Page 2 - Kiev Ukraine

Lawsuit filed against Trump's cutoff of humanitarian parole for immigrants

A group of American citizens and immigrants is suing the Trump administration for ending a long-standing legal tool presidents have used to allow people from countries where there's war or political instability to enter and temporarily live in the US. The lawsuit filed late Friday night seeks to reinstate humanitarian parole programmes that allowed in 8,75,000 migrants from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela who have legal US resident as sponsors. President Donald Trump has been ending legal pathways for immigrants to come to the US and implementing campaign promises to deport millions of people who are in the US illegally. The plaintiffs include eight immigrants who entered the US legally before the Trump administration ended what it called the broad abuse of humanitarian parole. They can legally stay in the US until their parole expires, but the administration stopped processing their applications for asylum, visas and other requests that might allow them t

Russia-Ukraine War: Zelenskyy moves on after Oval Office blowout with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has flown to London after his heated encounter with US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance in the Oval Office. Here's the latest: Zelenskyy expresses his thanks to the US people Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced thanks to the American people and leadership, and hope for strong relations, less than a day after an astonishing Oval Office blowout with Trump that left many uncertain where the once staunch allies stood. Ukraine had walked into the meeting prepared to sign a mineral deal with the US, hoping it would be a step toward a just ceasefire, but left empty handed. In a series of posts on X on Saturday, Zelenskyy said Ukrainians are very grateful to the United States for all the support, and specifically thanked Trump and Congress alongside the American people. Our relationship with the American President is more than just two leaders: It's a historic and solid bond between our peoples. American people helped

Economic deal with US ready, but security guarantees undecided: Zelenskyy

A framework economic deal with the United States is ready, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday, but US security guarantees that Kyiv views as vital for its war with Russia remain to be decided and a full agreement could hinge on talks in Washington as early as Friday. The agreed upon framework deal is a preliminary step toward a comprehensive agreement that will be subject to ratification by Ukraine's parliament, Zelenskyy said during a news conference in Kyiv. Ukraine needs to know first where the United States stands on its continued military support, Zelenskyy said. He said that he expects to have a wide-ranging conversation with US President Donald Trump during a visit to Washington. This (economic) agreement may be part of future security guarantees, but I want to understand the broader vision. What awaits Ukraine? Zelenskyy said. Since returning to office last month, Trump let Ukraine know that he wanted something in return for tens of billions of dollars i

Russia, US prepare more talks at expert level after last week's meet

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that there was an understanding that Trump and Putin should meet in person after thorough preparation, but said there were no details yet on when and where

Trump calls Zelenskyy 'a dictator', says will lose country if no peace deal

Less than a month into his presidency, Trump has upended US policy on Ukraine and Russia, ending Washington's bid to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine

Russia targets Ukraine's gas infrastructure in latest drone, missile attack

The attack was part of an intensified assault on Ukraine's energy system over the past month as Russia discusses ending its war in Ukraine with the new US administration of President Donald Trump

US Prez Trump living in Russia's 'disinformation space,' says Zelenskyy

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that US President Donald Trump is living in a Russian disinformation space regarding his previous day's comments about the Ukrainian leader's approval rating. Trump said at Mar-a-Lago that Zelenskyy's rating stood at 4 per cent. Zelenskyy replied in a news conference in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv that we have seen this disinformation. We understand that it is coming from Russia. He said that Trump lives in this disinformation space. Trump also suggested Ukraine ought to hold elections, which have been postponed due to the war and the consequent imposition of martial law, in accordance with the Ukrainian Constitution. Public opinion polls and approval ratings haven't been reliable in Ukraine because of the fighting. Zelenskyy made the comments shortly before he was expected to meet with Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, who arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday. Kellogg will meet Zelenskyy and military commande

EU envoys okay more sanctions on Russia on 3rd anniversary of Ukraine war

European Union envoys have approved a new raft of sanctions against Russia, with the measures set to enter into force next week on the third anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a top EU official and diplomats confirmed on Wednesday. The move comes with the Europeans sidelined from US-led talks to end the war. The EU has slapped several rounds of sanctions on Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine in February 24, 2022. More than 2,300 officials and entities usually government agencies, banks and organizations have been hit. The diplomats confirmed approval of the sanctions the 16th package of measures including travel bans, asset freezes and trade restrictions on condition that they not be named. The measures are still not entirely finalised until EU foreign ministers endorse them on Monday, allowing them to enter force. Among the latest sanctions are measures targeting Russia's so-called shadow fleet of ships that it exploits to .

US envoy Keith Kellogg arrives in Ukraine for talks with Zelenskyy

Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and military commanders, as the US shifted its policy away from years of efforts to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kellogg's trip came a day after US President Donald Trump suggested that Kyiv was to blame for the war, which enters its fourth year next week, and talks between top American and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia sidelined Ukraine and its European supporters. Trump's comments are likely to vex Ukrainian officials, who have urged the world to help them fight Russia's full-scale invasion that began Feb. 24, 2022. The battlefield has also brought grim news for Ukraine in recent months. A relentless onslaught in eastern areas by Russia's bigger army is grinding down Ukrainian forces, which are slowly but steadily being pushed backward at some points on the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. Trump told reporters at his Florida

Top Russian, US officials meet for talks on Ukraine war without Kyiv

Top Russian and American officials met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to begin talks on improving ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. The meeting at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh marks another pivotal step by the Trump administration to reverse US policy on isolating Russia and is meant to pave the way for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump earlier this month upended US policy toward Ukraine and Russia by saying he and Putin had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the war. Ukrainian officials aren't taking part in the meeting, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that his country won't accept the outcome if Kyiv doesn't take part. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov arrived in the Saudi capital on Monday night. Ushakov said the talks would be purely bilateral and would not include Ukrainian officials. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national .

Highlighting war with Russia, Zelenskyy pitches for 'Europe's armed forces'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday the time has come for the creation of an armed forces of Europe and says his country's fight against Russia has proved that a foundation for it already exists. The Ukrainian leader said Europe cannot rule out the possibility that American might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it, and noted that many leaders have long spoken about how Europe needs its own military. I really believe that time has come, Zelenskyy told the Munich Security Conference. The armed forces of Europe must be created.

Kremlin confirms Ukraine's role in peace talks, separates US-Russia strand

The two leaders spoke on Wednesday and announced their intention to meet face-to-face, shortly after Trump's defense secretary bluntly told allies that Washington did not support NATO

Russian attacks near Ukraine's nuke plants raise energy security concerns

Moscow's renewed attacks on Ukraine's electricity infrastructure this winter have heightened scrutiny over the Ukrainian Energy Ministry's failure to protect the country's most critical energy facilities near nuclear power sites. Despite more than a year of warnings that the sites were vulnerable to potential Russian attacks, the Energy Ministry failed to act swiftly, current and former Ukrainian officials in Kyiv told The Associated Press. Two years of punishing Russian strikes on its power grid have left Ukraine reliant on nuclear power for more than half of its electricity generation. Especially vulnerable are the unprotected nuclear switchyards located outside the perimeters of its three functioning nuclear plants, which are crucial to transmitting power from the reactors to the rest of the country. The switchyards that handle electrical routing from nuclear power plants are a vital component of Ukraine's nuclear energy infrastructure powering homes, schools, hospitals, and oth

Russian troops capture strategic town in east Ukraine in bid to weaken Kyiv

Russia on Sunday claimed its troops had captured a strategically important town in eastern Ukraine as part of a grinding campaign to weaken Kyiv's grip on the country's industrial heartland. Russia's Defense Ministry announced the fall of Velyka Novosilka, which had around 5,000 residents before the war, following a months-long battle. Its statement could not be independently verified, and Ukraine claimed its troops had only strategically withdrawn from certain areas. But if confirmed, it would make Velyka Novosilka the first significant town to capitulate in 2025 under Moscow's onslaught in the eastern Donetsk region against Ukraine's weary and short-handed army. The war is set to reach its three-year milestone in February. Ukrainian forces withdrew from certain parts of Velyka Novosilka to avoid encirclement, the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade said in a statement on its official Telegram channel Sunday. The brigade is active in that patch of the frontline. Analysts have long .

Russian missile, drone attack hits multiple targets around Ukraine's Kyiv

Russia launched an aerial attack on Ukraine on Tuesday, striking the capital and other regions with multiple missiles and drones. Ukraine's air force reported a ballistic missile threat at 3 am (0100 GMT), with at least two explosions heard in Kyiv minutes later. Another missile alert was issued at 8 am followed by at least one explosion in the city. Missile debris fell in the Darnytskyi district of the capital with no reports of casualties or damage, the local administration said. Authorities in the northeastern Sumy region reported strikes near the city of Shostka, where the mayor, Mykola Noha, said 12 residential buildings had been damaged as well as two educational facilities. He said some social infrastructure objects were destroyed, without providing detail. The air force also reported missiles and drones targeting several other regions of Ukraine. Around half of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been destroyed during the war, and rolling electricity blackouts are common an

Russia says pipeline gas, LNG exports to Europe up by 18-20% in 2024

Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe face serious challenges

Russian missiles target Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Christmas day

Russia launched a massive missile barrage targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Wednesday, striking a thermal power plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning. In a Facebook statement, Ukrainian energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, said Russia again massively attacks energy infrastructure." Ukraine's Air Force alerted multiple missiles fired at Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Poltava regions east of the country. The (electricity) distribution system operator takes the necessary measures to limit consumption to minimise negative consequences for the power system, he said. As soon as the security situation allows, energy workers will establish the damage caused. Ukraine's biggest private energy company, DTEK, said Russia struck one of their thermal power plants Wednesday morning, making it the 13th attack on Ukraine's power grid this year. Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and

Ukrainian drones hit Russian fuel depot for second time this month

Ukrainian drones struck a major Russian fuel depot for the second time in just over a week on Sunday, according to a senior Russian regional official, as part of a massive cross-border attack on fuel and energy facilities that Kyiv says supply Moscow's military. The strikes came days after Russia launched sweeping attacks on Ukraine's already battered energy grid, threatening to plunge thousands of homes into darkness as winter tightens its grip over the region, and as Russia's all-out invasion of its neighbour nears the three-year mark. A fire broke out at the Stalnoy Kon oil terminal in Russia's southern Oryol region, local Gov. Andrey Klychkov said in a post on the Telegram messaging app, adding Russian forces downed 20 drones targeting fuel and energy infrastructure in the province. Russian independent news outlet Astra shared video of what it said was an explosion at the site, showing a massive orange blaze lighting up the night sky. While the clip could not be independently ..

Russia targets Kyiv in response to Ukrainian strike using US-made weapons

Ukraine's air force said it intercepted five Iskander short-range ballistic missiles fired at the city

Russia's Prez Putin boasts of gains in Ukraine at annual news conference

President Vladimir Putin boasted that his military operation in Ukraine has strengthened Russia and denied that the ouster of key ally Bashar Assad in Syria had hurt Moscow's prestige, as he held his annual news conference and call-in show Thursday. He used the tightly choreographed event, which lasted for about 4 1/2 hours, to reinforce his authority and demonstrate a sweeping command of everything from consumer prices to military hardware. He claimed that sending troops into Ukraine in 2022 has boosted Russia's military and economic power. He also said that if he could go back in time, he would have thought that such a decision should have been made earlier, and Russia should have prepared for it in advance and more thoroughly. "Russia has become much stronger over the past two or three years because it has become a truly sovereign country, he said. We are standing firm in terms of economy, we are strengthening our defence potential and our military capability now is the strongest