Moscow and Washington discuss the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, among other issues related to the peaceful settlement of Russia's war in Ukraine, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed to the Russian state-run Interfax news agency.
"This is a historic decision, as weapons for Ukraine will be purchased at the expense of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets through the European Peace Fund," Denys Shmyhal said.
Peter Szijjarto's announcement came after Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast.
The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.
Although Moscow declared on April 28 that it would halt all military actions from May 8 to midnight on May 11 to mark Victory Day, strikes on civilian areas have continued.
Under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's rule, millions of Ukrainians died during the Holodomor, a man-made famine in 1932–1933. The dictator also oversaw mass deportations, purges of Ukrainian intellectuals and leaders, and the suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), this marks the first time Ukrainian authorities have exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network conducting activities harmful to Ukraine.
Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.
The ruling marks a significant victory for RFE/RL amid growing concerns about U.S. funding cuts to independent media countering Russian disinformation.
U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new pope and leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, taking the name Pope Leo XIV, a senior cardinal announced on May 8 to crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, according to Vatican News.
George Simion, leader of Romania's far-right AUR party, who won the first round of the presidential election with nearly 40% of the vote, reiterated that if elected, he would oppose any further assistance to Ukraine and shift Romania’s focus inward.
Ukrainian service members released from Russian captivity on Jan. 3, 2024. (President Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram)
Canada will host a conference in late October on one of the points of Ukraine's peace formula pertaining to the release of Ukrainian captives and those deported by Russia, the Presidential Office announced on Sept. 12.
The release of prisoners and deportees is the fourth point of President Volodymyr Zelensky's 10-point plan, which also calls for the expulsion of all Russian forces from Ukrainian territory.
The first "thematic" conference dedicated to the third point of the peace formula, energy security, was held online in August. Kyiv aims to formulate joint positions with foreign partners that could be presented to Russia at the second peace summit.
The Canadian conference, co-hosted by Norway, will take place on Oct. 30-31.
"We must find a solution for all groups held by Russia: civilians, prisoners of war and children," said Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak, who held an online meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.
The parties also discussed the format of the event, its agenda, the list of countries to be invited, and the expected result, according to the Presidential Office.
Kyiv aims to conduct an all-for-all prisoner exchange, which was one of the subjects at Ukraine's peace summit in Switzerland in mid-June. Neither Russia nor Ukraine disclosed how many POWs are in captivity. The numbers are estimated in the thousands for both sides.
Kateryna Denisova works as a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a news editor at the NV media outlet for four years, covering mainly Ukrainian and international politics. Kateryna holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv. She also was a fellow at journalism schools in the Czech Republic and Germany.
Andrea Januta
