Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko's statement came as Strong Shield 5 exercises involving military personnel from other NATO countries began in Lithuania.
"Amendments to the Budget Code are needed to implement the provisions on funding the U.S.-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund," lawmaker Roksolana Pidlasa said.
During reconnaissance in an unspecified front-line sector, Special Operations Forces' operators detected Buk-M3 and Uragan-1 on combat duty, the unit said.
The suspect quit his job at the Rivne NPP before the full-scale war began. In the spring of 2025, a GRU liaison contacted him and offered cooperation in exchange for money.
President Volodymyr Zelensky would not meet any other Russian official apart from Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul this week, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on the Breakfast Show program on May 13.
U.S. and European officials held talks on May 12, during which Washington made it clear that it wanted to allow talks between Russia and Ukraine before increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin, sources told Bloomberg.
According to Steve Witkoff, the key topics in the peace discussions are the fate of the five partially or fully occupied Ukrainian regions, the status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and Ukraine's access to the Dnipro River and the Black Sea.
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is reportedly offering a deal that would give U.S. companies access to Syria's natural wealth, reminiscent of the minerals agreement Washington recently signed with Kyiv.
Russia attacked Ukraine with drones and guided bombs during the night, targeting multiple regions after the May 12 deadline for an unconditional ceasefire expired.
"Only member states can take out loans within the 150 billion euros instrument, but they can use these funds for joint procurement with Ukraine," EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said.
A member of the Australian Defense Forces speaks to Ukrainian soldiers as they take part in a training session in the U.K. on Feb. 1, 2023. (Ben Birchall /Pool /AFP via Getty Images)
The Australian Defense Ministry announced a 186 million AUD ($125.6 million) expansion of a training program for Ukrainian troops on Dec. 14.
The program, called Operation Kudu, is managed by the Australian Defense Forces and entails the deployment of Australian servicemen to multinational training missions in the U.K. for Ukrainian soldiers.
Australia's involvement in the larger-U.K. mission to train Ukrainian soldiers began in January 2023, when 70 Australian soldiers were deployed in the U.K. as combat instructors. Since then, the instructors have trained 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers.
The next rotation will see 90 Australian instructors deployed in the U.K., with their instructional purview expanded.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said in an interview on Dec. 14 that the government would spend $125.6 million on the program over two years.
“We are proud to expand Australia’s support for Operation Kudu, a mission that cements international solidarity for Ukraine," Marles said.
“Our growing commitment to the multinational training mission affirms our pledge to provide meaningful and relevant support to the government and people of Ukraine.”
The ministry said that as of Dec. 14, Australia has provided 910 million AUD ($609 million) in assistance to Ukraine, including 730 million ($488 million) in military support.
More than 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained as part of the larger U.K.-run program.
Nate Ostiller is a former News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. He works on special projects as a researcher and writer for The Red Line Podcast, covering Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and focused primarily on digital misinformation, memory politics, and ethnic conflict. Nate has a Master’s degree in Russian and Eurasian Studies from the University of Glasgow, and spent two years studying abroad at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine. Originally from the USA, he is currently based in Tbilisi, Georgia.
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