"I am waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will decide which steps Ukraine should take. So far, the signals from them in the media are unconvincing," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The air raid was announced at around 2:30 p.m. local time, while the explosion sounded around 2:50 p.m. The number of victims killed rose to three, Sumy Oblast Governor Oleh Hryhorov reported at 8:42 p.m.
If confirmed, the decision would mark the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion that President Volodymyr Zelensky is absent, either physically or virtually, from a NATO summit.
The disclosure follows a warning from Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski, who on May 6 said Moscow was carrying out an "unprecedented" interference campaign.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva claimed that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had appealed to his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, to ask Putin if he was willing to conclude a peace agreement.
Earlier reporting from the Washington Post cited a former Russian official who claimed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, would represent Moscow in the talks.
The Council of Europe on May 14 approved the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russia's top leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainian lawmaker Maria Mezentseva reported.
Viktoria Roshchyna, 27, disappeared in August 2023 while reporting from Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories. Moscow admitted she was in Russian detention the following year.
Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel speaks about the future of the EU-led special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and its role in bringing Russia to justice.
Syrian rebel fighters celebrate at the Clock Tower in the heart of the central city of Homs early on Dec. 8, 2024, after rebel forces entered Syria's third city overnight. (Aaref Watad / AFP via Getty Images)
A ship carrying 6,600 tons of wheat arrived at the Syrian port of Latakia, marking the first such shipment since dictator Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia in December 2024, the Syrian government announced on April 20.
While officials did not disclose the wheat's origin, a source confirmed to Reuters that the cargo came from Russia.
The Syrian border authority described the delivery as "a clear indication of the start of a new phase of economic recovery," suggesting that more vital goods could soon follow.
Moscow and Tehran were previously Assad's key suppliers of wheat and fuel, but deliveries halted following his ouster. Since then, Russia has gradually reengaged with Syria's new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Putin pledged support for the new leadership following a Feb. 12 call with al-Sharaa, and a Russian delegation later traveled to Damascus.
Bloomberg reported that Moscow is nearing an agreement with the country to maintain a limited military presence in exchange for counterterrorism assistance against Islamic State militants.
Russia has maintained a military presence in Syria since 2015, primarily to support the now-overthrown regime of Assad during the country's civil war.
Ukraine has also opened dialogue with the new Syrian government. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited Damascus on Dec. 30, saying afterward that Kyiv and Damascus share similar views on the issue of Russia's continued military presence.
The development comes as the United States draws down its presence in northeastern Syria, closing three of its eight bases and reducing troop levels from 2,000 to 1,400, the New York Times reported on April 17.
Tim Zadorozhnyy is a news editor at The Kyiv Independent. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations, focusing on European Studies. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa. After moving to Warsaw, he joined the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA, starting as a news anchor and later advancing to the position of managing editor.
Anna Fratsyvir
