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.
The SBU charged a Defense Ministry official with the loss of state funds of almost Hr 16 million ($430,000). (Source: SBU)
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced on Aug. 9 that it had charged an official of the Defense Ministry for causing a loss of state funds of almost Hr 16 million ($430,000).
In 2017, a private company won a tender for the construction of a road on the territory of a military base. The firm requested an advance payment of $430,000 from one of the military units of the Vinnytsia garrison, amounting to 70% of the total sum, the State Bureau of Investigation said.
In violation of the agreement, the deputy director of the Defense Ministry's Financial Department permitted the unit to transfer the funds to the company, the Bureau added.
According to the investigation, the contractors never carried out the work and effectively stole public money.
The SBU said that the authorities are considering removing the charged official from his position and issuing a detention order. The suspect faces up to seven years in prison.
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.
Elsa Court
