Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, said that the new pontiff had a phone call with Zelensky on Monday, during which the pope expressed willingness to facilitate meetings between global leaders and vowed to support efforts for "a just and lasting peace."
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.
A recently bombed residential area is seen amid artillery shelling on Dec. 31, 2023, in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast. The remaining residents living in basements of residential buildings rely on humanitarian aid. The city is facing attacks on three sides from Russian forces, including continuous bombings. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has expressed his opposition to the idea of deploying Western troops to Ukraine, saying that such a move would hinder diplomatic efforts, the Italian newspaper La Stampa reported on March 10.
The comments came after French President Emmanuel Macron recently said that Western military presence in Ukraine cannot be “ruled out” in the future. The U.S. and multiple European allies, as well as NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, have distanced themselves from Macron’s statement.
Crosetto told the Italian parliament that the Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2023 did not achieve the intended outcome, emphasizing the need for a realistic assessment of the military situation.
“From this perspective... it would seem that the time has come for incisive diplomacy, alongside military support, because there are a number of important signals coming from both sides,” Crosetto said, as cited by Reuters.
In a March 10 interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa, Crosetto also said that sending troops to Ukraine would represent a unilateral escalation, which could impede diplomatic solutions.
He argued against considering this option after two years of war, highlighting the need to explore alternatives.
“No to the military in Ukraine. France should not speak for NATO,” Crosetto told La Stampa.
Crosetto noted that statements suggesting the possibility of deploying Western troops to Ukraine made by France and Poland do not represent NATO's collective position.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorskisaid on March 8 that he did not rule out the potential presence of NATO troops in Ukraine.
While acknowledging the efforts of Western countries to supply weapons to Ukraine, Crosetto admitted that production levels still fall short of Russia's capabilities. He also talked about the importance of providing comprehensive support to Kyiv while advocating for a more robust activation of diplomatic channels to help Ukraine regain its freedom, territory, and security.
Alexander Khrebet is a reporter with the Kyiv Independent. He covers Ukraine’s foreign policy, alleged abuse of power in the country’s military leadership, and reports on the Russian-occupied territories. Alexander is the European Press Prize 2023 winner, the #AllForJan Award 2023 winner and Ukraine's 2022 National Investigative Journalism Award finalist. His was published in the Washington Times and Atlantic Council.
Alexander Khrebet
