Russia seems to be preparing a significant offensive in Ukraine as it is moving troops toward key positions on the front, the Financial Times reported on May 13, citing undisclosed Ukrainian intelligence officials.
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.
Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, said that the new pontiff had a phone call with Zelensky on Monday, during which the pope expressed willingness to facilitate meetings between global leaders and vowed to support efforts for "a just and lasting peace."
In an interview with French broadcaster TF1 on May 13, Macron discussed new Russia sanctions and stationing French nuclear weapons in other European countries as a deterrent against Russia.
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.
France's Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna during an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers at The Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, on June 1, 2023. (Photo credit: Hanna Johre/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)
France uncovered a major Russian disinformation campaign aimed against Ukraine, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported,citing French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on June 13.
The disinformation activities involved presenting false news items hostile towards Ukraine as news content authored by the prominent French media.
"France condemns these actions unworthy of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council," Colonna said.
"The French authorities are working closely with their partners to defeat the hybrid warfare led by Russia."
Moscow uses information warfare to undermine international support for Ukraine during the ongoing invasion.
On Feb. 8, the EU created the Information Sharing and Analysis Center to combat Russian disinformation and propaganda.
The creation of the center follows the release of the first European External Action Service report on foreign information manipulation and interference threats on Feb. 7.
The report offers evidence of Russian disinformation campaigns, in addition to an analysis of new disinformation techniques and insights into cooperation between Russia and China.
Igor Kossov
