"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.
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.
Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak voiced doubt about leading negotiations with anyone from Russia except President Vladimir Putin, implying only the Russian leader can make real decisions.
This includes at least seven people injured in drone attacks overnight on May 12, a date from which Kyiv and its allies put forward a demand for a 30-day unconditional truce, a step that Moscow continues to reject.
"When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs," the Elysee Palace reacted to a fake story pushed by Russia.
The comments came after Trump urged Ukraine to agree to direct negotiations with Russia, which has invited Kyiv to peace talks in Istanbul on May 15, without first agreeing to halt military operations.
A Russian drone hit a civilian freight train in Donetsk Oblast on May 12 and injured its driver, Ukrainian Railways said amid Kyiv's calls for a ceasefire.
Moscow and Hanoi agreed to negotiate and sign agreements to construct nuclear power plants in Vietnam, the two countries said in a joint statement on May 11.
The sanctions appear to be in response to Russia's rejection of a 30-day ceasefire that the U.K., alongside Ukraine, France, Germany, and Poland, demanded during a visit to Kyiv on May 10.
"We now know for sure that the great fire of the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw was caused by arson ordered by the Russian special services," Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X. "Some of the perpetrators have already been detained, all the others are identified and searched for."
An employee of the French firearm manufacturing company Verney-Carron at the factory in Saint-Etienne, southeastern France, on May 13, 2019.(Jeff Pachoud/AFP via Getty Images)
France's oldest arms manufacturer Verney-Carron has signed a 36 million euro ($38.6 million) contract to provide Ukraine with weapons, its parent company CYBERGUN Group announced on Nov. 6.
Verney-Carron is to supply 10,000 assault rifles, 2,000 sniper rifles, and 400 grenade launchers.
The agreement is "subject to the necessary financing being put in place, which may be provided by Ukrainian and French funds," the company's press release said.
The company also needs to obtain import-export authorizations from the respective French and Ukrainian authorities.
The delivery process will be spread over 10 months, allowing the company to adapt its manufacturing process to produce the volumes in the order.
Verney-Carron is primarily known for producing shotguns for hunting, as well as rubber bullet guns used by French riot police.
The business joins a growing list of French companies that supply arms to Ukraine.
French drone manufacturer Delair sent Ukraine over 150 drones, Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in September.
The type of drones was chosen by Ukraine and financed by France's government. Lecornu did not reveal the exact model.
Delair, a Toulouse-based company, is one of the world’s leading drone producers, produces drones for border surveillance and intelligence.
Daria Shulzhenko
