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.
A captive named Umit allegedly agreed to serve in the Russian army in exchange for Russian citizenship and a monetary reward of 2 million rubles ($25,000).
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar visits Bucha after arriving in Ukraine on July 19, 2023. (Source: Prosecutor General's Office/Telegram)
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar arrived in Ukraine for a state visit, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on July 19.
"Welcome to Ukraine, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Today, we will hold important negotiations - security, political cooperation, justice for Ukraine, and our economic cooperation," Zelensky wrote on Telegram
"Although Ireland is a neutral country, this neutrality does not mean indifference, and this is very important. Thank you for all your support!"
During his visit, Varadkar went to Bucha, the site of a Russian massacre against Ukrainian civilians, together with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin.
The prosecutor informed the Irish prime minister that more than 1,400 civilians were killed in the city and noted the systematic nature of the crimes committed by Russia against Ukraine.
"Today Bucha is a free and safe city. But we will never forget the terrible mass murders of civilians committed here by Russian troops," Kostin said.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar visits Bucha after arriving in Ukraine on July 19, 2023. (Source: Prosecutor General's Office/Telegram)
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar visits Bucha after arriving in Ukraine on July 19, 2023. (Source: Prosecutor General's Office/Telegram)
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar visits Bucha after arriving in Ukraine on July 19, 2023. (Source: Prosecutor General's Office/Telegram)
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar visits Bucha after arriving in Ukraine on July 19, 2023. (Source: Prosecutor General's Office/Telegram)
The Independent reported that Varadkar and Zelensky held a joint press conference during which the Irish prime minister voiced his belief that Ukraine will win the war.
"Perhaps Russia believes that it can break the resolve of the Ukrainian people, but I know from the way you fought for the past few years, and from my visit here, that it cannot," he said.
"My visits to the sites of these atrocities this morning, and my meeting here in Kyiv, have confirmed to me that Russia will not succeed, and Russia cannot be allowed to succeed."
Dublin has provided Ukraine with non-lethal military and humanitarian assistance but has refused to provide lethal aid, citing its neutrality.
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.
Igor Kossov
