"He'd like me to be there, and that's a possibility. ... I don't know that he would be there if I'm not there. We're going to find out," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling to Qatar, Reuters reported.
Trump has long demanded that NATO allies increase their military spending, previously calling for the alliance to raise its benchmark from 2% to 5% of GDP.
More than 1,000 Russian government entities and 1,200 private companies are involved in the economy of occupied Mariupol, a major southeastern city occupied by Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022, according to a research paper published on May 14.
The measures target almost 200 ships of Russia's "shadow fleet," 30 companies involved in sanctions evasion, 75 sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, and more.
The government has approved "reform roadmaps in the rule of law, public administration, and democratic institutions, as well as Ukraine’s negotiation position," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
The statement did not name the ex-official by name, but details of the case indicate it relates to Oleh Hladkovsky, a former deputy secretary of Ukraine's top security body who has been wanted since mid-April.
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.
"Trump needs to believe that Putin actually lies," Zelensky told journalists in Kyiv. "And we should do our part. Sensibly approach this issue, to show that it’s not us that is slowing down the process."
The EU plans to significantly increase tariffs on Ukrainian goods after the current duty-free deal lapses on June 6, the Financial Times reported on May 14, citing undisclosed diplomatic sources.
The blockade ended at 10:30 p.m. local time. Truck traffic in both directions is now moving as usual, according to Ukraine's State Border Guard's statement.
German anti-aircraft gun tank Gepard photographed at the Putlos military training area in Schleswig-Holstein on Aug. 25. 2022. (Photo: Marcus Brandt/dpa via Getty Images)
Germany delivered more ammunition and military vehicles to Ukraine as part of its latest military aid package, the German Federal Government announced on Sept. 5.
The list of deliveries included 188 Mercedes-Benz Zetros off-road trucks, up from 156 previously delivered, as well as four more border protection vehicles, and another Beaver bridge-laying tank.
Germany also announced it would send 20,000 more pairs of safety glasses, in addition to the 20,600 already sent to Ukraine.
In terms of ammunition, Germany has now delivered a total of 44,27 million rounds of ammunition for firearms, 134,592 rounds of 40mm ammunition, and 86,122 rounds of ammunition for Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.
Germany already announced earlier today that it had delivered the first batch of ammunition, out of a total of 300,000 rounds, for Gepard anti-aircraft guns in Ukraine.
Two types of ammunition are being delivered to Ukraine for this weapon system: 150,000 rounds of armor piercing sub-caliber ammunition and 150,000 shots of explosive incendiary ammunition used to fight air targets such as airplanes or guided missiles.
To date, Germany has delivered 46 Gepard anti-aircraft guns to Kyiv and another six are on the way.
The Gepards help Ukraine defend itself against Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones targeting Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure, the German Embassy in Ukraine said last November.
Martin Fornusek
