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.
Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen looks on during a NATO-Ukraine Council in Defence Ministers Session, at the NATO's headquarters in Brussels, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP/Getty Images)
Finland has presented Ukraine with its 19th military aid package worth 95 million euros ($101 million), the country's Defense Ministry announced on Oct. 11.
As was the case with previous packages provided by Finland, details on the content and the mode of delivery are not disclosed for security reasons.
"The outcome of the war in Ukraine will determine the security order of Europe and Finland far into the future," Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said.
"This is why we will continue our determined support for Ukraine together with our allies. The total value of the defense materiel delivered by Finland to Ukraine is now 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion)."
Finland said that both Ukraine's needs and the Finish military's capacities were taken into account when compiling the latest package.
NATO foreign ministers are convening in Brussels for the 16th Ramstein-format summit and the NATO-Ukraine Council session to coordinate defense assistance for Ukraine ahead of the coming winter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO Secretary-General named artillery and air defenses as the country's key military needs.
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.
