#ukraine

#ukraine

It may be difficult for a real-estate mogul like Donald Trump to recognize, but Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine is not about slices of war-torn land in eastern Ukraine. It is about Ukraine's democracy. Putin fears that the Russian people will see that democracy as an enticing alternative to his stultifying autocratic rule. Trump is unlikely to secure a peace deal unless he acts on that reality and changes the cost-benefit analysis behind Putin's continuing war.

The Russian-European gas pipeline was the target of a deliberate attack in September 2022.

It was dubbed the Great European Charm Offensive. Hours before Volodymyr Zelenskyy headed to Washington for a Monday meeting with Donald Trump, announcements came pouring in from across Europe, making it clear that the president of Ukraine would not be going alone. Instead, seven European heavyweights a dream team of leaders representing Europe's economic and military heft and who had a proven rapport with the US president hastily cleared their schedules to join Zelenskyy in Washington.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

Europe outpaces the US in military support to Ukraine. Donald Trump wants to lead in diplomacy and end Russia's war. Europe is now pledging more military aid to Ukraine than the US. Meanwhile, Washington is negotiating the nation's future. President Donald Trump has held talks with the Russian and Ukrainian Presidents in a bid to end Moscow's war.

Seven is a biblical number, a number dear to ancient Rome, and the number of Cristiano Ronaldo's lucky jersey. Perhaps it is also now going to be the answer to Henry Kissinger's (probably apocryphal) question: what number do I call when I want to talk to Europe? Maybe the answer is seven, like the number of leaders sitting at the table in Washington on Monday alongside Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

With all due respect, only a reporter from The New York Times would ask a question like that, Shawn, Leavitt quipped.

With respect for Russia's security interests, without full respect for the rights of Russians and Russian-speaking people who live in Ukraine, there can be no talk of any long-term agreements.

Macron expressed skepticism about President Putin's willingness to pursue peace, stating, "When I look at the situation and the facts, I don't see President Putin very willing to get peace now."

We're willing to help them with things, especially probably if you could talk about by air, because there's nobody has the kind of stuff we have.

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Watters suggested that Ukraine should surrender territory to Russia, arguing that borders change frequently and citing historical examples from the U.S. and Germany as justification.

Ukraine is prepared to purchase $100 billion worth of US arms, funded by Europe, in exchange for security guarantees from the US contingent on a peace deal with Russia.

Zelensky began his meeting with Trump by thanking him for delivering a "peace letter" to Putin, asking him to care for children amid war, pivoting to praise the U.S. president.

"This looks to me like the beginning of negotiations," Ambassador Kurt Volker said, indicating that Ukraine and European leaders are now presenting a more realistic position compared to Putin's maximalist stance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that Ukraine is fundamentally a part of Russia, asserting that the invasion signifies a return to essential historical truths.

I went to Kharkiv and spent a few days with Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines. I saw how extremely difficult their lives are from my interactions with them, but their resolve is also incredibly strong. I met many Ukrainians, from high-ranking military leaders to drone operators, and understood the depth of their resilience during this challenging time.

"Putin made full control of Donbas, Ukraine's industrial heartland, a central condition for ending the war, demanding a withdrawal from Donetsk and Luhansk."