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.
Anna Myroniuk accepting the European Press Prize in the Special Award: Ukraine Reporting category for the investigation into Ukraine's International Legion authored by her and Alexander Khrebet, June 9,. (Source: European Press Prize/Twitter)
Kyiv Independent reporters Anna Myroniuk and Alexander Khrebet on June 9 won the European Press Prize in the Special Award: Ukraine Reporting category.
The winning story delved into alleged misconduct in the Ukrainian army's International Legion.
"This award goes to the heart of why journalism matters, why we must defend it, and why it's so important to recognize the work of journalists who are prepared to do this work. They are the best and the bravest among us," Chair of the Panel of Judges Alan Rusbridger said.
Myroniuk was present to receive the award.
"I perceive this award as a recognition of all Ukrainian journalists who have been working on the ground covering Russia's all out war from day one," she said. "Who had no sleep due to Russian shelling the entire last month yet went to work the next morning. Who had no electricity and heating amid winter due to Russian strikes at critical infrastructure yet carried on tirelessly doing their work. Going to the frontlines, investigating Russian war crimes and scrutinizing our own Ukrainian government too."
Myroniuk added that "Ukrainian journalists risk their lives on a daily basis."
"They get killed while doing their work covering Russian war. They turn soldiers to help defend their country from its neighbor’s aggression. Like our colleague Artur Kornienko," she said in a reference to a Kyiv Independent reporter who has volunteered to join the Ukrainian army and is fighting on the frontline.
The European Press Prize, which "celebrates the highest achievements in European journalism," was founded in 2012 and is awarded on a yearly basis. The 2023 edition of the Prize selected 25 articles and projects among hundreds of submissions from 40 countries.
In addition to the five usual categories of Distinguished Reporting, Investigative Reporting, Innovation, Public Discourse, and Migration Journalism, this year the Ukraine Reporting category was also created.
On March 2, Myroniuk and Khrebet also received the #AllForJan Award in Warsaw.
The International Legion was established amid the full-scale Russian invasion for foreigners who wanted to help defend Ukraine.
The legionnaires interviewed for the investigation spoke of the leadership's alleged abuse, and theft, as well as decisions to send soldiers on suicide missions.
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.
Anna Myroniuk
