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.
Russia seems to be preparing a significant offensive in Ukraine as it is moving troops toward key positions on the front, the Financial Times reported on May 13, citing undisclosed Ukrainian intelligence officials.
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.
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.
Cars are moving along a dark street in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 24, 2024, as the city is experiencing power outages following a Russian missile and drone attack on Kharkiv's power system. (Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Kharkiv will switch off the city's central heating early to reduce the load on the power system, which has been severely damaged in recent Russian attacks, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov announced on March 25.
Russia's mass strike on energy infrastructure on March 22 left almost 1.5 million people in Ukraine without power. Around 700,000 people of the affected people were Kharkiv residents.
The missile and drone attack destroyed a thermal power plant and all the electrical substations in the city, and the city has imposed scheduled power outages.
Municipal workers and energy technicians are still working to repair the damage, and "although they have partially succeeded in doing this, the shortage of electricity is still felt," Terekhov said.
The city has therefore decided to enact the "early termination of the heating system" from March 26 to "reduce the load on the power system."
"This will allow us to provide electricity to the maximum number of consumers and provide hot water to the homes of Kharkiv residents," Terekhov said. "The outside temperature is favorable."
Homes in Ukrainian cities are connected to a centralized municipal heating system that is switched on in the fall and usually switched off when temperatures rise in April.
On the morning of March 25, 401 settlements in Ukraine were cut off from power, with new power cuts in Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kherson oblasts due to Russian attacks, according to state grid operator Ukrenergo.
An overnight drone attack against Odesa Oblast led to 195,000 people being cut off from electricity, Ukrenergo said.
Russia is exploiting Ukraine's air defense shortages to launch a renewed assault that aims to destroy the country's energy grid, the Institute for the Study of War wrote in their March 22 report.
Chris York
