NATO DEPLOYMENT TO GREENLAND: European allies are discussing the possibility of sending NATO troops to Greenland to bolster Arctic security amid fears that Trump may illegally seize the territory.

The plan aims to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the region while persuading Donald Trump to abandon plans to annex Greenland.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Oksana’s Mary loves Christmas trees.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Jacqueline

Source

🚫 Dr. Jason Jay Smart on Trump’s 2026 Strategy: From Maduro’s Arrest to the Paris Security Shield

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 23:00:06 +0100

Source

KREMLIN IN PANIC! 🔥 Russians shocked by Zelenskyy, Trump cuts off oxygen!

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 20:00:08 +0100

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2026 KREMLIN COLLAPSE! Ukraine intelligence scams FSB $500K sting as Trump seizes Russian tankers

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 17:01:00 +0100

Source

US and Ukraine plan to sign $800bn deal at Davos

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:37:15 +0100

Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump plan to finalize the deal at the World Economic Forum's flagship annual summit, held in Switzerland on January 19–23, the Telegraph reported on Jan 9.

Source

Russia will take over Greenland if US doesn't get there first, Trump claims

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 23:33:47 +0100

"We are going to do something with Greenland, whether they like it or not," Trump told reporters. "Because if we don't do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we're not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor."

Source

Key Ukrainian lithium project awarded to investment group tied to Trump, NYT reports

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 17:34:29 +0100

Kyiv has awarded a tender to a group of investors to mine one of its most promising lithium deposits following a tender for a production sharing agreement launched in the summer, the New York Times reported on Jan. 8, citing two anonymous Ukrainian officials.

Source

🚀 70 km to NATO: nuclear bluff failed! Trump confiscates Russian tankers!

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 17:00:39 +0100

Source

Trump stalled it for a year — now a 'game-changer' bill could hit Russia's oil profits

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 15:23:53 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump may soon hold a game-changing lever over Moscow.

After months of hesitation, he has finally backed a sanctions bill targeting Russia, giving him the ability to hit the Kremlin where it hurts most — its oil and gas revenues.

The bill would impose sweeping secondary

Source

US releasing 2 Russian crew members of seized oil tanker, Moscow claims

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 11:34:13 +0100

At Moscow's request, Trump agreed to release two Russian crew members of the Marinera oil tanker seized by U.S. authorities earlier this week, the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed.

Source

Trump's Ukraine defense commitment hinges on belief Russia won't invade again

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:17:56 +0100

"I feel strongly they (Russia) wouldn't re-invade, or I wouldn't agree to it," Trump told the New York Times when asked about Washington's potential involvement in safeguarding Ukraine against future Russian aggression.

Source

US, Russian envoys meet in Paris as Zelensky seeks meeting with Trump

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 21:26:55 +0100

Witkoff and Kushner met Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Paris to discuss a U.S. peace plan for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Zelensky is seeking a meeting with Trump to press for U.S.-backed security guarantees.

Source

Trump kicks off strike on Putin's oil: Russian shadow fleet already under arrest, sanctions incoming

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 21:00:41 +0100

Source

‘End of NATO’ — Trump’s Greenland ambitions put Ukraine in a diplomatic bind

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:41:34 +0100

The European-U.S. alliance, already buckling under the Trump administration's aggressive foreign policy, faces its most daunting challenge yet — Greenland.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently reiterated his dubious claim on Denmark's autonomous island, fanning fears about the fragility of transatlantic unity at the worst

Source

Art of the (peace) deal: Ukraine teases $800 billion economic peace plan to keep Trump on side

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:10:37 +0100

Behind closed doors, Ukraine and its allies are discussing the war-torn country’s economic recovery alongside a potential peace deal.

At the heart of these conversations is the new so-called Economic Prosperity Plan — a package "for economic recovery, restoring jobs, and bringing life back to Ukraine,"

Source

How deaf people live through blackouts

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:01:43 +0100

Editor’s note:

We work during a difficult and exhausting time, with full-scale war, air-raid alerts, and blackouts. Often without electricity or internet, but with an unwavering sense of responsibility to document key events of the war and public life.

We are sincerely grateful to our subscribers for their trust and support. Thanks to your donations, we were able to purchase EcoFlows, which allow our colleagues to work under any conditions.

Independent journalism is impossible without its community. Support us with a subscription and stay with us.

Subscribe for Free!

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“We used to sit together until late at night,” recalled Ivanna, “and then we would bring phones, lamps, torches – anything that could illuminate the scene for us to [be able to] talk.”

Ivanna Mykhailenko navigates the world without sound, relying on her eyes to communicate. For her, losing access to electricity is catastrophic, especially at night.

Since Russia intensified its attacks, people have had to adjust to a new, completely unpredictable lifestyle. In 2025 alone, Russia launched more than 4,500 drones and missiles on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, disrupting not only electricity but also water supply and heating.

On January 7, when energy infrastructure in the Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia regions was attacked, most cities in those regions went completely dark and silent for several hours. They lost access to water, public transport, reliable phone and internet connections, or even air-raid alert signals.

People with hearing loss are even more vulnerable to such attacks. Not only do long blackouts leave them without a way to charge hearing aids, it also deprives them of ways to communicate and react to air raid alerts.

In Ukraine and elsewhere, wars reveal the same truth: what is merely an inconvenience for most becomes a matter of survival for people with disabilities.

Born deaf in a ‘hearing’ family, Ivanna learned to talk and lip-read during her childhood.

“We had a rule — Mom and Dad didn’t use gestures at all. They taught me to speak, to pronounce words, and to read, so I understood them. I also spoke only in words. My voice is a little bit unusual, but everyone in the family understands my speech,” Ivanna said.

Although Ivanna mastered sign language at school, none of her relatives use it themselves. Still, they find ways to make her feel their affection. Ivanna’s heart melted when her aunt secretly learned a few phrases in sign language to wish her a happy 24th birthday.

Ivanna giving a lecture for the students of the Ukrainian Catholic University.

Unfortunately, the world beyond her immediate family proved itself to be more challenging.

As a deaf person in Ukraine, she faced roadblocks — from finding a job, despite a degree in law, to receiving medical treatment.

“Some doctors shout in our ear, and we have to shout back. Others might just send me to the back of the line, so they don’t have to waste so much time on deaf people,” she recalled.

In the first days of the full-scale invasion, there were cases where Ukrainians with deafness watched the chaos around them in confusion because they couldn’t hear the sirens — realizing that the war had begun only when they saw explosions.

In the first 8 months of the war, at least 6,000 people with hearing loss left Ukraine for safety, according to the Ukrainian Society of the Deaf. 9,000 more became internally displaced.

Ivanna was living alone in a flat in Kyiv when she woke up to a vibration. At around 6 o’clock, she thought someone might have called her by mistake, but her phone continued to frantically shake. Ivanna’s mother was trying to reach her to tell her that the war had begun.

“When I opened the door and saw people running, saw the panic among people on the street, I did not understand,” Ivanna said.

Now, Ivanna keeps her phone close to her while she sleeps so as not to miss out on potentially lifesaving updates.

She remembers spending a night in the basement of her building with a woman who suddenly flinched at the sound of an explosion.

“She said it was very loud, but I didn’t blink an eye,” Ivanna remembered.

After an attack on energy infrastructure in a certain area, households are divided into several groups, which only have electricity during certain hours. This method is intended to ease the strain on the energy system while it is being repaired. The worse the condition of the energy system state is, the longer the cuts are.

Ivanna’s first blackout was on her 22nd birthday.

At the time, she was preparing for her final exams. On long autumn nights, she navigated her apartment and studied for her finals with a small battery-powered flashlight. Despite the dark, reading had become Ivanna’s source of comfort amid the uncertainty.

Still, her new reality didn’t allow excuses. She bought a power supply for the internet and a charging station to keep her phone and laptop alive.

When the screen illuminates Ivanna’s face, she can even send a message in sign language on Telegram.

“To see around and communicate, I use my laptop screen or a flashlight on my phone for lighting,” Ivanna said. “Technology becomes my eyes.”

Keeping her phone charged might seem trivial, but for some people with hearing loss, it’s their means of relating to the world. Using a smartphone, for example, people can turn written text into speech and vice versa.

“In fact, there are a lot of such functions built into the phone. Often, people don’t even know what they carry in their pockets. When we conduct training for people who have lost their hearing, we try to tell everyone about these settings. The more people know, the more people can improve their lives immediately,” said Anastasiia Demchuk from the NGO Talk!, which creates software solutions for people with disabilities.

Ivanna is hosting a Ukrainian Sign Language class as a part of her project ‘Ukrainization.deaf’

Often, deaf people still depend on light to call emergency services.

“When it is urgent, I use the sign language translator,” Ivanna said. “It’s convenient to call an ambulance, the police or the fire department. I can add an interpreter to a video call via the app, and they help me voice my needs to a hearing person on the other side.”

On the hardest days, blackouts in Kyiv last up to 18 hours. Though Ivanna has never needed to use one, about 13,500 ‘Spaces of Resilience’ operate across the country where people can charge their phones and connect to the internet for free in case of an emergency.

Attention to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Ukraine is growing. Blast injuries, which often lead to severe hearing loss, have become one of the most common traumas among military personnel, according to Talk!

Ivanna in the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament) to attend a session of the Committee on Social Policy during her second year of studies.

Despite the danger, Ivanna doesn’t always get herself to safety during shelling — not out of bravery, but for reasons she can’t control.

The air raid alerts that most Ukrainians get on their phones sound a loud ding, inaudible to the deaf. They are forced to use other apps which vibrate and activate a camera flash.

For Ivanna, deaf people are a close-knit community with their own slang unfamiliar to the hearing, unique sign names, and unusual “superpowers,” as she says. One of Ivanna’s friends can recognize a person just by the way their shadow moves.

Despite all the hardships Ivanna faces during blackouts, she tries to make light of her situation.

“Power cuts can stop any quarrel between deaf people,” she jokes. “In the dark, we can’t see what our opponent has to say.”

Editor’s note:

We are sincerely grateful to our subscribers for their trust and support. Thanks to your donations, we were able to purchase EcoFlows, which allow our colleagues to work under any conditions.

Independent journalism is impossible without its community. Support us with a subscription and stay with us.

Subscribe for Free!

Tip Jar!

NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

UKRAINIAN PILOTS HAVE REWORKED F-16 TACTICS FOR WAR WITH RUSSIA: One of the first Ukrainian F-16 pilots stated that Western training did not correspond to the realities of war with Russia, so pilots had to develop their own combat tactics. According to him, the conditions of full-scale war, saturated air defense, and combat operations near the front line forced Ukrainian F-16 pilots to adapt. This has drawn attention from Ukraine’s Western partners, who are in their own period of rearmament and military preparation.

TRUMP APPROVES SANCTIONS AGAINST BUYERS OF RUSSIAN OIL: President Trump gave the green-light to Republicans in Congress to advance a bill on so-called secondary sanctions against countries that buy Russian oil including China, India, and Brazil, Senator Lindsey Graham said. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy said that he believes it is possible to end Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine in the first half of this year, emphasizing that this week’s negotiations in Paris were an important step forward.

THE EU IS ACCUSED OF FINANCING WAR THROUGH RUSSIAN LNG IMPORTS: The Kremlin earned over $8.4 billion from the European Union in 2025 via exported Russian liquefied natural gas. This comes despite Brussels’ promise to completely ban Russian LNG by 2027. According to NGO Urgewald, supplies from the Russian Yamal project to EU ports still reach over 15m tonnes, and Europe’s share in the global export of the Yamal gas has even increased in that last year.

DOG OF WAR:

Zoriana met this cutie pie on a train platform while returning from Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, to Kyiv. The train was delayed by four hours, and they waited patiently together. Thanks to his fluffy ‘coat,’ he didn’t get too cold — unlike Zoriana.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Oleksandra

Source

Ukraine-US security guarantee draft agreement ready for Trump's approval, Zelensky says

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:56:48 +0100

"We understand that the American side will engage with Russia, and we expect feedback on whether the aggressor is genuinely willing to end the war," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Source

Trump wants a 'dream military' and $1.5 trillion to build it

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:38:52 +0100

"This will allow us to build the 'Dream Military' that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us safe and secure, regardless of foe," Donald Trump said on Truth Social.

Source

Trump pulls US from 66 'wasteful' international organizations, targeting Venice Commission, UN

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:38:26 +0100

"The Trump Administration has found these institutions to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own, or a threat to our nation's sovereignty, freedoms, and general prosperity," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Source

Trump has 'greenlit' bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, clearing way for Senate vote, US Senator Graham says

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:35:59 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump has approved moving forward with a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, opening the door for a potential Senate vote as early as next week, according to Senator Lindsey Graham.

Source

Russia offered to 'swap' Venezuela for Ukraine in 2019, Trump adviser testimony claims

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 04:48:28 +0100

Former Trump adviser Fiona Hill's congressional testimony resurfaced after the U.S. attack on Venezuela. Hill claimed Moscow sent signals proposing a "very strange swap arrangement between Venezuela and Ukraine" based on the Monroe Doctrine.

Source

Why Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s Maduro is both a blessing and a curse for Russia

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 15:11:07 +0100

The U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, a Kremlin ally, is a blow to Russia's influence in Latin America.

However, Russia may also derive some benefits from U.S. President Donald Trump's unprovoked intervention.

First, Trump's apparent violation of international law

Source

Trump doesn't believe Kremlin's fantasies, Putin loses record number of doldiers

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 21:00:29 +0100

Source

India orders weekly reporting of Russian and U.S. crude purchases amid sanctions pressure

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:00:21 +0100

Amid sanctions pressure and talks with Washington, India is tightening oversight of Russian oil imports, introducing an unprecedented reporting requirement for refiners. Reuters, citing sources, reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has mandated weekly disclosures of crude buys from Russia and the U.S.

One government official said the new reporting system is needed so India can respond quickly to potential requests from Washington.

Previously, information on the origin of crude bought by Indian refiners was published monthly in customs statistics and private-sector analytical reports. The move to weekly data marks the first such instance.

Sources also told the agency that Indian companies plan to reduce imports of Russian crude, with supplies potentially falling below 1 million barrels per day in the coming months. The step is seen as part of New Delhi’s strategy to secure a trade agreement with the United States.

Last summer, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on India over its purchases of Russian oil, bringing the combined tariff on Indian goods to 50%.

The White House chief argued that New Delhi was effectively financing the war in Ukraine, since a significant share of Russia’s energy export revenues goes to its military and war effort.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, India became one of the largest buyers of Russian crude, taking advantage of steep discounts.

Under U.S. pressure, the country gradually pared back purchases but did not halt them entirely. In December, imports of Russian oil fell to 1.1 million barrels per day - a three-year low.

Source

US may raise tariffs on India 'very quickly' if it keeps buying Russian oil, Trump says

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:42:41 +0100

"(Indian Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is a good guy. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

Source

'We don't believe that happened' — Trump dismisses Putin’s claim of Ukrainian attack on his residence

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 03:10:00 +0100

Russia had publicly accused Ukraine of launching 91 drones toward a residence used by Putin — a claim Putin personally conveyed to Trump during the phone call.

Source

TRUMP hinted to PUTIN – you will be next after MADURO! #shorts

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:30:02 +0100

Source

After US attack on Venezuela, Trump's Greenland ambitions spark renewed alarm

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 22:20:56 +0100

"We do need Greenland, absolutely," Trump told the Atlantic in an interview on Jan. 4, saying the island is "surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships."

Source

A New Era for Venezuela: TRUMP vs MADURO. The Valdai "attack" was... an AI fake

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 22:09:32 +0100

Source

Bild: U.S. operation in Venezuela is a humiliation for Russia and a challenge to China

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0100

The U.S. military operation in Venezuela has revealed a new reality: Washington no longer feels the need to consult allies and is ready to redraw spheres of influence by force.

The operation’s significance extends far beyond Latin America. Washington signaled it is prepared to use the military directly to overthrow a foreign government and protect its own interests.

The arrest of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces is not only the end of the Venezuelan regime, but also a message to the world about how Donald Trump’s administration intends to act on the international stage — and a particular signal to Moscow and Beijing, Bild writes.

The Venezuela operation clearly showed the U.S. does not intend to scale back its global presence. On the contrary, Trump indicated he is ready to use military force whenever American interests are at stake.

Europe can either welcome such actions (as after strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities) or watch with concern and skepticism. But the key point is that Trump no longer sees a need to consult the EU before making such decisions.

In the National Security Strategy published in December, the Trump administration stated outright that the decisive voice in South America belongs to the United States. By that logic, neither Russia nor China - nor even countries in the region themselves — are the key arbiters.

Another part of the American strategy is also worrying Europe. In the same document, the U.S. says it intends to strengthen “resistance” within the European Union and influence its political landscape.

Given events in Venezuela, observers note, it would be naïve to view these formulations as empty rhetoric.

The U.S. operation was both a humiliation for Russia and a direct challenge to China. In one night, Trump achieved in Venezuela what the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has been unable to accomplish in Ukraine after more than four years of full-scale war.

It is also telling that Maduro’s arrest came just hours after his meeting with Chinese representatives - a signal Beijing is unlikely to have missed.

Expert Peter Neumann points to Washington’s rhetoric on Cuba. Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have already indicated that Cuba could be the next target of pressure. In their words, socialist Cuba has remained a “thorn in the side” of the United States for seven decades — a communist state off the coast of Florida.

Source

Inside the prison Trump’s ICE sent Venezuelans to

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 15:35:10 +0100

Editor’s Note:

You may have noticed that 60 Minutes recently held up a report on this El Salvadorian prison, CECOT.

We decided to double down on our independent journalism and push out this story so you could get a sense of the conditions there.

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Warning: This article contains details that may be disturbing for some readers.

Nestled near the mountains, far from any settlement, stands a prison ostensibly made for the most dangerous terrorists and criminals.

Some consider the El Salvadorian institution one of the strictest prisons in the world.

“Welcome to hell,” said the prison director to over 200 newcomers. “You will leave it only dead.”

Andry Omar Blanco Bonilla, from Valencia, Venezuela, had seen videos about this place on YouTube.

Now, he asked himself: what has gone wrong in his life for him to end up here?

Venezuelan immigrant Andry Blanco-Bonilla. Photo from his social media.

Andry was among 252 Venezuelans who were sent by Trump’s order to the maximum-security prison in El Salvador, known as the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, or CECOT.

They were accused of being members of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua, though no one provided any evidence. People with no criminal record, who were fleeing poverty, ended up confined in inhumane conditions alongside 40,000 dangerous criminals.

At the prison, they were tortured and abused, including sexually, according to Human Rights Watch. One detainee was allegedly forced to have oral sex with one of the prison’s guards, while the others were called homophobic slurs.

The event formed the basis for hostile ties between the U.S and Venezuela, which culminated Saturday with the American bombing of Caracas.

It was a sign that Trump’s ambitions are to enforce a ‘might-makes-right’ philosophy in the Western hemisphere – where migration itself is treated as a crime and a military intervention to any country is justified.

For Andry, making ends meet in Venezuela was almost impossible.

Still, his growing up there had some brightness. His youth was filled with the loud sounds of motorcycle engines. It was a passion that led to him meeting his partner, Susana, at a motorcycle exhibition.

“We dated for a couple of months, getting to know each other. Over the years, our feelings grew stronger. What caught my attention most about her? Her gaze, her smile, her laugh,” Andry said.

Just 20 years ago, Venezuela was a promising country because it held the world’s largest proven oil reserves. Today, it is associated with economic crises, hyperinflation, repression, and a humanitarian catastrophe. The situation worsened after the political crisis in 2019, when Nicolás Maduro usurped power following rigged elections.

Andry Blanco-Bonilla with his daughter. Photo provided by him to The Counteroffensive.

So Andry found himself at the U.S. border at the end of 2023. He did not have a work permit, so he immediately surrendered to border authorities and filed for asylum, hoping to be able to work in the U.S. legally.

After a month, Andry visited the immigration center to update his address. Fortune was not on his side.

“Do you have any tattoos on your body that are not visible?” the officer asked while processing his address change.

“Yes,” Andry replied as his chest, back, and leg were partially covered with ink. He explained the personal meaning of each. The drawing of a clock showed the time of his mother’s birth.

The officer was unsatisfied.

“The officer practically wanted to force me to affirm something that was totally a lie, to say I belonged to a gang,” Andry recalled. “He just said, ‘You’re detained.’”

Andry’s tattoos. Photo from his social media.

Among Venezuelans, tattoos have sometimes been associated with the transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua, which is involved in drug, weapons, and human trafficking.

The supposed fight against this organization became a focus of Trump’s second term. In February, the Trump administration designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization. From that point on, the United States attacked Venezuelan infrastructure and conducted military operations – culminating in Saturday’s capture of Maduro.

The U.S. attacked one of the Venezuelan boats on December 18, 2025. Screenshot from a video posted by the U.S. Southern Command on Twitter.

More than one hundred Venezuelans have already been killed in boat strikes, even though the Trump administration has so far failed to provide evidence that these boats belonged to cartels or were carrying drugs.

A similar thing can be said of Andry: there was no evidence of his involvement in a criminal gang — other than the government’s interpretation of his tattoos.

The U.S. detained Andry for five months, labeling him as a “danger to society.”

“I’ve been a person with an impeccable record. I’ve never been detained, never been imprisoned, never had a legal problem in the U.S., not even a traffic ticket the whole time I was there,” he said.

Venezuela and the United States have severed diplomatic relations. When it became clear that deportation directly to his home country was impossible, the court released him on bail for several months.

Andry bought himself a plane ticket to return home to Venezuela in April 2025. He did not want to wait for ICE to come and deport him. But in February 2025, they acted first.

He was told to appear at an ICE office the next day to update his data. It was a ruse. When he showed up, he was detained. They put handcuffs on Andry, “violently, like a criminal,” he recalled.

When Andry said that he already had a ticket to Venezuela and could exchange it to the nearest date, the officer responded: “You should have left when you could.”

What followed was a nightmare most of us can barely imagine. After another month of detention with no clarity on his future, he thought he was returning home.

Andry boarded a military plane and was told not to raise the window shades.

When the plane landed, instead of being back home in Venezuela, he saw the El Salvador flag. He was pulled off a bus in front of a massive fortress-like building surrounded by electric fences and dozens of watchtowers.

Trump had sent him, along with other Venezuelans, to El Salvador by invoking an 18th-century military law that allowed the deportation of people without judicial review.

“They told that we were ‘welcome’ to the CECOT, what they now call the concrete hell,” recalled Andry.

The only option was to resign himself to a suffocating cell, a bed without a mattress, and white prison clothing. He had no way to contact either his family or a lawyer. There were days that he did not know if there would be a tomorrow, due to severe hypertension and a lack of adequate medical care.

“I was being beaten, treated verbally and physically very badly. I questioned myself a lot about why I was there,” Andry said.

More than 250 suspected gang members arrive in El Salvador by plane to the country’s infamous mega-prison at CECOT. (Photo by El Salvador Presidency/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images).

Inside the cells, detainees had no access to proper hygiene: each cell had only two sinks and two toilets, without any partitions. The lights in the cell were not turned off at night. The food was always the same and had to be eaten by hand.

According to Human Rights Watch, the guards took the detainees from the cells every day to search them. The deportees were forced to kneel and were beaten with kicks and fists, as well as batons.

There were ten people in their tiny cell, which was designed for 80. They were already losing their minds, but perversely prison staff told them to be grateful. Other cells like theirs held 150–200 people, they’d say.

From his first day in El Salvador, Andry felt like he had been kidnapped. Deprived of any human rights, he was trapped in a cell as if he were a dangerous criminal. However, the most difficult for him was not knowing what was happening to his family, if they even were aware he was detained in a prison for terrorists. He tried to support himself day by day by talking to his companions in the cell and recalling warm-hearted moments about his youth and family.

At CECOT, prisoners are not allowed to do any activities outside of their cells besides half an hour of physical exercise in handcuffs. During the remaining 23 and a half hours, they are left with only two Bibles per cell. That was the only thing that saved Andry, who had felt distant from God until he found himself in hell.

“All our time there passed in uncertainty, not knowing when we would have the opportunity to see light again. We were detained inside the cell every single day. They never took us out to get sun or fresh air,” Andry recalled.

His freedom was to come unexpectedly in the early morning hours of July 18, 2025, at approximately 1:30 a.m.

Andry was already sleeping because of his curfew, which required him to be in bed by 9 p.m. each night. The prison director entered, together with other officers, who were banging on the cell bars and saying to get up, bathe, and dress.

“You’re returning to your country, your hell is over,” Andry heard from the CECOT director.

Counter Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images).

They were traded for Venezuelan political prisoners and ten American detainees who were held in the country. Andry reunited with his family in Venezuela, and is now back home in Valencia.

But his arrival in Venezuela now coincides with the next stage of escalation, when the U.S. has attacked his country directly.

“There’s a bit of fear about what could happen. There’s no war or intervention where there hasn’t been some loss of human life,” he said.

At least 40 people died, including civilians, as a result of yesterday’s American attack on Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Besides striking military infrastructure the U.S. also hit a three-story residential complex in a coastal area of the city.

Andry is currently safe with his family, but a period of political instability looms. The United States – the country which sent him to a prison hell – is now claiming that they will “run” Venezuela for the foreseeable future.

Competing claims for power in Venezuela could lead to civil war, prolonged conflict, or an even worse situation than he was trying to escape years ago.

«[The war is not] what I.. want for my country either. It would destabilize the country much more than it’s already destabilized today,” he said.

Abby Pender contributed to this reporting.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Oksana Stepura

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

NUMBER OF WOMEN IN ARMY SURGES: The share of female officers in the Ukrainian army has jumped from 4% to 21% over the past 2 years, Oksana Hryhorieva, the Ukrainian army’s gender adviser, told Hromadske Radio.

While women in the army have become captains and majors, due to a lack of training no woman in the army has risen to the rank of combat general.

NO STRIKE RESTRICTIONS, NO NEW WEAPONS: Following a meeting with foreign security advisers, Zelenskyy said that allies are no longer imposing restrictions on strikes inside Russia, but are instead withholding certain types of weapons from Ukraine to prevent these strikes.

Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is currently in a phase of “use what we have”, while the equipment that partners don’t want to be used by Ukraine isn’t being delivered.

U.S. VENEZUELA ATTACK CASUALTY COUNT: At least 40 people were killed in the U.S. attack on Venezuela, according to New York Times, citing a Venezuela official. There were no U.S. casualties but about six American troops were injured during the operation which captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

The NYT’s sources in the U.S. government said that Maduro rejected an American proposal that would have allowed him to flee to Turkey. This was allegedly offered as a counter-proposal after Maduro offered the U.S. access to his country’s oil, in an attempt to prevent an American raid.

VENZUELA’S DIRTY, EXPENSIVE OIL: The infrastructure needed for peak oil production in Venezuela would cost $100 billion and take about ten years, The Washington Post reported. The challenge comes with ensuring sufficient security and stability to make such long term investments worthwhile and profitable.

The oil in the country is also a form of heavy crude which is more difficult to process and refining the oil requires more carbon emissions than other types of oil. There are also concerns about the resilience of Venezuela’s energy grid, as oil production is extremely energy-intensive.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Oksana’s Mary is very curious about a mouse she spotted.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Mariana

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Putin 'killing too many people,' Trump says

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:33:47 +0100

"I'm not thrilled with Putin. He's killing too many people," Trump told reporters on Jan. 3 during a news conference announcing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's capture.

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Ukraine reacts to U.S. operation in Venezuela and Maduro’s capture

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 19:25:42 +0100

Ukraine’s first reactions to the U.S. military operation in Venezuela are in, with officials and politicians offering both support for the Venezuelan people and warnings about another blow to international law.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, commenting amid the American military operation in Venezuela, issued a statement backing the Venezuelan people and underscoring their right to freedom, security and human dignity.

Sybiha said Ukraine consistently defends the right of peoples to live without dictatorship, oppression and systemic human rights violations — principles he argued Nicolás Maduro and his regime have breached.

“Democratic countries and human rights organizations around the world highlight widespread crimes, violence, torture, oppression, violations of fundamental freedoms, election fraud and the destruction of democracy and the rule of law by his regime,” Sybiha said.

He recalled that after what he called rigged elections and the brutal suppression of protests, Ukraine - like dozens of other countries - refused to recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president.

“The people of Venezuela must be able to live normal lives, with security, prosperity and human dignity. We will continue to support their right to such normality, respect and freedom,” the minister emphasized.

MP Maryana Bezuhla said that, as President Donald Trump has shown, questions of sovereignty and the accountability of dictators are “a game two can play.”

“The U.S. attacked Venezuela and seized the head of state, the dictator Maduro. This opens the Overton window for similar actions against any dictator on the planet in the current temporal and contextual period. At the same time, international law has taken another hit. The U.S. can still surprise,” she wrote on social media.

MP Oleksii Honcharenko expressed hope the U.S. will quickly complete the operation, after which Venezuela will get a new president and the country can return to normal life. He argued Washington’s actions are pivotal for global security, including in the context of Ukraine.

“In achieving peace, we can say this is a key event. The U.S. showed strength. It showed who the hegemon is and what it thinks of a multipolar world. Now we wait to see whether Putin understands this and moves toward peace. Because right now we are, in principle, very constructive and ready to sign an agreement. The problem is Russia,” he noted.

Ukraine’s online community is actively weighing in. Journalist and blogger Roman Tsymbaliuk drew a parallel between U.S. actions and the Kremlin’s failed plan to capture Kyiv in three days.

“Trump pulled off in a single night an operation the whole world is buzzing about… Can you imagine what’s happening in Moscow right now? It looks like the Russian dictator has nothing left but to order urgent bunker-digging and avoid public events,” he wrote.

Former MP Boryslav Bereza called what’s happening “karma” for Maduro, who supported Russia’s war against Ukraine, but warned of risks to global stability.

“The law of force will now unavoidably dominate the force of law. Maduro is, of course, a scoundrel and an ally of the Russian Federation, but the fact that Trump started this war without cause, just like Russia did against Ukraine, certainly doesn’t make the world more stable…,” Bereza wrote.

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NEWSFLASH: Trump on Venezuela: “We are going to run the country”

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:19:06 +0100

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine briefs the press on Saturday Jan. 3 (Screenshot from livestream).

Donald Trump said that the U.S. will “run” Venezuela following its overnight strikes and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with his wife.

“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump announced at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, saying that the risk of someone else taking over was too great.

Want our up-to-the-minute international reporting? The Counteroffensive has you covered from Kyiv to Caracas. Upgrade today to skip past the paywall.

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After the paywall:
-Trump outlines role for U.S. oil companies
-A photo of Maduro after his capture
-Details about the operation

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LIVE | TRUMP, guarantees, and an even more aggressive Russia – CHALLENGES we didn't expect in 2026!

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:31:07 +0100

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What I saw as the U.S. bombed Venezuela

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:01:38 +0100

Fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex, is seen from a distance after a series of explosions in Caracas on January 3, 2026. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)

Editor’s note: This article was written by a reporter in Caracas who asked that we keep his identity hidden due to security risks.

CARACAS, Venezuela – I heard the first strike at 1:55 in the morning. I was near La Carlota, a military base in the southeast of Caracas, visiting a friend of mine.

I must admit it took me off guard completely. It was a surprise for everyone. There were no alarms, no warnings at all.

The night was cloudy, with a full moon. I only heard the sound of planes and one loud explosion. I woke up my friend, warning that, maybe, a military strike is starting.

Everything else was silent: just the airplanes and the explosions.

My heart rate increased. I chatted with all my journalist friends: nobody knew anything. My WhatsApp started to fill with messages. We could only see a dark and cloudy sky. We could only hear airplanes and explosions.

Minutes later, at 02:16 a.m., a friend of mine sent me a message: “They strike [near] at 4F.” 4F is what Venezuelans called an old military base that is known as a museum of Hugo Chávez’ regime.

I turned on the TV, one of the little official communications that the regime had, and there were Christmas jingles, as well as pirated movies with propaganda.

That didn’t surprise me at all: for more than 20 years the Chávez and the Maduro regime have repressed the free press with violence. All we have are our families and friends’ messages. Audios, videos, texts passed with fear and information. My journalist friends were working to verify everything, but the strikes continued.

I told my friend to create an emergency kit: our IDs, our passport, some bottles of water and some flashlights. Friends from other countries, like Paraguay, Ecuador and the USA, reached me to know how I was, how I was doing.

I was fine, but nervous, just hearing the airplanes. It sounded like I lived near an airport… Except for the bombs.

Map of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, showing the location of Fuerte Tiuna and La Carlota Air Base, which were bombed by the United States (Graphic by Patricio ARANA / AFP via Getty Images)

Other friends in El Valle, a neighborhood near a military base called Fuerte Tiuna, told me that the sky has turned orange and their windows are shaking a lot. And I was scared: Fuerte Tiuna has civilian neighborhoods.

Then, at 2:15 a.m., my aunt wrote to me: “They [struck] some television antennas near my home.” Those antennas were military equipment in El Volcán, a neighborhood to the southeast of Caracas.

Videos of La Guaira, a coastal state near Caracas, show that the port there has been bombarded too.

The Venezuelan regime has previously closed all kinds of platforms like Twitter, radio broadcast, television, and independent journalism web pages. People were expecting news from Nicolás Maduro or Vládimir Padrino López, the ministry of Defense in Venezuela, but we were met with silence.

The planes stopped near 3:10 a.m., just over an hour after it started.

Then, out of nowhere, there was the first official statement from Maduro´s regime on national television. Nobody from Maduro’s inner circle was present. They only said that those strikes were from the USA, the rest was socialist propaganda.

Trump announced that the leader of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, had been captured by the United States.

The Venezuelan government also announced that the United States is responsible for the attacks, and have declared a state of emergency. They have not announced who is in charge of the government.

The streets were silent, nobody left their home. There was no military movement, no police men on sight patrolling any vicinity.

At this moment, everybody is inside their houses: they are scared, not about what the U.S.A. will do, but about what the Venezuelan regime will do next.

Delcy Rodríguez, the person who proclaimed herself as Venezuelan Vice President, said on national television that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been held captive and called on all guerrillas to take arms. For years “the colectivos”, people armed by the government, have killed and ‘disappeared’ civilians.

The future is as opaque as the Caracas’ sky on January 3rd.

The sun is rising and the Venezuelan population don’t know yet what is happening. We don’t know how many civilians or soldiers are injured or dead (or if there are any casualties at all). We just hope that the dictatorship can be toppled for good without Venezuelan blood.

Tim’s Take

After the paywall: Tim walks through the implications of this Trump administration attack.

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US strikes Venezuela, captures President Maduro, Trump says

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 10:59:10 +0100

"The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country," Donald Trump said on Truth Social.

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NEWSFLASH: Loud explosions overnight in Venezuela

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 08:08:00 +0100

Editor’s Note:

At a time when overlapping crises are reshaping the world, we believe no story should be lost in the noise.

Wherever events are unfolding, and whenever they matter, our goal is to keep you informed with context, depth, and humanity.

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Video: bombing in Venezuela, obtained by Joshua Freitas

There are reports of explosions in areas of Venezuela. For months, the aggression was kept offshore, sinking boats in the Caribbean. More recently, the U.S. seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Just last week, the U.S. conducted a drone strike on a Venezuelan port.

Tensions have been climbing between the United States and Venezuela since August, when the U.S. started to rev up its military presence in the Caribbean.

In November, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Venezuela’s airspace should be closed, warning “airlines, pilots, drug dealers and human traffickers.”

What began as a series of maritime strikes on suspected smuggling vessels soon widened into a broader pressure campaign: the U.S. carried out at least 20 lethal attacks at sea, killing over 100 people, President Trump authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela, and recently, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled “Operation Southern Spear,” framing the mission as an effort to protect “America’s neighborhood,” the Western Hemisphere, from “narco-terrorists.”

Video: bombing in Venezuela, obtained by Joshua Freitas

Editor’s Note:

Usually, articles like this are paid content, but the threat of invasion in Venezuela is so significant that we are publishing this news without a paywall.

The campaign escalated further on November 11, when the USS Gerald R Ford arrived in the Caribbean as part of a deployment that ultimately put 15,000 U.S. troops in the region.

Beyond the Gerald R Ford, the United States has moved a wide range of military assets into the region. Warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, fighter jets, helicopters, surveillance aircraft and armed drones have all been positioned near Venezuela, along with additional personnel stationed in Puerto Rico.

The Trump administration has explicitly framed this increased aggression as a campaign against drug traffickers, but to some, these moves against Maduro look more like an attempt at regime-change than anything else.

The Venezuelan Ministry of Defense said the country launched a major military exercise using about 200,000 troops and involving land air and sea assets.

According to reporting from The Washington Post, Maduro had reached out to Russia, China and Iran for support.

In his letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, he requested “expanded military cooperation” to work against U.S. escalation, and asked that China expedite production of radar detection systems.

In late October, a Russian transport aircraft, the Ilyushin I1-76, landed in Caracas from Russia.

According to CNN reporting, Trump administration officials are saying that the U.S. does not have legal justification to strike land targets in Venezuela. The administration is turning away from lawmakers and toward the Justice Department for a justification for land strikes that would not require congressional approval.

The administration’s entire legal argument boils down to a secret Department of Justice memo that says drug cartels count as wartime enemies, so Trump can legally strike them as if the U.S. is already at war. Critics say that idea isn’t grounded in any real law — it’s just the government redefining the situation to justify killings that would otherwise be illegal.

United Nations experts have warned that hitting boats in international waters could violate the U.N. Charter and human rights protections.

Though the Trump administration insists that this is a campaign against drug trafficking, there is speculation that this is an attempt at regime change in Venezuela. Trump’s public attitude, including a recent comment saying that Maduro’s “days are numbered,” could signal broader goals in the region.

Editor’s Note:

At a time when overlapping crises are reshaping the world, we believe no story should be lost in the noise.

Wherever events are unfolding, and whenever they matter, our goal is to keep you informed with context, depth, and humanity.

This is the work we do for you, every day.

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Stay safe out there.

Best,
Jacqueline

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🚫 Why TRUMP’S security GUARANTEES may be EMPTY #shorts

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 21:30:02 +0100

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URGENT! Russia can stage a PROVOCATION! Risky guarantees from TRUMP?

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 21:00:47 +0100

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❗️TRUMP leans toward THIS PEACEFUL PLAN for Ukraine: conditions #shorts

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 20:30:01 +0100

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From peace in 24 hours to a 100-day deadline: why did Trump's plan change?

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 20:13:22 +0100

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Russia turns over drone data to U.S. from alleged attack on Putin’s Valdai residence as CIA and NSA find no confirmation

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 19:00:10 +0100

Russia has handed a representative from the office of the U.S. Embassy’s defense attaché decoded routing data and the controller from one of the Ukrainian drones that, according to Moscow, allegedly took part in an attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence at Valdai, said Russia’s Defense Ministry.

The ministry also released video of a meeting between Adm. Igor Kostyukov, head of Russia’s Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU), and a representative of the U.S. defense attaché. “I invited you on an important matter. We want to inform you: we found debris from unmanned aerial vehicles involved in this attack. In a number of these UAVs, the navigation systems are well preserved; they are technically functional,” Kostyukov said.

He said the controller and a description of it prepared by the Russian side are being turned over to the U.S. to “remove all questions” and “help establish the truth.”

Russia’s claims about an attempt to attack Putin’s residence

On December 29, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine tried to attack Putin’s residence in Novgorod region — “Dolgye Borody” on Lake Valdai — with 91 drones.

Lavrov also said that because of this “Russia’s negotiating position will be revised,” but that Moscow does not intend to pull out of talks with the U.S.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the allegation.

Trump himself also said that Putin informed him during a phone call that the “Dolgye Borody” residence had allegedly been attacked.

The U.S. President said he “was very angry” when he heard about it, but allowed that there may have been no attack.

The CIA and the NSA concluded that Ukraine did not attempt to attack Putin’s residence, according to sources for The Wall Street Journal and CNN.

According to CNN, on December 31 CIA Director John Ratcliffe informed U.S. President Donald Trump of the findings.

That same day, Trump posted on Truth Social a link to a New York Post editorial that ties the Russian authorities’ claims about an attack on Putin’s residence to the argument that “it is Russia that is standing in the way of peace.”

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Kellogg's daughter on why Trump hasn't ended Russia's war

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 16:03:51 +0100

The Kyiv Independent's Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with Meaghan Mobbs, head of the R.T. Weatherman Foundation and the daughter of President Donald Trump's outgoing special envoy on Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.

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Zelensky and Trump reach agreement – Russia is hysterical and threatening nuclear war!

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 17:00:58 +0100

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Ukrainian goat carol NYE traditions

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 15:08:18 +0100

Editor’s note:

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When we tried to fix it, the whole website crashed, preventing upgrades.

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Laima, starring as a Goat at the Golden Gates metro station in Kyiv. Photo provided by her.

For the past three years, Laima Daukshas has been a part of theatrical performances on the holidays of Malanka and Vasyl.

She plays the goat: the life of the party who wards off evil spirits and brings luck and prosperity to the audience.

The day of Malanka, named after the pagan goddess of spring, marks the end of the year, while the day of her husband Vasyl starts it anew.

The celebration itself takes place around New Year’s Eve but feels very much like Halloween. People dress up and visit their neighbors to wish them a happy new year, performing short plays along the way. While the tradition may seem playful, it was originally intended to honor deceased ancestors, ask for fertile ground and a successful marriage in the new year.

Celebrating Malanka and Vasyl is about reclaiming the part of the Ukrainian identity erased by decades under Soviet rule. The custom of ‘walking the goat,’ as the festive performances are also called, is deeply rooted in Ukrainian traditional lifestyle, which has circulated for more than a thousand years. It asserts a unique Ukrainian identity, the preservation of which is especially important during this existential war.

For Laima, the winter holidays were always a time to bond with her family. Her interest in authentic celebrations didn’t come until later in life. Before that, her only experience of Koliada, a tradition of singing carols in exchange for gifts on Christmas, was somewhat disappointing.

As teenagers, Laima and her friend tried to sing Christmas carols to her neighbors, but only two out of six opened the door, and they were not especially generous.

“We dreamt of returning with full bags of gifts, but they only gave us a few sweets and a banana,” Laima recalled. “I didn’t want to repeat the experience anymore.”

But in 2014, after the Revolution of Dignity, when preserving Ukrainian identity came at tremendous risk, she consciously chose to observe traditional Ukrainian holidays.

Now, as a researcher of Ukrainian Language at the Kyiv National University of Borys Hrinchenko, Laima draws on her background in linguistics to deepen her knowledge of authentic Ukrainian traditions.

People take part in a performance on traditional Ukrainian New Year’s Eve, Malanka, on December 30, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Maksym Polishchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images).

Laima’s interest in literature is what eventually led her to the Kyiv Koliada, a team of actors that stages performances on Malanka and Vasyl.

At the time, she was leading theatrical excursions to parts of Kyiv where famous writers lived and worked, and hosting festivals for traditional Ukrainian culture. At one of the festivals, Laima’s friend introduced her to Koliada, where she was offered a prized role: the goat.

“I just looked at it with such big eyes. Three years ago, when they asked me to play the goat, I didn’t expect it. But the men who could do that are on the frontline. They do not sing with us anymore, and that’s how I got here,” she said.

The character she plays is the central figure of Shchedryi Vechir, Ukrainian New Year’s Eve. During the performance, the goat traditionally dies and comes back to life.

Video: Laima’s goat dies

This way, it embodies the meaning of the whole celebration dedicated to Malanka, when the year ends, and Vasyl, which starts it anew.

While this act of a dying goat may sound violent, it has two deeper meanings. First, it is a pagan symbol of fertility, which brings blessings for a generous harvest in the next year.

“Not only in Ukraine, but in many other countries, a goat is a totem which has to die, welcoming a year of birth and some kind of well-being,” Laima explained.

Second, the goat, who is led by Did (“the grandfather” or “an elderly man” in Ukrainian), symbolizes respect for the ancestors. Death of the old, birth of the new.

The goat’s revival is Laima’s favorite moment of the performance.

“To revive our goat in Kyiv Koliada, children sing or ring the bells to wake it up. And when the goat “comes alive,” I usually thank the kids for reviving it, shaking their hands and wishing the goat a happy birthday.”

Video: Kids bring Laima’s goat back to life

Still, she warns that most goats are not as lovely and kind as hers. Historically, on Shchedryi Vechir, the night when performances happen, the actors were considered messengers between the living and the dead. Symbolic gifts, like sweets or money, which the festive crowd gets for their performance, were offerings for the ancestors so that they protect them from any kind of evil.

“There are even some records that goat masks were made to look very scary, so children would cry when the goat entered the house,” Laima recalled.

To confuse the dead, the performers dress up and act in ways that contradict their usual behaviour. For instance, the goat wears her coat inside out, while other characters, Vasyl and Malanka, are represented by people of the opposite genders.

The goat, which Laima plays for Kyiv Koliada, differs from the others in one more respect. Traditionally, this character is played by a male actor, but her example reflects the broader picture of modern Ukrainian society, where women gradually take on masculine family and professional roles, as more and more men are getting conscripted to the army.

Laima, in her Goat costume, is posing with ‘Vasyl’, usually performed by a young woman.

Apart from the goat, there are many other noteworthy characters in these festive plays. For instance, Did, accompanied by Baba (“an elderly woman” in Ukrainian), brings the goat with him and ‘kills’ it at some point in the story.

Malanka and Vasyl take their names after the saints celebrated on these days after Christianity spread in Ukraine, but the tradition itself originates from paganism. According to legend, Malanka, the goddess of spring, was stolen by an evil giant serpent and later rescued by the strongman Vasyl, who then married her. The story symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and the belief that spring will ultimately prevail over winter. That is why young people traditionally ask for a successful marriage during the celebration, and why many symbols and rituals, like the goat itself, are dedicated to fertility, wealth and renewal.

Celebrating Shchedryi Vechir in the traditional sense was mainly preserved in remote villages. During Soviet times, it was under threat, as the USSR aimed to build a secular society. That’s why it made the New Year the central winter holiday, leaving traditional celebrations like Malanka and Vasyl out of the picture.

This Soviet policy affected Laima’s family, too. When Laima’s grandmother was young, she was ashamed of whatever made her look like a villager, an embarrassment she learned from Soviet propaganda. Authentic New Year’s traditions were never preserved in her family.

“Wearing traditional clothing and following other Christmas traditions was not the norm for her. She did not do it and did not like it,” Laima said.

Laima thanks the kids for ‘reviving’ the Goat.

Today, the tradition of Shchedryi Vechir is getting a new life in Ukraine, as people reclaim the lost parts of their national identity in the face of Russia. Even the original date of the celebration, the night of December 31, has been restored from January 13, which used to create a lot of confusion.

Modern-day performances change with Ukrainian society itself to reflect familiar problems and the latest trends. The Kyiv Koliada tries to make its plays fun and relatable amid the darkest days in Ukraine.

“Last year, we showed how a woman hit a drone with a jar of salted tomatoes and made Malanka clean her house with an electric broom…This year, we will show Trump’s 28-point plan for Ukraine and how Malanka will do her makeup with no electricity,” Laima said.

The whole team of the Kyiv Koliada with their handmade Christmas stars.

For the last three years, during the war, Koliada has been performing underground at the metro station to stay safe from the constant risk of drone and missile attacks.

To Laima’s great pleasure, no matter how distant and exhausted the passers-by might look, someone always stops to watch.

“Children really like to take pictures with us, especially costume characters. Even parents come up to me and ask for a photo. It’s very pleasant,” she explained. “I often catch myself thinking that if I ever have children, I would like to introduce them to all these traditions.”

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Viktoria Kriukova, Oksana Stepura

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

ZELENSKYY REITERATED THAT UKRAINE CANNOT WITHDRAW FROM ITS TERRITORIES: He made the remarks after his meeting with Donald Trump in Florida, adding that a 20-point draft of the revised peace plan to end the war is now almost complete.

Zelenskyy described the meeting as productive and expressed hope that the war could be over in the next year.

He also underlined that while Ukraine and Russia hold opposing views on territorial issues, the United States understands the positions of both sides and “tries to find a compromise.”

BELARUS DEPLOYED RUSSIAN NUCLEAR-CAPABLE MISSILE SYSTEM: The hypersonic Oreshnik missiles could enhance Moscow’s ability to deliver missiles across Europe.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Vladimir Putin’s, announced the deployment of the intermediate-range ballistic missiles on Belarusian territory earlier in December.

Several Western experts say that this deployment would make it slightly faster for Russian nuclear missiles to reach European targets.

Two U.S. researchers added that, according to their research of satellite images, Moscow is likely stationing the missiles and their mobile launchers at a former airbase in eastern Belarus.

SECURITY GUARANTEES INCLUDE U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN UKRAINE: For the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. included the deployment of American troops in Ukraine in security guarantees.

Zelenskyy said that Trump assured these guarantees would be voted on in U.S. congress.

This is the first time that the U.S. has explicitly confirmed willingness to send American troops in the event of a peace deal.

KHARTIIA DRONES BRING CHRISTMAS JOY TO FRONTLINE SOLDIERS: Even while spending Christmas on the frontlines, soldiers of Ukraine’s Khartiia brigade strive to find small moments of joy. One drone crew came up with a creative way to lift spirits — using Vampire drones to deliver surprise gifts to their fellow soldiers.

The parcels arrive tightly wrapped in layers of tape, turning the slow unwrapping into a moment of playful banter. Inside, they found simple comforts: bread, tea, candy and even Stollen cakes. The soldiers were particularly delighted by the cakes and eager to share them around.

The drone crew delivered something far more special than supplies — a genuine Christmas moment for their brothers in arms.

DOG OF WAR:

Viktoriia met this dog near the coffee shop a week ago. This little puppy was waiting for her owner when he was having a coffee. Then she joined him and jumped onto his legs.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Oleksandra

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US peace efforts make full circle, as Putin tells Trump Ukraine out to kill him

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 12:57:54 +0100

Donald Trump’s peace negotiations have seemingly made a full circle.

After U.S. pressuring Ukraine to accept an unfavorable peace settlement, Kyiv spent over a month renegotiating the offer and getting close to receiving Trump's blessing on a revised proposal.

Then Vladimir Putin called. Twice.

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'We can't just withdraw from our territories,' —Zelensky says following his meeting with Trump

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 03:20:00 +0100

Zelensky tells Fox News' Bret Baier that Ukraine has demonstrated concrete steps toward peace over the past month and raised the possibility of a referendum on the peace plan. At the same time, a referendum would not legitimize withdrawing from Ukrainian territory, given the current security realities.

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Kremlin elite losing faith in security as deep‑strike threats and suspicious deaths mount

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 02:58:47 +0100

By the end of the fourth year of the war, Kremlin elites are gripped by confusion and anxiety as the state struggles to guarantee the safety of even its most senior officials and security chiefs.

Fear is growing inside Russia’s political establishment. People close to President Vladimir Putin increasingly doubt the government’s ability to protect them, even far from the front lines, according to the independent Russian outlet “Mozhem Obyasnit”.

The latest round of debate was sparked by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s claim that Ukraine’s military had, for the first time, attacked Putin’s Valdai residence with drones. He said 91 drones were destroyed in the Novgorod region. The Kremlin did not align its account with the Defense Ministry, which earlier reported intercepting 89 drones across Russia that same night. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Lavrov’s claim, saying such statements could be laying the groundwork for a strike on government buildings in Kyiv.

Media have reported that Putin’s alleged partner, Alina Kabaeva, and their children live at the Valdai residence, and earlier reporting found more than 20 air-defense positions around the site. It is considered one of the most heavily protected locations in Russia.

By contrast, other members of Russia’s elite are living in acute fear. Moscow and other major cities have seen an uptick in unexplained deaths of senior military officers and officials. In just over a year, three generals awarded stars by Putin were killed far from the front, and a transport minister he appointed died under unclear circumstances. He joins a long list of top managers and officials who either died or, according to authorities, took their own lives.

Against this backdrop, analysts point to a deepening crisis of trust within the system.

“By the end of the fourth year of the war, the elite is confused; it had hoped that a Putin–Trump meeting in Alaska would lead to an end to the ‘special military operation.’ From Putin’s recent statements, it’s clear the war will continue indefinitely,” political analyst Alexander Morozov said.

He noted that the Kremlin leader has ordered continued offensives on all fronts, including in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, which Moscow still officially recognizes as Ukrainian.

Military journalist Sergei Auslender says the threats facing Russia’s upper echelons will only grow.

“Ukrainian intelligence has expanded its capabilities and human networks. That isn’t hard; there are many Ukrainians in Russia. Many of them hate the Russian regime and are indistinguishable on the surface,” he said.

He added that Russian counterintelligence is weak and systemic security protocols are scarce. In such a climate, experts say, even senior Kremlin officials cannot feel safe.

Source

Trump 'very angry' about alleged Ukrainian attack on Putin residence

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 01:16:42 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump said Dec. 29 that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him Ukraine had tried to attack Putin’s residence, an allegation Kyiv has denied. "I learned about it from President Putin today. I was very angry about it," Trump said.

Source

Will Ukraine receive unprecedented guarantees? Trump reveals details of conversation with Putin

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 21:00:48 +0100

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Kremlin aide Ushakov says Trump shocked by alleged drone attack on Putin’s residence as Zelensky denies claim

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:52:48 +0100

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a “positive” phone call about talks to end the war in Ukraine, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt wrote Monday, December 29, on her X account.

The conversation between the two leaders was confirmed by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. According to him, Trump, together with his advisers, informed Putin about the results of talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the US president’s private residence at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on December 28.

Putin, for his part, according to Ushakov, told Trump about an alleged Ukrainian attempt to attack with drones the state residence of the head of state in the Novgorod region, which Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had announced earlier. Putin’s aide said the “attack” came “virtually immediately after” the Mar-a-Lago talks. The Russian leader told Trump it would not go unanswered, and that Russia’s position in talks to end the war in Ukraine would be reassessed against this backdrop, Ushakov added.

According to Putin’s aide, Trump told the Russian leader he was shocked and outraged by the report of a drone strike on the Russian president’s state residence. The US president also, in discussing the “attempted attack,” said the White House “thank God did not give Tomahawks to Kyiv.”

The White House has not confirmed these statements by Donald Trump.

Lavrov said on the evening of December 29 that overnight Ukraine tried to attack the Russian president’s residence in the Novgorod region using 91 drones. He said all the drones were destroyed. He noted that in light of the attack, “Russia’s negotiating position will be reassessed,” but that Moscow “does not intend to withdraw from the negotiating process with the United States.”

Zelensky called Lavrov’s claim about the attack a lie and said it was because Russia is preparing to strike Kyiv’s government quarter. He also linked the foreign minister’s comments to his talks a day earlier with US President Donald Trump. “It’s clear that for the Russians, if we don’t have a scandal with America - and we have progress - for them it’s a failure. Because they don’t want to end this war,” Zelensky added.

In the Ukrainian president’s view, Moscow is trying to undermine progress achieved in peace talks between Kyiv and Washington. He urged Trump to “respond appropriately to Russian threats.”

That same day, a phone call took place between Zelensky and US President’s special representative Stephen Witkoff, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Secretary Rustem Umerov wrote on his X account.

“The key point is coordinating further contacts and next steps. The work is intensive and substantive: we continue consultations and are working through the document points virtually every day,” he wrote. Umerov also noted “constant contact with European national security advisers” and agreements on “next meetings in the near future.”

Source

Exclusive: 'Be careful' — European leaders warned Zelensky to assess Trump's real stance at Mar-a-Lago

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:26:08 +0100

A day before President Volodymyr Zelensky met U.S. President Donald Trump, European leaders privately warned the Ukrainian president that the talks could go badly and urged him to "be careful," according to detailed notes from the call shared with the Kyiv Independent by a senior diplomatic source.

Source

Zelensky: 87% of Ukrainians want peace, but 85% oppose pulling out of Donbas

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:10:28 +0100

President Zelensky told Fox News’ Bret Baier that despite war fatigue and a strong public desire for peace in Ukraine (about 87%), an overwhelming majority (85%) is firmly against territorial concessions, particularly withdrawing from Donbas. He said any agreement requiring such concessions would be rejected by the public and that a hypothetical referendum on the issue would not pass. Trump, he added, misinterpreted the desire for peace as readiness to capitulate or make concessions. Zelensky stressed that Ukrainians want a just peace, not peace at any price.

Asked whether Ukrainians are ready for a peace deal with Russia given the strain of a long war, Zelensky replied:

“People definitely want peace. Today President Trump said: ‘I saw a poll that 85%, maybe 87% — he first said… want peace. So they agree.’ I replied: ‘Yes, you know… this is our life. Eighty-seven percent support peace. At the same time, 85% are against pulling back from the East, from Donbas. That means everyone wants peace, but a just peace.’”

Pressed on how to resolve the toughest issue — territory — Zelensky said all sides must recognize that the worst option would be leaving Donbas: “That would pose major risks for Ukraine. It is unacceptable for Ukrainians… it goes against their will. And a referendum would not be positive.”

Ukraine’s president explained that statistics about wanting peace are not the same as being ready to give up territory. Outside observers often conflate the two, he said, and President Donald Trump was no exception.

Following talks with Trump, Zelensky said a one-on-one meeting with Vladimir Putin is possible only under one condition — when Kremlin statements stop diverging from realities on the battlefield.

And in a new report, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War analyzed Kremlin statements linked to the Zelensky–Trump discussions. The rhetoric from Russian authorities, it said, points to an absence of readiness for a real peace.

Source

Kremlin agrees with Trump that peace is closer, demands Ukraine withdraw from Donbas

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:43:09 +0100

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the war can end only if Ukraine’s Defense Forces withdraw from Donbas, while agreeing with US President Donald Trump that peace “has come significantly closer.”

Peskov’s comments on the conditions for ending the war in Ukraine were reported December 29 by Russia’s state news agency TASS. He said the Kremlin will assess the meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once it receives information from the United States.

To halt hostilities, Kyiv must withdraw troops “to the administrative borders” of Donbas, Peskov said, without clarifying whether Russia also expects a pullback from the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not discuss with Trump the possibility of a Christmas truce in Ukraine, and called it inappropriate to comment publicly on creating a free-trade zone in Donbas or on joint management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Peskov said the Kremlin does not understand what Zelensky meant when he said Moscow needs to prepare a “Plan B” for the war in Ukraine, arguing that Russia “is thinking about ending hostilities in the context of achieving its goals.”

The Kremlin spokesperson said another Trump-Putin phone call is expected “in the near future,” and that there are no plans for a Putin-Zelensky dialogue.

Trump called Putin ahead of his December 28 meeting with Zelensky.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin and Trump discussed the “Ukrainian conflict” by phone. According to Ushakov, both presidents believe a temporary truce proposed by Ukrainians and Europeans “only leads to prolonging” the war.

Trump called his talks with Zelensky “wonderful” and said agreements on security guarantees for Ukraine are almost 95% complete. He added that the issue of occupied Ukrainian territories, including Donbas, remains unresolved.

Source

LIVE | ⚡️ Zelenskyy – Trump negotiations. PEACE TALKS IN FLORIDA. 90% of the agreement is agreed!

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:35:05 +0100

Source

Lavrov claims Ukraine tried to attack Putin’s Novgorod residence with 91 drones

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:21:01 +0100

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine tried to attack Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state residence in the Novgorod region using 91 drones.

The attack, he said, took place overnight into December 29. All 91 drones were destroyed. There were no reports of casualties or damage, Lavrov added. He said that, in light of the attack, “Russia’s negotiating position will be reconsidered,” but Moscow “does not intend to withdraw from negotiations with the United States.”

Putin’s “Dolgiye Borody” residence is located on Lake Valdai in the Novgorod region.

There is no confirmation of the attack from other sources. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Lavrov’s claim about an attack on the residence a lie and linked it to what he said is Russia’s intent to strike Kyiv’s government quarter.

“The Russians don’t want to end this war. With their statement that some residence was attacked, they’re simply laying the groundwork to strike the capital and government buildings,” Zelensky told reporters via WhatsApp.

He tied Lavrov’s statement to talks held the day before with U.S. President Donald Trump. “It’s clear that for the Russians, if we don’t have a scandal with America — and we have progress — that’s a failure for them. Because they don’t want this war to end,” Zelensky added.

In the Ukrainian president’s view, statements like this are an attempt by Moscow to undermine progress made in peace talks between Kyiv and Washington.

He urged U.S. President Donald Trump to “respond appropriately to Russian threats.”

Source

Trump, Putin hold phone call following Zelensky's visit to Florida

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:14:44 +0100

"President Trump has concluded a positive call with President Putin concerning Ukraine," said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Source

PUTIN sabotages one point of the PEACE PLAN! Trump is angry! #shorts

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 15:38:24 +0100

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Zelenskyy–Trump: Agreement in Florida. Is peace closer than it seems?

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 15:18:10 +0100

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❗️🇺🇸Trump: We're very close #shorts

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:21:00 +0100

Source

❗️Trump: This is a war where both sides want to end it #shorts

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 22:12:09 +0100

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Ukraine war latest: Zelensky, Trump hold talks in Florida to discuss an end to Russia's war; Trump holds call with Putin before meeting with Ukrainian delegation

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 20:59:17 +0100

Key developments on Dec. 28-29:

Trump holds call with Putin just before scheduled meeting with Zelensky
'I have no deadlines' — Zelensky, Trump hold talks in Florida to discuss an end to Russia's war
'It was horrifying, like an earthquake' – Kyiv recovering from

Source

WATCH LIVE! Zelenskyy and Trump's press conference in Florida

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 20:05:06 +0100

Source

Trump holds call with Putin just before scheduled meeting with Zelensky

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 18:45:53 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Dec. 28 that he held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Source

Zelensky set to meet Trump in Florida to discuss peace proposal to end Russia's war (LIVE)

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 11:15:58 +0100

A member of the Ukrainian delegation told the Kyiv Independent that they don't know how the meeting will unfold and are ready for "all scenarios."

Source

Ukraine denies Russia's claims of capturing key front-line cities ahead of Zelensky-Trump meeting

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 00:09:08 +0100

Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast and Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast are not under Russian control, Ukraine's General Staff said, dismissing the Kremlin's claims as "the weapon of disinformation."

Source

Zelensky reiterates red lines for peace talks ahead of Trump meeting

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:32:06 +0100

On the eve of a meeting with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky set out Ukraine’s “red lines” for negotiations to end the war launched by Moscow, speaking to reporters on Saturday, December 27.

He said they include the occupied territories and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, on which Ukraine “will not legally recognize any changes under any circumstances.”

Zelensky noted that before any decisions are made, there will be public discussion through a referendum or via legislative changes.

At the same time, the Ukrainian president said one of the main issues is security guarantees, as “today Russia demonstrated how it responds to talks” between Kyiv and Washington on ending the war.

“They launched mass attacks on Ukraine. On the way to peace talks, Russia is showing its answer,” Zelensky said.

He added that security guarantees must be such that Ukraine is protected.

Zelensky said Ukraine “supported President Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire” and “made many different compromises.” “Ukraine is doing everything it can to stop this war. Our number one priority is to end the war,” he said. At the same time, “Russia is demonstrating a desire to continue the war,” he argued.

In Zelensky’s view, if the war is not ended as quickly as possible, it will pose a risk to all countries, because Russia will not stop in Ukraine “despite any agreements, despite any eloquent messages.”

US President Donald Trump will host Volodymyr Zelensky on December 28 in the resort city of Palm Beach, Florida.

According to Politico, topics on the table include security guarantees for Ukraine, a proposal to establish a demilitarized zone in the east, management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and control over territory in Donbas.

In a December 26 interview with Politico, the US president said that Zelensky “has nothing” until Trump himself approves it.

Source

The little things that keep them going

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 15:46:32 +0100

Editor’s note:

Mass attacks struck Kyiv the day before Zelenskyy and Trump are expected to meet in Washington, D.C.

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A candle lit for a short Christmas service in a home occupied by members of the Khartiia Brigade, in the Kharkiv Region of Ukraine.

The holidays are many things to many people, but it is almost universally a time for reflection.

I joked last year around this time that I was feeling exhausted down to my very bone marrow. If that was the case then, well, my mitochondria are flickering on and off now, whining and grinding, as if to ask: ‘Is this all *strictly necessary*?’

When – as happened over the last day – the night was filled with loud explosions, the water cut off for the first time ever, and you awake in a cold room without power, there is even a temptation to feel sorry for one’s self.

But as they say in Ukraine, it’s a sin to complain.

And nowhere is there less room for self-pity than when you are standing next to a soldier who has spent years facing down death, destruction and grief with no schedule for relief.

A Christmas tree in a basement office for the Khartiia Brigade, on Christmas Eve.

Source

🔴 LIVE! Zelenskyy plans meeting with Trump – Ukranian forces driving Russians out of Kupyansk

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 14:52:37 +0100

Source

En route to America, Zelensky shares his top priority for upcoming meeting with Trump

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 14:02:53 +0100

Without security guarantees, Ukraine cannot take any steps towards peace or hold presidential elections, which Trump's administration has pressured Zelensky to implement.

Source

'Missiles and drones speak for Russia' – Zelensky blasts Moscow for 10-hour air attack ahead of Trump meeting

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 11:25:10 +0100

Russia launched nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles overnight on Dec. 26-27, largely targeting Kyiv’s energy and civilian infrastructure.

Source

Trump says Russia-Ukraine peace has 'good shot,' New York Post reports

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 04:03:00 +0100

"I think they want to do it now, and I think that Russia wants to do it. But every time one wants to do it, the other doesn’t," Trump told the New York Post in a Dec. 26 phone call.

Source

Russia's mass missile attack targets Kyiv ahead of upcoming Trump-Zelensky meeting

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 01:19:00 +0100

Several explosions were heard across the capital, according to Kyiv Independent reporters on the ground, as well as in Kyiv Oblast, where power outages were reported in the town of Brovary and surrounding areas following the strikes.

Source

Russia says Zelensky’s 20-point peace plan is radically different from version discussed with the U.S.

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 22:35:21 +0100

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov accused Kyiv and the EU of trying to derail a peace deal for Ukraine.

The Russian government alleges Ukraine intends to “torpedo” negotiations on a US plan to end the war in Ukraine. The revised version of the US plan unveiled by Ukrainian authorities a few days ago is “radically different” from the text Moscow discussed with Washington, Ryabkov said on Russian television on Friday, December 26.

“Ukrainian social media carried links to a 20-point plan. We know that this plan - if it can even be called a plan - is radically different from the 27 points we worked through with the American side in recent weeks, starting in early December,” Ryabkov said in an interview on the program “60 Minutes.”

According to the diplomat, Ukraine and its “sponsors, particularly in the European Union, who are not aiming for an agreement, have doubled their efforts to torpedo it”. “Without properly resolving the problems that are the root cause of this crisis - without that, there will be no path to a final agreement,” Ryabkov emphasized.

He added that any proposals must remain within the parameters set at the summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, held in August in Alaska.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, after talks with US representatives, presented a new version of the American plan to end the war. The revised 20-point plan calls for freezing the current front line.

The document omits two of Moscow’s key demands: the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas and a legally binding renunciation by Ukraine of NATO membership.

Meanwhile, Zelensky told reporters on December 26 that the 20-point peace plan to end the war in Ukraine is already 90% prepared. “Our task is to make sure everything is 100% ready,” he said, noting “it’s not easy.”

The Ukrainian leader said that at a planned December 28 meeting with US President Donald Trump he intends to discuss a package of documents related to security guarantees for Kyiv, as well as territorial issues and economic development, RBC-Ukraine reported.

Zelensky also said he plans to raise the issue that Moscow is not showing a willingness to sign the peace plan. “Russia is constantly looking for reasons not to agree. … If Ukraine shows its position—it is constructive—and Russia, for example, does not agree, that means there isn’t enough pressure,” the Ukrainian president said.

Source

Zelenskyy and Trump may meet on December 28 in Florida #shorts

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 22:00:34 +0100

Source

Zelenskyy and Trump meeting: everything could be decided before New Year?

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 21:00:40 +0100

Source

Putin says territorial concessions possible in Ukraine talks

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 18:00:50 +0100

Russian President Vladimir Putin remains ready to make concessions agreed at the Anchorage summit, he said at a State Council meeting on Thursday, December 25, Kommersant reported.

As Ukraine’s Strana.ua notes, and as earlier reports in other media indicated, this would include dropping the demand that Ukrainian troops withdraw from parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions that the Kremlin declared part of Russia after “referendums” in occupied territories in the fall of 2022.

According to Kommersant, at the State Council meeting Putin focused largely on talks with the United States and Ukraine over a plan to halt the war.

He said a “partial exchange of territories from the Russian side as well” could not be ruled out.

At the same time, Putin stressed that “the status of the Kramatorsk–Kostiantynivka–Sloviansk junction (in Ukraine’s Donetsk region) is not up for discussion.”

Putin said Russia and the United States are discussing joint management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

He claimed the U.S. had shown interest in mining at the facility and initiated talks on supplying electricity to Ukraine.

Asked whether Ukrainian specialists can work at the plant, he said they are already there, “they just have Russian passports now.”

He also said that after talks with European leaders, the U.S. side “backed away” from some of its proposals, calling it a sign of weakness.

On the morning of December 26, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would soon meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

“We’re not wasting a day. We agreed on a meeting at the highest level—with President Trump in the near future. Much could be decided before the New Year,” he wrote on Telegram.

According to a source cited by Ukraine’s The Kyiv Post, if all goes according to plan, the meeting could take place as early as December 28.

In late November, Trump said he was ready to meet with Zelensky and Putin only if a peace agreement between the countries “is final or in its final stage.”

Source

MEETING WITH TRUMP IN JUST DAYS! Russia in rage strikes Odesa and Mykolaiv: ports in flames!

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 15:00:41 +0100

Source

'A lot can be decided before New Year' — Zelensky says he and Trump plan to meet in 'near future'

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 09:30:02 +0100

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine and the U.S. had agreed to meet "in the near future," suggesting there could be progress in peace talks to end Russia's war before the New Year.

Source

Zelensky holds phone call with Trump's envoys as Russia claims talks making 'slow but steady progress'

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 18:20:03 +0100

President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call with U.S. President Trump’s Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Christmas Day to discuss "several substantive details" of ongoing peace talks, the president said.

Source

TRUMP: Negotiations to END the war between Ukraine and Russia are progressing! #shorts

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:30:34 +0100

Source

Ukraine-Russia talks 'going along,' Trump says

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:09:14 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at an event in Palm Beach, Florida on Dec. 22, said talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine are ongoing, but offered few specifics on progress, next steps, or deadlines.

Source

⚡️ "PIVDENNYI PORT" IN FLAMES! Trump prepares STATEMENT after intelligence report!

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 15:00:28 +0100

Source

How Russia split my family over Christmas

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 15:01:58 +0100

Editor’s Note:

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For the past four years, I have loved Christmas. My family reunites in our hometown after long weeks of separation, sets the table with clay dishes, and annoys the neighbors with rumbling laughter.

But the joy is short-lived. My mother’s gaze shifts toward my grandmother, who, instead of a festive dinner, declined to celebrate. Christmas has not yet arrived for her.

Within seconds, accusations will begin: specifically, that my grandmother is continuing the traditions of “Russian agents.”

In 2023, my family found our gifts under the Christmas tree for the first time on December 25, instead of on New Year’s Day as we had been doing previously.

Most of the world celebrates Christmas on December 25. But Ukraine, until recently, followed Russia’s lead, marking it on January 7. The shared religious calendar was one of the tools used to sustain the myth of Slavic unity, allowing Moscow to maintain its influence long after Ukrainian independence.

The war has accelerated Ukraine’s separation from Russia, including through religion. Celebrating Christmas on December 25 was another step toward aligning with the West. and a process of decolonization.

But this shift came with consequences. For thousands of families, including my own, Christmas is not only a time of reunion but also a source of arguments.

I have personally witnessed how Russian influence can quietly take root, even among those closest to us. It often reveals itself in fierce resistance to returning to our own Ukrainian traditions, even among people who consider themselves patriotic.

There is tragedy in this for every such family: a holiday that typically unites people has instead become a source of division — and a weapon in Russia’s hands.

I witnessed this chasm with my own eyes.

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Under the dark skies of wartime power outages, the country’s main Christmas tree is illuminated on Sofiyska Square on December 5, 2025 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Maksym Kishka/Frontliner/Getty Images).

My grandmother was never a supporter of pro-Russian ideas.

Still, she remains a parishioner of the ‘Ukrainian’ Orthodox Church, which has never fully severed its ties with Russia.

It’s hard for me to blame her.

My grandparents began attending a church subordinated to the Moscow Patriarchate in the early 2010s, when my grandfather developed serious health problems. At the time, there were few alternatives. My home region, Volyn, had historically been a stronghold of the so-called ‘Ukrainian’ Orthodox Church, which fell under the Moscow Patriarchy.

Nine years ago, my grandfather died. My grandmother’s world collapsed like a house of cards. They had lived together for decades, inseparable and deeply loving. Imagining how to piece herself back together felt impossible.

She found comfort in continuing to attend the church they had once attended together. It was a community of people she still meets for coffee and celebrates holidays with. Older generations often turn to religion for meaning and support — even as churches like hers in Ukraine are now associated with collaborationism and Kremlin mouthpieces.

Russian Orthodox Patriarchate churches in Ukraine as of 2024. Source: Opendatabot. According to the data, the Volyn region has 422 churches.

Since the time of the Russian Empire, Ukraine has been under the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Russian Orthodox church was more than a religious institution; it was a bridge to cement Russian ideology in my country. Even during the Soviet era, priests were recruited to become secret agents, tasked with surveillance and spreading Soviet propaganda.

Before Soviet rule, Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on December 25, drawing them closer to Europe and farther from Russia, which refused to adopt the Gregorian calendar. In 1918, the Soviets returned to the Julian calendars for churches and shifted the holiday to January 7, uniting all occupied territories under a single schedule.

The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate at his residence, where a portrait of Moscow Patriarch Kirill hangs, 2017. Source: UNIAN

The critical role of the Russian Orthodox Church persisted even after Ukraine gained independence in 1991, as the overwhelming majority of clergy had long-standing ties to Moscow.

Along with the Russian Orthodox Church, Ukraine continued to use the Julian calendar, which reflected its long-standing confrontation with the West, even in matters of faith.

Failing to break those ties was a serious mistake.

In 2014, Vladimir Putin exploited this historical connection between churches, using it as a tool of hybrid aggression to justify the war against Ukraine. Back then, the clergy of the so-called “Ukrainian Orthodox Church” supported separatists in Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk, as militants from the pseudo-republics created by Putin openly promoted Moscow Orthodoxy. They framed the conflict in Donbas a “crusade,” with the backing of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Only after three years of war, in 2018, Ukraine finally secured an independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Since then, the country has been engulfed in a confrontation over which church is legitimate.

People in my region would go as far as to physically beat each other to assert their beliefs. Now, the Russian Orthodoxy tries to fuel the confrontation, especially on the eve of religious holidays.

In 2024, Ukraine introduced a law which banned religious formations associated with Moscow. Yet, the church continues to be under its influence.

Сlashes between parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchy) and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (independent) in my home region in 2024. Source: https://t.me/IA_VGOLOS/22687

No one in my family had seriously confronted my grandmother about her church until recently.

After February 2022, my grandmother and my mother started arguing more often about religion, as reports mounted of clergy from churches subordinated to the Moscow Patriarchate being exposed as collaborators and participating in repression in the occupied territories. As of August 2025, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) was investigating more than 170 cases involving priests linked to Moscow on potential treason.

To be precise, it was my mother who argued. My grandmother cried.

However, even after thousands of quarrels, my grandmother decided to stay in her church, saying it was “different.” She believes her friends, the priests, are pro-Ukrainian, as they support the army with prayers.

After many tiring conversations, our family decided to make the subject taboo. But the crack kept widening whenever the holidays came around.

Before the full-scale invasion, this day did not hold much meaning for me. As a child, I always received presents on New Year’s Eve, a tradition since Soviet times.

Christmas, meanwhile, was treated almost humorously: limping through the twilight along snowy, freezing streets, we could always collect sweets and money from neighbors in exchange for singing carols. It always felt less important, coming only after the New Year.

A column of carolers moves from Rynok Square towards Yavorskyi Square to participate in the ceremony to install the city of Lviv’s main Christmas didukh in western Ukraine. (Photo credit should read Markiian Lyseiko / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images).

But the war changed my relationship to Christmas.

Now, even for someone as secular as myself, Christmas has become the most important family holiday of the year. The moment when I can finally catch my breath and travel back to my hometown to see everyone I love.

In 2023, we already celebrated Christmas on December 25 for the second time, after this date became the official one in Ukraine. We also started the tradition of exchanging gifts under the Christmas tree.

“It feels like we’ve brought real Christmas back,” my mother said as she cleared the festive table that year.

Everyone felt that way — except for my grandmother.

That 2023 Christmas, she wanted to celebrate it without us. Her church, which continued to observe Christmas according to the old calendar, considered the new date incorrect.

We were already eating kutia, singing carols, and drinking wine. My grandmother, meanwhile, was observing a strict fast which usually goes before Christmas. There was no celebration, no drinking, and no meat allowed for her, so she just ate plain vegetable dishes.

A traditional Ukrainian dish, “kutia,” made of wheat or barley grains boiled in water with honey. Source: klopotenko.com.

Late in the evening, she would eventually return from church, and the conversation would inevitably grow heated. The familiar arguments would begin again, stretching late into the night.

But two years ago, she finally agreed to join our festive meal after my mom asked her not to “spoil the holiday.”

By 2024, statistics showed that most Ukrainians had adapted to the reform calendar and begun celebrating Christmas on December 25.

I finally feel how it became ours. It was already ours before the Soviets and the Russian Orthodox stole it. Our ancestors celebrated it on December 25 as a way to revive our national identity and separate Kyiv from Moscow.

I tried to explain this to my grandmother.

We never managed to change her mind completely. She still goes to her church and celebrates Christmas on January 7 with her friends there.

But something eventually changed. She decided to mark two Christmases in a year and gave up on her fasting meals when everyone around is celebrating.

She chose, after all, to spend the holiday with us.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Tim Mak

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

We built today’s News of the Day section using Ground.News, a media literacy tool that helps cut through the fog in this time of disinformation. The website and app filters through thousands of news stories every day, merging them by topic to help show which topics are being covered by left and right.

That’s why we’re partnering with Ground.News for this issue. It features bias detection, provides funding transparency about news outlets, and compares headlines so you can see how different outlets are framing the topic.

It’s bias detection helped surface the differences between how right-leaning and left-leaning outlets are covering the ongoing peace process through its ‘blindspots’ feature:

Interested in improving your news diet like I have? Subscribe to Ground News and get 40% off their Vantage plan!

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RUSSIA MIXED SIGNALS ON PEACE PROCESS: Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev hailed peace talks in Florida as “constructive,” as he met with Trump representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

At the same time, Putin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov slammed changes to the notorious 28 point plan, which the Europeans and Ukrainians have whittled down to 20 points. Ushakov claimed that the revisions “definitely do not improve the document and do not improve the possibility of achieving long-term peace.”

Both stories found on Ground.News, with high factuality:

US INTEL: RUSSIA WANTS ALL UKRAINE: Intelligence from the United States continues to show that Putin’s objectives continue to be the capture of all Ukraine, as well as parts of Europe that were part of the USSR. These assessments have been consistent since 2022, Reuters reports, citing six sources that have familiarity with the intelligence.

…BUT GABBARD DEFLECTS: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that “warmongers” in the government are promoting a “false narrative to block President Trump’s peace effort.” She claimed that Russia wants to avoid a larger war with NATO and also does not have the ability to conquer all of Ukraine.

The problem with Gabbard’s statement is that she does not contradict the Reuters story.

ZELENSKY SUPPORTS ONLINE VOTING: The Ukrainian president said that presidential elections could permit online voting for Ukrainians abroad, as preparations are made for a possible election campaign even during the war. More at Ground.News.

… AS PUTIN CONSIDERS BALLOT SITE CEASEFIRE: For his part, Putin said he’s considering a ceasefire on election day if Kyiv holds elections that he is pushing for. Russia is “prepared to consider ways to ensure election security in Ukraine, at least by refraining from strikes deep into the country’s territory on election day,” he said.

But he insisted that Ukrainians living in Russia be allowed to vote, and his promises are notably worthless.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Sasha saw this cat “on sale” at a convenience store. Sometimes he comes there on cold days and lifts everyone’s spirits!

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Mariana

Source

'Alternatives to US support are uncertain' — Zelensky says 'strength' to end war exists with Trump, names 'most difficult issues' in negotiations

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 19:49:49 +0100

"I believe such strength exists in the United States and in President Trump. And I believe we should not look for an alternative to the United States, because all alternatives are uncertain as to whether they can end the war)," President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters.

Source

Zelensky rates European guarantees at 90% as talks advance, urges concrete US commitments

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 17:28:51 +0100

Ukraine and its Western partners have made headway in talks on future security guarantees to deter another Russian invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

In an interview with Poland’s PAP news agency, Zelensky said negotiations on the guarantees have “significantly advanced.” He described the European component as largely satisfactory—though not fully so—and rated its reliability at about 90% .

“Not everything suits us here either, but we’re 90% satisfied,” he said.

Zelensky stressed that the United States remains central to the architecture of these guarantees, calling for concrete commitments that are not just verbal but approved by the US Congress. For Kyiv, he said, it is crucial to understand how partners would act in the event of renewed Russian aggression.

European guarantees provide a strong foundation, he added, but do not yet eliminate all risks. Ukraine sees them as an important part of a broader system that includes the US.

Addressing parameters of a possible peace plan, Zelensky highlighted the armed forces, saying a working draft envisions a force of about 800,000 service members - the size he says Ukraine needs to defend itself and deter Russia.

Zelensky also renewed his thanks to the United States and President Donald Trump for efforts to end the war. At the same time, he said “Russian dictator Vladimir Putin” is not interested in a genuine peace and will not limit his ambitions to Ukraine—circumstances that, he argued, elevate Washington’s role.

Source

Umerov: Ukraine, U.S., and European partners agree on next steps in talks on Trump’s Ukraine peace plan

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 17:18:33 +0100

On December 19, U.S. officials held talks with a Ukrainian delegation and European partners on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov wrote on his Telegram channel.

According to him, the Ukrainian delegation agreed with the Americans on next steps and continued joint work. The parties will resume consultations in the near future. Umerov confirmed European representatives took part but did not specify who.

The Ukrainian delegation at the December 19 talks in the U.S. was led by Rustem Umerov. Also present was the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andriy Hnatov.

It is not yet clear who took part from the U.S. side. It is assumed the participants were the U.S. president’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Witkoff and Kushner also plan to meet December 20–21 in Miami with a Russian delegation that could be led by Vladimir Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev. The sides are also set to discuss the new plan to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, developed in November this year by the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio may join the talks with the Russian delegation on Saturday, December 20. He said there has been progress in discussing conditions to end the war in Ukraine, but a peace deal is still far off.

As for the European representatives at the December 19 talks in the U.S., their names have not been officially disclosed. Media report they were representatives of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing the upcoming new phase of consultations in the U.S., mentioned Trump’s new peace plan, pared down to 20 points, and the security guarantees for Ukraine to be provided after the war.

Source

WATCH! EU launches €90B for Ukraine | War hits Russia | Trump’s sanctions game

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 15:52:07 +0100

Source

What is known about US-promised security guarantees for Ukraine

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 12:27:37 +0100

On Dec. 14, in Berlin, Ukraine and the US discussed a potential peace deal with Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, headed the Ukrainian delegation. On the American side were Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to Kyiv, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law and the adviser of the US President.

The WSJ reported that the negotiations were difficult and that the American side once again tried to pressure Ukraine into withdrawing its troops from the parts of Donetsk region Russia didn’t occupy.

The US even resorted to an unexpected proposal. The American delegation offered Ukraine security guarantees from the US similar to Article 5 of NATO, i.e., guarantees that would compel America to give a “military response" if Russia attacked Ukraine again. However, the American side said that such a proposal would not remain on the table indefinitely and that Ukraine had limited time to make a decision.

Ukraine confirmed that it’s open to compromise on security guarantees as well. President Zelenskyy has reportedly said that Ukraine's willing to give up its hopes of joining NATO in exchange for security guarantees.

“And above all, (the peace plan) must be workable. The plan truly should not be just a piece of paper, but a meaningful step toward ending the war,” said Zelenskyy.

The Guardian also wrote that European leaders perceived US-Ukraine talks in Berlin as the one that do really defend Ukraine from future Russian aggression. They were particularly optimistic about security guarantees.,

Following the talks in Berlin, European leaders issued a joint statement presenting such guarantees for Ukraine:

A European-led “multinational force” to support Ukraine’s army and defend its skies and seas.
A “legally binding commitment” from the UK and other European nations to “take measures to restore peace and security in the case of a future armed attack”.
European support for Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
“Sustained and significant support” from Europe to help Ukraine “build its armed forces”, which should remain at a peacetime level of 800,000 troops (Russia has demanded that Ukraine cut the size of its armed forces of 600,000 troops).
A US-led “ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism” to “provide early warning of any future attack”.
Investment in Ukraine’s reconstruction, which may include Russian sovereign assets that have been frozen in Europe.

Still, a lot of questions about how to make the peace deal happen are still up in the air. Ivan Marchenko, Doctor of Economics, Associate Professor of the Department of International Relations at Kharkiv National University, notes that Ukraine has effectively rejected the terms proposed by Kushner and Witkoff regarding the surrender of the Donetsk region, and Russia is unlikely to accept the Ukrainian side's amendments, which paves the way for a new round of negotiations.

Uncertainty of response

On Dec. 18, President Zelenskyy said that he did not fully understand how the security guarantees would work. He added that Ukraine was not yet ready to assess the effectiveness of the guarantees, noting that it was necessary to crystallize the main point — how the US and Europe will act if Russia attacksed again, and what kind of response there would be.

Zelenskyy also said that it is important for Ukraine to receive this response in writing, even if it is not made public.

Trump has consistently said that he will not send American troops to Ukraine. Instead, American guarantees reportedly outline how the United States plans to utilize its extensive intelligence systems to monitor the ceasefire and detect any Russian activity aimed at re-entering unoccupied parts of Ukraine, according to officials. Additionally, the US will assist in verifying Russia's compliance with the ceasefire and ensure that “minor skirmishes” between Russia and Ukraine do not escalate into a new war.

Markus Reisner, an Austrian military historian and lecturer at the military academy in Wiener Neustadt, notes that such an unexpected and rapid proposal from the Americans regarding security guarantees seems suspicious. In his opinion, Trump's team may not take these guarantees seriously, viewing them as similar to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. The Memorandum provided Ukraine with security guarantees from the US, Russia, France, and Britain in exchange for renouncing nuclear weapons, but it was non-binding legally and then violated by Russia.

Ihor Marchenko also thinks that the guarantee mechanism proposed by the US seems to be a real compromise, but its implementation remains questionable. He says there is a big difference between collective security provided by all NATO members and security guarantees provided by America only. Such guarantees may simply not be implemented by the US.

He also notes that for Russia, Ukraine's non-accession to NATO is a key condition on a par with the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk region. Therefore, there is a possibility that realistic and reliable security guarantees for Ukraine, similar to Article 5 of NATO, will be perceived by Putin as Ukraine's de facto accession to the alliance, which will lead to another rejection of the peace process by Russia

Ihor Marchenko also said that EU accessio cannot be a military security guarantor for Ukraine because is an economic alliance.

“So when they combine them, saying that if you reject NATO, you automatically join the European Union, that’s a kind of substitution, where instead of hot, we get red,” Marchenko says.

Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defense, spoke more about European security guarantees during the summit on December 18. He added that Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Poland are still discussing possible formats of security guarantees for Ukraine. One of the conditions he mentioned was the possible redeployment of these countries' troops to NATO territory.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke about such a prospect as well. He noted that a peace agreement could indeed provide for the deployment of peacekeeping forces, adding that Europeans may have to repel Russian attack if they decide to invade Ukraine again.

This scenario seems unlikely, as Russia has repeatedly declared the deployment of any foreign troops on Ukrainian territory unacceptable.

However, it will be a major victory if Ukraine can secure ratification of security guarantees in the US Senate that will provide Ukraine with weapons, training for soldiers, and intelligence, says Mykola Bielieskov, an analyst at the National Institute for Strategic Studies of Ukraine.

Issue with joining NATO

Another important aspect of the Berlin negotiations is Ukraine's refusal to join NATO. In 2019, just a few months prior to the presidential election, Ukraine amended its Constitution to formally commit to EU and NATO membership as a strategic goal. This amendment was defined by a law passed by the Verkhovna Rada on February 7, 2019, highlighting Ukraine's desire for integration into Euro-Atlantic structures as an irreversible process.

Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, said that the alliance has no consensus on Ukraine's accession, but emphasized the Washington Treaty, which states that any sovereign democratic state can apply for membership in the alliance.

“The practical situation is that, as you know, Ukraine's accession to NATO requires the consensus of all allies. And now, as you know, there is no consensus on Ukraine's accession to NATO,” Rutte said in response to a question about Ukraine's future membership in the alliance.

Zelenskyy's statements about seeking compromises were met with criticism from the Ukrainian opposition. "If this is true, then it is an abuse of Zelensky's constitutional powers, for which the Ukrainian people did not give him any mandate. Victory for Ukraine means preserving our sovereignty," says Iryna Gerashchenko, a Ukrainian MP and member of former President Petro Poroshenko's party.

In order to amend Ukraine's constitution, a referendum on withdrawal from the NATO course should be held. That is currently impossible due to martial law, but President Zelenskyy ordered Ukrainian parliamentarians to draft a law that would guarantee elections in Ukraine during wartime.

Zelenskyy’s decision be more of a performance to show that Ukraine seriously understands the threat to democracy and is considering options for holding these elections not only democratically, but also without or with minimal threats of manipulation from Russia, which will not undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and state order, suggests Kateryna Bousol, a Ukrainian lawyer and associate professor at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

Busol adds that Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic and European integration course is not just a policy of wishes, but Ukraine's strategy enshrined in the Constitution. Western countries such as Britain and the US often refer to late 19th century norms and emphasize that even after more than a century, they remain relevant to their laws.

In her opinion, Ukraine should also defend a similar position for its Constitution: to show that, although the state is open to seeking legislative and legitimate solutions, but to also emphasize that the Ukrainian constitution is not just a “piece of paper,” and it cannot be changed every six months.

Busol also talks about possible compromise solutions. She explained that, according to the Constitution of Ukraine and the law on international treaties, an international treaty ratified by the Verkhovna Rada takes precedence over national legislation if its provisions differ from the Constitution or other norms. Busol said that this rule applies only to ratified documents, not to those that have simply been signed.

The lawyer said that the potential referendum might involve authorities discussing the need for an interim decision. The authorities could also say that Ukraine has ratified this international treaty (if such a treaty — that includes a US Article 5-like security guarantee — is signed) and that its provisions are therefore binding.

Using Colombia as an example, she said that the first peace agreement reached within the armed conflict took a really long time to agree upon. The Colombian people did not support the agreement between the government and the FARC rebels, even though it was negotiated, as Busol put it, with their blood and sweat. A new round of negotiations then started.

“Signing peace agreements, of course, is very important, but the processes that follow can also influence whether the agreement will be implemented at the national level and in what format, and whether there will be a review, as was the case in Colombia, for example.”

“I won’t go through occupation again” — life in Ukrainian village one mile from Russia

Hello, this is Nazar, the author of the article. I was extremely interested in telling you about the possible security guarantees for Ukraine that are being talked about so much. If you are interested in learning more about such events with the opinions of Ukrainian experts, please buy us a coffee or consider subscribing to our Patreon.

The post What is known about US-promised security guarantees for Ukraine appeared first on Gwara Media.

Source

NEWSFLASH: Putin rejects Trump’s peace process

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:26:22 +0100

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Russia is only ready to end the war if Ukraine withdraws from Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Putin announced Friday.

His troops only partially occupy areas of these four Ukrainian territories.

Using familiar terms about ‘root causes,’ the Russian president staked out a position even more absolute than that of the 28 point plan proposed by the Trump administration earlier this year.

“We are ready to end this conflict on the basis of the principles I outlined at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs [in the summer of 2024] and by eliminating the root causes of the conflict,” Putin said at his annual press conference.

After the paywall:

What are Putin’s demands for ending the war?
Why is Russia unlikely to agree to peace agreement terms?
What is currently happening with the peace talks?

Source

Trump signs defense spending bill into law, providing $400 million annually in military assistance to Ukraine through 2027

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 06:56:46 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law a $900 billion defense spending bill on Dec. 18, approving a sweeping package that includes $800 million in military assistance for Ukraine.

Source

Trump says he hopes Ukraine 'moves quickly' as peace talks continue

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 02:09:48 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump said Dec. 18 that he hopes Ukraine will move quickly amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war.

Source

DEBATE: Is Trump a viable mediator for peace?

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:27:28 +0100

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Steven Moore and I agree on at least one thing: we want Ukraine to win the war.

Tim is a former U.S. Army medic and longtime journalist who has been in Ukraine since Feb 2022. He’s the founder of The Counteroffensive.

Steven is a former chief of staff for a GOP member of Congress. He went to Ukraine on the fifth day of the invasion, and has been a leading force in getting Republican lawmakers and officials to support Ukraine.

The thing we two friends argue about most is the degree to which Ukraine needs Donald Trump. We’ve had so many interesting, illuminating and passionate discussions privately. And then it struck me: why not share it more widely to sharpen our arguments?

Here’s the issue which we’ll be debating:

Resolved: The Trump White House is a viable mediator for a just peace in the Ukraine-Russia War.

U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on December 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Tim: I will be arguing in opposition to the resolution.

Steven, thanks for doing this. One of the most interesting things about our friendship has been our disagreements over the degree to which Ukraine needs to engage with Trump.

My position is that we should skip to the inevitable betrayal, dispense with the pretense that the United States is interested in a just peace for Ukraine, and try to do as little damage as possible while recognizing that reality.

I think the recent days have shown this to be true. The White House put out a National Security Strategy that was outright hostile towards Europe and made outrageous demands of the countries that ought to be our allies.

The same strategy made no demands of Russia whatsoever other than that they do us the favor of being welcomed back into the fold of civilized nations with no accountability for the looting, killing, raping and murder they’ve committed.

The U.S. peace process -- which I consider a theater -- is to my mind an ego-driven venture so that Trump can say he established an end to the war, no matter how unjust and no matter how tenuous. It is an unserious process of coercion by unknowledgeable men. They are interested first and foremost in personal financial enrichment and accolades — not justice, and not a lasting peace.

For these reasons, I think that Ukraine should not consider the Trump White House as a viable mediator for peace.

Steven: Tim, I really value our friendship and our ability to discuss tough issues on which we disagree in an amicable manner that allows both of us to emerge more enlightened.

I have always thought you are a tremendous advocate for what should be. I view myself as someone trying to create strategies to maximize opportunities for what is.

Only three or four people in the world can get Ukraine the weapons or the security guarantees it needs to keep Russia out of its borders. One is named Trump, the rest live in Europe. We are building support for Ukraine among Trump’s voters. And we have been successful. More of Trump’s voters support aid to Ukraine now than at any time since the fall of 2022.

Trump will be president until January of 2029 - about 37 months from now. Barring statistically improbable occurrences, that will remain true.

Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart de Wever inside 10 Downing Street on December 12, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Stansall - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Who else would lead the peace process? Bart De Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium? Belgium controls some $200b in frozen Russian assets and has done almost nothing with it, except tax it for their own benefit to the tune of about $4 billion. Every day, Belgium purchases enough LNG from Russia to pay for 71 Shahed drones. Every day. In the last six weeks, suspected Russian drones have shut down Brussels airport three times. Belgium is paying Putin to attack Belgium.

Europe seems unable to act in its own interest, let alone Kyiv’s.

Tim: I think there are a few more than three or four (Starmer, Macron, Merz, Tusk to name a few), but I take your point.

The problem when I look at Trump is that he is not going to get Ukraine the weapons (indeed, he has stopped the flow of aid), nor is he going to provide reliable security guarantees (his whole strategy is European withdrawal, not new European entrenchment). When I look at his hostility towards the European continent, his interest in getting a deal done at any cost (including Ukraine’s subjugation), and his administration’s coming business deals with Russia, I don’t see him as a reliable or even useful mediator in this conflict.

I don’t defend Europe’s purchasing of Russian energy. The European Union is in the process of phasing out Russian gas imports, although it will take far too long -- until late 2027 -- to do so. Still, if we are considering Ukraine’s point of view, a sudden shut off of Russian energy imports would spike energy prices, alienating ordinary voters to Ukraine’s cause, and deeply affect the ability of European politicians to support the Ukrainian war effort. Of those two outcomes, which would you choose?

Separately, the Trump administration and its allies have already begun working behind the scenes to set up a reintegration of Russian energy companies with the world economy, per the Wall Street Journal. Your point about European purchases is fair! But we should then trust as a mediator the president who is going to turn around and rejuvenate Russian energy companies all around the world? It doesn’t track for me.

Let me propose an alternate solution: as delicately as possible, Europe and Ukraine withdraw from the ongoing talks with the United States. Let’s skip the pending U.S. betrayal, the Russian side’s inevitable dismissal of hard-fought diplomatic terms, and work among friends. I think it would lead to a fairer, more stable peace -- even if it does not lead to a deal in the most imminent time frame possible.

Steven: I don’t disagree that Trump is currently not doing what is good for Ukraine. But giving up is not a great strategy.

Again, Trump is one of the few people in the world who can get Ukraine the weapons it needs. The US defense budget is 62% more than that of every European NATO country combined, coincidentally 60% of NATO. Ukraine is not in a position to give up on 60% of NATO arms.

How would Ukraine or Europe could make Trump step back from the peace negotiations even if they were inclined to do so? All they would be doing in the attempt is giving up all influence inside the White House.

I don’t see the wisdom in giving up on US weapons and influence in the White House because we don’t want to have our feelings hurt with the “pending U.S. betrayal.” Especially since Trump is going to do whatever he wants anyway.

Winston Churchill was so committed to getting US weapons for Great Britain that he encouraged his 20 year old daughter-in-law Pamela to have affairs with US generals and diplomats while his son was at war to gather intel on how to influence FDR. Pamela’s efforts were integral in bringing the US into the war, but it forever changed Winston’s relationship with his son. Giving up was not in his mindset. It took two years. Ultimately, Pearl Harbor brought US weapons to England. Despite his frustration and hurt feelings, he did not burn any bridges with FDR.

As I detailed in my Substack, Tales from WWIII, “There is nothing we can do about Trump and the Republicans” is code for “I don’t know what to do about Trump and the Republicans.”

Many of us do. Joe Lindsley; Mark Toth & Jon Sweet; Pavlo Unguryan; Colby Barrett, Sarah Makin and the team at A Faith Under Siege; Melinda Haring at Razom; Meaghan Mobbs; Jed Sunden at the American Ukraine Committee; Jade McGlynn; Larry Provost and a host of others in addition to Anna Shvetsova and me.

Official Ukraine, after years of ignoring Republicans, is finally figuring out how to communicate with Republican voters. Zelensky has been on Newsmax several times this year, as well as Ben Shapiro and TBN. I was on a MAGA radio show recently. The host went on at length about how smart newly minted Ambassador Olha Stefanishyna was when she appeared on his show. (thirty seconds - watch it here)

Due to the work being put in, more Republicans support aid to Ukraine than at any time since fall of 2022. It is paying off. Now is not the time to give up.

(For readers interested in learning more about Churchill trying to bring the US into WWII, I recommend “The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz” as well as “Kingmaker: Pamela Harriman’s Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue,” about Churchill’s daughter-in-law.)

Tim: I see it differently. “There is nothing we can do about Trump” is a recognition that the president and those around him are firmly hostile towards Ukrainian and European interests.

A clear-eyed response to this would be to engage less with the Trump White House while formulating another plan with other potential mediators.

This is not about “feelings hurt,” this about a sober reckoning of the Trump White House’s antagonism towards Ukraine. Pointing out the size of the U.S.’s large military budget makes no difference if new military aid is not even on the table -- and as far as I can tell, it’s not even within contemplation.

This strategy could involve withdrawing from the U.S.-led peace process, choosing an allied leader to take the lead on negotiations (Alexander Stubb, for example).

Ironically, this may have the consequence of dragging Trump back towards a more pro-Ukrainian position. The president is obsessed with the idea of having achieved peace: he lives for attention, and is clearly unhappy whenever the spotlight is not on him personally.

In the meantime, Trump shouldn’t be rewarded for laundering Russia’s demands through American foreign policy.

I have great admiration for what you and other folks are doing to persuade Republicans, and fight the good fight to change the MAGA movement’s mind on Ukraine. I fear that the decisions on Ukraine will not be made at the grassroots level, however. The hundreds of billions of dollars in joint U.S.-Russia business deals being floated to MAGA elites are far too enticing for that.

Back to you for the final word, Steven. Bring us back to the debate’s resolution -- what do you think of the above, and why do you think the Trump White House is a viable mediator for this war?

Steven: The Trump White House IS the mediator by virtue of the fact he has the power and exerted the will to do it. Nobody appointed him to the job. There is nobody we can call and have him removed.

The Europeans also have that power. Everyone involved - including Trump - would be happier if the Europeans exerted their will to use their power to either make peace or fund Ukraine’s military to drive the Russians back to Kursk.

How can we get the Europeans to do that?

As you and I agree, we are currently in a global war. Russia is a client state of China. We both hear Iranian-designed Shahed drones overhead at night. North Korea is sending troops to Russia to train for an invasion of South Korea. Putin held a summit of 14 Islamic terror organizations in February of 2024. They weren’t there to exchange hummus recipes.

The world will need Europe’s firepower. However, last Friday, Europe sent $46,596,508 to Russia for fossil fuels. Enough to manufacture almost 1000 Iranian designed drones. A day.

Belgium’s Russian LNG imports have increased since 2022. France imported 19% more Russian LNG in 2025 than it did in 2024.

It might be that your partisan passions shade your judgement of what is best for Ukraine.

Your idea that “Ukraine’s point of view” is being concerned about spiking fuel prices if Europe stops buying Russian fossil fuels is at odds with Ukraine’s destruction of Russia’s refineries, its lobbying for more sanctions on Russian fossil fuels and its attacks on the Russian Ghost fleet of oil tankers. Cutting off Russian revenue is Ukraine’s goal.

You may be thinking of Jake Sullivan’s foreign policy of telling Ukraine to stop hitting Russian refineries for fear of driving up gas prices and causing problems for Biden’s re-election campaign.

You have not described the advantage Ukraine would gain by telling Trump to kiss off, especially since, after four years, we don’t yet have the European leader for whom you search.

After a couple of decades in Republican politics, I am more optimistic about Trump fulfilling Churchill’s portrait of the Americans. “You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all the other possibilities.”

With Republican public opinion pushing him on one side, and Putin’s continued aggression pushing him on the other, Trump is becoming increasingly boxed in by world events. I don’t see this as a time to give up.

That being said, my opinion on Europe has changed over the week we have been corresponding. Chancellor Merz’s speech impressed me. Macron and others have made similar speeches for years, but Merz backed this up with a 46% increase in the defense budget.

There may yet be hope for Europe.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

ORBAN SAYS PUTIN PROMISED TO CONSIDER HUNGARY’S POSITION ON RUSSIAN ASSETS: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin how Moscow would react if the EU used frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. According to Orban, Putin assured him Russia would take into account the position of individual EU countries, including Hungary, which opposes the move and calls it a new level of escalation. Hungary has repeatedly acted in Russia’s favour which the EU has criticised.

INDIA’S RUSSIAN OIL IMPORTS SURGE: India’s Russian oil imports are set to exceed 1 million barrels per day in December, defying expectations of a sharp decline after new US sanctions. Indian imports of Russian oil increased after Russia offered discounted cargoes from non-sanctioned sellers. Despite Western pressure, energy ties between India and Russia remain strong.

U.S.-EUROPE DRAFT UKRAINE SUPPORT PLANS: U.S. and European negotiators have drafted two documents outlining support for Ukraine in the event of a potential peace deal, the New York Times reports.

One document sets general principles similar to NATO’s Article 5, with countries committing to assist Ukraine if it is attacked. The second is an operational plan detailing how US and European forces would cooperate with Ukrainian troops to prevent further Russian aggression.

The drafts also outline steps to maintain Ukraine’s military at 800,000 well-equipped personnel and provide guidance on detecting and countering possible Russian “false-flag” operations. The documents remain confidential, though officials say they include specific measures to reassure Ukraine and deter future invasions.

UKRAINE’S YOUNG MEN FACE WAR AND HARD CHOICES: At the age of 25, Ukrainian men can be drafted into the army. As they approach this age, they face a difficult choice: to go to war, take on new responsibilities, balancing patriotism and fear, or to flee. Their choices reflect the incredible pressure they face living in a country being invaded by Russia. American media outlet KQED has reported on young men who stayed in Ukraine and went to war, those who criticize the government for its decision to mobilize, and those who left the country to save their lives.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Today’s Cat of Conflict is Myroslava’s Stuhna. She likes sitting near flowers and feels as though she is surrounded by nature.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Tim

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Open letter to President Trump: Protect legal Ukrainian workers in US

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:29:35 +0100

Editor’s note: This is an open letter by Vlad Skots, a Ukrainian American businessman and public activist, which was sent to U.S. President Donald Trump. A petition linked to the letter is available for signing.

Dear President Trump,

Right now America is punishing the good people who

Source

Zelensky outlines next steps in US-Ukraine talks to end the war

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:07:26 +0100

Another round of talks between Ukraine and the United States was held in Germany on December 14–15, aimed at ending the war launched by Russia.

Ukraine will continue discussions with the United States on December 20–21, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, according to RBC-Ukraine.

Zelensky said the U.S. side will, in the coming days, discuss with Russian representatives changes made to the plan to end the war. After that, the Ukrainian delegation will meet on U.S. soil with American officials to keep working on the new peace plan developed by President Donald Trump’s administration. Zelensky did not say who would lead the Ukrainian delegation, adding only that he may meet with Trump later.

In November, the United States drafted a new plan to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. It initially included 28 points; after talks with Kyiv, 20 remain. The plan envisions a demilitarized zone along the front line, elections in Ukraine, U.S. security guarantees akin to NATO’s Article 5, and more. The sides have yet to agree on the territorial issue, which Ukraine sees as fundamental. The White House believes Ukraine should withdraw its forces from the Donetsk region, promising security guarantees in return. But that proposal conflicts with Ukraine’s constitution.

Zelensky took part in the December 14–15 talks in Germany with the U.S. side, represented by Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff and the U.S. president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The parties discussed the territorial question and security guarantees to ensure Ukraine is not attacked in the future.

Details of the Germany talks with Zelensky, Witkoff and Kushner were not disclosed. Both sides say some progress was made.

Source

Kremlin signals preemptive rejection of Trump’s peace plan ahead of Berlin talks

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:00:07 +0100

As the United States, Ukraine and the European Union weigh possible compromises in Berlin, the Kremlin has signaled in advance a hard rejection of any peace plan.

Against the backdrop of talks among Ukraine, the U.S. and the EU, Moscow began laying the groundwork to refuse proposals even before key consultations started, indicating that no option short of Kyiv’s full capitulation would be acceptable, BILD reported.

A particularly telling signal came from Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin who has recently become a more prominent figure in the talks. In an interview with Pavel Zarubin, a pro-Kremlin broadcaster, Ushakov said any changes to the peace plan by Kyiv or the EU would trigger a sharp rejection from Moscow.

“If appropriate amendments are made to the peace plan, we will have very strong objections. It may include completely unacceptable points for us, including on territorial issues. I don’t know what will end up on paper after the consultations, but it is unlikely to be anything good,” the Kremlin representative said.

His comments suggest Moscow is not prepared to accept any compromise.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) note that the Kremlin is preemptively rejecting initiatives to resolve the bloody conflict, including a Washington-backed idea for a demilitarized zone in the Donbas.

According to the reporting, the initial peace plan comprised 28 points. It envisioned Ukraine’s de facto capitulation, recognizing Crimea as Russian and transferring all of the Donbas to Russia, including areas the Russian military has not captured. For Ukraine, that would mean ceding territory and key defensive positions in the east without meaningful security guarantees.

After objections from Kyiv, the U.S. side reportedly tried to soften the language and floated a demilitarized economic zone. But Ushakov’s remarks indicate even that version is unacceptable to Moscow. At the same time, according to Western agencies, the United States continues to press for territorial concessions from Ukraine, raising tensions around the talks.

Notably, Ushakov’s interview was recorded several days before consultations among Ukraine, Europe and the U.S. in Berlin, during Putin’s visit to Ashgabat. That timing suggests the Kremlin set out its rejection ahead of any discussion.

Ushakov also effectively dismissed the so-called Korean scenario - freezing the front line without legal recognition of occupied territories. Moscow, he indicated, insists on de jure recognition of the occupied areas of the Donbas, a position at odds with international law and Ukraine’s stance.

Taken together, the Kremlin’s moves and statements indicate Russia is not seeking a genuine end to the war and is using the negotiation process as leverage while pre-emptively blocking efforts to reach a just and sustainable peace.

Source

Zelensky faces election pressure as war drags on | Ukraine This Week

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 14:04:35 +0100

In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on renewed calls for Ukraine to hold wartime elections after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Kyiv used Russia’s war to avoid a vote, echoing a Kremlin narrative.

Source

Will Ukraine face the hardest vote in decades?

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 15:00:05 +0100

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Oleksii Kovzhun, Ukrainian political consultant. Photo provided by Kovzhun to The Counteroffensive.

“I try not to say the word [elections] at all. It’s evil,” said political consultant Oleksii Kovzhun. “Still, no one is waiting for them more than me.”

When people ask him these days what he does for a living, he says he’s “unemployed.”

For him, elections held during the war have become a taboo subject. Yet, for the past 20 years, he was deeply involved in Ukrainian presidential elections behind the scenes.

The topic of Ukrainian presidential elections has taken center stage again after Donald Trump declared that “it’s time” for Kyiv to select a new president, even though Ukraine’s constitution prohibits legislative elections in times of war.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time stated that he is prepared to hold presidential elections under martial law and instructed members of parliament to draft proposals to that end. He also appealed to the U.S. and other partners to provide security guarantees for the elections. Once these two conditions are met, he said, elections could be held within the next two or three months.

However, if elections are indeed held under martial law, the vote would demonstrate Washington’s desire to replace the president and pressure Kyiv rather than encouraging Ukrainians to exercise democratic choice. Such pressure on Zelenskyy risks further fueling a crisis.

It’s weighty issues like these that Oleksii is used to.

When you imagine a political consultant, the first image that probably comes to mind is a serious-looking man in a suit.

Forget about that. None of that describes Oleksii, who even at 60 rides a scooter, wears gothic rings and earrings, and constantly reminisces about his wild youth.

Oleksii Kovzhun. Photos from his social meda (below) and from Ukrainsk Pravda (above).

Since his early years, Oleksii had been an anti-USSR rebel. He organized rock festivals and concerts, became a hippie, and smoked marijuana. Due to his long hair and ripped jeans, he spent many days at the police station in the 1980s, as Soviet authorities often would pick him up just because of how he looked.

Oleksii Kovzhun in his youth in 1987. Photo from Amnesia.

“I believed all this crap [the USSR] wouldn’t last forever. It was impossible to live in such a system. I was preparing myself that I might die in prison [for my beliefs],” Oleksii said.

But his wild streak ultimately outlived the Soviet Union. Then, starting in the 2000s, he slowly shifted from working in a concert organization and ad agency to political consulting.

He didn’t care if he was crafting ads for beer, airlines, mobile operators, or politicians.

Eventually, he became a consultant to one of Ukraine’s most divisive and controversial political figures, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, whose career has been marked by recurring corruption scandals. Oleksii is among those credited with shaping her iconic image, including the crown braid that people around the world have come to recognize.

Ukrainian politician Yulia Tymoshenko attends the National Prayer Breakfast on August 25, 2025 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images).

Russians have tried to influence Ukraine’s politics since its first days of independence. Oleksii realized this as soon as he started working on elections. The Kremlin always sent its top political strategists to ensure Ukrainians would elect presidents loyal to Moscow. Oleksii recalled that he would even joke with a friend about the “need to practice the Moscow accent” to get paid more because Russians got enormous sums to boost pro-Russian candidates.

During the first clashes between the pro-Ukraine coalition and Kremlin puppet Viktor Yanukovych in the 2004 presidential election, candidate Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned. Russians had no red lines when it came to eliminating opponents.

“It was both fun and terrifying,” Oleksii recalled.

Fun because he came up with all sorts of ways to mock the Kremlin candidate, like a satirical political series. But terrifying, because he understood that the Russians could come for him at any moment, so he made sure that no one knew he was the original idea creator.

One of the mocking episodes of the ‘Veseli Yaycia’ (‘Funny eggs’) series, 2004.

Yushchenko survived his assassination attempt and wound up winning the election after months of protests against electoral fraud and corruption. The year of 2004 was thus the first time that Moscow’s candidate, Yanukovych, did not win.

Ukraine is under much more strain from Russia now. It’s not mere political influence that’s dropping in Kyiv, it’s bombs and drones – and Ukraine is now preparing to hold elections under these extreme circumstances. Recent examples from elections in the United States and European countries — where Russian bots flooded the information space and influenced outcomes — show that Ukraine could be next.

“Everyone waits for the elections, as many people want to leave the parliament. But everyone is fully aware that they cannot happen without the most important thing. That’s what the president meant: security first,” Roman Hryshchuk, an MP from Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party, told The Counteroffensive.

Ukraine was supposed to hold parliamentary elections in 2023 and presidential elections last year, when Zelenskyy’s five-year term ended. But neither took place due to martial law. Ukrainian law prohibits any elections while martial law is in effect. Similarly, according to the constitution, parliamentarians must continue their mandates until a new Verkhovna Rada is elected once martial law ends.

While parliamentary elections are constitutionally impossible under the current circumstances, there is still a chance at least to lay the legislative groundwork for a presidential transition.

Lines on the Ukrainian-Polish border in 2022. Photo by eadtnews.pl.

Working groups have already been set up in parliament to draft changes to the law. However, according to MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, Zelenskyy has not set any deadlines for presenting proposals, so they are unlikely to be ready before the first quarter of 2026.

“MPs are in no hurry to actively push for updates to election legislation… society does not accept such initiatives during the hot phase of the war,” said Roman Lozynskyi, an MP from the Holos faction.

All of The Counteroffensive’s sources in parliament have questioned how security would even be possible if elections were to be held now.

Almost six million Ukrainians have left the country due to shelling or the occupation of their homes since the start of the full-scale war. Those citizens would be unable to take part in physical voting, because Ukraine simply doesn’t have the resources to open enough polling stations and consular offices abroad.

Similarly, nearly four million Ukrainians are registered as internally displaced and would need to change their voting addresses to cast a vote. The same number applies to those currently living under Russian occupation, disenfranchising them.

Almost one million Ukrainians are also currently serving in the Armed Forces, making it physically impossible for them to campaign, run for office, or cast their vote.

This strikes Oleksii as especially infuriating, because he has friends on the front lines defending the country who arguably have the strongest moral claim to shaping its political future. At least a few of them had wanted to run in the elections, he said, but they won’t be able to, since no one in the military can be released during active combat.

“Ukraine is now forced to play a game, not to say ‘no’ to America… They tell us about elections. We say: ‘Okay, but for that we need…’ And then we set conditions that they cannot meet,” Oleksii said.

Pro-Russian demonstrators gather for a rally outside the regional administration building, headquarters of the Donetsk separatist movement, on May 24, 2014 in Donetsk, Ukraine. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images).

Ukraine held elections during the early months of the war with Russia in 2014, when Russian forces had already seized Crimea and were advancing in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Oleksii had helped organize elections in Donetsk at the time, serving as a communications advisor to the local governor. Back then, Russian security forces were already attempting to disrupt elections throughout the whole region. Twenty two polling stations were initially planned for Donetsk, but only eight received votes from Ukrainians. The rest never opened due to a shortage of ballots, interference from security forces, and the abduction of election commission members by Russians. In Donetsk itself, a city of nearly one million people in 2014, it was ultimately impossible to hold elections.

A billboard in Donetsk in May 2014. At that time, while Ukraine was preparing for presidential elections, Russia was campaigning for Ukrainians to support the creation of a Kremlin puppet state in an illegitimate referendum on May 11, 2014. Photo from Spilne.

“There was a phone on the table, with someone from the election commission nearby, and I heard: ‘Seryoga, some bastards [Russians] have arrived with guns, cancel polling station 39.’ Bad words [followed],” Oleksii recalled.

Serhii and Svitlana Tkachenko. Photo provided by them.

Serhii and Svitlana Tkachenko are two others who were at the center of those chaotic events.

Together with their colleagues from the Donetsk Committee of Voters of Ukraine, they served as independent election observers.

“Many members of the committee tried to go to the [Donetsk] airport to collect the ballots that had been delivered by plane, but some got captured right in the airport. Some suffered a concussion, some had their abdomen cut,” Serhii Tkachenko said about the day of the election in 2014 and efforts to hold elections in Donetsk.

Around 10 p.m., a colleague went outside of the hotel they were staying at for a smoke and inadvertently saved the rest of the team, he recalled. He used a code word they had all jokingly invented the day before in case of danger they hadn’t fully realized yet.

“Let’s buy roses!” is what Tkachenko’s colleague shouted over the phone. He’d seen armed officers getting out of black vehicles that had pulled up at the hotel, searching for ‘where people vote for Ukraine.’

The armed officers that were searching for independent observers in the hotel that night. Photo from the Facebook page of the Donetsk Committee of Voters of Ukraine.

The situation is even more dire now, as the entire country, not just three regions, is at risk of Russian attacks. The reality for Ukrainians is that a ballistic missile can reach a crowded area within minutes, in any area of the country.

Among Ukrainians, including members of parliament, no one can really fathom how elections could be organized in the middle of a war. No democratic country in the past decades has faced the conditions in which such a wide array of weapons is being used so intensively. And even if elections do take place, how legitimate can they be if millions of people are unable to cast their votes?

The ball appears to be in Trump’s court. Many Ukrainians believe he is the one who now needs to find a way to ensure security.

Meanwhile, Oleksii remains “unemployed,” turning away any politicians who come to him for consultations. Even if peace is reached and elections are held, Russian forces will probably still seek political revenge in Ukraine.

“A new world will come. What kind? Who knows,” Oleksii said. “It’s like a supernova explosion. And what happens after that, we don’t know. It’s beyond the sequence of events.”

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Tania Novakivska

THE CZECH REPUBLIC SUPPLIED UKRAINE WITH 1.8 MILLION PIECES OF LARGE-CALIBER AMMUNITION: The Czech Republic has achieved its goal of transferring Ukraine 1.8 million rounds of high-caliber ammunition, former PM Petr Fiala posted on X. The Czech Republic, along with the US and the UK, has become one of the leading suppliers of ammunition to Ukraine.

RUSSIA DEPLOYES ORESHNIK COMPLEXES IN BELARUS, TARGETING EU: The construction of military facilities in Belarus for launching an Orshenik missile is underway, Oleg Ivashchenko, head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, said. The Oreshnik missile is a Russian medium-range ballistic missile that is difficult to intercept, equipped with six warheads, and capable of speeds exceeding 12,300 km/h.

RUSSIAN OIL EXPORTS DECLINE: Although Russia continues to increase its crude oil shipments, sanctions and market restrictions are contributing to a downward trend in its maritime exports, according to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine. This comes as prices for Russian oil are falling, which reduces their overall profitability. A large amount of Russia’s cargo goes unloaded, and the US sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil have caused the demand from the Global South to decrease. This all comes as inspections at Chinese and Russian refineries are increasing.

DOG OF WAR:

Tania met this cute pup last year around Christmas in the de-occupied village in Ukraine’s south. Despite his size and the scars on his face, he was one of the sweetest dogs she had ever known.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Mariana and Nastia

Source

Ukraine to receive $5 billion in U.S. weapons via PURL funding by the end of 2025

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:54:42 +0100

As of December 2025, more than 20 countries are buying U.S. weapons for Ukraine under the PURL initiative.

By the end of 2025, Ukraine is set to receive roughly $5 billion in U.S.-made weapons and military equipment through PURL, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska told Suspilne in an interview.

She said Ukraine is receiving most of its air defense systems via PURL from U.S. military stockpiles. With Russian forces striking Ukrainian critical infrastructure daily, Kyiv’s top priority is air defense—and PURL is delivering on that need.

According to Šekerinska, Ukraine is getting air defenses from the United States in significant quantities. Still, the country needs more systems, especially now as Russian forces intensify attacks on energy facilities.

Šekerinska noted that shipments of U.S. weapons for the Ukrainian Armed Forces move through Poland and Romania. Deliveries are continuous - every day, without interruption.

After Donald Trump returned to the U.S. presidency in January 2025, he halted free military aid to Ukraine. In response, the PURL mechanism launched in the summer of 2025: NATO countries (excluding the United States) purchase U.S. weapons and then transfer them to Ukraine.

More than 20 countries have joined PURL so far. Notably, two non-NATO countries - Australia and New Zealand - joined the program in December.

With PURL program Ukraine defines the weapons, military equipment, and gear it needs and submits requests to NATO countries. PURL participants make financial contributions, and once the funds are in, the United States ships the weapons to the buyers. Only then do the buyers transfer the U.S.-made weapons to Kyiv. It’s not a very fast process, but it is steady and ongoing.

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Le Monde: Ukraine agrees to pull back troops and create a demilitarized zone in Donbas

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:00:38 +0100

Ukraine is prepared to consider creating a demilitarized zone in Donbas as part of an updated peace plan presented to the United States and European partners. The move is seen as a significant concession by Kyiv that could be key to halting the nearly four-year full-scale war.

Le Monde reports that Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak clarified the demilitarized zone would not only involve withdrawing Ukrainian and Russian forces on both sides of the front line, but also include international monitors to enforce compliance. He noted the final parameters of the zone and the scope of weaponry to be pulled back still require legal definition.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed on December 11 that Ukraine is “ready” for territorial concessions. According to sources, Kyiv agrees to a key element of talks with the U.S. and Russia - the creation of a demilitarized zone - endorsed by European partners as a step toward ending the nearly four-year war.

Ukrainian officials stress that the demilitarized area could be monitored by international forces, including the United States, to prevent new acts of aggression by Russia.

“The DMZ should cover both sides of the line of contact, and international observers must ensure strict compliance with the agreements,” Podolyak said.

Ukrainian negotiators say the proposed format resembles the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, established in 1953. At the same time, Ukraine’s zone could potentially be significantly wider and deeper than the Korean one.

Le Monde also says territorial concessions are a difficult decision for Volodymyr Zelensky, as the Kremlin is demanding the transfer of all non-government-controlled areas of Donbas. The president emphasized that any compromise must be “fair” and validated by the Ukrainian people through elections or a referendum.

It is also noted that the document sent to the U.S. contains three key pillars: ending the war, building a European security architecture, and rebuilding Ukraine after the conflict. Special attention is paid to having the aggressor finance reconstruction to avoid a scenario where it benefits from the war without accountability.

“This counterproposal aims to bring Donald Trump back to a more favorable position toward Kyiv and European capitals,” the article says.

Recall that U.S. President Donald Trump expects the leaders of Germany, the United Kingdom and France to pressure Ukraine and Zelensky to accept a plan with territorial concessions and limits on the size of Ukraine’s armed forces.

Source

Peace plan drama — Ukraine and Europe hand US revisions as Trump grows 'sick of meetings'

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:57:53 +0100

Ukraine and its European partners have handed Washington their revisions to the U.S.-proposed peace framework aimed at ending Russia's war, the Kyiv Independent has learned.

The move comes amid growing U.S. pressure to advance negotiations and fresh accusations from U.S. President Donald Trump that

Source

Trump 'extremely frustrated' with Russia, Ukraine amid slow peace progress, White House says

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:13:16 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump is "extremely frustrated" with both Russia and Ukraine amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Dec. 11 press briefing, as the United States weighs whether to join Ukraine and European partners for talks this weekend.

Source

WSJ: Trump may "overplay his hand" and disrupt peace by pressuring Zelenskyy and Europe #shorts

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 22:30:07 +0100

Source

💥 Pressure Front: why Kyiv REJECTS Trump’s "peace"! Ukrainian drones halt Caspian oil production!

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 21:00:14 +0100

Source

Europe's dilemma: Supporting Trump's Ukraine peace plan while hoping he walks away

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 19:48:18 +0100

U.S. policy choices are forcing Europe into a strategic moment it long tried to avoid.

As Washington sidelines allies, rewrites its National Security Strategy, and negotiates peace proposals for Ukraine, the foundations of the continent's security are shaking.

For many in European capitals, the realization is sinking

Source

Europe's drive to bolster Ukraine faces two obstacles — Trump and Orban

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 19:05:20 +0100

As the U.S. ramps up pressure on Ukraine to accept a swift and potentially painful peace deal with Moscow, European allies seek to reassure Kyiv it is not alone.

For the EU, Ukraine is not merely a strategic partner standing between the bloc and Russian armies — it is

Source

⚡ CRITICAL MOMENT: 40 minutes of talks between EU leaders and TRUMP!

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 19:01:01 +0100

Source

Blackout roulette in Ukraine’s elevators

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:02:47 +0100

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“Sashko… Sashko… Are you okay?” Tim yelled into a closed elevator door in a completely dark hall of our office building. “We haven’t forgotten about you.”

When we step out for lunch, each second matters.

Being off by even a minute can mean spending the next few hours locked in a metal box somewhere between floors, as blackouts wait for no one.

This past month, our colleague Sashko miscalculated — and as he waited in the elevator for the operator to come and free him, he fell asleep.

Tim went to find out which floor Sashko got stuck on.

Power outages have become a usual part of life for Ukrainians due to Russian shelling of energy facilities. We adjust our daily routines to the blackout schedules, planning showers, cooking, and leaving the house around the timetable that energy companies publish the night before or that morning.

Schedule of power outages at my home: I had power for only 8 hours that day. White hours are those when you have power, and dark are those when you don’t.

As of December 5, six regions have experienced emergency power outages, and four remain without electricity, indicating that Ukraine’s energy system has once again become unstable from the latest attacks. In large cities, where buildings rarely have alternative power sources and high-rises stretch up to 20 floors, the most vulnerable groups are hit hardest.

Blackouts, as is the case with many other wartime symptoms, are a test of how prepared Ukrainian society is to care for those who rely on electricity the most.

Oleksandr Karan has been repairing elevators for more than 20 years. He got this job thanks to his mother, who worked as an elevator dispatcher — she took calls reporting breakdowns and sent mechanics to the addresses. Inspired by her, Oleksandr studied to become a mechanic and began to work in the early 2000s.

It was never an easy job, as it requires patience, physical strength, and knowledge of the intricacies of elevator mechanisms. Even still, he remembers his early years at work with a touch of nostalgia.

“It used to be interesting to find something broken and fix it,” he recalled.

Our issue today is sponsored by Ground.News, a media literacy tool that pulls together news to help you discern fact from disinformation. We used it to build our News of the Day section down below! Go down to that section for more about our news partner.
-Tim

After the power outages began in 2022, his work exploded. People getting stuck in elevators was rare before. Now, Oleksandr runs marathons through Kyiv’s stairwells, releasing those who are trapped between the floors.

According to the health app on Oleksandr’s phone, he often climbs 150–300 floors per day as part of his job.

With many of his colleagues being mobilized to the military, the workload is increasing even more. For example, in Pryluky, a city of about 50,000 people, all 50 elevators were shut down for a week because the only elevator technician was mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As of now, elevator service in Pryluky has resumed after a new technician was hired.

Photo of Oleksandr Karan fishing on the weekend, provided by him.

His work gets more complicated after dusk. Elevator operators like Oleksandr are not allowed to move around the city during the curfew, just like any other ordinary citizen, because they are not considered critical infrastructure workers. So, if someone gets stuck in the elevator right before curfew starts, they could remain there all night or until the power is back.

“People don’t care [about power outrages]. They go out to walk their dogs and call us. One boy was lucky because he was 14. In that case, the emergency rescue service [which has a curfew pass] came to pick me up and escorted me so we could free the boy,” he said.

Blackouts have become a sheer nightmare for more than just elevator specialists. Some people rely heavily on lifts whether that is someone with a health condition or a pregnant woman.

20 years ago my mother experienced these difficulties herself. In the building where she lived, the elevator was out of service for 6 months due to major repairs just when her child had learned to walk.

“Every day we woke up early, had breakfast, and went down ten floors on foot. And my little child, who was one year and four to five months old, slowly toddled down by herself. She learned to count quickly. We counted every step,” my mother said.

Many mothers in the building carried their children in their arms, but my mother couldn’t do that because she was already pregnant with her second child. She told me:

“Sweetheart, you’re already very grown-up and independent, and I have another little baby living inside me, and carrying two is very hard. Grown-up children walk by themselves.”

Senior people often need to deal with health problems and joint issues, and also rely on the elevators.

“Sometimes, there’s a 70-year-old woman, and she can’t climb out through the gap [when the elevator stops between floors] that we open,” Oleksandr explained.

In such cases, he has to go up to the machine room on the top floor, slightly lift the elevator car, go back down, open the elevator, and help the person out. Many younger people can jump out of elevator when the cabin door is just half open.

Oleksandr often gets irritated because some people get stuck in elevators for fun, creating unnecessary work.

“They film TikToks: ‘Let’s see if I go up or not, if I make it or not,’” Oleksandr said.

The job of an elevator operator is unpopular due to low pay and irregular hours. Few people want to study to become mechanics, so most specialists are middle-aged or close to retirement. It’s a challenging job, where people show little gratitude, and elevator mechanics are not exempt from being recruited to serve.

Oleksandr himself is exhausted from the constant stress throughout the workday. Relatives or friends of the person stuck may be rude, yell, and even threaten him.

In the fall of 2022, when the first power outages began and people started getting stuck in elevators, there were still no clear blackout schedules. It happens this year too, especially during or after strikes, when energy infrastructure is damaged and power plants are operating at less than full capacity to prevent more damage or when the temperature changes abruptly and the needs of an already weakened power system are growing.

In such cases, emergency blackouts are introduced, and Oleksandr’s work depends on the time and day of the week. If it’s rush hour, when people are going to work or, on the contrary, coming back home, his phone is going crazy with calls.

On the busiest days, Oleksandr can rescue up to 20-25 people. Sometimes, there are so many calls about people stuck in elevators that mechanics are forced to cut short their weekends and go to work.

Usually, they do not wait until the end of the air alarm. They do their job despite danger.

“My wife can stand in the doorway and say, ‘I won’t let you go out there,’” Oleksandr said. It doesn’t stop him.

In some high-rise buildings, residents come up with solutions to avoid dependence on outages. They install generators, inverters, or solar panels so that the elevator can operate even during blackouts.

For example, the university elevator, where 19-year-old Victoria studies, is powered by a generator during the power cuts. Due to cerebral palsy, she has been using a wheelchair since childhood.

“I am annoyed by people who use elevators powered by generators when they can easily walk,” she said.

Because of them, the elevators stop working at some point during long cut-offs, and then Victoria has to ask for help from her friends or professors just to get to her classes.

A tweet from fall 2022 shows a chair in an elevator, with snacks and bottled water left inside.

In other buildings, residents started leaving chairs, water, and snacks inside elevators.

That way, everybody can stay safe and satiated while they wait for Oleksandr.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Tim Mak

We built today’s News of the Day section using Ground.News, a media literacy tool that helps cut through disinformation.

The website and app filters through thousands of news stories every day, merging them by topic to help show which topics are being covered by left and right.

I don’t pay heed to Kremlin comments typically, but spotted this story showing Putin’s spokesperson praising Trump for being aligned with the Russian view. 27 outlets covered it, with broad coverage from the political center.

Interested in improving your news diet like I have? Subscribe to Ground News and get 40% off their Vantage plan!

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‘ZOOM’ DIPLOMACY: ZELENSKYY, 30 COUNTRIES TALK PEACE PROCESS: The Ukrainian president will hold new talks as the Trump administration pressed him to accept onerous terms that would see Ukraine ceding land. Meanwhile Russia claimed to shoot down hundreds of drones across the country, as Ukraine launched a wave of strikes overnight that halted flights at Moscow’s airports.

See the bias distribution, ownership and sources behind the news at Ground.News.’

POKROVSK FALL IMMINENT: The eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk looks like it will fall soon to Russian occupation, a development that puts Ukraine under pressure as it negotiates an end to the war. The city had 60K residents before the invasion. Russia controls approximately 19.2 percent of Ukraine, just over 1 percentage point more now than in December 2022, Reuters reports.

TRUMP’S PLAN TO REINTEGRATE RUSSIA TO WORLD: European officials are reacting with alarm to secret appendices to peace proposals now circulating, the Wall Street Journal reports. The proposals include a plan to use frozen Russian assets to create a massive new data center powered by the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant now occupied by Russian troops. It would also see America playing a role in the resumption of Russian energy sales to Western Europe. European officials largely do not want to resume energy transactions with a country it sees as a security threat.

DOG OF WAR:

Nastia saw this stylish pup in a cafe while working. He was so friendly and approached every customer. He asked Nastia for pets several times.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Tania

Source

Trump praised the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers, but called Russia a "greater power." #shorts

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:32 +0100

Source

US needs 'answers' before next meeting with Zelensky, Trump says

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 23:17:36 +0100

Trump did not discuss specific conditions of the peace deal but said Zelensky needs to be "realistic" and asked when Ukraine would hold presidential elections.

Source

Europe can't replace Ukraine's lost U.S. military aid, Kiel institute finds

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 23:00:31 +0100

Europe cannot offset the loss of U.S. support to Ukraine, according to new research from Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), Handelsblatt reports.

IfW data show that in September and October 2025, Europe provided about €4.2 billion in military assistance to Ukraine — far too little to make up for the loss of U.S. aid this year.

From 2022 to 2024, Kyiv received an average of €41.6 billion annually in military assistance from international partners; in 2025, that figure could fall to €32.5 billion. Most of the money now comes from European countries, as U.S. President Donald Trump has declined to allocate funds to Ukraine since taking office. That would make 2025 the lowest year for international military support since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

In October, European countries pledged to finance Ukraine in 2026–2027 (in part due to reduced U.S. aid). But they have yet to agree on where the money will come from. The European Commission argues Europe should offer Ukraine a so-called “reparations” loan of €140 billion backed by frozen Russian assets (about €210 billion of Russian assets are frozen in Europe). Kyiv would repay the loan after receiving reparations from Russia.

Belgium, which holds most of the frozen Russian assets in Europe, opposes the plan. Brussels wants all European countries to take on a legal obligation to return the money if sanctions on Russia are lifted or if it wins in court, seeking to protect itself from potential lawsuits by Russia. The proposal also calls for the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan to share the financial risk.

After returning to the White House, Donald Trump stopped providing free aid to Ukraine, but U.S. weapons are still reaching the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The United States sells arms to NATO countries, which then transfer them to Ukraine. The program is called PURL. It envisions annual purchases of $15 billion in U.S. weapons for Ukraine.

Source

Lavrov: U.S. is growing impatient as ‘climax is approaching’ in Ukraine war

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:30:28 +0100

Lavrov called Trump the only Western leader who, he claimed, understands the reasons for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He said Washington is already showing impatience, and that the European Union cannot accept the prospect of Russia’s victory.

“The United States, above all President Trump, are showing growing impatience. As I’ve already said, he is the only one among Western leaders who, right after arriving at the White House in January of this year, began to show an understanding of the reasons that made the war in Ukraine inevitable—reasons underlying those actions hostile to the Russian Federation that the West and Trump’s predecessor, [former U.S. President Joe] Biden, and his European accomplices had been nurturing for many years,” Lavrov said on December 10, as cited by TASS.

According to Lavrov, “the culmination of this whole story is approaching,” and there is now active discussion that Trump agreed on the need to eliminate the “root causes” of the war as defined by Moscow. The Russian minister specified that this refers to the “inadmissibility” of Ukraine joining NATO and the “need to return from under the control of the Ukrainian regime people whose rights were trampled.”

“It turns out the only Western leader who cares about human rights in this situation is also Donald Trump,” he added.

Lavrov stressed that EU leaders supposedly cannot “swallow” the idea that Russia will win, and therefore continue to support Ukraine.

“They can’t even imagine it-and some even admit in interviews and conversations with journalists-that they don’t envision a situation where they have to swallow the defeat of their protégé and recognize, accept that Russia will achieve its legitimate, just goals. Clearly, that’s their problem, but they created these problems themselves, they are making them worse, and they are clinging to a completely futile line of behavior,” the foreign minister said.

On December 9, the FT reported that President Trump’s representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner gave Volodymyr Zelensky only a few days to respond to a proposed peace deal.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine wants to join NATO, but the United States and several other countries do not want to see it in the alliance. He acknowledged that Ukraine does not have the forces to retake Crimea, which is occupied by Russia, and lacks sufficient support to do so.

Source

Kremlin rejects energy truce proposal, says focus is on long-term peace

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:00:28 +0100

Russia has rejected the idea of an energy truce, saying it is focused on achieving a comprehensive peace. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also pointed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s remarks on elections in Ukraine and praised new statements by U.S. President Donald Trump.

“First and foremost ... we are working on peace, not a truce. A sustainable, guaranteed, long-term peace, achieved by signing the relevant documents, is an absolute priority,” Peskov said on December 10, commenting during a briefing on the energy truce proposal, as reported by TASS.

Other key statements from Vladimir Putin’s press secretary:

- Zelensky’s statement about readiness to hold elections in Ukraine is “fairly new,” but Putin has “long spoken” about such a need. The Kremlin will watch how events unfold.

- The Kremlin studied Trump’s interview with Politico “very carefully.” “It’s a very important interview, important statements.”

- Trump’s remarks on NATO membership, territories, and how Ukraine is losing ground are “in tune” with Russia’s understanding.

- In the interview, Trump “touched precisely on the root causes” of the war in Ukraine. The alignment of his statements with Russia’s position is important “in terms of prospects for moving toward a peaceful settlement.”

Zelensky has said he would consider an energy truce if the Kremlin supports the idea. He also stressed that Ukraine is not negotiating with the aggressor state and that Russia is not interested in any peace process.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on December 10 that President Donald Trump is the only Western leader who understands the “root causes” of the war in Ukraine and agrees they must be eliminated. According to Lavrov, “the culmination of this whole story is coming now.”

Source

Trump's new security doctrine gives Putin exactly what he wants

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 21:40:16 +0100

The new U.S. National Security Strategy stunned Washington's allies, casting doubt on the entire post-Cold War security order in Europe.

The document takes a direct shot at the EU and questions some of the main principles of NATO, two pillars of Europe's political and security

Source

NEWSFLASH: Zelenskyy readies for elections in 60-90 days

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 21:07:55 +0100

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on December 9, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

Elections are currently forbidden from being held under martial law, but Volodymyr Zelenskyy is asking the Ukrainian legislature for proposals to change this.

It’s a direct response to an accusation by Donald Trump.

In the middle of a rant about Ukraine, published in Politico this morning, Trump began repeating Kremlin talking points. He questioned Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, even accusing him of drawing out the war for personal political gain.

Here’s what Trump said:

“They’re using war not to hold an election… I would think the Ukrainian people... should have that choice. And maybe Zelenskyy would win. I don’t know who would win. But they haven’t had an election in a long time. You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore.”

Zelenskyy’s responded this evening, Kyiv time, in a press conference with journalists. We transcribed and translated a recording of his statement from Ukrainian news outlet Novyny Live.

His response about coming elections directly cited Trump’s allegation, calling it “completely unreasonable” and stating he’s ready to go to the polls immediately:

“This is a question for the people of Ukraine, not the people of other states, with all due respect to our partners. I’ll be honest: I am ready for elections… I’ve heard such hints that we are clinging to power, or that I personally am clinging to the office of President, and that’s why I’m holding onto it, and that’s why the war isn’t ending. To be honest, that is a completely unreasonable narrative.”

A breaking news tweet from United24 Media, a government-run media platform.

After the paywall:
-Zelenskyy’s two conditions for holding elections.
-What needs to happen for Ukraine to safely hold balloting.
-Would a fast election benefit Zelenskyy’s reelection chances?

Source

Putin can fund war for 18 months, but tougher sanctions could shorten the timeline, expert says

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 19:00:17 +0100

A leading Russia expert and former Kommersant journalist, Alexander Gabuev, is convinced time is working against Vladimir Putin, and says the Kremlin’s coffers have been depleted to the point that there’s funding for about a year and a half more of war against Ukraine.

“Further sanctions could shorten this period. Beyond Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia also has smaller oil and raw-material producers that have not yet been sanctioned,” Gabuev said in an interview with Bild.

Gabuev worked for years at Russia’s business daily Kommersant and now heads the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin. He is regarded as one of the leading analysts of Russia’s foreign policy.

He argues there is no prospect for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and that while Donald Trump says he wants the war to end, he has not yet applied meaningful pressure on Putin.

“That’s why the Kremlin believes it still has time and can drag out negotiations further. And Putin continues to insist on far-reaching demands that should be dropped,” the expert said.

To make the war in Ukraine unprofitable for Putin, Gabuev says economic sanctions must be tightened and enforcement of existing punitive measures strengthened. As an example, he says China, India and the United Arab Emirates should no longer be able to buy Russian oil with impunity or circumvent sanctions: “This has to happen every day and very consistently.”

According to Gabuev, this alone will not ramp up pressure on Putin so sharply that it would force Russia to capitulate within the next three to six months. However, if Ukraine continues to receive weapons and financial aid in parallel, the timeline could be shortened to at least 18 months, or even less.

Military expert Carlo Masala, asked for comment, was more cautious: “I am extremely careful with forecasts that cite specific timelines. At present, no one can say with certainty what financial and political reserves Russia can - or wants to - mobilize.”

Masala also warned against drawing quick conclusions about when Moscow might “run out of money.” Much depends on factors “that we, from the outside, can assess only inadequately,” he said.

Although there are periodic reports of a dangerous rise in Russia’s public debt, extremely high inflation and shortages of food and fuel, none of this has yet affected the situation in Ukraine.

Even Gabuev acknowledges that “the situation of Ukraine’s armed forces is deteriorating.” That, he says, is why Putin believes time is on his side.

Meanwhile, the Donald Trump administration has unveiled a new US national security strategy that has drawn outrage from Europeans on one side and applause from the Kremlin on the other.

At the same time, Western media report that Putin would agree to sign a “peace deal” only after Ukraine accepts the Kremlin’s territorial demands. And Washington is pressuring Kyiv, believing that concessions and an agreement would end the war.

Source

Zelensky says Ukraine cannot cede territory as US pushes for compromise in the peace plan

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:07:00 +0100

Ukraine cannot cede territory under its constitution, international law or moral law, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a news conference, adding that the United States is seeking a compromise between Russia’s demands for Ukrainian land and Kyiv’s refusal to submit to Moscow.

Zelensky said a US-drafted peace plan has been pared back from 28 to 20 points, with what he called “overtly non-Ukrainian” provisions removed. Still unresolved, he noted, are territorial issues where there is no compromise, questions over where European funds should be directed, and the scope of security guarantees.

The president said Donald Trump’s envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, are indeed working to end the war. But Kyiv is focused on the terms of any settlement and on guarantees that the conflict will not restart. Zelensky said his American counterpart, Donald Trump, genuinely wants to end the war but has “his own vision,” which differs from Ukraine’s.

Zelensky added that Ukraine, together with European partners, will refine its own peace plan by tomorrow and pass it to the United States.

On security guarantees, Zelensky said the strongest assurances would come from the United States- if they are approved by Congress, not in the form of the nonbinding Budapest Memorandum, according to RBC-Ukraine. “The strongest security guarantees we can receive are from the US - provided they are voted on in the US Congress,” he said.

He also said he expects the US to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine under the PURL program, arguing Washington profits from the arrangement and that it aligns with current US policy. Through PURL, Ukraine is primarily procuring air-defense systems. Kyiv needs $15 billion annually for the program and faces an $800 million shortfall for 2025.

Zelensky noted that some partners suggested swapping part of the temporarily occupied Donetsk region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for territories Russia has not yet captured, but said such a swap is not under consideration. He also claimed Russia is unable to hold certain territories.

Another meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” is expected this week to discuss its role in providing security guarantees to Ukraine.

Earlier, Zelensky met the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom in London. He gave no immediate comment afterward but later wrote that they discussed joint diplomatic efforts with the American side. Politico has reported that territory is the key sticking point in US-Ukrainian talks, with Washington hoping to push Ukraine to accept what Russia demands—leaving all of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

On December 2, Trump advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Vladimir Putin in Russia for about five hours. Media reports say Moscow has laid out three demands it will not revisit in talks to end the war:

- Full control of Donbas, including all of Donetsk region and occupied Luhansk;

- Major limits on Ukraine’s armed forces, effectively depriving the country of the ability to defend itself;

- International recognition of Russian territorial seizures, especially by the US and European states.

Source

How we gave Ukrainian orphans a visit from Santa.

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:03:26 +0100

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Tania (dressed as St. Nicholas) and I spent time with the kids from the center.

For most children, attention from adults is a usual part of life.

But not for the ones we visited.

Many orphans – or those without available parents – don’t get it very often: only from their caregivers or on holidays, like St. Nicholas Day, when volunteers bring gifts and spend some time with them.

So we decided to give these children a bit of love and care, even for a moment: we became St. Nicholas for them.

St. Nicholas Day, celebrated on December 6, is a highly-anticipated day for Ukrainian children. Many of them are forced to grow up early amid the cruelty of war: explosions, air-raid sirens, and rare phone calls with their parents who went to the frontline. As of the end of 2025, about 61,000 children were left orphaned due to the Russian war. A lot of kids lose their parents in action at the frontline, under shelling, or in Russian captivity.

So finding presents brought by St. Nicholas preserves at least a small bit of real childhood magic and the celebration they so deeply deserve. It is evidence that the most important light is something Russia will never be able to take away: the light of support, love, and helping one another.

Note: Usually we paywall our personal stories but this time we decided to remove it to bring you a glimpse of the upcoming Christmas spirit in Ukraine!

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Of the tens of thousands of children orphaned by the war, relatives take care of the child whose parents were killed. But not everyone is lucky. About 4,000 children are left in institutional arrangements, where they are known as ‘children deprived of parental care.’

Life in institutions like boarding schools, orphanages, and children’s shelters often isolates kids from society. They eat whatever they are given, and don’t have pocket money for non-essentials.

But the war has brought a good tradition into the life of many Ukrainians — donating whatever money they have left to the army or to helping those who are suffering.

This has become so deeply rooted among Ukrainians that it was nearly impossible to find an orphanage that would accept us as volunteers for the holiday. Most were already overwhelmed with people wanting to bring presents and visit the kids on St. Nicholas Day.

The center we visited was also flooded with gifts and sweets, but one need still hadn’t been met: fuel.

Tania (dressed as St. Nicholas) and I talked with children about TikTok. Photo by Yurii.

At first glance, diesel is a very strange present, especially for kids. But it is incredibly necessary given this winter and the Russian attacks. To ensure electricity during critical moments, the center relies on generators that require large fuel supplies. That’s how our team brought light to the children — both literally and figuratively.

The center often hosts evacuated children from the frontline territories — parents fled without their children, were killed in shelling, or went missing. That’s why now they are really careful about sharing their name or location publicly, so as to not become another target in a Russian attack. As of 2023, 22 facilities for children without parental care were targeted. That number has likely grown, but new numbers remain unrecorded.

I vividly remember a small lecture in elementary school about the holiday of St. Nicholas, a kind wizard who put his life on the line to help children in need, especially orphans. According to legend, St. Nicholas grew up helping others. Since childhood, he quietly shared goods and clothes from his house, sneaking out at night and leaving them at the doors of people in need.

Sweet packages that the orphans received for St. Nicholas Day, a mandatory gift in schools, kindergartens and other institutions for kids. I still can’t get used to not receiving them each year.

After his death, he was offered the chance to make one wish for all his deeds.

St. Nicholas chose to have one night a year when he can return and give children presents. This night is December 6, a night when children all over Ukraine (and in many other European countries) peek under their pillows to find presents (or a birch rod if they behaved badly during the year).

An illustration of St. Nicholas. Picture from Styk.

I kept believing in St. Nicholas throughout my entire childhood. The legend moved me and I desperately wanted to meet him.

When I was about 8 years old, I even fell asleep in a closet while on watch for him. Who was this person, I wondered? Unfortunately I could not stay awake while waiting to peek at this wizard through the door gap. Despite not seeing him, he always brought me the presents I asked for in my letters…

Now we wanted to bring winter magic to other kids. To make our gift, diesel, less strange, we also prepared a fun TikTok lesson for the children – both to spend time together and to remind them about safety.

Tania turned into St. Nicholas to assist.

Tania was wearing the St. Nicholas costume even before we arrived at the center.

I was anxious before we started the lesson: what if the children were bored or didn’t want to talk to us? However, I didn’t have time to panic as six children, aged 6 to 15, entered the room, each looking curious and excited.

Children figured out that St. Nicholas was fake the second they walked in. Smoking cigarettes beforehand to make Tania’s voice deeper and raspier did not help either. Kids used every excuse to make Tania come clean.

“Wait a second,” said Tania before we entered the building with the kids, “I need a chewing gum so that kids don’t smell cigarettes from me.”

“I’m Tania,” my colleague finally said, mistakenly, when introducing herself.

From that moment on, the children called her Tania-Nicholas.

I haven’t felt the magic of the winter holidays for a long time. I think it’s because I’m not a child anymore. The war made me a bit numb to any joy. Christmas turned into just another occasion to spend time with my family. But remembering what it meant for me as a child makes me sad that lots of Ukrainian children lost this magic far sooner.

One of my first jobs was tutoring groups of children. To my question about what they wished for before St. Nicholas, most children answered:

“I want my dad to return home from war,”
“I want to see Ukraine again,”
“I want to see my friends who had to flee abroad,”
“I want this war to stop.”

Children at the care center dream of more basic things, which hold deeper meaning for them and help them feel like their peers who have families — they want trendy items, phones, and sneakers.

A painting of a child about war. Picture from The Village.

Ukraine is currently undergoing a deinstitutionalization reform from 2017 — a transition from residential institutions to family-based care for children without parental care.

Children at the center we attended have the opportunity to grow up in conditions close to those of a real family: they visit a regular school and socialize there, have kitchen and cleaning duty schedules, help caregivers with grocery shopping, and have free time and their own hobbies, which prepare them for independent living.

PUBG, a popular video game. Screenshot from Reddit.

The boys at the center really enjoy playing the video game PUBG. They told me that if they were bloggers, their TikTok accounts would be full of streams and videos about this game. One girl said she would like to learn more about doing makeup.

The lesson went much better than I feared it might go. It was heart-warming to return to lessons at last, as I get nostalgic about my tutoring job. The children were great — fooling around, making jokes, actively opening up and sharing their thoughts.

The time spent together made me want to hug each and every one of them.

When the lesson was over, children took Tania’s costume and ran around with the accessories — one in a wig, another in a beard, and the third one in the cape. Their eyes lit up and they had smiles from ear to ear.

Children in the center went up to Tania after our conversation to try on her costume. Photo by Yurii.

Now only six children remain in the center: others were either adopted, fostered or taken back by their relatives.

Those left now have one more wish for the holiday season: being the next to gain a family.

Support our initiatives, including our effort to give the orphanage emergency supplies, by upgrading to a paid subscription.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

By Mariana Lastovyria

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

U.S. PRESSURED UKRAINE TO GIVE UP DONETSK: The U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner pushed Zelenskyy via phone call to agree to ceding the Donetsk region to Russia, according to Axios. After Kushner and Witkoff met with Putin, the terms of the peace plan delivered to Kyiv significantly worsened. However, Zelenskyy refused to surrender territory, despite Trump’s pressure.

The Donetsk region holds a strategic role due to the defense lines and fortifications that Ukraine has built up since 2014, ceding these to Russia would make occupying Ukrainian territory much easier.

TRUMP’S PEACE DEAL IS CLOSE TO COLLAPSE: Zelenskyy has said that Kyiv has no obligation to give up its territory, putting Trump’s peace deal on the verge of breaking apart, according to The Telegraph. Today, Ukraine plans to send Washington its own peace deal proposal, which the EU has backed.

Territorial swap disputes and security guarantees are still the main reasons Zelenskyy and Trump cannot reach an agreement. The White House continues to pressure Ukraine’s president into accepting the Trump administration’s 20-point peace plan. The latest terms of the potential agreement are not yet known, as Washington has threatened to end support for Kyiv if they are leaked.

JAPAN REFUSED TO TRANSFER RUSSIAN ASSETS TO KYIV: Japan, which had $30 billion in frozen Russian assets, has declined to join the EU’s initiative to use Russian frozen assets to financially support Ukraine, citing legal constraints. The push to encourage countries from outside the EU to join the EU’s initiative is an attempt to mitigate the damage that using frozen Russian assets could do to the Euro and to share risk if Russia tries to retaliate. However, Politico has claimed that Japan is reluctant to move from Washington’s position.

Sourcing financial backing for Ukraine is crucial, as Ukraine may exhaust its financial resources as early as the beginning of 2026.

DOG OF WAR:

This amusing pup with fluffy ears was begging for Mariana’s steak when she went with her parents to the cafe. She fed him a huge part of the meat but he asked for more with his pitiful eyes:(

Stay safe out there!

Best,
Nastia

Source

Trump knows how to 'put leverage' on Russia, Ukraine to reach peace deal, US envoy says

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 19:14:20 +0100

While hailing "significant progress" in peace efforts, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker acknowledged that Trump could decide to "step away" if he sees there is "no deal to be had."

Source

⚡ZELENSKYY IN LONDON. President will receive all the details of TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN!

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 15:00:41 +0100

Source

Trump 'disappointed' Zelensky hasn't read US peace plan

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:41:47 +0100

U.S. President Donald Trump said Dec. 7 he was "disappointed" that President Volodymyr Zelensky allegedly had not yet reviewed a U.S. peace proposal to end the war in Ukraine.

Source

Son of president who shut down US corruption watchdogs slams Ukraine for corruption

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 21:25:25 +0100

Donald Trump Jr. warned on Dec. 7 that his father may walk away from Ukraine, parroting Kremlin propaganda about corruption in Kyiv driving Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Source

Trump's strategy for diminished America

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 14:03:09 +0100

US President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet Meeting on December 2, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)

This sure isn’t Trump 1.0.

A few days ago the White House put out a new National Security Strategy that lays out how it views America’s place in the world.

It’s a vivid example of how Trump’s second term is much more beholden to the isolationist, morally ambivalent wing of MAGA.

After the paywall:
-What does Trump’s National Security Strategy say about Ukraine?
-How will America be intervening politically in European affairs?
-How does the Trump White House view authoritarianism and human rights?
–Tim’s stark assessment of the strategy.

Source

Trump’s peace plan hits a wall | Ukraine This Week

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 14:02:00 +0100

In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on another failed round of U.S.-Russia diplomacy over a controversial peace plan, as Moscow presses ahead on the battlefield and advances in and near Pokrovsk.

Source

Kellogg claims Ukraine peace deal close, with Donetsk, ZNPP among key sticking points

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 13:12:48 +0100

Trump envoy Keith Kellogg says a Ukraine peace deal is in its “final stretch” as talks focus on territorial concessions and security guarantees.

Source

Ukraine’s strikes dismantle Russia’s shadow fleet as global registries delist tankers

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 19:00:21 +0100

Ukrainian maritime operations have disrupted the Kremlin’s yearslong gray scheme for covert oil shipments.

Russia is rapidly losing the ability to disguise its vessels under foreign flags after Ukraine began striking its “shadow fleet”, says Russian economist Vyacheslav Shiryaev.

Countries that in recent years effectively rented out their registries to the Kremlin for illicit oil transport are now urgently deleting dozens of ships. The reason is simple: Ukraine’s strikes have brought these schemes to light, and governments around the world no longer want to be drawn into Moscow’s risky maneuvers.

Shiryaev cited the example of Gambia. Ukraine attacked a tanker sailing under its flag and carrying Russian oil. The operation revealed that the vessel was using the flag illegally.

Formally, the ship turned out to be stateless. Such “ownerless” tankers, Shiryaev said, number in the dozens and even hundreds. And if a vessel is not recognized by any country, it can be struck without political consequences.

After sanctions on Russian oil, the Kremlin built a workaround. As Shiryaev explained, Russian intermediaries bribed officials in some of the poorest countries to hand control of their maritime registries to a private entity linked to Cyprus. Through this loophole, Russia quickly expanded its “shadow fleet.” In Gambia, the number of tankers jumped by thousands of percent in a year, reaching more than 100 ships with a combined tonnage of 2.1 million tons. The flags of Gambia and the Comoros long covered a significant portion of Russia’s gray fleet.

But after successful operations by Ukrainian sea drones in the Black Sea and the Atlantic, the scheme began to unravel quickly. The Comoros officially announced that six dozen tankers sailing under its flag had no connection to the country: the flags were counterfeit.

Gambia followed by acknowledging that 72 vessels using its flag were effectively masking Russian shipments. The governments of these countries do not want clashes with the Trump administration and are therefore seeking to distance themselves from Russian operations.

“Here’s what Ukrainian sea drones managed to do in just a couple of days!” Shiryaev noted.

Source

How China would cut Taiwan off

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 15:02:53 +0100

Editor’s Note: This is our monthly supplemental issue on Taiwan!

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The sound of the ocean reminds most people of peace and silence.

However, as one of the most hostile waters in the world, the Taiwan Strait has been neither peaceful nor silent for a while.

In September 2022, the Taiwanese Coast Guard sent a warning to the Chinese Coast Guard for getting too close to Taiwanese waters.

The Chinese yelled back, explicitly: “Motherf*cker. You are an idiot”.

An exclusive recording of radio communications between the Taiwanese and Chinese Coast Guards, obtained by The Counteroffensive. It captures the exchange described above.

These kinds of tensions between the two coast guards have become routine since 2022, when the former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, visited Taiwan, which China claims to be part of its territory. Right after Pelosi departed, the Chinese army upped its aggression, including starting a military exercise.

The provocative actions continued, not only to intimidate the Taiwanese but also to set up a possible future operation: a blockade of Taiwan.

According to the Ministry of Taiwan’s monitoring system, Chinese aircrafts are detected crossing the middle line of the Taiwan Strait every day. Most of the time, they are accompanied by Chinese naval battleships. These moves are silent to the Taiwanese public, but U.S. wargaming shows how quickly they could escalate. A CSIS study that ran 26 blockade wargames found that “almost all scenarios entailed casualties.”

If China took control of the Taiwan Strait, it could pose a significant national security threat to Taiwan, accelerating the pace of taking over the island. A blockade in the Taiwan Strait wouldn’t just disrupt chip trade, with Taiwan as the world’s leading supplier.

It could push the world into its deepest political divide since the Cold War.

Taiwanese troops practicing countering a potential Chinese amphibious landing. Source: Taiwan Ministry of National Defense.

Jack Yu, now 37 and living in Taipei, used to dream of becoming a chef. But he failed to reach the required score on his college entry test. His uncle, who had been a sailor for decades, suggested another option — joining a ship’s crew. It could promise Jack Yu a more vivid life and, of course, a higher paycheck.

So, Jack started as a sailor — maintaining security equipment and keeping a lookout became his daily routine. If he were to trace the route of his travels on a map, parts of the world would be nothing but a web of lines: the furthest he’s been is past South India, to the Gulf of Aden, and over to Europe via the Suez Canal.

There is one thing that Jack has always hated: being cut off from the world and his family. The days blurred into eternity for him. The same sea, the same waves, the same faces surrounding him on the ship. Each day, his heart grew heavier, longing to go home.

During his service, Jack also sailed on the Taiwan Strait numerous times.

The Taiwan Strait, a public water that China claims to have authority over. As the Chinese are planning to blockade Taiwan, tension at the Taiwan Strait has intensified. Photo from Google Maps.

“The weather on the Taiwan Strait is quite challenging, especially in the winter,” Jack said. “We encountered a few big waves, I had the worst motion sickness.”

Jack and the other sailors in the crew know that they are in charge of a billion-dollar economic value of shipping cargoes, which include electronic devices, metal materials, food, and medicines. Delivering the cargo intact is their responsibility.

“Taiwan is an island. Our country relies on trade to run functionally,” Jack said. “If Taiwan faced a blockade and lost the critical resources, Taiwan wouldn’t survive for too long, but surrender.”

The CSIS report reached a similar conclusion: Taiwan can withstand non-military pressure from China, but once the PLA introduces submarines or mines, Taiwan cannot hold alone. In simulations where Taiwan fought without direct U.S. intervention, 40 percent of inbound ships were destroyed, even when Taiwan received Western support.

Taiwan Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih said that in addition to public grain reserves, private sector stocks bring the total supply to about one year.

In recent years, Beijing has intensified its ‘Grey Zone Warfare’ to threaten regional security in the Taiwan Strait even more, constantly moving the line between peace and direct aggression.

For example, its dual-use and unmarked vessels have been pretending to be those of fishermen while conducting surveillance on Taiwan. Taiwanese Coast Guard data shows they have expelled almost 3,700 Chinese civilian vessels from 2022 to 2025, which the Taiwanese describe as the ‘ocean militia.’

Jack knows how to sail in dangerous waters. He already encountered them in the Red Sea when the Somali pirates were rampant. Back in 2013, when he sailed through, the threat prevented civilian vessels from peacefully sailing those waters, as pirates often attacked them.

“One time, our ship was surrounded by many small boats when we were passing the Gulf of Aden [Strait near Somalia],” Jack recalled. “The pirates dominated the area, and shots were being fired at the time.”

The captain reacted fast and immediately sped up to escape. A few hours later, they got away from the pirates. It was the most dangerous experience Jack has ever had. He was so nervous, thinking only about how to survive. Luckily, they did not fall into the hands of pirates.

But unlike the Gulf of Aden, the Taiwan Strait is not just a piracy risk. The CSIS study found that a blockade in the Strait would quickly become high-casualty and high-risk for everyone involved. On average, simulations involving U.S. intervention resulted in the loss of hundreds of American aircraft and dozens of warships.

The Taiwanese Defense Ministry monitors the Chinese military actions around the middle line of the Taiwan Strait every day. Source: Taiwan Ministry of National Defense.

The Taiwan Strait could become a hot spot, but Jack believes the Chinese aren’t planning to make it like the Gulf of Aden, a dangerous zone for commercial vessels. As one of the biggest exporting countries in the world, China has its commercial ships passing the Taiwan Strait to Europe and America every day. The Chinese wouldn’t want to jeopardize their commercial interests.

“China only wants to damage Taiwan’s economy,” Jack explained. “They wouldn’t block commercial shipping passing the Taiwan Strait. All they need to do is stop the ships coming into Taiwan.”

If a blockade happened, Taiwan would lose the essential imported resources, including military support that can assist in the fight against the Chinese invasion.

A Chinese Coast Guard boat violated the Kinmen waters in August 2025. Source: The Taiwanese Coast Guard.

The Chinese Coast Guard claimed that Taiwan doesn’t have legal authority over the Taiwan Strait and is part of China due to the UN resolution 2758, passed in 1971. An exclusive clip of a radio communication between the Taiwanese and the Chinese Coast Guard obtained by The Counteroffensive.

Mr. Lin, a current Taiwanese Coast Guard crew member, asked to remain anonymous due to rules about talking to the press. He told The Counteroffensive that conflicts like this have become routine for the Taiwanese Coast Guard.

The Chinese Coast Guard ship 3102 turned off the identification system and violated Taiwan’s restricted waters in the southwest area in October 2025. Source: the Taiwanese Coast Guard.

The battle on the ocean exposes the disadvantages Taiwan faces in terms of the scale and size of the facilities. The Chiayi-class patrol vessel is the heaviest in the Taiwanese Coast Guard. Its water displacement is 5,044 tons, only half of the Chinese Coast Guard vessels that normally patrol.

The Taiwanese Coast Guard’s heaviest Chiayi-class patrol vessel is only half the size of the Chinese Coast Guard vessels. Source: Taiwanese Coast Guard.

The Taiwan Strait can be seen in many ways as an advantage in defending against China, yet, in the case of a blockade, it could be a weak spot for Taiwan.

Jack plans to stockpile some food if a war happens, likening it to preparing for a typhoon. But he also plans to live in the moment and play it by ear.

Jack believes that contributing to the country’s defense could be the best option for him. “I have [marine] experience; they could send me to the troops at the coast. I’ve assisted in managing the naval mines when I served in the military,” said Jack, believing that worrying about the war doesn’t help.

But one thing is very difficult to store: energy. Taiwan’s energy grid is its most fragile pressure point. CSIS found that in every scenario, Taiwan’s natural gas reserves lasted only 10 days. Coal was able to hold out for about seven weeks and oil for twenty weeks, assuming distribution is thoughtfully managed. \. Almost all energy supply comes from imported sources, including 21.5 percent of liquified natural gas used for power generation. After that, Taiwan may be plunged into darkness, panicking the public and creating chaos.

After 10 days without liquified natural gas, CSIS concluded, Taiwan would begin experiencing blackouts and public panic.

Former U.S. Naval Intelligence Commander Mike Studeman once suggested that, for the sake of energy security, Taiwan needs at least one nuclear power plant to prepare for a Chinese invasion.

The LNG transporting ship docks at the LNG receiving station in Taoyuan. Source: CPC Corporation, Taiwan.

The ruling party in Taiwan, the Democratic Progressive Party, has toned down its long-standing anti-nuclear stance. The party leader and President William Lai stated that the government wouldn’t exclude advanced nuclear technology.

Jack believes that even if the Chinese blockade of Taiwan is successful, it will still impact other countries, especially because the high-end chips produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company make up more than 67 percent of the global market, making it the top company in the world. With the global development of AI, TSMC chips are a critical part of the supply chain.

“Do other countries want these chips to fall into China’s hands?” Jack asked himself. “Countries all over the world would be impacted.”

The people securing Taiwan’s waters are faced with a challenge.

“One of the reasons I quit the sailor job was because the loneliness was unbearable on the ship,” Jack said. “The longest time I was away from home was more than seven months.”

The waters of the strait can be serene – but also a terribly isolating place.

“Days feel like years,” said Jack. “Loneliness is a bigger enemy.”

Editor’s Note: This is our monthly supplemental issue on Taiwan!

We believe that empathy and authoritarianism can’t mix – that when we tell deeply-reported human stories of people threatened by dictators, it compels people to act against injustice.

Agree with us? Upgrade now to support our work.

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WAR POETRY:

Anna Bowles is a writer, editor, and activist who has spent a year in Ukraine over the course of six trips since the start of the full-scale invasion. She blogs her travels at Anna Talks Ukraine and has shared with The Counteroffensive her poem “We Are Not in This Field” from her debut collection Landscape with Mines, published December 2nd. Our readers now have a first look at this powerful new work, published by Mica Press.