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.
A captive named Umit allegedly agreed to serve in the Russian army in exchange for Russian citizenship and a monetary reward of 2 million rubles ($25,000).
Russia's Buryatia Republic declared a state of emergency on May 13 over massive forest fires that have engulfed multiple regions in the Russian Far East.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko's statement came as Strong Shield 5 exercises involving military personnel from other NATO countries began in Lithuania.
"Amendments to the Budget Code are needed to implement the provisions on funding the U.S.-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund," lawmaker Roksolana Pidlasa said.
During reconnaissance in an unspecified front-line sector, Special Operations Forces' operators detected Buk-M3 and Uragan-1 on combat duty, the unit said.
The suspect quit his job at the Rivne NPP before the full-scale war began. In the spring of 2025, a GRU liaison contacted him and offered cooperation in exchange for money.
President Volodymyr Zelensky would not meet any other Russian official apart from Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul this week, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on the Breakfast Show program on May 13.
EU flags in front of the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium, on Dec. 28, 2023. Photo for illustrative purposes. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The European Commission said on April 15 that it had approved the Ukraine Plan, a reform and investment strategy for the next four years.
Under the plan, Ukraine will receive "regular and predictable" support under the EU's up to €50 billion ($53 billion) Ukraine Facility, the statement said.
The EU approved the financial aid package for Ukraine in February, allocating two-thirds of the amount in loans and one-third in grants. Ukraine has agreed to implement various reforms as part of the conditions for receiving the funds.
"Ukraine's strategy for reforms and investments offers a solid basis to rebuild a more modern and prosperous Ukraine, on its path towards the EU," von der Leyen said.
"With today's proposal, we showcase once again that Europe stands with Ukraine for as long as it takes, and that we are ready to deliver much-needed financial support."
Following the Commission's approval of the Ukraine Plan, the member states have one month to adopt the Council Implementing Decision. After that, the Commission will be able to disburse up to €1.89 billion ($2 billion) in pre-financing until regular disbursements begin.
Regular payments from 2024 till 2027 will be made on the condition of implementation of the reform and investment steps set out in the annex of the Council Implementing Decision.
"Financial support under the Ukraine Plan will be made available under the precondition that Ukraine continues to uphold and respect effective democratic mechanisms," the statement read.
The Ukraine Plan identifies 69 reforms and 10 investments, broken down into 146 qualitative and quantitative indicators.
The reforms proposed under the plan cover 15 areas, including energy, agriculture, transport, the green and digital transition, human capital, as well as state-owned enterprises, the business environment, public finances, and decentralization.
Ukraine Plan also aims to help Ukraine run its administration, cover salaries and pensions, and support recovery reconstruction while Russia's full-scale invasion continues. The plan provides guidance on Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction as well.
Dinara Khalilova
