The new tranche brings total recent EU defense support for Ukraine to 3.3 billion euros ($3.6 billion), marking a significant expansion of European efforts to boost Kyiv's defense industry.
"Russia is ready for negotiations without any preconditions," Putin claimed in an address marking the end of the three-day Victory Day ceasefire. He invited Ukraine to begin talks in Istanbul on May 15.
Both men face charges related to terrorism and espionage. Daniil B. was detained in Lithuania, where he is in temporary custody, while Oleksandr V. remains at large in Russia.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine and its allies discussed tougher sanctions against Russia's banking sector, central bank, and energy industry.
"We are ready for all options. But of course, we are separately waiting for a response on the ceasefire," a source close to President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Kyiv Independent.
The EU plans to unveil on May 14 its next package of sanctions imposed against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine, an EU official told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity.
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.
The Russian multinational energy corporation Lukoil depot of Neder-Over-Heembeek in Brussels, Belgium on Aug. 7, 2023. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)
European Commission has examined the situation with Russian Lukoil's oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia and found "no reason for concern," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on Aug. 23.
In June, Kyiv imposed sanctions blocking Lukoil, one of the largest oil companies in Russia, from transiting crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline running through Ukrainian territory.
The move aims to cut off one of the Kremlin's sources of income used to finance its war against Ukraine. Kyiv's ban does not apply to other Russian oil exporters who still use the pipeline.
Hungary and Slovakia were among the countries that criticized Kyiv's decision, as they receive Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline.
EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told RFE/RL that the European Commission had examined information from all sides, including Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Croatia, which offered to transport oil through its territory when Kyiv blocked Lukoil's transit.
"Crude oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline continue, and there is currently no problem with their safety," Dombrovskis said.
The Ukrainian authorities confirmed to the European Commission that oil transit from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia was not affected, as Lukoil is not its owner, according to Dombrovskis.
"We continue to monitor the situation closely and are actively working with interested member states on alternative solutions, including through the Janaf Adriatic Pipeline (in Croatia)," he said.
"On a broader scale, we renewed our calls on member states to accelerate their efforts to reduce their dependence on Russian fossil fuels," Dombrovskis added.
In July, Slovakia and Hungary announced that Ukraine had stopped transit of Lukoil oil because of sanctions imposed by Kyiv against the Russian company.
Budapest argued that Ukraine's decision violated the Association Agreement, but the European Union disagreed. Brussels also saw no signs that the suspension of Lukoil's oil transit undermined Hungary and Slovakia's energy security.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal denied on Aug. 1 that the ban on the transit of Lukoil's oil through Ukrainian territory violates the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, echoing the European Commission's statement.
Commenting on Hungary's and Slovakia's reaction to the ban, Shmyhal called it "extremely politicized and manipulative."
Kateryna Hodunova is a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a sports journalist in several Ukrainian outlets and was the deputy chief editor at Suspilne Sport. Kateryna covered the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and was included in the Special Mentions list at the AIPS Sport Media Awards. She holds a bachelor's degree in political journalism from Taras Shevchenko University and a master's degree in political science from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
Kateryna Hodunova
