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.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden walk to the Oval Office of the White House on Sept. 21, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
U.S. President Joe Biden's absence at the upcoming global peace summit would be met with applause by Russian leader Vladimir Putin, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a press conference in Brussels on May 28.
Switzerland is scheduled to host the summit on June 15-16. While some 90 countries confirmed their participation, the White House has yet to confirm Biden's attendance.
"I believe that the peace summit needs President Biden, and other leaders need President Biden because they will look at the U.S.'s reaction," Zelensky said.
"(Biden's) absence would only be met by an applause by Putin, a personal, standing applause by Putin," he added.
Zelensky said he is aware that Washington backs the peace summit but does not know "at what level" this support is.
Bloomberg reported on May 23 that Biden is likely to miss the peace conference as it clashes with a campaign fundraiser. Reuters wrote, citing an undisclosed American official, that the U.S. will send a representation to the summit, but it remains unclear who will be the delegate.
Zelensky also said that Kyiv is still waiting for a response from China and Brazil, and for confirmation from several African countries.
The president also noted that there will be a "peace summit organized by the whole world, and then there will be something that Russia will try to do."
Reuters reported on May 24 that according to its undisclosed Russian sources, Putin is open to a ceasefire that recognizes the current front lines on the battlefield but will fight on if Ukraine and its allies do not agree.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba commented that Putin merely aims to disrupt the peace summit, adding that the Russian leader has no desire to end the war.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Martin Fornusek
