Kyiv Independent

Why has Russia never accepted Ukraine’s independence? In this episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines 35 years of Ukrainian independence and the centuries of Russian attempts to control, suppress, and ultimately deny Ukraine’s sovereignty.

From the collapse of the Soviet Union and Ukraine’s 1991 independence referendum to the Orange Revolution, EuroMaidan Revolution, and Russia’s full-scale invasion, the episode explores how Ukrainian resistance has rejected Moscow’s vision of a shared Russian-Ukrainian identity.

Featuring historian Serhii Plokhy and Oleksandr Donii, a participant of Ukraine’s 1991 independence movement, Anna examines why Russia continues to reject Ukraine’s right to exist as a sovereign state — and why Ukrainians continue to fight for it.

00:00 Intro

00:56 Ukraine declares independence

04:03 A witness to 1991

07:35 Russia challenges Ukraine’s sovereignty

09:34 Support independent journalism in Ukraine 09:48 Centuries of Russian oppression

13:59 Ukraine in Russian imperial mythology

17:58 1991 to now

22:05 Member Q&A

23:39 Outro

Roman Sheremeta

If you want to save your World, help Ukrainians save theirs.

The United States asked Ukraine not to strike Moscow while senior American officials are visiting the russian capital, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

Think about that.

When American officials travel to Moscow, Washington apparently has no problem asking Ukraine: Do not attack Moscow while we are there.

But just days earlier, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner canceled their planned visit to Kyiv around Ukraine’s Independence Day because of “heavy russian air strikes on the city.”

So why didn’t Washington simply ask russia: Do not attack Kyiv while American officials are there?

Apparently, the United States can ask Ukraine to stop bombing russia to protect American officials in Moscow. But it can not ask russia to stop bombing Ukraine to protect American officials in Kyiv.

Instead, Witkoff and Kushner canceled their trip.

This tells you something important about American diplomacy under Trump.

Washington repeatedly demands restraint from Ukraine while accommodating russia. It expects Kyiv to adjust its military actions around American diplomacy, while seemingly accepting that Moscow will continue bombing Ukrainian cities whenever it wants.

You cannot be an honest broker when the rules apply only to one side.

That is blatant hypocrisy.

Liza Rose from Stand With Ukraine :

Global leaders showed up today for Ukraine’s Anniversary of Freedom from the enemy Russians — one world leader was glaringly absent.

Question: Can you guess who did not show up?

Answer: United States President Donald J. Trump.

Why: Because Donald Trump leads the MAGA-RUSSIA Party.

Leaders of the globe gathered to honor Ukraine for its Anniversary of Freedom from the enemy Russians while also advocating for support in Ukraine’s current invasion by the enemy Russians.

One world leader on paper is obligated to support the ally Ukrainians.
President Donald Trump, like all United States Presidents have had a contracted for obligation to help Ukraine in the event of an attack by the enemy Russians since 1994.

🗣️ As former President Bill Clinton said, “This is our responsibility.”
“We forced Ukraine to give up nuclear weapons, cruise missiles, and strategic bombers.
We promised to protect Ukraine from Russia.
We made Ukraine vulnerable.
So yes — this is our war,” said former United States President Bill Clinton.

Which means in fact,
that there is a duty above and beyond being an ‘ally’ to Ukraine that requires Trump’s aid — he is bound by the Budapest Memorandum signed 1994.

United States President Donald Trump has not only failed in his obligations to Ukraine —
Vice President JD Vance and Donald Trump have actually HELPED the enemy Russians.

🔴 Fact: Russians have stolen over 19,000 Ukrainian babies and children who are being sold on a Russian web site.

This was not just Russian military. When I say Russians I am referring to Russian civilians too. There are many documented instances of Russian civilians including Russian women coming into Ukraine since 2022 to steal babies and succeeding in stealing Ukrainian babies.

These people are sick.

Donald Trump could not care less.
In my opinion Donald Trump is one of them.

Donald Trump’s administration took away aid to the organizations that were in place to document the Russian wartime crimes including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and has hindered the ability of Ukraine to bring the kids home.

This week, “leaders of Ukraine’s international allies mark 35 years since the country broke away from the Soviet Union to become an independent nation.
But senior officials from one longtime backer are notably absent from the public show of support: the U.S.”
source: NBC News

Donald J. Trump did not show up and he did not send his senior officials in his absence.

🔴 Fact: Donald Trump has never traveled to Ukraine.

In my opinion the least Donald Trump could do is visit Ukraine.

Do I think Trump avoids visiting Kyiv on purpose?
Absolutely. Trump is a self-proclaimed “friend” of Russian Dictator Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump and his staffers use the White House as a podium to push the enemy Russians propaganda lies.

Trump could get on a plane any day to travel to Kyiv to show his support. He refuses. Because he does not support Kyiv. Donald Trump supports the enemy Russians.

Do you know what else Trump could do? Trump could tell Russia to leave Ukraine.

🔴 Fact: Donald Trump has never told Russia to leave Ukraine.

🔴 Fact: Donald Trump’s Vice President JD Vance traveled to Budapest Hungary to perform Foreign Election Interference.

This was historic because no Vice President had ever done this wrongful act. And he did so in an open and obvious way.
It was also historic because Trump’s team who is supposed to be an ally to Ukraine was openly promoting Putin’s right hand man in commiting wartime crimes: Viktor Orban.

JD Vance infamously proclaimed on stage, his “proudest moment was removing all financial aid to Ukrainians in 2025.”

This claim was accurate. Vance did in fact remove all humanitarian aid to Ukraine in 2025.
The claim was also morally reprehensible.
The claim and action was also against the duties required of any United States Presidential office since 1994.

I have one question for you.

🔴 Question: If Donald Trump’s Administration were working directly for Vladimir Putin and the enemy Russians — how would things be different?

🔴 Answer: Nothing would be different. Donald Trump and JD Vance do everything exactly as the enemy Russians prefer.

It is an embarrassment for democracy and freedom — that the United States failed to show up to the monumental ceremony in Ukraine this week.

The current United States administration does not believe in freedom, democracy nor any of the essential pillars of a free nation as the Ukrainians do — noticeable by Trump’s glaring absence along side the rest of the world leaders.

The MAGA party is a sham.
The MAGA party used Kremlin style propaganda tactics to push it’s fake America first agenda.

There was a certain party in Germany that used the same brand of propaganda which succeeded there as well.

Trump’s staffers use Russian tactics to push Russian agenda.
And that is exactly what we have seen for the past two years.
Nothing about MAGA is America first.
MAGA said exactly what it needed to say to be elected. It worked. None of it was true.
– MAGA is Russia First.
– MAGA is Trump Family First.
– MAGA is billionaires First.
– MAGA is corruption First.
– MAGA is lies First.
– MAGA is allies Last.
– MAGA is enemies First.

The current MAGA movement is an arm of the Kremlin.
We are experiencing the MAGA-RUSSIA Party in the United States.
These people are traitors to Americans, Ukraine, Europe and Humanity — and they do nothing to hide it.

🔴 Do you agree?

🔴 Will you be voting against MAGA in November?

Even if you live outside the United States you can help in the good cause — and can effectively sway public opinion — by sharing this content from the Liza Rose profile for advocacy.