We reported on continuing ‘peace talks’ as Zelensky met with Trump in Washington: Here's what you helped us achieve this week

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support.

To start off with a bit of good news, this weekend, Ukraine will celebrate 34 years of its independence!

When Russia began its full-scale invasion in 2022, it was a common expectation among Western analysts that Kyiv would fall within days. 

In fact, here at the Kyiv Independent, just days before the full-scale war started, we published an op-ed arguing that even if Russia escalated its aggression, Ukraine’s fall was not predestined.

More than three years into the all-out war, we’re still here, reporting on the ground in Ukraine — and celebrating another Independence Day Russia doesn’t want Ukraine to have. 

It's thanks to our community — members like you — that the Kyiv Independent has a sustainable source of revenue to keep reporting, no matter what. Thank you for being with us and helping us produce locally-sourced and independent journalism, from Ukraine to the world.

On Sunday, our CEO Daryna Shevchenko will join our community Discord server for a short Q&A about Independence Day, how Ukraine celebrates, what it's been like living in Ukraine during key events in the country's history like the EuroMaidan Revolution and the start of the full-scale invasion, and any other questions you might have. The Q&A will take place in the "general" channel between 8 – 9 p.m. Kyiv time — if you aren't yet part of our community Discord server, here's how you can join.

We'd also like to give a warm welcome to the 286 new members who joined this week. Thank you for being a part of our community.

Here's what you helped us accomplish at the Kyiv Independent this week:

• We reported on continuing "peace talks" as Zelensky met with Trump in Washington. Trump walks back from Ukraine's calls for a ceasefire and more closely aligns with Russia’s push for a permanent peace deal. Pictured above, U.S. President Donald Trump meets with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Aug 18, 2025, taken by Anna Moneymaker for Getty Images.

• We published an explainer on potential security guarantees for Ukraine. As peace talks gather speed toward a potential trilateral meeting between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia, Oleg Sukhov and Andrea Januta's article breaks down what's on the table in terms of security guarantees — and what's realistic.

• We also answered some popular questions surrounding Zelensky's meeting with Trump, including "Did Zelensky really wear a suit to the White House?" and "Where is Crimea? And other things you (and US presidents) should know."

• In case you missed it, we also reported on the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska. Here's everything we know about the fallout of the Alaska Summit. You can also read our editorial about the Trump-Putin meeting — in short, the meeting was "sickening, shameful, and in the end, useless."

• We reported from northern Donetsk Oblast, covering Ukraine's use of ground drones. Francis Farrell takes a look at a new drone revolution that is unfolding in Ukraine — involving unmanned ground robots, which can deliver supplies to soldiers at front-line positions, evacuate the wounded, and even take part in assaults against the invading Russian forces.

• We reported on the battlefield situation, as Russia steadily advances in Donetsk Oblast. Asami Terajima's article explains how Russia is strengthening its hand in potential peace talks, as Russia has been able to gain ground on multiple axes in recent months, including toward key logistics hubs in Donetsk Oblast and even entering Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a region previously untouched by combat.

• Our most popular story this week was about the documentary "Russians at War," which was shot by a Russian-Canadian filmmaker embedded with Russian troops who invaded Ukraine. The Kyiv Independent requested a press copy last year to review "Russians at War," and the filmmakers declined, citing "bias." Now that the documentary is available on pay-per-view, culture reporter Kate Tsurkan watched it — and it's worse than we thought.

• We reported on how Russia is turning occupied Ukraine into a giant military base. Particularly in eastern Donetsk and Luhansk, Russia is converting civilian infrastructure into bases to house its soldiers, transport ammunition, and launch its drones even closer to Ukrainian-held territory — and making the region a potential launchpad for future aggression.

• We interviewed Ukraine’s anti-corruption chief on how his agency became a target. Oleksiy Sorokin sat down with Semen Kryvonos, head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), to discuss the recent government attempt at taking over NABU.

• Finally, to end on a positive note, as mentioned at the top of the letter, our CEO Daryna Shevchenko will host a Q&A on our community Discord on Sunday, Aug. 24 between 8 – 9 p.m. Kyiv time for Ukraine's Independence Day. Daryna is looking forward to hearing from you and answering your questions about Ukraine and its independence. You can add the event to your Discord calendar here. If you have any questions or need any help joining Discord, just email us at community@kyivindependent.com.

Thank you for standing by our side as we bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.