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.
Russiam dictator Vladimir Putin (R) and Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko (L) visit The Naval Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Kronstadt, outside Saint Petersburg, on July 23, 2023. (Photo by Alexander Demyanchuk/ Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)
The European Union ambassadors agreed on a new sanction package targeting Belarus, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union announced on June 26.
"This package will strengthen our measures in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including combating circumvention of sanctions," the statementread.
The EUCouncil adopted the 14th round of sanctions against Russia on June 24, aimed at tackling the circumvention of existing measures and to further restrict profits from Russia's energy industry.
The new package adds 116 individuals and entities to the sanctions list and adds several additional measures, including the prohibition of any EU facilities to be involved in the transshipment of Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) to any third-party countries.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the introduction of new sanctions to Belarus.
"Belarus must no longer serve as a route to circumvent our sanctions against Russia. With this package, we increase the pressure on both countries and make our sanctions against Russia even more effective," von der Leyen wrote on X.
Belarus remains one of "the biggest loopholes" for Russia to circumvent sanctions, Reuters reported, citing unnamed diplomats.
The EU has been working since January 2023 on settling the sanctions already imposed on Belarus, but the country's major potash exports were one of "the stumbling blocks," according to Reuters.
The package will align measures on dual-use goods such as chips found in basic appliances as well as advanced technology and military wares, an unnamed diplomat told the outlet.
The updated restrictions also prevent Belarus from exporting its potash and other agricultural goods through Europe in the event of price spikes.
Belarus has been a key ally to Moscow and supported Russian aggression against Ukraine, though it has not committed its own forces directly to hostilities.
The country is also reportedly hosting Russian tactical nuclear arms on its territory.
Chris York
