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.
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.
A 16th Brody Separate Army Aviation Brigade pilot is flying a Mi-8MSB-V assault transport helicopter in Ukraine on July 11, 2024. (Photo by Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Ukrainian Air Force has destroyed over 8,000 Russian air targets since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported on Aug. 4.
"In two and a half years, the Air Force has destroyed over 8,000 enemy air targets: hundreds of airplanes and helicopters, thousands of cruise missiles and drones. Ukrainian pilots have carried out over 20,000 combat sorties, most of them involving the use of aviation weapons," Oleshchuk wrote on Telegram.
According to the Aug. 4 report from the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Russia has lost 363 airplanes, 326 helicopters, and 13,103 drones since the start of the full-scale war.
In his statement, Oleshchuk also congratulated Ukrainian soldiers on the national Air Force Day, marked on the first Sunday of August in Ukraine.
"During the full-scale invasion, for their personal courage and dedication demonstrated in defending the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, 4,475 Air Force servicemen have been awarded state honors. Of them, 47 have been named Heroes of Ukraine, with 25, unfortunately, posthumously," he wrote.
"The battle for the sky continues. Around the clock, the enemy attacks us with bombs and missiles, conducts aerial reconnaissance, and strikes every night with attack drones," Oleshchuk wrote.
"The Air Force, shoulder to shoulder with the air defense of all the Defense Forces of Ukraine, repels the attacks. As much as possible, they destroy the enemy's air attack means, strike the enemy from the air, and hold the defense on the ground."
Later in the day, President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram that "Ukraine will always be grateful to everyone who faithfully serves our nation every day and protects the lives of our people from Russian terror."
"Today, we especially thank all of the defenders of our sky, the Ukrainian warriors of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – for every downed Russian target, for their efficiency and precision," he wrote.
Daria Shulzhenko is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent. She has been a lifestyle reporter at the Kyiv Post until November 2021. She graduated from Kyiv International University with a bachelor’s in linguistics, specializing in translation from English and German languages. She has previously worked as a freelance writer and researcher.
Chris York
