We're reporting on the rapidly developing "peace negotiations" between the U.S. and Russia: Here's what you helped us accomplish this week (Patreon)

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support. Yesterday, our editor-in-chief Olga Rudenko sent a letter to our members and readers about the rapidly deteriorating relationship with the U.S. as the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches.

"The atmosphere is painfully similar to three years ago: defiance in the anticipation of a catastrophe," said Olga.

"But whatever comes next, we have our strength and we have you."

We received over 100 letters in response, reaffirming support for Ukraine, telling us to hang in there, that we aren't forgotten. The volume of messages is large enough that we can't respond to each person individually. But, know that we're in awe of the amount of support we've been shown. We have read every letter. And it does make a difference for us.

We appreciate the time and care that each of you has taken to remind us that we aren't alone. Thank you for being with us and helping us keep reporting, no matter what happens. Pictured above, the team is hard at work in our Kyiv office today.

We'd also like to give a warm welcome to the 423 new members who joined this week. We truly wouldn't be here without supporters like you.

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

We reported on the talks between the U.S. and Russia in Saudi Arabia this week. Chris York's article summed up what we know about the meeting — and why it would make Putin "very happy."  We also interviewed Kurt Volker, who served as the U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations in 2017-2019, on his analysis of the peace talks.

We published an explainer on elections in Ukraine, breaking down Zelensky's popularity in Ukraine and what holding elections might look like if martial law were to be lifted. We also explained why Zelensky's legitimacy as a president is being questioned and how that plays into Russia's hands.

We explained what we know about Trump's proposed resource deal for Ukraine, which, according to reports, goes beyond rare earths and minerals to include oil and gas resources, ports, and other infrastructure, with one criticism calling it "colonial."

We asked Ukrainian political experts how Ukraine should deal with Trump, with one saying "Don't look weak. Trump will never deal with somebody who is weak, who is losing, who is getting prepared to lose, or who is just giving up on all positions."

We also explained what would happen if Ukraine stops receiving U.S. military aid. Ukrainian soldiers say they cannot survive without foreign weapons, lamenting low-quality local ammunition production, which does not bode well for a war effort without foreign military aid.

We wrote about the British volunteer who lost arm and leg evacuating Ukrainian civilians. Edward Scott recounts the time he spent in Ukraine and the attack on his vehicle, saying "Russia is the enemy. How can you not see it?"

We also interviewed former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis at the Munich security conference. Landsbergis said that the U.S.-Russia talks are "the last warning for Europe." You can watch the video interview here.

Our next community event will be a Q&A with reporter Francis Farrell and deputy chief editor Oleksiy Sorokin "Three years of Russia's all-out war. What now?" Join us on Tuesday, Feb. 25 as Francis and Oleksiy answer your questions about what the future course of the war might look like. Register and submit your questions here.

After a lot of grim news, we want to end on a light-hearted note. We want to update you on the bet in the Kyiv Independent office, and still we need your help so our product manager Masha can win. Masha bet that by the end of February, we could get 3,000 members to place their pin on our community map, a feature we added a few months ago to the Kyiv Independent website. Our COO Zakhar thought that it wouldn't be possible. As of now, we have 2,248 pins — a big jump from last week — and 7 days left. (The loser has to wear this T-shirt from our online store for one whole week, every day of it. Spare Masha of this fate, prove Zakhar wrong, and add your pin here: There's a special form for Patreon members.)

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