Eilish Hart
@eilishhart.bsky.social
Editor of Meduza’s long-reads newsletter, The Beet, covering Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. 📧 Send tips & pitches: [email protected]
Pinned
Eilish Hart
@eilishhart.bsky.social
· May 29
Big update for The Beet: We now have our own landing page on @meduza.io! 🎉 Pay it a visit if you’re looking to subscribe to the newsletter or want to read any of our top reporting from the last year-ish. meduza.io/en/specials/...
⚡️Zelensky announces the resignation of Andriy Yermak, his long-time chief of staff and head peace negotiator. hromadske.ua/personaliyi/...
Зеленський: Єрмак написав заяву про відставку
Президент України Володимир Зеленський заявив, що керівник його офісу Андрій Єрмак написав заяву про відставку.
hromadske.ua
November 28, 2025 at 3:29 PM
⚡️Zelensky announces the resignation of Andriy Yermak, his long-time chief of staff and head peace negotiator. hromadske.ua/personaliyi/...
Reposted by Eilish Hart
“What sustains these protests is a clear sense among Georgians that they won’t accept a Russian-controlled autocracy.”
Meduza talks to former defense minister and diplomat Vasil Sikharulidze about Georgia’s year-long political crisis. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Meduza talks to former defense minister and diplomat Vasil Sikharulidze about Georgia’s year-long political crisis. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
‘Georgians will not accept autocracy’: Former defense minister and diplomat Vasil Sikharulidze reflects on Georgia’s year-long political crisis — Meduza
Protesters in Georgia have been taking to the streets for 364 straight days. On October 26, thousands joined an anti-government march in central Tbilisi marking the anniversary of the country’s…
meduza.io
November 27, 2025 at 3:11 PM
“What sustains these protests is a clear sense among Georgians that they won’t accept a Russian-controlled autocracy.”
Meduza talks to former defense minister and diplomat Vasil Sikharulidze about Georgia’s year-long political crisis. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Meduza talks to former defense minister and diplomat Vasil Sikharulidze about Georgia’s year-long political crisis. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Reposted by Eilish Hart
Ukraine’s top anti-corruption authorities searched the home of Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s powerful chief of staff and lead negotiator in peace talks with Washington, as corruption probes widen among the president’s inner circle. www.ft.com/content/4f48...
Anti-corruption authorities raid house of top Zelenskyy aide
Search carried out at home of presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak
www.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Ukraine’s top anti-corruption authorities searched the home of Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s powerful chief of staff and lead negotiator in peace talks with Washington, as corruption probes widen among the president’s inner circle. www.ft.com/content/4f48...
Reposted by Eilish Hart
As the Trump admin fine tunes its peace plan, Putin sets out his own ceasefire terms for Ukraine: “Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the territories they occupy... If they don’t, we will achieve this by military means.” meduza.io/en/feature/2...
‘We will achieve this by military means.’ Putin calls Trump’s peace plan a ‘basis’ for future talks — and then demands Ukraine surrender territory. — Meduza
The Trump administration has laid out a possible “basis” for a peace deal with Ukraine, but signing an agreement with the current leadership in Kyiv is “legally impossible” in Russia’s view,…
meduza.io
November 27, 2025 at 9:11 PM
As the Trump admin fine tunes its peace plan, Putin sets out his own ceasefire terms for Ukraine: “Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the territories they occupy... If they don’t, we will achieve this by military means.” meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Reposted by Eilish Hart
🇬🇪Tomorrow, Georgia will mark day 365 of anti-government protests in the face of an ongoing crackdown. What keeps protesters in the streets? “A broad national understanding that Georgia cannot survive or prosper as an autocracy,” former diplomat Vasil Sikharulidze told me. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
‘Georgians will not accept autocracy’: Former defense minister and diplomat Vasil Sikharulidze reflects on Georgia’s year-long political crisis — Meduza
Protesters in Georgia have been taking to the streets for 364 straight days. On October 26, thousands joined an anti-government march in central Tbilisi marking the anniversary of the country’s disput...
meduza.io
November 27, 2025 at 3:11 PM
🇬🇪Tomorrow, Georgia will mark day 365 of anti-government protests in the face of an ongoing crackdown. What keeps protesters in the streets? “A broad national understanding that Georgia cannot survive or prosper as an autocracy,” former diplomat Vasil Sikharulidze told me. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
“As long as Zelensky is president, no one should count on us giving up territory. He will not sign away territory,” says 🇺🇦 chief negotiator Andriy Yermak. “Nobody can do that unless they want to go against the Ukrainian constitution and the Ukrainian people.” www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Ukraine Says It Won’t Give Up Land to Russia
Ukraine’s chief negotiator, in an exclusive interview, says conceding sovereign territory is off-limits in peace talks.
www.theatlantic.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:37 AM
“As long as Zelensky is president, no one should count on us giving up territory. He will not sign away territory,” says 🇺🇦 chief negotiator Andriy Yermak. “Nobody can do that unless they want to go against the Ukrainian constitution and the Ukrainian people.” www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
🇬🇪Tomorrow, Georgia will mark day 365 of anti-government protests in the face of an ongoing crackdown. What keeps protesters in the streets? “A broad national understanding that Georgia cannot survive or prosper as an autocracy,” former diplomat Vasil Sikharulidze told me. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
‘Georgians will not accept autocracy’: Former defense minister and diplomat Vasil Sikharulidze reflects on Georgia’s year-long political crisis — Meduza
Protesters in Georgia have been taking to the streets for 364 straight days. On October 26, thousands joined an anti-government march in central Tbilisi marking the anniversary of the country’s disput...
meduza.io
November 27, 2025 at 3:11 PM
🇬🇪Tomorrow, Georgia will mark day 365 of anti-government protests in the face of an ongoing crackdown. What keeps protesters in the streets? “A broad national understanding that Georgia cannot survive or prosper as an autocracy,” former diplomat Vasil Sikharulidze told me. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Reposted by Eilish Hart
A U.S. delegation is set to go to Moscow next week for talks on Trump’s “peace plan,” Putin told reporters.
meduza.io/en/news/2025...
meduza.io/en/news/2025...
U.S. delegation to come to Moscow next week to discuss peace plan, Putin says — Meduza
A U.S. delegation is set to travel to Moscow next week for talks on President Donald Trump’s “peace plan,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
meduza.io
November 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
A U.S. delegation is set to go to Moscow next week for talks on Trump’s “peace plan,” Putin told reporters.
meduza.io/en/news/2025...
meduza.io/en/news/2025...
“I told the president that the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace deal. That’s my belief. [...] And I believe the issue is is that we have two nations that are having a hard time coming to a compromise,” Witkoff told Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
“I told the president that the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace deal. That’s my belief. [...] And I believe the issue is is that we have two nations that are having a hard time coming to a compromise,” Witkoff told Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
Looks like Yermak spoke to Axios too soon. Trump says he’s sending Steve Witkoff to meet with Putin and Dan Driscoll to meet with the Ukrainians. And that he’ll only meet with Zelensky *and* Putin “when the deal to end this war is final or in its final stages.”
November 25, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Looks like Yermak spoke to Axios too soon. Trump says he’s sending Steve Witkoff to meet with Putin and Dan Driscoll to meet with the Ukrainians. And that he’ll only meet with Zelensky *and* Putin “when the deal to end this war is final or in its final stages.”
Reposted by Eilish Hart
“People who work with Putin know that the main thing for him is always his image, and that in an effort to save face, he — the leader of a nuclear power — won’t stop at anything,” journalist @faridaily.bsky.social tells Meduza. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Journalist Farida Rustamova explains how Russia’s elites went from dreading war to fearing peace — Meduza
In his 2024 state-of-the-nation address, Vladimir Putin declared that the word “elite” had lost much of its credibility. “Those who have done nothing for society and consider themselves a caste with…
meduza.io
November 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
“People who work with Putin know that the main thing for him is always his image, and that in an effort to save face, he — the leader of a nuclear power — won’t stop at anything,” journalist @faridaily.bsky.social tells Meduza. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Reposted by Eilish Hart
Scoop @financialtimes.com: Under the US-Ukraine deal, Kyiv agreed to cap the size of its army at 800,000, according to senior officials who say they're pleased with the plan. Points left are territorial matters and security guarantees, which are TBD by Zelensky and Trump. www.ft.com/content/b0d9...
Russia signals it could reject modified US peace plan for Ukraine
Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov suggests Moscow would walk away from proposal that differs substantially from Alaska talks
www.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Scoop @financialtimes.com: Under the US-Ukraine deal, Kyiv agreed to cap the size of its army at 800,000, according to senior officials who say they're pleased with the plan. Points left are territorial matters and security guarantees, which are TBD by Zelensky and Trump. www.ft.com/content/b0d9...
Reposted by Eilish Hart
🚑🕊️ The Red Cross stands for “neutrality” and “impartiality”.
Our investigation shows Russia’s branch trains children in military skills, works with Kremlin linked groups, and operates in occupied Ukraine while still receiving millions from a system funded by EU governments.
Full story below:
Our investigation shows Russia’s branch trains children in military skills, works with Kremlin linked groups, and operates in occupied Ukraine while still receiving millions from a system funded by EU governments.
Full story below:
Russian Red Cross supports Kremlin war machine – while receiving millions from the West
The Russian Red Cross is providing military training to children, engaging in propaganda networks and operating in occupied Ukraine. But the Red Cross’ international factions and the European Commissi...
www.ftm.eu
November 25, 2025 at 6:19 AM
🚑🕊️ The Red Cross stands for “neutrality” and “impartiality”.
Our investigation shows Russia’s branch trains children in military skills, works with Kremlin linked groups, and operates in occupied Ukraine while still receiving millions from a system funded by EU governments.
Full story below:
Our investigation shows Russia’s branch trains children in military skills, works with Kremlin linked groups, and operates in occupied Ukraine while still receiving millions from a system funded by EU governments.
Full story below:
Reposted by Eilish Hart
⚡️ Ukraine reiterates its 'red lines' amid speculations about military size, territory.
Ukraine will not recognize the Russian occupation or accept restrictions on its army size or alliances, Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said.
Ukraine will not recognize the Russian occupation or accept restrictions on its army size or alliances, Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said.
Ukraine reiterates its 'red lines' amid speculations about military size, territory
Ukraine remains ready for peace talks with Russia but will never legally recognize the Russian occupation or accept restrictions on its army size or alliances, Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk sai...
kyivindependent.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:51 PM
⚡️ Ukraine reiterates its 'red lines' amid speculations about military size, territory.
Ukraine will not recognize the Russian occupation or accept restrictions on its army size or alliances, Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said.
Ukraine will not recognize the Russian occupation or accept restrictions on its army size or alliances, Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said.
Important tidbit from my Q&A with @faridaily.bsky.social in the context of the current peace talks. Kremlin insiders believe that Putin will not stop the war against Ukraine unless there’s “a substantial rethinking of the global security system.”
Read more here👇 meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Read more here👇 meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Journalist Farida Rustamova explains how Russia’s elites went from dreading war to fearing peace — Meduza
In his 2024 state-of-the-nation address, Vladimir Putin declared that the word “elite” had lost much of its credibility. “Those who have done nothing for society and consider themselves a caste with s...
meduza.io
November 24, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Important tidbit from my Q&A with @faridaily.bsky.social in the context of the current peace talks. Kremlin insiders believe that Putin will not stop the war against Ukraine unless there’s “a substantial rethinking of the global security system.”
Read more here👇 meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Read more here👇 meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Reposted by Eilish Hart
Exclusive: First interview with negotiator in the room in Geneva. Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya tells me the US and Ukraine drafted a new peace deal but left the most politically sensitive elements to be decided by the countries’ presidents. www.ft.com/content/883e...
US and Ukraine draft new 19-point peace plan but defer biggest decisions
The most politically sensitive elements are left for Trump and Zelenskyy to discuss
www.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Exclusive: First interview with negotiator in the room in Geneva. Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya tells me the US and Ukraine drafted a new peace deal but left the most politically sensitive elements to be decided by the countries’ presidents. www.ft.com/content/883e...
Lots of insights here from former Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev. Too many to quote, in fact. Just read it!
Opinion: This U.S. initiative signals, in Putin’s view, that Washington is capitulating. And capitulating not because it has suffered losses — but because it is tired, frightened and eager to avoid involvement, writes former Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev.
Trump’s Peace Plan Favors Russia. Putin Still Won’t Accept It. - The Moscow Times
Opinion | The Ukraine war peace plan proposed by the Trump administration has, unsurprisingly, triggered a storm of reactions across the press, social media and among experts.
www.themoscowtimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Lots of insights here from former Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev. Too many to quote, in fact. Just read it!
Reposted by Eilish Hart
“Every dictator will think that they can attack anybody, hold on long enough, and then the world will reward them. This is not a peace plan.” My conversation with Natalia Arno of the Free Russia Foundation on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
What does Trump’s peace plan mean for Putin? It’s ‘a reward to a dictator,’ says Free Russia Foundation’s Natalia Arno. — Meduza
Members of the Trump administration are sending mixed messages about the new, 28-point peace plan drafted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev. On Friday, President Donald Tru...
meduza.io
November 23, 2025 at 2:50 PM
“Every dictator will think that they can attack anybody, hold on long enough, and then the world will reward them. This is not a peace plan.” My conversation with Natalia Arno of the Free Russia Foundation on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Update: Talks in Geneva have produced an “refined peace framework” with issues concerning Europe removed and toned down language about Ukraine joining NATO, according to @politico.eu www.politico.eu/article/dona...
November 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Update: Talks in Geneva have produced an “refined peace framework” with issues concerning Europe removed and toned down language about Ukraine joining NATO, according to @politico.eu www.politico.eu/article/dona...
Reposted by Eilish Hart
For @meduza.io’s podcast, I talked to the excellent @faridaily.bsky.social about how Putin’s war effort has changed the rules for Russia’s “old elites” and made them fear the prospect of peace. Listen now! meduza.io/en/episodes/...
Russia’s elites once dreaded war. Now, they fear peace. — Meduza
In his 2024 state-of-the-nation address, Vladimir Putin declared that the word “elite” had lost much of its credibility. Russia’s “real elite,” he said, are those who serve their country: “the workers...
meduza.io
November 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
For @meduza.io’s podcast, I talked to the excellent @faridaily.bsky.social about how Putin’s war effort has changed the rules for Russia’s “old elites” and made them fear the prospect of peace. Listen now! meduza.io/en/episodes/...
Reposted by Eilish Hart
Authorities in St. Petersburg released street musicians Diana Loginova and Alexander Orlov Sunday after a month in custody. According to radio station Ekho Moskvy, Loginova has reportedly fled Russia to an unnamed destination.
St. Petersburg Street Musicians Released - The Moscow Times
Authorities in St.
www.themoscowtimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Authorities in St. Petersburg released street musicians Diana Loginova and Alexander Orlov Sunday after a month in custody. According to radio station Ekho Moskvy, Loginova has reportedly fled Russia to an unnamed destination.
Rival European peace plan leaked to @telegraph.co.uk calls for a full unconditional ceasefire, plus no restrictions on the size of Ukraine’s army, its path to NATO, or stationing of “friendly forces” on its territory. www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
Leaked: Europe’s rival peace plan for Ukraine in full
Draft from Continent’s leaders has several key differences to Trump proposals, including deployment of foreign troops
www.telegraph.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Rival European peace plan leaked to @telegraph.co.uk calls for a full unconditional ceasefire, plus no restrictions on the size of Ukraine’s army, its path to NATO, or stationing of “friendly forces” on its territory. www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
“Every dictator will think that they can attack anybody, hold on long enough, and then the world will reward them. This is not a peace plan.” My conversation with Natalia Arno of the Free Russia Foundation on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
What does Trump’s peace plan mean for Putin? It’s ‘a reward to a dictator,’ says Free Russia Foundation’s Natalia Arno. — Meduza
Members of the Trump administration are sending mixed messages about the new, 28-point peace plan drafted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev. On Friday, President Donald Tru...
meduza.io
November 23, 2025 at 2:50 PM
“Every dictator will think that they can attack anybody, hold on long enough, and then the world will reward them. This is not a peace plan.” My conversation with Natalia Arno of the Free Russia Foundation on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Reposted by Eilish Hart
“I cannot call it a peace plan. It’s a reward to an aggressor, a reward to a dictator.” Pro-democracy activist Natalia Arno of the Free Russia Foundation weighs in on what Putin stands to gain from the latest peace proposal on the table. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
What does Trump’s peace plan mean for Putin? It’s ‘a reward to a dictator,’ says Free Russia Foundation’s Natalia Arno. — Meduza
Members of the Trump administration are sending mixed messages about the new, 28-point peace plan drafted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev. On Friday, President Donald…
meduza.io
November 23, 2025 at 1:11 PM
“I cannot call it a peace plan. It’s a reward to an aggressor, a reward to a dictator.” Pro-democracy activist Natalia Arno of the Free Russia Foundation weighs in on what Putin stands to gain from the latest peace proposal on the table. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Trump’s back to the rhetoric of the Oval Office meeting in February, claiming Ukraine’s leadership “has expressed zero gratitude for our efforts.”
November 23, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Trump’s back to the rhetoric of the Oval Office meeting in February, claiming Ukraine’s leadership “has expressed zero gratitude for our efforts.”