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.
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.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto meet on Dec. 11, 2023. (Peter Szijjarto / Facebook)
Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto will meet Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on Jan. 29 in Uzhhorod to prepare for the potential high-level meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, ATV reported on Jan. 11.
The leaders of Ukraine and Hungary recently spoke briefly during the inauguration ceremony for Argentina's president Javier Milei, in a conversation which Zelensky described as “frank”, on Dec. 10.
More than any other EU leader, Orban maintains close ties with the Kremlin, openly opposed the launch of Ukraine's EU accession negotiations, and blocked the passage of a 50 billion euro ($54 billion) aid package for Ukraine in December.
Presidential Office Head Andrii Yermak will also join the meeting in Uzhhorod, a Ukrainian regional capital near the Hungarian border, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko said to NV.
“We will meet with Ukrainian counterpart Kuleba to understand if the high-level meeting could help the situation,” said Szijjarto.
Szijjarto had spoken to Yermak in December, saying at the time that a meeting between Zelensky and Orban would be meaningful if “it could give a result.”
According to ATV, Szijjarto will discuss the “preparation” with Kuleba before organizing the meeting of the Hungarian Prime Minister and the President of Ukraine.
Deputy Presidential Office head, Ihor Zhovkva told Interfax Ukraine on Dec. 25 that different aspects of between the two states could be discussed during the high-level meeting.
“This is a wide range of issues which is not only related to national minorities topic,” he said. “We can discuss the economy or the transit between the two countries.”
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Hungary has repeatedly obstructed EU funds for Kyiv while opposing sanctions against Russia, straining relations between Kyiv and Budapest.
We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.
Francis Farrell
