USA

May 27, 2025 1:12am

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

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Ben Borges

U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin are the result of “emotional overload,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on May 26.

The previous day, Trump wrote on social media that Putin had gone “absolutely crazy” and could be triggering “the downfall of Russia.” The comments came after Russia heavily bombarded Ukrainian cities for three consecutive nights.

When asked about Trump’s criticism of Russia’s mass attacks, Peskov thanked Trump for his involvement in peace negotiations and attributed the U.S. president’s comments to emotion.

“We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organizing and launching this negotiation process,” Peskov said, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

“Of course, at the same time, this is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overload of everyone absolutely and with emotional reactions."

‘I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin,’ says Trump as Russia unleashes 3rd consecutive attack on Ukraine

“I’ve always gotten along with him,” Trump said of Putin to reporters at an airport in New Jersey on May 25. “But he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

The Trump administration has been attempting to secure a peace deal in Ukraine for months, after campaigning on promises to end the war in 24 hours if elected. Direct negotiations in Istanbul failed to produce a ceasefire agreement and Putin once again rejected calls for a 30-day truce in a phone conversation with Trump on May 19.

Instead, Putin offered to present a “memorandum regarding a potential future peace treaty” — something the Kremlin has yet to deliver.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia would submit a document outlining its settlement terms after Ukraine and Russia concluded their 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange. The swap was completed on May 25.

Peskov said on May 26 that Russia was still “working on the text of a memorandum.”

Trump has previously criticized Putin and threatened sanctions against Moscow in public comments, but has not gone so far as to impose actual penalties on Russia.

Russia has consistently refused to accept international calls for an unconditional ceasefire, insisting that it will only impose such a truce if Ukraine stops receiving all foreign military aid, among other extreme concessions. Ukraine has been ready to declare a 30-day ceasefire since March, when the U.S. first proposed a month-long truce.

Ukraine war latest: West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says

Key developments on May 26: * West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says * Russia launches record 355 drones at Ukraine; 6 killed, 24 injured over past 24 hours * Russian drone production site, chemical plant targeted in alleged Ukrainian drone strike * Netherlands to send last of

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

May 26, 2025 10:55pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ben Borges

Germany is planning to send Ukraine older PAC-2 Patriot missiles to replenish its dwindling stockpiles of air defense ammunition, the Washington Post (WP) reported on May 26, citing a European diplomat.

The U.S.-made Patriot air defense system is widely recognized for its high-precision detection, tracking, and interception of aircraft, cruise, and ballistic missiles. Kyiv is running out of  ammunition for its Patriots as Russia intensifies its drone and missile attacks.

In early May, the U.S. authorized Germany to transfer 100 Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine. Speaking to the WP anonymously, a European diplomat in Kyiv said that Berlin plans to send older PAC-2 missiles, which are less effective at intercepting ballistic missiles than the newer PAC-3 Patriots.

A senior Ukrainian intelligence official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that even PAC-3 missiles cannot intercept Russia’s Oreshnik, the new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) Moscow used to attack the city of Dnipro in November.  

The European diplomat added that the only other air defense weapon potentially capable of shooting down ballistics is the Aster, a French-Italian missile. This capability has not yet been proven, he said.

The more modern PAC-3 missiles are designed with “hit-to-kill” precision targeting technology, which the older PAC-2s lack. PAC-3s are also smaller, lighter, and more manueverable than PAC-2 missiles. A standard Patriot launcher can fit 16 PAC-3s at once, compared to only four PAC-2s.

The claim that Germany’s latest air defense package may consist of less effective missiles comes after Ukraine endured three consecutive nights of large-scale Russian attacks. Moscow bombarded Kyiv and other cities with ballistic and cruise missiles while also launching a record number of drones at Ukraine.

After the first attack, Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said that Russia has upgraded its ballistic missiles with radar decoys and evasive maneuvers, making them potentially harder to intercept even by Patriot systems.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered to buy 10 Patriot batteries from Washington, but U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the request. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on May 20 that Washington is looking for other NATO nations to supply Ukraine with additional Patriots.

Ukraine war latest: West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says

Key developments on May 26: * West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says * Russia launches record 355 drones at Ukraine; 6 killed, 24 injured over past 24 hours * Russian drone production site, chemical plant targeted in alleged Ukrainian drone strike * Netherlands to send last of

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

May 26, 2025 9:53pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ben Borges

Russia is “preparing new offensive operations” in its full-scale war against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 26, following an intelligence briefing.

Kyiv has previously warned about the threat of a new major Russian offensive targeting Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts this spring and summer. While Russia has made only minimal territorial gains at the cost of heavy losses over the last several months, Moscow has doubled down on its maximalist objectives in recent peace talks.

Ukrainian intelligence reports confirm that Russia is not seriously interested in a peace settlement, Zelensky said in his evening address on May 26.

“We can see from the information that our intelligence is gathering and from open data that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his entourage have no plans to end the war — there is no evidence that they are seriously considering peace and that they are seriously considering diplomacy,” he said.

“On the contrary, there is a lot of evidence that they are preparing new offensive operations."

The intelligence agencies of Ukraine’s allies have likely seen the same evidence, Zelensky said. He urged partner nations to apply “appropriate joint pressure” on Moscow in response.

Ukraine’s front-line pressure and risks of Russia’s summer offensive

As Ukraine braces for an intensified Russian offensive, KI Insights invites you to an exclusive off-the-record briefing on the latest battlefield dynamics, military challenges, and Kyiv’s evolving strategic outlook. Drawing from sources spanning the trenches of Donbas to the Presidential Office, we’ll analyze the shifting threat landscape and its implications

The Kyiv IndependentKI Insights

Zelensky’s latest remarks come after three nights of relentless Russian aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities — launched while the Kremlin drags its feet in delivering the terms of its proposed “memorandum” on a possible future peace settlement.

The memorandum was Putin’s counteroffer after he again rejected a ceasefire in a two-hour phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 19. Russia has still not delivered the document presenting its settlement terms.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia would only submit the draft “settlement document” after Ukraine and Russia concluded their 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange. The swap was completed on May 25.

Zelensky called attention to Russia’s delay in submitting the memorandum.

“They have spent more than a week on this,” he said. “They talk a lot about diplomacy. But when in the midst of this, there are constant Russian strikes, constant killings, constant assaults, and preparations for new offensives, this is definitely a diagnosis. Russia deserves full-scale pressure — everything that can be done to limit their military capabilities."

According to Zelensky, Russia launched over 900 strike drones over the last three days, in addition to cruise and ballistic missiles. Ukraine is looking to increase its production of interceptor drones and direct additional funding to developing its ballistic missile program, he said.

Officials and experts told the Washington Post (WP) on May 24 that Russia likely lacks the military capability to mount an offensive that could successfully break Ukraine’s lines. The decline in Russia’s military advantage could make coordinated Western pressure on the Kremlin more effective, officials said.

Zelensky urged the U.S. and Europe to enact “new and strong sanctions” against Moscow to force Putin to accept a ceasefire and show “respect” for the diplomatic process.

While Trump criticized Putin after the latest round of large-scale attacks, the U.S. president has a history of failing to follow through on threats of sanctions against Russia.

Why did Russia invade Ukraine? Debunking Putin’s ‘root causes’ claims

As Russia continues to bombard cities and towns across Ukraine, Russian officials have hardened their position against a ceasefire, continuing to repeat the obscure demand that the war’s “root causes” be addressed before agreeing to any truce. For months, the phrase “root causes” has become a go-to talking point

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

May 26, 2025 9:26pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 9 minutes

Ben Borges

Key developments on May 26:

• West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says
• Russia launches record 355 drones at Ukraine; 6 killed, 24 injured over past 24 hours
• Russian drone production site, chemical plant targeted in alleged Ukrainian drone strike
• Netherlands to send last of pledged 24 F-16s to Ukraine on May 26
• Ukraine secures release of POWs from units excluded from all previous swaps

Western partners are not imposing any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine for use against Russian military targets, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 26.

“There are no longer any restrictions on the range of weapons delivered to Ukraine — neither by the U.K., France, nor us. There are no restrictions by the U.S. either,” Merz said during a discussion forum organized by the WDR channel.

“This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia,” the chancellor added. “Until recently, it couldn’t do that, and apart from very few exceptions, it hadn’t done so either."

Ukraine has previously received long-range missiles from the U.S., the U.K., and France — including ATACMS, Storm Shadow, and SCALP — but was initially permitted to deploy them only against Russian military forces in occupied Ukrainian territories.

Only in late 2024, the Biden administration and other allies eased the restrictions, allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russian military targets in border regions. U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized ex-President Joe Biden’s decision to ease the restrictions as he seeks to negotiate a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.

The German chancellor also stressed that while Ukraine is using its arms to target Russian military infrastructure, Russia continues to attack Ukrainian “cities, kindergartens, hospitals, and care homes."

Before becoming chancellor, Merz signaled he would overturn the ban of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, on the delivery of Germany’s Taurus cruise missiles, capable of striking targets at a distance of 500 kilometers (300 miles). He has not confirmed whether he intends to deliver the missiles since taking office.

Russia can attack Europe 2-4 years after war’s end, faster with lifted sanctions, Ukrainian intel chief warns

“If the sanctions are lifted, the rearmament process will proceed much faster,” Ukrainian foreign intelligence (SZRU) chief Oleh Ivashchenko said in an interview with Ukrinform.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Russia launches record 355 drones at Ukraine; 6 killed, 24 injured over past 24 hours

Russia launched its third large-scale aerial and drone assault against Ukraine in three nights, killing at least six people and injuring 24 across multiple oblasts over the past 24 hours, regional authorities reported on May 26.

Moscow’s forces launched nine Kh-101 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS bomber planes and a record number of 355 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys overnight, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down all nine missiles and 233 drones, and 55 Russian drones were neutralized by electronic warfare systems or disappeared from radars, according to the statement.

The attack marked the most extensive drone strike against Ukraine during the full-scale war, topping the previous record of 298 drones overnight on May 25.

Russia launched a three-day wave of aerial attacks from May 24 to May 26, firing more than 600 drones and dozens of missiles across Ukraine.

Trump, who has repeatedly pressed for a ceasefire and held a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 19, expressed strong disapproval of the latest escalation.

“I’m not happy with Putin,” he told reporters on May 25, adding on Truth Social that the Russian president has gone “absolutely” crazy.

“I’ve always said that he wants all of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right,” Trump wrote. “But if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!"

Despite acknowledging Putin’s escalatory behavior, Trump also criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom he has had a strained relationship.

Zelensky on May 25 condemned the U.S. for its lack of response to the massive Russian assault, calling for stronger sanctions and saying that “America’s silence… only encourages Putin."

“Likewise, President Zelensky is doing his country no favors by talking the way he does,” Trump posted. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop."

Why did Russia invade Ukraine? Debunking Putin’s ‘root causes’ claims

As Russia continues to bombard cities and towns across Ukraine, Russian officials have hardened their position against a ceasefire, continuing to repeat the obscure demand that the war’s “root causes” be addressed before agreeing to any truce. For months, the phrase “root causes” has become a go-to talking point

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

Russian drone production site, chemical plant targeted in alleged Ukrainian drone strike

Russian air defenses opened fire against drones near the Yelabuga drone production site in Russia’s Tatarstan Republic, while other drones attacked a chemical plant in Ivanovo Oblast, independent news channel Astra reported on May 26.

The reported attacks against Russian industrial facilities come as Moscow intensifies its aerial strikes against Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv.

Local residents reported air defense fire and drones flying over Yelabuga city on May 25, Astra and Baza Telegram channels wrote. The so-called Alabuga Special Economic Zone hosts a factory producing Shahed-type drones and has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces throughout the full-scale war.

It is unclear whether the facility, lying some 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border, suffered any damage in the May 25 attack.

In Ivanovo Oblast, local authorities reported intercepting a drone attack in the town of Kineshma, with drone wreckage falling in the industrial area. No casualties were reported.

The drones targeted the town’s Dmitrievsky Chemical Plant, Astra reported, citing residents. The facility produces components for Russian arms, namely missiles, Ukrainian official Andrii Kovalenko said.

Kineshma lies around 750 kilometers (470 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.

At least 10 explosions were also reported in Russia’s Tula Oblast overnight. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces had downed 148 Ukrainian drones between 10 a.m. local time on May 25 and 8 a.m. on May 26.

A Ukrainian drone attack also reportedly targeted Moscow on May 25, local authorities claimed. The airports in Moscow, Nizhnekamsk, and Kaluga have temporarily suspended operations, Russian authorities said.

Ukraine’s military has not yet commented on the attacks, and the Kyiv Independent could not verify claims provided by Russian officials.

Putin’s negotiator Dmitriev pushing for release of $280 billion in frozen Russian assets, Ukrainian intel chief says

“Dmitriev is trying to show the U.S. that let’s not focus on war and peace, let’s look at the bigger picture,” Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service Chief Oleh Ivashchenko said.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Netherlands to send last of pledged 24 F-16s to Ukraine on May 26

The Netherlands will send the remainder of the 24 F-16 fighter jets it had promised to Ukraine on May 26, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said on the Dutch broadcaster WNL on May 25.

Ukraine received its first F-16 jets from the Netherlands and Denmark in 2024. The U.S.-made fourth-generation fighter jets have been deployed to bolster Ukraine’s sky shield and help repel Russian aerial attacks.

“We are also training pilots and technicians and sharing our military doctrines, so that Ukraine can build a modern armed force that matches that of the NATO member states,” Brekelmans said on air.

Later in the day, the Dutch Defense Ministry confirmed the shipment of the final batch of 24 F-16 fighter jets bound for Ukraine.

According to a statement on the ministry’s official website, “The aircraft left Volkel Air Base today for Belgium, where they are being prepared for delivery (to Ukraine)."

Apart from the Dutch aircraft, Ukraine has been promised 19 F-16s by Denmark, 30 by Belgium, and at least six from Norway. European nations have agreed to supply aircraft to help modernize the Ukrainian Air Force as they themselves transition to more advanced F-35 fighter jets.

The F-16 aircraft are being provided within the framework of the international fighter jet coalition, with some partners contributing training and technical support.

Oslo announced earlier this month that it would complete the delivery of its planes by the end of 2025. Similarly, the Belgian government said it would provide its aircraft sooner than the 2028 deadline.

Ukraine has confirmed that it has lost three of its F-16 jets in action.

Russia pushes forward in Donetsk Oblast, threatening Ukrainian pocket around Toretsk

Russian troops have upped the intensity of their Donetsk Oblast offensive in recent weeks, increasingly pressuring a relatively large Ukrainian pocket between some of the last cities in the region. An unsettling situation for Ukrainian troops is now unfolding south of the town of Kostiantynivka, which has long served as

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Ukraine secures release of POWs from units excluded from all previous swaps

As part of the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia, Ukraine has recovered soldiers from 46 military units that had previously seen none of their members returned, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW) reported on May 26.

“The return of fighters from these units has long been blocked by the Russian side for various reasons,” the agency said in a statement, describing the outcome as a significant breakthrough.

Of the 1,000 Ukrainian service members repatriated, over 300 had been held in Russian captivity since 2022. All those returned were soldiers or sergeants, many of whom had fought in the most intense areas of the front line, the agency added.

The exchange — agreed during the May 16 peace talks in Istanbul — was carried out in three phases between May 23 and 25.

It marked the largest single prisoner swap during the war and the only concrete result from the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow in nearly three years.

The high-profile operation has drawn a mix of relief and frustration in Ukraine.

Colonel Denys Prokopenko, commander of the 1st Azov Corps, criticized the exchange as a “mockery,” noting that no Azov fighters were included in the release.

Thousands of civilians and military families have spent two years campaigning for the release of Azov servicemen captured during the siege of Mariupol in 2022. The omission has sparked renewed anger among Ukrainians who view Azovstal defenders as national heroes.

The then-Azov Brigade’s last stand at the Azovstal steel plant is widely credited with delaying Russia’s early advance, giving Ukraine time to mobilize and secure international military support.

Andrii Yusov, military intelligence spokesperson and deputy head of Ukraine’s POW Coordination Headquarters, emphasized that Kyiv had no influence over which individuals Russia chose to release during the process.

“We could not influence the list. Russia handed over who it was ready to hand over, and Ukraine as well,” Yusov said on May 26.

While Ukraine has previously conducted smaller prisoner exchanges, often with the involvement of third-party mediators, the Istanbul-negotiated swap was unprecedented in scale and complexity.

Kyiv has long advocated for an “all-for-all” exchange, but Moscow has so far rejected the proposal.

Note from the author:

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

May 26, 2025 7:53pm

Ukraine Russia Protests Photos USA

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Ben Borges

As Russia continues to bombard cities and towns across Ukraine, Russian officials have hardened their position against a ceasefire, continuing to repeat the obscure demand that the war’s “root causes” be addressed before agreeing to any truce.

For months, the phrase “root causes” has become a go-to talking point repeated by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his deputies, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, to justify their continued aggression.

“In (Russia’s) telling, they ascribe these root causes to an aggressive West,” said Robert Person, an expert on Russian foreign policy and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

“The most concrete thing that you’ll hear, when they’re talking about the root causes that they refer to, is the enlargement of NATO."

Russia has named the alleged threat from NATO in its attempts to justify its invasion of Ukraine, among other reasons, and has demanded that a peace agreement include a ban on Ukraine ever joining the alliance.

But Russia’s framing is a red herring, Person and other experts argue.

“What Putin is after in Ukraine and beyond is not just a rollback of the prospect of NATO membership. It’s not about securing Ukraine’s neutrality,” he said. “It’s really about turning Ukraine into a subservient vassal state with a puppet government that does his bidding."

The false narratives serve a useful purpose for Russia’s government, however, said Mercedes Sapuppo, assistant director in the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.

“When Putin discusses the ‘root causes’ of his war, he is calling up a framework that he claims justifies Russia’s aggression in Ukraine by falsely placing blame on Ukraine,” said Sapuppo. “Putin and the Kremlin are using these narratives to frame Ukraine as the instigator of the Kremlin’s war."

Even U.S. President Donald Trump has bought into the idea, saying as recently as last month, “I think what caused the war to start was when (Ukraine) started talking about joining NATO."

NATO: a ‘nonsensical’ explanation for the war

Alongside NATO expansion, Russia has at times named additional reasons for its invasion — including propaganda claims of Nazi extremism, and protecting the status of Russian language speakers or the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church  — but it has placed outsized emphasis on NATO.

In 2018, Ukraine enshrined its goal of NATO membership in its constitution and has since argued that membership in the security alliance is needed in the future to deter further Russian aggression.

Yet the idea that NATO is the root cause of this conflict is “nonsensical,” said Stephen Hall, assistant professor in Russian and post-Soviet politics at the University of Bath.

“It’s a narrative that’s pushed by the Kremlin to try and get so-called ‘useful idiots’ to play it up in the media and elsewhere."

One sign that Putin’s concerns go beyond NATO, notes Hall, is the limited resistance that Russia put up when Poland joined NATO in 1999 and when Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia followed in 2004 — four countries that share a border with Russia.

“Then fast forward to when the state with the longest border (in NATO) with Russia, Finland, joins in 2023. There’s barely a peep from Moscow,” he added.

While NATO is relevant, it is only in highlighting to Putin that Ukraine is slipping away from Russian influence, Hall said. Additionally, if Ukraine were to make independent decisions based on the will of its people, it could send a signal to Russian citizens that democracy is a viable option for them, as well.

“That, obviously, is a problem for Putin’s autocracy, or any autocracy for that matter,” Hall said.

Before Russia’s 2014 invasion, the idea of NATO membership was deeply unpopular with Ukrainian citizens, with only around 15 to 20% of Ukrainians supporting it at the time.

Since Russia’s invasion, however, support has skyrocketed. According to a poll last year by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 84% of Ukrainians would like to see their country join NATO.

Evidence that NATO is a smokescreen for Putin’s motivations is seen not just in how Putin treats other NATO members, but also how it has treated Ukraine for decades, Person of CFR said.

"For over twenty years, Putin has very aggressively been targeting Ukrainian sovereignty and Ukrainian democracy," Person said, citing Putin’s interference in Ukraine during the 2004 Orange Revolution as an example.

In the lead-up to the Orange Revolution, Putin heavily promoted pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovych ahead of the 2004 presidential election, including visiting Ukraine to push his preferred candidate. His attempts to interfere with Ukraine’s politics prompted a backlash, helping to spark protests over a rigged election that resulted in Yanukovych’s defeat.

"Then in 2014, when Russia invaded Crimea, when they invaded the Donbas, membership in NATO was nowhere on the immediate agenda — for NATO or Ukraine. There was a constitutional provision at the time that prohibited it, and required neutrality," Person noted. "How does that somehow spark or cause the Russian invasion of 2014?"

What this means for peace negotiations

Sapuppo, of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, says understanding Putin’s motivation for the war is necessary for informing the West’s strategies for negotiations with the Russian leader.

"It’s very clear that the root cause for (Putin), really, is just Ukraine’s existence. This should make it clear to Western leaders that any agreements to end the war need to be very forward-looking when it comes to security guarantees," she said.

If Western leaders were to fall into the trap of focusing on NATO limitations, this would not only fail to address the true reasons for the invasion, but would also allow Russia to establish a revisionist history, she said.

But recognizing the underlying motives for Russia’s invasion also means recognizing that they are far more difficult to solve than a question of neutrality, Person added.

"You could draw lines on a map all day long. No line, unless it incorporates, at least all of Ukraine up to and including Kyiv and its government, is going to satisfy Putin’s demands," he said.

"At the end of the day, what Putin cannot tolerate is a sovereign Ukraine that chooses its own foreign policies and partnerships, its own economic relationships."

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

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

May 26, 2025 5:48pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

The head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, Kirill Dmitriev, is spearheading efforts to secure the release of some $280 billion in frozen Russian assets, Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU) Chief Oleh Ivashchenko told Ukrinform in an interview published on May 26.

Kyiv-born Dmitriev was previously appointed by President Vladimir Putin as a special envoy for economic affairs, tasked with facilitating dialogue with the Trump administration.

“Dmitriev’s main task is to get Russia’s frozen assets out. This is a colossal amount for them,” Ivashchenko said.

Western governments froze around $300 billion in Russian sovereign assets following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Kyiv has repeatedly urged the G7 and EU to move from freezing to confiscating those funds and using them to finance Ukraine’s defense and post-war recovery. Western governments have primarily relied on reallocating interest income generated by the frozen funds to support Kyiv.

Ivashchenko accused Dmitriev of trying to reframe the international conversation away from Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“Dmitriev is trying to show the U.S. that let’s not focus on war and peace, let’s look at the bigger picture. We have the Arctic, we have oil, gas, we have Siberia with resources,” he said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking on April 9, also said that Dmitriev has been tasked with conveying Moscow’s economic proposals to Washington. Dmitriev previously played a key role in Russia’s backchannel diplomacy with the Trump team after the 2016 U.S. election.

After his May 19 call with Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia was ready to engage in major trade deals with the U.S. once the war ends.

“There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “Its potential is unlimited. Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on trade, in the process of rebuilding its country."

Ivashchenko warned that these overtures from Dmitriev are part of a deliberate effort to deflect attention from Ukraine and gain leverage in broader geopolitical negotiations.

“The issue of Ukraine is being blurred,” he added.

West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says

“This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military facilities in Russia,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. “Until recently, it couldn’t do that, and apart from very few exceptions, it hadn’t done so either.”

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

May 26, 2025 5:12pm

Ukraine Russia USA

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ben Borges

Russian forces, now in their fourth year of waging full-scale war against Ukraine, launched a new mass attack with drones and missiles against Ukraine. On the night of Monday, May 26, air raid alarms sounded across Ukraine. Ukrainian Air Force reported clusters of missiles launched from Russian strategic aircraft in the Cherkasy, Kyiv, and Vinnytsia regions, as well as Russian strike drones in numerous Ukrainian regions. By morning, the threat of drone strikes had been lifted across all areas.

Later, the Ukrainian Air Force announced that the Russian attack involved 355 drones, launched from Bryansk, Millerovo, Kursk, Orel, Shatalovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, along with annexed Crimea. Additionally, Russia deployed nine X-101 air-launched cruise missiles, fired from Tu-95MS strategic aircraft. According to preliminary data, Ukrainian forces shot down all cruise missiles and neutralized 288 drones, including Shahed types.

Ukraine’s Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told AFP that this drone attack is the largest since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.

Authorities in various Ukrainian regions have begun reporting the aftermath of these strikes. Serhiy Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, reported fires in the Kamianske district and destruction in the Nikopol district due to the use of Grad multiple rocket launchers, artillery, and drones. "Apartment buildings, private homes, and cars are damaged. There are no casualties," Lysak wrote on his Telegram channel. Additionally, the Synelnykovo district suffered damage.

Serhiy Tyurin, chairman of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Military Administration, reported a combined Russian attack on the region for the second night in a row. "According to preliminary data, there are no civilian casualties. However, private households and businesses have been damaged," he wrote on Telegram.

Ivan Fedorov, the head of Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, reported two injuries following a Russian attack in the Zaporizhzhia region. "After midnight, the enemy struck the village of Yurkovka. A private house was hit and destroyed. The blast wave damaged nearby homes and cars. A 60-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man were injured, and they are receiving the necessary medical assistance," Fedorov indicated.

Over the past two nights, Russia has launched significant strikes on Ukraine. On the night of May 25, Russian forces utilized 300 strike drones and nearly 70 missiles of various types, including ballistic, making it the largest aerial assault on Ukrainian cities since the start of the full-scale war, according to Reuters. At least 12 people were killed as a result of the Russian strike.

U.S. President Donald Trump, a day after the Russian attack, stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has lost his mind. " I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely crazy!" Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social. The American President said he always believed that Putin "wants all of Ukraine, not just part of it." "But if he does that, it will lead to Russia's collapse," Trump assured. He also noted that he is considering the possibility of imposing additional sanctions against Moscow.

May 26, 2025 4:14pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ben Borges

U.S. President Donald Trump has come to understand that Russian President Vladimir Putin misled him about being ready for peace with Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said on May 26, according to the French TV channel BFM.

“I think President Trump realizes that when President Putin told him he was ready for peace, he lied to him,” Macron said during a visit to Hanoi. “What’s happening in Ukraine is unacceptable and extremely serious. You can’t say you’re ready to talk and then bomb."

Russia launched a three-day wave of aerial attacks from May 24 to May 26, firing more than 600 drones and dozens of missiles across Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched nine Kh-101 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS bombers and a record 355 Shahed-type drones and decoys overnight on May 26.

Trump, who has repeatedly pressed for a ceasefire and held a two-hour phone call with Putin on May 19, expressed strong disapproval of the latest escalation.

“I’m not happy with Putin,” he told reporters on May 25, adding on Truth Social that the Russian president has gone “absolutely” crazy.

“I’ve always said that he wants all of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right,” Trump wrote. “But if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!"

Despite acknowledging Putin’s escalatory behavior, Trump also criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom he has had a strained relationship.

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Zelensky on May 25 condemned the U.S. for its lack of response to the massive Russian assault, calling for stronger sanctions and saying that "America's silence... only encourages Putin."

"Likewise, President Zelensky is doing his country no favors by talking the way he does," Trump posted. "Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don't like it, and it better stop."

Macron said the latest bombardments were further evidence that Moscow is not negotiating in good faith. "This doublespeak shows the inauthentic nature of the discussions that may have taken place," he said.

The U.S. president's approach to negotiations frustrates European allies, many of whom sought his support for a joint U.S.–EU ultimatum demanding an unconditional ceasefire starting May 12 and tougher sanctions on Moscow.

In Washington, Republican lawmakers have echoed the call for punitive actions against Moscow. U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told Fox Business that the "Russian Sanctions Act of 2025 is ready to go."

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on May 1 that the legislation includes sweeping financial penalties and 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, or uranium.

Kellogg reacted to Russia's overnight large-scale attack on Ukraine on May 25, calling for an end to hostilities.

"The indiscriminate killing of women and children at night in their homes is a clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols designed to protect innocents. These attacks are shameful," Kellogg wrote on X without explicitly naming Russia.

Despite Russia's refusal to accept a ceasefire, no new U.S. sanctions have been imposed so far.

West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says

“This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military facilities in Russia,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. “Until recently, it couldn’t do that, and apart from very few exceptions, it hadn’t done so either.”

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

May 26, 2025 2:45pm

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Ben Borges

Western partners are not imposing any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine for use against Russian military targets, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 26.

“There are no longer any restrictions on the range of weapons delivered to Ukraine – neither by the U.K., France, nor us. There are no restrictions by the U.S. either,” Merz said during a discussion forum organized by the WDR channel.

“This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia,” the chancellor added. “Until recently, it couldn’t do that, and apart from very few exceptions, it hadn’t done so either."

Ukraine has previously received long-range missiles from the U.S., the U.K., and France — including ATACMS, Storm Shadow, and SCALP — but was initially permitted to deploy them only against Russian military forces in occupied Ukrainian territories.

Only in late 2024, the U.S. Biden administration and the U.K. eased the restrictions, allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russian military targets in border regions. U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized ex-President Joe Biden’s decision to ease the restrictions as he seeks to negotiate a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.

Merz did not say explicitly whether he was referring to the decisions made by the U.S. Biden administration and partners in late 2024 or new, until now unannounced policies.

The German chancellor also stressed that while Ukraine is using its arms to target Russian military infrastructure, Russia continues to attack Ukrainian “cities, kindergartens, hospitals, and care homes."

Before becoming chancellor, Merz signaled he would overturn the ban of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, on the delivery of Germany’s Taurus cruise missiles, capable of striking targets at a distance of 500 kilometers (300 miles). He has not confirmed whether he intends to deliver the missiles since taking office.

Russia launches record 355 drones at Ukraine; 6 killed, 24 injured over past 24 hours

Russia launched its third large-scale aerial and drone assault against Ukraine in three nights, killing at least six people and injuring 24 across multiple oblasts over the past 24 hours, regional authorities reported on May 26.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

May 26, 2025 12:11pm

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Ben Borges

Russia appears to be newly using Telegram messaging app bots to control its attack drones, ensuring real-time flight data and footage feed for human operators, the Economist reported on May 25, citing Ukrainian engineers.

The new control algorithm was revealed in a note hidden inside one of the Russian drones, possibly left behind by a “sympathetic Russian engineer,” the Economist wrote.

Russia has been ramping up its drone production to launch ever-greater strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The night of May 26 marked the most extensive drone attack of the full-scale war, reportedly involving 355 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys.

The new control methods, relying on artificial intelligence and Ukraine’s own internet networks, present a challenge to Ukrainian defenses as they make Russian drones more resistant to GPS jamming, the Economist reported.

The latest Shahed models also appear to be using jet engines and Starlink satellite attachments, the Kyiv Independent reported earlier this month.

Speaking to the Economist, Ukrainian aviation expert Kostiantyn Kryvolap cast doubt on Russia’s reported plans to launch 1,000 drones per day, but acknowledged that Moscow’s production capabilities will “increase significantly."

Russia has been deploying Iranian-made Shaheds and their domestically-produced copies, Gerans, to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses in massive swarm attacks, allowing more destructive ballistic and cruise missiles to slip through.

Moscow’s forces appear to be using already the sixth modification of the Shahed drones, using machine learning to strike their targets, according to the Economist. Nevertheless, Ukrainian air defenses are still capable of intercepting 95% of the drones Russia launches, a senior Ukrainian official told the outlet.

Ukraine’s sky shield is increasingly stretched thin as Western air defense supplies are running out. An undisclosed source told Le Monde that Ukraine has run out of ammunition for its two SAMP/T air defense batteries, while the Crotale short-range anti-aircraft systems have not received new missiles for a year and a half.

It remains unclear how many U.S.-designed Patriot interceptors, which are key in intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, are left in Ukraine’s stockpiles, as the Trump administration is yet to approve any new military aid packages.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this month that the U.S. is working with NATO partners to locate additional Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine.

In an April 13 interview with CBS News, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to buy 10 U.S.-made Patriot systems for $15 billion. Despite Kyiv’s appeals, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the request, accusing Zelensky of “always looking to purchase missiles” and falsely blaming Ukraine for provoking the war.

How Russia’s Shahed drones are getting more deadly — and what Ukraine is doing about it

Editor’s note: Due to the security protocols of the unit featured in this story, the Ukrainian soldiers are identified by first name only. Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine have become far more deadly in recent months. Part of the uptick is due to limited air defense to bring

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

May 26, 2025 11:51am

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Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said on May 25 he wants President Volodymyr Zelensky to attend the NATO summit in The Hague next month, Dutch daily NRC reported.

Italy’s ANSA news agency reported earlier this month that the United States opposed Zelensky’s participation, citing unnamed diplomatic sources. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied the claims.

“We are looking at how we can get a place in the program for Zelensky and other Ukrainians,” Brekelmans said during an appearance on the Dutch television program WNL op Zondag, according to NRC.

“As far as the Netherlands is concerned, Zelensky is welcome at every meeting."

While it remains unclear whether Zelensky would be allowed to address the full plenary session with all 32 NATO allies, Brekelmans did not rule out alternative formats.

“It can also be in another form. Whether that will be in a session with (U.S. President Donald) Trump, I don’t know,” he added.

At the previous NATO summit in Washington in 2024, Zelensky was a prominent presence, engaging directly with allied leaders. This year, the tone appears more cautious as NATO members weigh how to handle Ukraine’s future in the alliance amid renewed questions about U.S. commitment.

Trump has claimed that Ukraine provoked the war by pursuing NATO membership, a narrative often used by Russian propaganda to justify its 2022 full-scale invasion.

The June 24-25 summit in The Hague will be the first one led by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. According to NATO officials who spoke with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Rutte will need to navigate a delicate political landscape and manage Trump’s expectations.

NATO allies are also likely to announce a new collective commitment to boost defense expenditures to 5% of GDP – a dramatic leap from the current 2% target. Of that, 3.5% would go to weapons and artillery, with 1.5% allocated for cybersecurity and military infrastructure, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

To minimize internal disagreements, the summit has reportedly been shortened from three days to two. Discussions are expected to focus on defense spending and strengthening the defense industrial base.

Notably, this year’s communique may omit direct mention of both Russia and Ukraine — a contrast to past summits where Ukraine dominated the agenda. One NATO official told RFE/RL that referencing Ukraine at all could open the door to internal disputes and a watered-down message.

In 2024, the Alliance adopted the Ukraine Compact, a long-term security framework signed by all 32 NATO members. The compact, which was built upon the 2023 G7 declaration in Vilnius, outlines commitments to train Ukrainian forces, provide military and economic aid, and respond collectively in the event of renewed Russian aggression.

‘Putin remains confident in Russia’s ultimate victory in Ukraine,’ US intelligence reports

According to a recent report from the US Defense Intelligence Agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin remains “committed to victory in Ukraine, and his objectives remain mostly unchanged since the beginning of the war: Ukrainian neutrality and a further partition of the Ukrainian state.”

The Kyiv IndependentLucy Pakhnyuk

May 26, 2025 11:02am

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Ben Borges

Russia is not winning the war in Ukraine, European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said in an interview with LRT broadcaster published on May 26, stressing Europe must stop relying on the United States to ensure that remains the case.  

In the interview, Kubilius said the EU must be ready to defend Ukraine and itself with or without Washington’s backing.

While U.S. support has been vital, Kubilius said that the EU’s long-term security depends on its own strategic and industrial strength, especially as U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled he may walk away from peace efforts unless progress is made.

“450 million Europeans should not be begging 340 million Americans to protect Europe from 140 million Russians who cannot take on 38 million Ukrainians,” Kubilius said.

Kubilius said Europe has matched the U.S. in aid to Ukraine — around 60 billion euros ($68 billion) over the last three years, including the U.K. and Norway — yet still hesitates to take full ownership of the war’s outcome.

Recent findings from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy also reported that total assistance — military and civilian — allocated by Europe to Ukraine since 2022 actually exceeds that of the U.S. by 23 billion euros ($26 billion).

“The annual support is about 20 billion euros ($23 billion) each. Twenty billion on the European side and 20 billion on the American side is less than 0.1% of GDP for both,” Kubilius noted. “We are spending 3% or 3.5% on our own defense, and we are spending less than 0.1% on the defense of Ukraine."

Europe must prepare for a world in which U.S. involvement in its defense wanes, Kubilius argued. While he emphasized the importance of avoiding a “chaotic divorce” with Washington, he said the EU must develop a clear and independent defense policy.  

“It is far worse to be unprepared or to go into an angry and chaotic divorce with the Americans,” he said. “It is better for us to come up with a clear plan of what we want from the Americans over the next decade, avoid chaos, than to be constantly begging them to stay and be completely unprepared and then face a full-scale crisis.”

Kubilius said this included developing the EU’s own defense industry.

“Up to now, when Europeans were buying weapons, only 20% of their purchases were coming from European industry, while over 65% were coming from the U.S.,” Kubilius noted.

Asked whether the EU has a plan if the U.S. withdraws support for Ukraine, Kubilius said Europe is not helpless. According to him, a 150-billion-euro ($170 billion) EU loan facility could provide new channels to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities and defense sector — if member states are willing to act.  

“Yes, Ukraine needs support. Yes, that support can come from the European Union together with America. Without America, too, we need to think about how we are going to do it,” he said. “There is no other way.”

As ceasefire talks stall and U.S. diplomatic efforts show little progress — including Trump’s recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which yielded no commitment to a truce — Ukraine has renewed its calls for more European aid, particularly in air defense.

Russia can attack Europe 2-4 years after war’s end, faster with lifted sanctions, Ukrainian intel chief warns

“If the sanctions are lifted, the rearmament process will proceed much faster,” Ukrainian foreign intelligence (SZRU) chief Oleh Ivashchenko said in an interview with Ukrinform.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

May 26, 2025 9:58am

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Ben Borges

Russia will be able to restore its combat capabilities and launch an aggression against Europe between two and four years after hostilities in Ukraine end, Ukrainian foreign intelligence (SZRU) chief Oleh Ivashchenko said in an interview with Ukrinform published on May 26.

“If the sanctions are lifted, the rearmament process will proceed much faster,” Ivashchenko said in the interview, adding that Kyiv has shared its estimates with European partners.

Western officials have previously shared similar time estimates, underscoring the growing threat of an open clash between Moscow and NATO after the Russian full-scale war against Ukraine ends.

Russia’s military is currently heavily engaged in Ukraine, suffering massive losses in manpower and equipment. Christopher Cavoli, commander of U.S. forces in Europe, nevertheless warned in April that Russia is rebuilding its forces much faster than previously anticipated.

Ukraine’s military claims that Russia has suffered close to 1 million men killed, injured, or otherwise listed as casualties since the outbreak of the full-scale war.

Kyiv’s Western partners — namely the U.S. and the EU — have also sought to restrain Russia’s ability to reconstitute its forces by imposing heavy sanctions aimed at cutting off supply chains and throttling Moscow’s economy.

U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials and military experts believe that Russia is losing its military edge on the battlefield, presenting it as an impetus to increase pressure on Moscow and force it toward a ceasefire, the Washington Post reported.

Instead, U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not plan any additional sanctions against Russia, so as not to disrupt peace efforts, dashing European hopes of a coordinated strategy. The EU has pledged to ramp up sanctions if Russia continues to reject a ceasefire, and the bloc’s 18th sanctions package is currently under discussion.

The Trump administration has previously signaled interest in resuming economic ties with Russia after a potential peace deal, though pledging to maintain the existing sanctions until then.

‘I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin,’ says Trump as Russia unleashes 3rd consecutive attack on Ukraine

“I’ve always gotten along with him,” Trump said of Putin to reporters at an airport in New Jersey on May 25. “But he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

May 26, 2025 9:12am

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Russia launched its third large-scale aerial and drone assault against Ukraine in three nights, killing at least six people and injuring 24 across multiple oblasts over the past 24 hours, regional authorities reported on May 26.

In Kharkiv Oblast, two people were killed in Kupiansk as Russian forces launched a wide-ranging barrage involving glide bombs, various drone types, and artillery. Three other civilians were injured, according to Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Russian strikes damaged 39 houses, a business, a car repair shop, a store, and two vehicles in the Kupiansk district. Other infrastructure, including power lines in the Bohodukhiv district and a civilian enterprise in the Kharkiv district, was also hit.

In Donetsk Oblast six civilians were injured in Russian attacks across the region, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin.

In Kherson Oblast, one person was killed and four others wounded as Russian forces shelled and launched drone attacks on at least 30 settlements, including the city of Kherson.

The strikes damaged two apartment buildings, 11 houses, a gas pipeline, a cellphone tower, and several vehicles. Social infrastructure sites were also targeted, the governor said.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, two civilians were injured after Russian forces launched 419 attacks across 12 settlements, including 26 air strikes and over 250 drone strikes. Authorities reported damage to houses, cars, and civilian infrastructure in multiple towns.

In Odesa Oblast, a 14-year-old teenager was injured in the village of Velykodolynske after a Russian drone strike. In the Odesa district, a 100-square-meter residential building was destroyed, and several more buildings, garages, and vehicles were damaged or destroyed, the governor said.

In Kyiv Oblast, Russia launched another combined missile and drone attack overnight, local authorities said. No injuries were reported, but explosions damaged three houses and several utility buildings in the Boryspil district, one house in the Fastiv district, and a car in the Bucha district. Air defenses intercepted several incoming threats, and no critical infrastructure facility was hit.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian forces targeted Nikopol and surrounding communities with Grad rockets, artillery, and drones, damaging both residential buildings and vehicles. In the Synelnykove district, two houses were struck by an FPV drone. No casualties were reported.

In Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Russian forces launched a second consecutive night of combined attacks on the region, Governor Serhii Tiurin said. No injuries were reported, but several houses and businesses were damaged.

In Mykolaiv Oblast, two civilians were killed and six others injured during a massive drone attack on the city of Mykolaiv, Governor Vitalii Kim said. Three of the injured were hospitalized and are in serious condition. In separate incidents, FPV drones targeted the Kutsurub and Ochakiv communities overnight. No further casualties were reported in those areas.

In Sumy Oblast, one person was killed and two others injured in separate drone and artillery attacks across the region, local authorities said. Russian forces launched 80 attacks on 33 settlements using glide bombs, rocket artillery, and FPV drones. Houses and infrastructure were damaged in the communities of Khotin and Romny.

In Cherkasy Oblast, air defenses shot down 25 drones over the region overnight. No casualties were reported, although blast waves from earlier strikes damaged windows and infrastructure in Uman.

In response to the Russian strikes, Poland once again scrambled military aircraft overnight. This marks the second consecutive night that Polish air defenses have been placed on high alert due to activity by Russia’s long-range aviation, according to the Polish Armed Forces. Warsaw has repeatedly taken similar measures during major Russian attacks on Ukraine.

‘I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin,’ says Trump as Russia unleashes 3rd consecutive attack on Ukraine

“I’ve always gotten along with him,” Trump said of Putin to reporters at an airport in New Jersey on May 25. “But he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

May 26, 2025 8:46am

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Ben Borges

Russian air defenses opened fire against drones near the Yelabuga drone production site in Russia’s Tatarstan Republic, while other drones attacked a chemical plant in Ivanovo Oblast, independent news channel Astra reported on May 26.

The reported attacks against Russian industrial facilities come as Moscow intensifies its aerial strikes against Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv.

Local residents reported air defense fire and drones flying over Yelabuga city on May 25, Astra and Baza Telegram channels wrote. The so-called Alabuga Special Economic Zone hosts a factory producing Shahed-type drones and has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces throughout the full-scale war.

It is unclear whether the facility, lying some 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border, suffered any damage in the May 25 attack.

In Ivanovo Oblast, local authorities reported intercepting a drone attack in the town of Kineshma, with drone wreckage falling in the industrial area. No casualties were reported.

The drones targeted the town’s Dmitrievsky Chemical Plant, Astra reported, citing residents. The facility produces components for Russian arms, namely missiles, Ukrainian official Andrii Kovalenko said.

Kineshma lies around 750 kilometers (470 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.

At least 10 explosions were also reported in Russia’s Tula Oblast overnight. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces had downed 148 Ukrainian drones between 10 a.m. local time on May 25 and 8 a.m. on May 26.

A Ukrainian drone attack also reportedly targeted Moscow on May 25, local authorities claimed. The airports in Moscow, Nizhnekamsk, and Kaluga have temporarily suspended operations, Russian authorities said.

Ukraine’s military has not yet commented on the attacks, and the Kyiv Independent could not verify claims provided by Russian officials.

‘I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin,’ says Trump as Russia unleashes 3rd consecutive attack on Ukraine

“I’ve always gotten along with him,” Trump said of Putin to reporters at an airport in New Jersey on May 25. “But he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

May 26, 2025 1:49am

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Ben Borges

U.S. President Donald Trump voiced strong disapproval of Russia’s weekend bombardment of Ukraine, telling reporters that he’s “not happy with Putin.”

“He’s killing a lot of people,” Trump said to reporters at an airport in New Jersey before returning to Washington on May 25. “I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin, I’ve known him for a long time…”

Trump’s comments followed Russia’s massive air assault on Ukraine over the weekend, which saw 367 drones and missiles launched in the deadliest aerial attack of the war to date. At least 12 people were killed and dozens wounded in strikes that targeted numerous cities including Kyiv.

Trump, who has pushed for a ceasefire in the conflict now entering its fourth year, recently held a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to reporters, he signaled that new sanctions on Moscow could be on the table.

“I’ve always gotten along with him,” Trump said of Putin. “But he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all."

May 25, 2025 11:00pm

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Ben Borges

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called for additional EU sanctions against Russia on May 25 following Russia’s large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine that killed 12 and injured 79.

"(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is not interested in peace, he wants to continue this war, and we must not allow this, which is why the European Union will agree on additional sanctions," Wadephul said in an interview with ARD.

Russia launched 69 missiles and 298 drones overnight on May 25, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. The attack killed 12 people, including three children, and injured 79, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 20, stating that the next sanctions package “is already being prepared,” after the EU approved the 17th sanctions package against Russia, which primarily targeted Russia’s ‘shadow fleet.'

Ukraine’s European allies are continuing to tighten sanctions against Russia as Moscow refuses to ceasefire. In contrast, despite a commitment from U.S. President Donald Trump, no new U.S. sanctions have been imposed so far, with Trump saying that implementing sanctions “could also make it much worse."

Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg became the only U.S. official thus far to react to Russia’s overnight large-scale attack on Ukraine on May 25, calling for the end to hostilities.

“The indiscriminate killing of women and children at night in their homes is a clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols designed to protect innocents. These attacks are shameful,” Kellogg said on X without explicitly naming Russia. “Stop the killing. Ceasefire now."

The New York Times reported on May 20, citing a White House official, that Trump refuses to impose sanctions on Russia as it may hinder future business and trade opportunities with Moscow.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on May 25 also called on additional economic pressure on Moscow following the attack.

“Putin continues this until the pressure becomes unbearable. It’s in our hands to make him stop,” Tsahkna wrote on X.

Ukraine is set to pitch a larger number of recommendations to the European Union next week as to how the bloc can continue to ramp up economic pressure on Moscow through sanctions, Reuters reported on May 21.

Bloomberg reported on May 23 that the EU is close to restricting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in a new round of sanctions.

Russian missile, drone attack kills 12, injures 79

Russia launched 69 missiles overnight and 298 drones, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.

The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert

May 25, 2025 8:51pm

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U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg became the first U.S. official to react to Russia’s overnight large-scale attack on Ukraine on May 25, calling for the end to hostilities.

“The indiscriminate killing of women and children at night in their homes is a clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols designed to protect innocents. These attacks are shameful,” Kellogg said on X without explicitly naming Russia. “Stop the killing. Ceasefire now."

Russia launched 69 missiles and 298 drones overnight on May 25, according to Ukraine's Air Force. The attack killed 12 people, including three children, and injured more than 60, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said.

Trump has not yet publicly commented on the overnight attacks on May 25.

Following the attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky called for stronger sanctions on Russia and added that "America’s silence, and the silence of others around the world, only encourages (Russian President Vladimir) Putin."

Trump on May 8 said the U.S. would join partners in imposing "further sanctions" if Russia does not agree to an unconditional ceasefire. Despite numerous threats, Trump has never followed through on imposing additional sanctions against Russia.

European leaders have urged the U.S. to impose additional sanctions on Russia to pressure it toward a ceasefire, with EU leaders threatening and subsequently adopting additional sanctions in response to Russia's ceasefire rejections.

Following a two-hour phone call with Putin on May 19, Trump refused to adopt additional sanctions on Moscow, despite Putin again rejecting a 30-day ceasefire.

On May 20 Axios reported that European leaders reportedly seemed "surprised" that Trump was "relatively content" with what he heard from Putin, following a call with European leaders after Trump's conversation with Putin.

When asked about potential sanctions against Russia, the U.S. president said he did not think it was a good idea, adding that he believes Putin wants a deal.

The New York Times reported on May 20, citing a White House official, that Trump refuses to impose sanctions on Russia as it may hinder future business and trade opportunities with Moscow.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia said in an interview aired on May 24 on Ukraine's national telethon that Russia's negotiating team in Istanbul has repeatedly stated that "an unconditional ceasefire is categorically unacceptable."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on May 24 cast doubt on the Vatican as a possible venue for future peace talks with Ukraine.

"Imagine the Vatican as a venue for negotiations," Lavrov reportedly said during a speech at the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow. “It would be a bit inelegant for Orthodox countries to use a Catholic platform to discuss issues on how to remove the root causes (of the war)."

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentKyiv Independent

May 25, 2025 7:47pm

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Ben Borges

Key developments on May 24-25:

• Ukraine brings home 303 POWs in final phase of biggest prisoner swap with Russia
• Russian missile, drone attack kills 12, injures over 60
• US silence ‘encourages Putin’, Zelensky says after massive Russian attack
• Russia losing battlefield edge in war against Ukraine, WP reports
• Russia will reveal peace terms to Ukraine after prisoner exchange, Lavrov says

Ukraine brings home 303 POWs in final phase of biggest prisoner swap with Russia

Ukraine brought home 303 prisoners of war on May 25 in the final phase of a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced.

The prisoner exchange took place in three phases carried out over three days and was agreed on during peace talks held in Turkey on May 16, the first direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in three years.

“I thank the team that worked around the clock to successfully carry out this exchange. We will definitely bring back every single one of our people from Russian captivity,” Zelensky wrote in a post on X.

The returning prisoners included members of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and State Special Transport Service, Zelensky stated.

Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs said that the released prisoners included 70 men who had defended Mariupol during the Russian siege of the port city in 2022.

The coordination headquarters added that 5,757 Ukrainian prisoners had been returned through negotiations and exchanges since March 2022, while another 536 Ukrainians had returned through other means.

Largest-ever Ukrainian-Russian prisoner swap comes under fire for lacking Azov fighters, civilians

As Kyiv completed its largest prisoner exchange of the war on May 25, exchanging 1,000 Ukrainian POWs for 1,000 Russians, some spoke out on social media to criticize authorities for failing to return certain captives.

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

The prisoner exchange was the only concrete agreement to arise out of the direct talks held last week.

Ukraine and the United States have been pushing for Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, but Russia “categorically” rejected the appeal in Turkey, according to First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Serhiy Kyslytsia, who attended the talks as a member of the Ukrainian delegation.

Kyiv does not publish the figures for how many Russian POWs are currently in Ukrainian custody.

Ukraine has long advocated for an “all-for-all” exchange, but Russia has so far rejected the proposal.

Russian missile, drone attack kills 12, injures over 60

Russia attacked Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions with drones and missiles overnight on May 25, killing 12 people, including three children, and injuring more than 60, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram.

Russia launched 69 missiles overnight and 298 drones, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.

The Air Force reported that 45 cruise missiles were shot down by air defense and 266 drones were neutralized, while 22 locations recorded a direct strike.

The attacks come one night after one of the heaviest Russian assaults on Kyiv throughout the full-scale war. The attack also coincides with Kyiv Day, a city holiday typically celebrated on the last Sunday in May.

Ukraine’s Air Force warned late on May 24 that Russia had launched waves of drones towards multiple regions and also issued a ballistic missile warning shortly before midnight. Later in the night, an aerial alert went into effect for all Ukrainian regions, including the country’s far-western oblasts.

According to Klymenko, Russians attacked the city of Kyiv, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytsky, Ternopil, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, Poltava regions. More than 80 residential buildings have been damaged, he said.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attack and called on the international community to further pressure Russia for a ceasefire.

“When the entire world calls for an end to the killing, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin orders even more strikes, attacks, and murders of children. This once again emphasizes the imperative of a full, unconditional, and durable ceasefire for any meaningful peace effort,” Sybiha wrote on X.

“The world must pressure Russia to accept it and put an end to the killings immediately."

Three children ages 8, 12 and 17 years old were killed in Zhytomyr Oblast, according to the State Emergency Service, while another 12 in the oblast were injured. Klymenko later added that all three children were from the same family, and both parents were hospitalized. The mother is in serious condition, he said.

During the attack, Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, advised residents to take shelter.

“The night will not be easy. There is a threat of the enemy using a large number of drones and missiles from strategic aircraft,” Tkachenko warned as air defenses actively repelled drones over Kyiv.

Debris from a falling drone struck a student dormitory in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district, causing a fire, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Four people were injured and received medical treatment on the spot.

Another person injured in the Desnianskyi district received medical attention at the scene, Klitschko said, while a second victim in the area was hospitalized. A house in the city’s Dniprovskyi district was also damaged. The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that a young woman in the district was injured with a broken leg.

A business center was damaged in the Shevchenkivskyi district, according to the administration.

The 11 injured victims range in age from 18 to 62, the administration said.

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Outside the capital, four people in Kyiv Oblast were killed in the attacks and 15 more suffered injuries, the State Emergency Service reported.

In Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov also reported that drones struck the city's Osnovianskyi, Novobavarskyi, and Shevchenkivskyi districts. A civilian enterprise in the Osnovianskyi district was damaged while an office building was hit in the Shevchenkivskyi district.

Glass shattered in several apartment buildings amid the attacks, Terekhov said. A child was injured by glass fragments and is receiving medical treatment.

Artem Semenikhin, the mayor of Konotop in Sumy Oblast, said Russia's overnight barrage was "probably the most massive and combined attack on our city since the Second World War."

Drones and missiles also hit multiple areas in the city of Chernihiv and the surrounding region, the State Emergency Service reported. Fires broke out at storage facilities and non-residential buildings, including one blaze that covered over 1,000 square meters. Information about casualties and damage is still being investigated.

In the southern city of Mykolaiv, one man was killed and five people injured when a drone hit a five-story residential building, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported. A teenager was among the injured victims.

In Ternopil, a western city less frequently targeted by Russian attacks, a Kalibr cruise missile struck an industrial facility and caused a fire, according to Governor Viacheslav Nehoda.

Casualties and damage were also reported in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. Governor Serhii Tiurin said the attacks killed four people in the region and injured five others, in addition to destroying civilian infrastructure.

Poland scrambled fighter jets and activated air defenses, as it has previously done to secure its airspace during large-scale Russian attacks on Ukraine.

The previous night, Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack against Kyiv, injuring at least 15 people. The strikes caused explosions throughout the city and damaged residential buildings.

Russia continues to target residential neighborhoods in increasingly deadly aerial assaults while the Kremlin remains openly dismissive of international calls for a ceasefire.

Russians ‘mock’ US and peace process with latest attacks on Ukraine, EU ambassador says

“How will the world react to Putin’s terror and clear provocation? To his mockery of any ceasefire discussion? I must admit, I ask that myself,” Mathernova wrote. “Putin is clearly after his stated goal, killing Ukrainians and forcing Ukraine into submission. Sadly, the only language he understands is the language of force.”

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

US silence 'encourages Putin', Zelensky says after massive Russian attack

Following a deadly overnight attack on May 25, Zelensky called for stronger sanctions on Russia and added that "America’s silence, and the silence of others around the world, only encourages Putin."

"Without really strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped. Sanctions will definitely help," Zelensky wrote in a post on Telegram on May 25.

"The world knows all the weaknesses of the Russian economy. It is possible to stop the war, but only through the necessary force of pressure on Russia. Putin must be forced to think not about launching missiles, but about ending the war."

Trump has not publicly commented on the overnight attacks on May 24 and 25.

Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul on May 16 in the first direct talks between the two countries in three years, but left without reaching an agreement on a ceasefire.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that Moscow had no interest in agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine, saying on May 21 that Russia "doesn't want this anymore."

Russia ‘categorically’ rejected unconditional ceasefire in peace talks, Ukrainian official says

“I do not think that (the Russian negotiating team’s) directives had a position that allowed for the possibility of reaching an agreement with the Ukrainian side on a ceasefire,” Kyslytsia said.

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Russia losing battlefield edge in war against Ukraine, WP reports

Russia's military advantage against Ukraine is declining, the Washington Post (WP) reported on May 24, citing U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials and military experts.

While Russia's military difficulties could be an opportunity for Ukraine's allies to mount pressure against Moscow in hopes of securing a ceasefire, U.S. President Donald Trump has backed away from international sanctions efforts and appears increasingly unwilling to challenge Putin.

Moscow faces critical shortages of weapons and manpower, making the time ripe for escalated pressure, multiple officials told the WP, many speaking on the condition of anonymity.

"Russia is very gradually taking bits of territory still, but at an unsustainably high cost," said Richard Barrons, the former head of the United Kingdom's Joint Forces Command.

A Ukrainian security official told the WP that Russia was not able to gain ground despite its significant personnel advantages and that the slowed advance may be partly a result of Ukraine's incursion in Kursk Oblast, which aimed to divert Russia's military resources from the front lines.

"Russia is not able to take any ground, and this is the situation pretty much since the end of the Ukrainian counteroffensive," the official said, referring to Ukraine's attempt to retake Russian-occupied territories in 2023.

"Despite the fact that they still have three-to-one superiority in number of troops — and maybe even bigger in terms of (weapons) systems — it's still not enough."

Western experts also calculate that Russia's arsenal of tanks is likely to run out in the next few months, the WP reported.

"The Russians can continue fighting, but … the force will become more and more de-mechanized over time, and that does put a timeline on how long they can sustain the current way they operate," Jack Watling, a senior research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute in London, told the WP.

Barrons also said Russia was running out of opportunities to conduct major offensives in Ukraine.

"It is very unlikely now that the Russian military have the equipment, the people, and the training and logistics to mount an offensive that would break the Ukrainian line and — even if they did — to exploit it immediately," he said.

In light of these obstacles, coordinated pressure against Russia could be more effective now than any point since the eary days of the full-scale war, officials said.

According to a May report from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Putin still remains confident in Russia's ability to secure "ultimate victory" in Ukraine, including the full occupation of four Ukrainian regions.

This confidence is reflected in Russia's strategy of dragging out peace talks while escalating deadly attacks against Ukraine. Trump even admitted, just days after holding a two-hour phone conversation with the Russian leader, that Putin is not interested in peace because he believes he is winning the war.

"Putin believes that time is on his side, and Ukraine is bleeding faster than Russia," a senior European official told the WP.

But some officials suggested that Putin may be basing his confidence on reports from subordinates that understate Russia's increasing difficulties.

"I think they overestimate the current success of Russia," one senior European official said.

Zelensky called Putin's continued delays in the peace process "a mockery of the whole world" in remarks on May 23.

"And it's definitely time to put more pressure on Russia," he said.

Russia pushes forward in Donetsk Oblast, threatening Ukrainian pocket around Toretsk

Russian troops have upped the intensity of their Donetsk Oblast offensive in recent weeks, increasingly pressuring a relatively large Ukrainian pocket between some of the last cities in the region. An unsettling situation for Ukrainian troops is now unfolding south of the town of Kostiantynivka, which has long served as

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Russia will reveal peace terms to Ukraine after prisoner exchange, Lavrov says

Lavrov announced on May 23 that Moscow will convey its peace terms to Kyiv immediately after the completion of the prisoner exchange between the two countries, which is currently ongoing.

Speaking to Russian state media, Lavrov disclosed that Moscow is "actively working" on a list of ceasefire conditions for the war in Ukraine. The list will be ready "as soon as the exchange of prisoners of war is completed," Lavrov said.

Following tumultuous negotiations in Istanbul on May 16 – the first between the two countries since 2022 – Ukraine and Russia agreed on a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange.

The exchange process started on May 23 and will continue through May 25. In the initial phase of the process, the two parties swapped 390 prisoners each, and an additional 307 prisoners each on May 24.

During the Istanbul talks, Ukraine and Russia also agreed to exchange documents detailing their respective ceasefire conditions.

Separately, Russia is preparing a "memorandum regarding a potential future peace treaty," which Russian President Vladimir Putin first mentioned during a recent call with United States President Donald Trump.

Kremlin officials have clarified that the memorandum is separate from the list of ceasefire conditions currently under preparation.

While Moscow's list of conditions have yet to be revealed, Russia has repeatedly reiterated maximalist demands, including that Ukraine accept the loss of Crimea and four eastern regions.

Earlier this week, on May 22, Lavrov also said that Moscow is uninterested in a ceasefire in Ukraine, insisting that the "root causes" of the war need to be resolved first.

A recent U.S. intelligence report also revealed that Russia is committed to waging war in Ukraine through the end of 2025, and its objectives in the war – Ukrainian neutrality and a partition of the Ukrainian state – have not changed.

These recent developments suggest that Russia is unwilling to negotiate in good faith, despite offering to share a list of ceasefire conditions after the prisoner exchange.

Lavrov dismisses Vatican as possible venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that he believed “it would not be very comfortable for the Vatican itself to host delegations from two Orthodox countries in these circumstances.”

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir