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.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly attends a European Union - Canada joint ministerial committee meeting in the Europea, the EU Council headquarters on May 16, 2022, in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo credit: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)
Canada announced new sanctions against Belarus on Aug. 9, targeting nine individuals and seven entities over their complicity in the regime's domestic oppression and support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The announcement comes on the three-year anniversary of the fraudulent 2020 Belarusian elections, in which dictator Alexander Lukashenko solidified his grip over the country through the falsification of votes and mass repressions.
The sanctions include Ivan Eismant, the head of Belarusian state television, the country's Defense Ministry, the Internal Troops of the Interior Ministry, as well as military manufacturing and technology companies.
The entities and individuals are banned from holding assets in Canada, and the individuals are also prohibited access to the country.
"Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms the Belarusian regime's support of (Russian President) Vladimir Putin's unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine, which has killed and injured thousands, displaced millions, disrupted the global economy, and exacerbated global problems such as food and energy security," Global Affairs Canada said in its press release.
"We call on Lukashenko to immediately withdraw his support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine."
Ottawa said that the new sanctions come in parallel with similar steps by allies and partners. The U.S. imposed its own restrictions against Belarus the same day, targeting eight individuals and five entities, including the country's state airlines.
According to Canada's press release, the U.K., the EU, and New Zealand are to launch similar measures.
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
