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.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at a news briefing at the White House on Dec. 4, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Beijing likely opted out of Ukraine's peace summit at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on June 15, according to the Associated Press.
Ukraine had extended an invitation to China for the summit back in January, but Beijing declined, citing unmet conditions necessary for its participation. Russia, notably, was not invited to the conference.
"What is clear is that China is not here, and I presume they're not here because (Vladimir) Putin asked them not to come, and they obliged Putin," Sullivansaid.
"And I think that says something about where China stands with respect to Russia's war in Ukraine. I think countries should take notice of that."
Following China's decision to abstain, President Volodymyr Zelensky accused China of actively dissuading other nations from attending the summit.
Meanwhile, China has been promoting its own peace plan ahead of the Swiss event, as reported by Reuters. This plan serves as an alternative to Zelensky's proposal, which is supported by Kyiv's Western allies and is set to be discussed on June 15-16 at the Bürgenstock resort.
China's lobbying efforts for its alternative peace plan have coincided with a decline in the number of participants at Ukraine's summit. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on June 11 that the attendee count had dropped from 93 to 78.
Alexander Khrebet
