Kyiv
Background
Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and largest city of Ukraine. It is located in north-central Ukraine on both banks of the Dnieper River and is one of the oldest major cities in Eastern Europe. With a population of about 2.95 million as of January 2022, it is among Europe’s most populous cities and serves as a major industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural center. The city also has an extensive public transport network, including the Kyiv Metro, and contains many of the country’s best-known historical landmarks and higher education institutions.
In political and strategic terms, Kyiv is the seat of Ukraine’s national government and a central location in both domestic and international affairs. Control over the city has long carried symbolic and administrative importance because of its role as the country’s capital and as the focus of state institutions, diplomacy, and policy coordination. In Russian political discourse and reporting, Kyiv is frequently used metonymically to refer to the Ukrainian government, as reflected in references to the “regime in Kyiv.” The city’s importance is also tied to its economic base, which includes services, finance, high technology, education, and infrastructure supporting the wider national economy.
Kyiv’s history has shaped its present-day significance. It likely began as a commercial center in the 5th century, later becoming a Slavic settlement on a major trade route and then the capital of Kievan Rus’ under Varangian rule. After devastation during the Mongol siege of 1240, it declined for centuries before reviving as a center of Orthodox learning and later of industry and administration under the Russian Empire. It became the capital of the Ukrainian SSR in 1934, suffered heavy damage during World War II, and after Ukrainian independence in 1991 remained the country’s largest and wealthiest city. In the context of the current war, the city continues to be associated with negotiations, state resilience, and the broader contest over Ukraine’s political future.
Documents
Meeting with Head of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin
Putin met with DPR head Denis Pushilin to discuss reconstruction progress, with Pushilin reporting that Ukrainian forces now control only 15–17% of DPR territory, down from 25% six months ago.
Remarks by Yuri Ushakov, Assistant to the President of Russia, Following a Telephone Conversation Between Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump
Putin and Trump held an hour-long call covering the Iran conflict, Ukraine ceasefire prospects, and Venezuela's impact on global oil markets, their first since December 2025.