Ukraine has had a rollercoaster of a year – mostly downhill with none of the thrills.
The year was marked by diplomatic tugs-of-war, domestic political crises, and growing pressure from allies.
From renewed Russian strikes on energy infrastructure to major corruption scandals and high-stakes peace talks, Kyiv Post has compiled a non-exhaustive list of events that defined each month of 2025 for Ukrainians.
January: North Korean troops on the battlefield
Reports of North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces, first noted in October 2024, escalated in early 2025. Ukrainian drones captured footage in Mahnovka, Kursk region, showing North Korean troops forcing elderly residents out of shelters amid fighting.
At the time, former US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that North Korea had lost over 1,000 troops in combat against Ukraine.
Ukrainian troops described the North Korean forces as highly trained and disciplined. Small-arms proficiency proved particularly effective, with drones reportedly shot down using basic weaponry.
Throughout the year, Moscow and Pyongyang would publicly acknowledge North Korean troop deployments, later showcasing growing bilateral ties through official visits and cultural exchanges.
February: Zelensky’s White House clash with Trump
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s late February visit to Washington became a moment to remember – but perhaps not for the right reason.
Kyiv sought reassurance on US military and financial support and considered a proposed minerals deal. The talks, however, exposed divisions. US President Donald Trump questioned the cost of US backing, while Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of ingratitude.
The meeting ended early without agreement, with members of the Ukrainian delegation visibly upset. The clash would set a pattern of intermittent tension and reconciliation with Washington throughout 2025.
March: Fallout from diplomatic clash
Following the White House meeting, US military aid and intelligence sharing were temporarily paused, complicating Ukrainian battlefield planning. US-led talks on ceasefires and peace frameworks also began, proposing measures such as a Black Sea and energy ceasefire – both failed due to differing interpretations between all parties.
Kyiv Post sources at the time said Washington considered concessions on four points proposed by Moscow: ending Western military support, recognizing Russian-held territories, restoring Russian cultural and religious influence, and revisiting the Istanbul Protocol draft. These points were repeatedly revisited throughout the year, albeit packaged differently each time.
April: Mineral deal signed
On April 30, Ukraine and the US signed the Ukraine-US Mineral Resources Agreement, establishing the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.
The deal covers a broad range of subsoil resources and ensures shared investment and revenue. Ukraine retains ownership and control over extraction decisions, while future profits from new projects are split evenly and reinvested in reconstruction.
Earlier drafts had included proposals for Ukraine to repay past US aid via resource revenues. The final agreement marked a shift toward a more balanced partnership.
May: Trump’s U-turn and Istanbul talks
In May, Trump reportedly considered lifting Biden-era restrictions on Ukraine to push Russia toward negotiations. He also criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for “needlessly killing a lot of people.” European leaders also pressed for a ceasefire, prompting Moscow to propose talks in Istanbul.
The meeting occurred without Putin, who was represented by historian Vladimir Medinsky. The talks yielded only a prisoner exchange, with threats issued by the Russian delegation, and resulted in prisoner exchange agreements with no ceasefire
June: Operation Spiderweb
On June 1, Ukraine launched hundreds of drones from deep inside Russian territory, targeting long-range strategic bombers (Tu-95 and Tu-22M3) at Russian airfields.
Kyiv reported that over 34% of Russia’s strategic bombers were rendered inoperable. AI-enabled drones identified high-value targets, and the operation, codenamed Operation Spiderweb, was later found to have relied on drones smuggled in prefabricated wooden houses to evade detection.
July: Anti-corruption protests and government reshuffle
Widespread protests erupted after the Ukrainian government passed Bill 12414, placing Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) under the Prosecutor General’s Office. Critics said the law compromised the agencies’ independence; the government claimed it aimed to root out the agencies’ alleged Russian influence.
Domestic and international pressure prompted a new bill to reverse most of the changes. The same month saw a cabinet reshuffle: the economy minister became prime minister, the prime minister moved to defense, and several ministries were merged or scrapped.
August: Alaska summit
On Aug. 16, Putin met Trump in Alaska, the Kremlin leader’s first visit to US soil since the 2022 invasion.
The meeting followed Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Putin to progress toward a ceasefire – later shortened to 10-12 days – or face severe sanctions. The talks produced neither a ceasefire nor sanctions. Trump said he expected a direct meeting between Zelensky and Putin, with Putin later proposing Moscow as the venue for that meeting, effectively derailing the initiative.
September: European spillover and Russian fuel crisis
In early September, Poland reported 19 drones entering its airspace from Russia and Belarus. Dutch F-35s and Polish F-16s intercepted the drones, marking NATO’s first airspace scramble for such incidents since 1949.
Russia denied involvement and later said its drones couldn’t have reached that far, though analysis suggested the drones had the range to reach Poland. Similar incidents occurred in Romania and Germany, exposing gaps in European air defenses.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, targeting pipelines and refineries, caused fuel shortages. Rising prices and long lines were reported across Russia, including in Dagestan and Makhachkala.
October: Blackouts across Ukraine
Starting in late September, Russian strikes targeted Ukraine’s energy grid, affecting gas storage and electrical facilities. By October, power outages became widespread, occasionally disrupting water supplies. On Oct. 1, northern Ukraine’s Chernihiv experienced blackouts, with residents citing inadequate preparedness.
Oct. 3 saw the largest Russian strike on Ukrainian gas facilities at the time, hitting the Kharkiv and Poltava regions. Ukraine’s operator warned of emergency blackouts in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, following subsequent attacks. Fighting also caused the longest-ever downtime at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant; the high-voltage line was restored on Oct. 23, averting a potential disaster.
November: Corruption scandal
In November, a corruption scandal prompted the resignation and dismissal of two ministers and, later, Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.
The case centered on Timur Mindich, a former business associate of Zelensky, accused of orchestrating a kickback scheme involving nuclear agency projects.
The justice and energy ministers were dismissed. While Zelensky was not implicated, the scandal became one of the largest political crises of the war. Yermak resigned after an anti-corruption raid, though no charges were filed against him.
December: Renewed US peace push
In November, the White House proposed a 28-point peace plan, giving Zelensky until Thanksgiving to accept or risk losing aid.
The plan was revealed to be highly unfavorable to Kyiv, demanding military caps, renunciation of NATO ambitions, and territorial withdrawals. Leaked recordings showed it was crafted with Kremlin input, with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff coaching Kremlin officials.
Despite doubts about its legitimacy, the plan formed the basis of ongoing talks, eventually reduced to 20 points. Zelensky emphasized that land concessions remain a red line. Talks in mid-December centered on three documents: a peace framework, security guarantees, and a reconstruction plan, with European input on troop deployments. Trump administration officials said the guarantees were 90% complete, though it is unclear whether the Kremlin would accept the revised version, as it would contradict its maximalist stance, from which it had vowed not to back down.