Performing their song "Bird of Pray," Ukrainian band Ziferblat passed the Eurovision semi-finals on May 13, qualifying Ukraine for the grand final on May 17.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a Russian delegation will be in Istanbul on May 15 for direct peace talks with Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov will likely represent Russia.
The move follows Ukraine's ratification of the minerals agreement, deepening U.S.-Ukraine economic ties and signaling expanded U.S. involvement in Ukraine's long-term recovery.
"Ukraine has initiated a coordinated campaign to vilify Hungary in order to undermine our initiative to hold a poll on (Kyiv's) EU membership," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that further concessions from Ukraine during negotiations would be unreasonable if Russia continues to attack civilian targets.
U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, will travel to Istanbul for possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Reuters reported on May 13, citing three undisclosed sources.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but said both leaders are ready to fly to Istanbul if Russian President Vladimir Putin chooses to attend the talks there.
Some of the Ukrainian soldiers returned to Ukraine in a prisoner exchange on Aug. 7. (Photo: Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine / Telegram)
President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak reported on Aug. 7 that22 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been returned from Russian captivity.
The soldiers range in age from 23 to 54 years old, and include two officers. Among those returning from Russian captivity are injured soldiers, Yermak said on Telegram.
"All those freed will undergo a course of physical and psychological rehabilitation and reintegration and will receive the necessary treatment with the support of medical specialists," Yermak said.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's ombudsman for human rights, said that 2,598 Ukrainians have been returned over 48 prisoner exchanges.
The last exchange resulted in the return of 45 prisoners of war on July 6. Two children, who had previously been deported, were also returned.
Francis Farrell
