Christopher Miller

Chief Ukraine Correspondent @FT.
16+ years living and reporting in Ukraine.
📖 Author of THE WAR CAME TO US: LIFE AND DEATH IN UKRAINE, @BloomsburyBooks 📖

[Christopher Miller @ChristopherJM]

It’s here! U.S. publication day for THE WAR CAME TO US: LIFE AND DEATH IN UKRAINE! Huge gratitude to @BloomsburyBooks @BloomsburyPub for believing in it from the start, and to the many Ukrainians who shared their stories over the years. Get your copy in bookstores across America!

[max seddon @maxseddon]

The former CEO of a $25bn US gas venture has accused Russian energy giant Novatek of secretly controlling the project, triggering a mass resignation of company leadership over fears it is violating US sanctions.

A wild story with @JamieSmythF:

https://t.co/Q9UDPVJNrU

[max seddon @maxseddon]

At one of the tensest points in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, two Americans teamed up with a former GDR spy to stop nuclear war. They just needed to tell Putin.

On the cover of @FTMag this week, one of the most extraordinary stories I've ever reported:

https://t.co/lIpc4qZ41x

[Financial Times @FT]

Russian missiles bombard Kyiv after Witkoff-Putin talks https://t.co/qnN5PXMl2P

[Financial Times @FT]

FT Exclusive: A new agreement could allow Kyiv to obtain weapons, ammunition and military equipment faster and more cheaply via Nato’s centralised procurement agency https://t.co/HvVn7XwUfZ

[Christopher Miller @ChristopherJM]

An important note from a true humanitarian and Ukraine’s Nobel laureate.

[Oleksandra Matviichuk @avalaina]

I have read dozens of outraged posts because the US special envoy Witkoff called Putin a "humanist." But no one is writing about the fact that the American negotiators are simply not doing their job. Let me explain.

Peace negotiations are important in their own right. Even if they do not lead to a lasting peace, the process itself is an opportunity to resolve urgent humanitarian issues. If, of course, the human dimension is a priority for the negotiators. But it is entirely obvious that neither Witkoff nor Kushner cares about people's fates in this war.

The Pope calls on Putin to save thousands of people from starvation in occupied Oleshky and the surrounding villages. The UN speaks about a humanitarian catastrophe and asks Russia to allow the evacuation of the civilian population. European Parliament Vice-President Pina Picierno goes on a hunger strike to draw attention to this tragedy unfolding before the eyes of the whole world.

And what are Witkoff and Kushner doing?

That's right, almost nothing.

Except for passing along greetings from Putin’s aide to the First Lady.

Thousands of people are already eating grass to survive and begging to save their lives. The Ukrainian side raises the issue of Oleshky at every meeting. And I can name dozens of such urgent humanitarian issues off the top of my head where American negotiators must be proactive.

Trump’s peace negotiations have already gone down in history as the deadliest years for Ukraine’s civilian population since the start of the full-scale invasion.

I don’t know if anyone will remember the names of Witkoff and Kushner.

But history will certainly record how American negotiators, who had the opportunity to save a huge number of people, refused to raise uncomfortable questions before "humanist Putin."

[Oleksandra Matviichuk @avalaina]

I have read dozens of outraged posts because the US special envoy Witkoff called Putin a "humanist." But no one is writing about the fact that the American negotiators are simply not doing their job. Let me explain.

Peace negotiations are important in their own right. Even if they do not lead to a lasting peace, the process itself is an opportunity to resolve urgent humanitarian issues. If, of course, the human dimension is a priority for the negotiators. But it is entirely obvious that neither Witkoff nor Kushner cares about people's fates in this war.

The Pope calls on Putin to save thousands of people from starvation in occupied Oleshky and the surrounding villages. The UN speaks about a humanitarian catastrophe and asks Russia to allow the evacuation of the civilian population. European Parliament Vice-President Pina Picierno goes on a hunger strike to draw attention to this tragedy unfolding before the eyes of the whole world.

And what are Witkoff and Kushner doing?

That's right, almost nothing.

Except for passing along greetings from Putin’s aide to the First Lady.

Thousands of people are already eating grass to survive and begging to save their lives. The Ukrainian side raises the issue of Oleshky at every meeting. And I can name dozens of such urgent humanitarian issues off the top of my head where American negotiators must be proactive.

Trump’s peace negotiations have already gone down in history as the deadliest years for Ukraine’s civilian population since the start of the full-scale invasion.

I don’t know if anyone will remember the names of Witkoff and Kushner.

But history will certainly record how American negotiators, who had the opportunity to save a huge number of people, refused to raise uncomfortable questions before "humanist Putin."

[Christopher Miller @ChristopherJM]

The predictable Trump bump.

[Kristina Berdynskykh @berdynskykh_k]

Just as I predicted a week ago

“After the "diesel deal" between the United States and the Russian Federation, Ukrainians' trust in Zelensky increased by more than 10%, according to the KIIS survey”.

[Financial Times @FT]

Putin’s American friends https://t.co/qlJM4ultNf

[Financial Times @FT]

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to travel to Norway this week for the latest round of talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeking to end the war in Ukraine https://t.co/C6zpYquzXn

[🇺🇦 Kostiantyn Koshelenko @k_koshelenko]

Our daughter’s classroom after a Russian ballistic missile struck nearby last night.

[Michael Kofman @KofmanMichael]

Starshield is still throttled to 160km/h, or in practice less.

[Financial Times @FT]

Ukraine receives partial intelligence on Russian ballistic missile strikes https://t.co/TwoH8cwNqV

[Financial Times @FT]

Zelenskyy, Europe and the end of Trump whispering https://t.co/D0P7mNgWZg

[Yaroslav Trofimov @yarotrof]

WSJ editorial: “When the election is over there needs to be a bipartisan reckoning for Mr. Trump’s budding alliance with the Kremlin against Ukraine, Europe and American interests.”
https://t.co/oaMw1if12Q

[Euan MacDonald @Euan_MacDonald]

Damage to Chernihivska metro station on Kyiv's left (eastern) bank following a strike by a Russian ballistic missile, or missile shootdown debris, overnight on Oct. 19. A 21-year-old woman was killed and eight people injured attack, which also hit a shopping mall.

[Christopher Miller @ChristopherJM]

Another Russian ballistic missile attack came without early warning, President Zelenskyy says. This means people do not have time to get safely to bomb shelters. Moscow targeted energy facilities, no less.

“Another Russian ballistic missile attack came in several waves overnight, and once again, there was no early warning from our partners. They again targeted energy facilities and infrastructure, but a medical clinic, a school, a metro station, and ordinary residential buildings were also damaged. In total, the Russians launched 16 ballistic missiles in a deliberate attack on Kyiv and the Kyiv region. The Russians also launched more than 200 drones…”

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Another Russian ballistic missile attack came in several waves overnight, and once again, there was no early warning from our partners. They again targeted energy facilities and infrastructure, but a medical clinic, a school, a metro station, and ordinary residential buildings were also damaged. In total, the Russians launched 16 ballistic missiles in a deliberate attack on Kyiv and the Kyiv region. The Russians also launched more than 200 drones of various types, including jet-powered “shaheds,” with attacks spanning from the Kharkiv and Dnipro regions to the Volyn, Rivne, and Odesa regions. Sadly, there are casualties. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Those who were injured are receiving assistance. Overnight and this morning, Russia attacked energy facilities in the Vinnytsia, Volyn, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Kharkiv, Ternopil, Odesa, and Rivne regions. In this one night alone, more than 10 energy infrastructure facilities were damaged, and the lights went out for at least 550,000 families. Repair crews are working at the sites.

Ukraine never wanted this war, and we have welcomed literally EVERY attempt by our partners to bring this war to a dignified end. We have responded positively to EVERY ceasefire proposal. Russia's response, time and again, has been ballistic missiles, “shaheds,” and killings. Putin not only doesn't want to end this war – he doesn't even want to take any steps toward de-escalation. EVERY ONE of our partners has experienced this firsthand when they heard Russia's refusals. And it is crucial to call things what they are. To call the aggressor an aggressor and help Ukraine defend lives. When deliveries of missiles for Ukraine's air defense are blocked while Russia is granted relief or delays in sanctions, this is, unfortunately, a denial of reality on the part of our partners. The reality is that the war continues, and it continues solely because of Russian strikes and Russia's desire to drag this war out. I thank everyone who recognizes this reality and helps Ukraine!

[Christopher Miller @ChristopherJM]

Add to this already lengthy and disturbing list below Trump’s threats to cut the PURL procurement system that allows allies and Kyiv to purchase US arms and, according to Zelenskyy, delay deliveries of weapons already paid for through this system.

Our @FT reporting on PURL threat:
https://t.co/2Gyv0haCVT

[Peter Baker @peterbakernyt]

It's been a good week for Putin. In recent days, Trump has:

* Struck a diesel deal lifting some sanctions
* Restricted Starshield for Ukraine
* Cut intel warnings of Russian missile launches against Ukraine for several days
* Canceled Lindsey Graham sanctions
* Demanded Ukraine dump Zelensky
* Absolved Russia for helping Iran fight the US
* Pushed Europe to resume buying Russian gas

[Christopher Miller @ChristopherJM]

As Ukrainians were again being attacked by Russian ballistic missiles overnight, Trump dropped “Truth” bombs on them — siding with the man who ordered the strikes and justifying his support for Russia that has allowed it to fill its war chest and continue its invasion, while laying into Zelenskyy again. Ukrainians were also shocked to learn that they had lost oceans.

[Michael Kofman @KofmanMichael]

Good job by @FRHoffmann1 here tackling the issue of U.S. Space-Based Ballistic Missile Early Warning and Ukraine. https://t.co/zAifNH1v8Y

[Christopher Miller @ChristopherJM]

There is one leader conspicuously absent from this reported proposal whose country has a big say in how the war being waged against it should end.

[The Wall Street Journal @WSJ]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed that he, President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet next month to attempt to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine that would favor Moscow, said people familiar with the discussions. https://t.co/F43ytZwD6o