Ukraine

Trump says he 'can't believe' he called Zelensky 'dictator'

"Did I say that? I can't believe I would say that," U.S. President Donald Trump responded when asked whether he still considers President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator."

63-year-old Russian film critic put under house arrest in Moscow for ‘fake news’ about war in Ukraine

Independent Russian film critic Ekaterina Barabash was placed under house arrest by a Moscow court for posting “fake news” on her Facebook account about the war in Ukraine, her son Yurii Barabash reported on Facebook on Feb. 26. Detained by the Russian Investigative Committee on Feb. 25, Barabash will remain

Trump considered canceling Zelensky's visit, changed his mind after meeting Macron, TV channel reports

According to the report, Kyiv received a message on Feb. 26 from Washington stating that President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit and meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump would not take place.

Lawmakers fail to summon ministers for explanation of Ukraine-US minerals deal

On Feb. 26, Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers approved the decision to sign the deal.

‘As long as Russia is advancing, the war will continue’— military analyst Rob Lee on what awaits Ukraine in 2025

As Ukraine entered its fourth year of Russia’s full-scale war, it was geopolitics, not the war itself, that dominated headlines, as Kyiv’s relationship with new U.S. President Donald Trump nosedived over a proposed minerals deal. In the meantime though, the battlefield continues to rage on multiple fronts,

What the US-Ukraine mineral deal actually means

As Kyiv and Washington celebrate agreeing to jointly develop Ukraine’s natural resources after weeks of tense negotiations, the deal still has a long way to go before the money starts flowing. Officials, experts, and those close to the deal say the current version of the agreement is an improvement

Turkey considers sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, Bloomberg reports

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly discussed the possibility with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Russia seized boats, harassed volunteers, concealed gravesites ― Kakhovka Dam explosion investigation

According to an investigation by the Kyiv Independent, the Russian military interfered with the work of locals who were evacuating people from the flooded areas on their own — their boats were confiscated, while the volunteers were threatened and forced to stop their efforts.

As ‘negotiations’ weigh Ukraine’s land, the lives lost under Russian occupation are forgotten

For Viktoriia Hrinienkova, life came to a standstill in June 2023. Three of her family members — her mother, father, and grandmother — died in their own home in Hola Prystan, a Ukrainian town in the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast. They were killed in the aftermath of Russia’s destruction of

Zelensky meets Irish prime minister ahead of Washington visit

President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Ireland for its support of Ukrainians who fled Russia's full-scale invasion.

Uncovering Russia's crimes after the Kakhovka dam explosion

Russian troops 'bogged down' near Pokrovsk, Ukrainian military claims

"I am not saying that Ukrainian forces caught some second, third, or 100th and 500th breath... But Russian troops have indeed begun to show some physical, moral, and material exhaustion," said Viktor Trehubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces.

First contacts with Trump administration 'inspire certain hopes,' Putin says

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that some Western countries are dissatisfied with the restoration of Russian-American relations and wants to "create instability in the world."

France has led talks on Ukraine's minerals since October 2024, French minister says

France and Ukraine have been discussing the use of Ukrainian minerals for the purposes of the French defense industry since October 2024, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said, as France Info reported on Feb. 27.

Russia claims to recapture village north of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast

Russia's Defense Ministry claims that its troops continue to advance and push Ukrainian forces out of the salient. Kyiv has not commented on purportedly lost settlements in Kursk Oblast.

Revolut operating illegally in Ukraine without required license, National Bank says

According to Ukrainian banking law, a foreign bank can only operate in Ukraine if it opens a local branch or obtains a banking license. This process must first be approved by the NBU, the bank said in the press release.

Russia to lose 'chance for world leadership' if it doesn't get out of war by 2026, Budanov says

"According to their (Russia's) strategy, if they don't get out of this war by 2026, they lose even a chance for world leadership. They will be left with a maximum level of regional leadership, which they are absolutely not satisfied with," Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) head Kyrylo Budanov said.

US 'backstop' necessary for peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, Starmer says ahead of Trump meeting

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is heading to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump and convince him to continue playing a role in ensuring Ukraine's security amid Russian aggression.

MH17 victims' relatives want Russian admission of responsibility for crash to be part of peace deal, media reports

"Without this (Russia's recognition of the downing of MH17), there can be no lasting peace with Russia," the letter read.

Culture Ministry to suspend issuing recommendation letters for journalists, artists to travel abroad

The measure, which will take effect on March 3, comes in response to cases in which men used their permits to stay abroad longer than permitted.

US, Russia reportedly discuss Arctic cooperation as Trump seeks to pull Moscow from Beijing

"We could find ourselves in a situation where whether Russia wants to improve its relations with the U.S. or not, they can’t because they’ve become completely dependent on the Chinese because we have cut them off," said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 15

Editor’s note: This is issue 15 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from Feb. 17–Feb. 23, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Benchmarks

Ukraine Business Roundup — US, Ukraine agree on minerals deal

The following is the Feb. 25, 2025 edition of our Ukraine Business Roundup weekly newsletter. To get the biggest news in business and tech from Ukraine directly in your inbox, subscribe here. After weeks of back-and-forth, during which U.S. President Donald Trump lobbed insults at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy,

Trump admin says it's cutting 90% of USAID foreign aid contracts

The Trump administration said on Feb. 26 that it is terminating over 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) foreign aid contracts, cutting $60 billion in foreign assistance, the U.S. media reported.

Ukraine to receive $730 million for demining equipment from partners by 2034

A total of 51 million euros ($53 million) has already been raised, said Ruslan Berehulia, the head of the mine action department.

8 killed, 18 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day

Russia launched 166 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported. Ninety drones were shot down over 11 oblasts, while 72 decoy drones were lost without causing damage, according to the statement.

Russia's advance slows down in critical areas after Ukraine regrouped, Syrskyi says

Russian troops are actively pushing on the Novopavlivka sector in eastern Donetsk Oblast, trying to break through Ukraine's defense and capture three settlements, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Australian philanthropists donate $3.15 million to Ukraine, urge governments to step up support

The package builds upon 20 million Australian dollars ($12.6 million) that the Australia-based charity, founded by Andrew and Nicola Forrest, has already provided for demining, food and energy security, and the protection of children.

General Staff: Russia has lost 871,850 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

This number includes 1,150 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

North Korea sends additional troops to Russia's Kursk Oblast, South Korean intelligence says

North Korea has deployed additional troops to Russia, an official for South Korea's National Intelligence Agency claimed on Feb. 27.

Finland to provide Ukraine with $691 million in military equipment

"The products will be delivered to Ukraine as part of future material aid packages," the news release from Finland's Defense Ministry noted, without specifying a timeline.

US declines to sign WTO statement condemning Russian aggression

The statement, proposed during Ukraine’s Trade Policy Review, emphasized members' concerns surrounding the "consequences of (the war's) destruction for Ukraine and for global trade," while explicitly naming Russia as the aggressor.