Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine and its allies discussed tougher sanctions against Russia's banking sector, central bank, and energy industry.
The EU plans to unveil on May 14 its next package of sanctions imposed against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine, an EU official told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity.
Polish truckers plan to restrict freight traffic at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on the Ukrainian border, Ukraine's State Border Guard said on May 12.
"If the Russians are using this level of specialists in urban combat, they are probably facing some difficulties," Ivan Petrychak, spokesperson for the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, said.
Previously, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused the Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a May 2024 arson attack on the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw.
"Perhaps in some areas, the intensity decreased slightly to create an image of compliance with their own announcement. But in reality, (Russia) continued attacks every day, using all available weapons — including aircraft to drop guided bombs on Ukraine," Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, said.
Beijing supports all efforts toward achieving peace in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on May 12 when asked about Kyiv and Europe's proposal for a 30-day truce.
"I invited His Holiness to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine. Such a visit would bring real hope to all believers and to all our people," Zelensky said.
Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak voiced doubt about leading negotiations with anyone from Russia except President Vladimir Putin, implying only the Russian leader can make real decisions.
This includes at least seven people injured in drone attacks overnight on May 12, a date from which Kyiv and its allies put forward a demand for a 30-day unconditional truce, a step that Moscow continues to reject.
"When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs," the Elysee Palace reacted to a fake story pushed by Russia.
The comments came after Trump urged Ukraine to agree to direct negotiations with Russia, which has invited Kyiv to peace talks in Istanbul on May 15, without first agreeing to halt military operations.
A Palestinian citizen cooks food and distributes it to displaced people coming from Gaza City on Nov. 21, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza. More Gaza residents have fled south as heavy fighting rages in the northern part of the territory, where Israel has focused its ground operation against Hamas. (Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images)
Qatar has brokered a "truce-for-hostages" deal between Israel and Hamas that will include a four-day ceasefire, the Associated Press reported on Nov. 21.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry said it would announce within the next day when the ceasefire would begin.
The ceasefire will mark the first pause in a six-week war that has claimed thousands of lives and caused intense destruction in the densely-populated Gaza Strip.
The temporary halt in fighting will allow for the exchange of at least 50 of the 240 hostages that Hamas is holding in Gaza, as well as the release of 150 Palestinian POWs — all of whom are women or minors.
Hostage releases will begin 24 hours after the deal is approved by all parties.
“The government of Israel is committed to bringing all of the hostages home. Tonight, the government approved the outline for the first stage of achieving this goal,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
Ahead of a cabinet vote on the ceasefire, Netanyahu said the war against Hamas would resume after the truce expires.
“We are at war, and we will continue the war,” he said. “We will continue until we achieve all our goals.”
On Oct. 7, Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel, killing over 1,200 Israelis while injuring thousands more. In retaliation, Israel targeted Gaza with airstrikes and launched a ground invasion.
Over 10,000 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting began.
Dmytro Basmat is a senior news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He previously worked in Canadian politics as a communications lead and spokesperson for a national political party, and as a communications assistant for a Canadian Member of Parliament. Basmat has a Master's degree in Political Management from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Anastasiia Lapatina
