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.
European Union flags decorates the façade of the iconic Berlaymont building, the seat of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, on May 31, 2023. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Council of the European Union approved additional sanctions against Belarus on Aug. 3 in response to the country's involvement in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
According to the European Commission's press release, the measures aim to ensure Moscow can't evade previously imposed sanctions through Belarus.
Under the new package, the EU Council extended the ban on exports of highly sensitive goods and technologies contributing to Belarus' military and technological enhancement.
The bloc also imposed an additional export ban on firearms and ammunition, as well as goods that can be used in the aviation and space industries.
On Aug. 1, the independent monitoring group Belarusian Hajun reported the arrival of the 14th convoy of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group in Belarus. After their failed "armed rebellion" against the Russian military leadership, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin and his troops were allowed to relocate to Belarus.
Wagner mercenaries are reportedly in the country to train Belarusian territorial defense forces replacing the Russian military as the Belarusian army's key training partner.
The European Parliament issued a condemnation of the Belarusian regime on July 18, criticizing its human rights violations and its support for Russia's aggression in Ukraine. The EU's legislative body called for tougher sanctions against Belarus applied by the member countries.
Maria Yeryoma
