After an unprecedented three-day wave of Russian aerial attacks in Ukraine over the weekend, the world is once again looking to U.S. President Donald Trump to take his first steps toward forcing Moscow to end its violence. From May 24 to 26, Russian forces fired more than 600 drones
The results come as Russia continues to invoke the supposed plight of Russian-speaking communities to justify its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Key developments on May 27: * Trump admits to protecting Russia from 'really bad things' during Ukraine peace talks * Russia builds power lines to connect occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to its grid, NYT reports * US blocks G7 push to tighten Russian oil price cap, Financial Times reports * Decision on lifting range
A statement from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on May 26 about long-range strikes inside Russia resurrected a long-held hope in Ukraine — that Berlin is finally about to send Kyiv its Taurus missiles. "There are no longer any restrictions on the range of weapons delivered to Ukraine — neither by the U.
Before the full-scale war against Ukraine, the number of certificates for deceased soldiers' relatives had consistently declined.
Trump's comments come amid growing pressure on the U.S. administration to respond to escalating Russian attacks.
Ukraine’s allies have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia and its supporters over the full-scale war, but experts say there’s room for more.
"If you ask me, I would turn to our Turkish friends again — Istanbul is very good," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said
Despite months of resisting President Donald Trump's peace process, the U.S. has yet to take a single concrete step to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into ending his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest nuclear facility in Europe and one of the ten largest globally, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022.
China's reaction follows remarks by the head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleh Ivashchenko, about Beijing allegedly providing defense components to 20 Russian military-industrial manufacturing facilities.
The funds will be used to purchase foreign-made defense products, repair and maintain military equipment, implement joint projects with Ukrainian and international defense companies, and purchase other critical materials, including Ukrainian-made products.
Moscow requested a meeting of the U.N. Security Council over Europe's alleged "threats to international peace and security," Russia's U.N. envoy, Dmitry Polyansky, said on May 27, only a day after Russia launched its largest drone attack against Ukraine.
Hungary's European Affairs Minister Janos Boka claimed on May 27 that it is "extremely difficult" to lead constructive negotiations with Ukraine on its EU accession as Kyiv is allegedly conducting "information and intelligence" on Hungary's territory.
Russia's new tactic is to launch the drones at high altitudes, more than 2 kilometers (1.4 miles) above the ground, and keep changing the drones' routes. Then, the drones swoop down directly onto the target, Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said.
At least 206 of the 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers repatriated to Ukraine died in Russian captivity, the Associated Press (AP) reported on May 27.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 26 to discuss recent peace initiatives and the May 16 talks in Istanbul, Reuters reported.
Russian forces launched 60 drones from the Russian cities of Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, and Primorsk-Akhtarsk, as well as from Russian-occupied Crimea, against Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.
"In this respect, yesterday in Berlin, I described something that has been happening for months: namely, that Ukraine has the right to use the weapons it receives, even beyond its own borders, against military targets on Russian territory," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.
The recent financial contribution is part of Sweden's 19th aid package for Ukraine, which was presented earlier this year.
The number includes 990 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
U.S. President Trump is considering imposing sanctions on Russia as it continues to wage its war against Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported on May 26.
"I instructed a significant increase in the production of our interceptor drones, and we will be engaging more funding from our partners to support this," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The EU is set to formally approve a 150 billion euro ($170 billion) defense spending plan on May 27 amid Russia's war against Ukraine, Radio Liberty reported.
"This is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overload of everyone absolutely and with emotional reactions," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said when asked about Trump calling Putin "absolutely crazy."
Russian forces control the Novenke, Zhuravka, Veselivka, and Basivka communities, Governor Oleh Hryhorov said. "Residents of these villages were evacuated long ago, and there is no threat to civilians."
A European diplomat in Kyiv said that Berlin plans to send older PAC-2 Patriot missiles, which are less effective at intercepting ballistic missiles than the newer PAC-3s.
"There is no evidence that (the Russians) are seriously considering peace...On the contrary, there is a lot of evidence that they are preparing new offensive operations."
Key developments on May 26: * West no longer imposing range restrictions on arms for Ukraine, Germany's Merz says * Russia launches record 355 drones at Ukraine; 6 killed, 24 injured over past 24 hours * Russian drone production site, chemical plant targeted in alleged Ukrainian drone strike * Netherlands to send last of
As Russia continues to bombard cities and towns across Ukraine, Russian officials have hardened their position against a ceasefire, continuing to repeat the obscure demand that the war’s "root causes" be addressed before agreeing to any truce. For months, the phrase "root causes" has become a go-to talking point
As part of the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia, Ukraine has recovered soldiers from 46 military units that had previously seen none of their members returned, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW) reported on May 26.
"I think President Trump realizes that when President Putin told him he was ready for peace, he lied to him," French President Emmanuel Macron said.
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