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 Russian drone hit a civilian freight train in Donetsk Oblast on May 12 and injured its driver, Ukrainian Railways said amid Kyiv's calls for a ceasefire.
UAE leader Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia, June 2023. (Photo by Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Western officials gathered in the United Arab Emirates to discuss sanctions against Russia amid fears that certain technology exports could be weaponized by the Russian military in its war against Ukraine, CNN reportedon Sept. 6.
Representatives from the U.S., the U.K., and the EU discussed strategies to counter sanctions evasion and prevent Russia from obtaining advanced AI technology.
“The UAE is working with its friends and allies to address any concerns with regards to sanctions on Russia,” an official from the UAE told CNN.
Certain goods and technologies that are classified as "dual-use," meaning they have both civilian and military applications, have been able to bypass restrictions on weapons sales to Russia. A Telegraph investigation found that China has been sending Russia goods that are officially labeled dual-use but are clearly meant for war, such as helicopters, drones, and optical sights.
According to CNN, new concerns have emerged over a microchip manufactured by tech giant Nvidia that is used for generative artificial intelligence.
The U.S. has added licensing restrictions on the chip for buyers in the Middle East, which serves as a business hub and maintains economic ties with Russia.
The US has in the past sanctioned entities in the UAE for assisting with transfers of Iranian weapons to Russia.
“The UAE strictly abides by UN sanctions and has clear and robust processes in place to deal with sanctioned entities, which has been exercised against a number of companies,” the UAE official told CNN.
The arrival of Western officials in the UAE comes soon after the country was invited to join BRICS, the geopolitical bloc led by China and Russia.
Abbey Fenbert is a senior news editor at the Kyiv Independent. She is a freelance writer, editor, and playwright with an MFA from Boston University. Abbey served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine from 2008-2011.
Daria Shulzhenko
