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.
Minister of Prime Minister's Office Gergely Gulyas speaks during a press conference on Nov. 9, 2018 in Budapest. (ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff Gergely Gulyas said that to achieve peace in Ukraine, the West "must give security guarantees to Russia, but definitely not NATO membership to the Ukrainians," the Hungarian public broadcaster MTVA reported.
Speaking at a university event, Gulyas claimed that Russia does not pose a threat to Central Europe since the Russian army "did not achieve rapid and resounding results" in Ukraine, as cited by the Hirado news program.
The Hungarian official also alleged that Ukraine is unlikely to liberate its territories occupied by Russian forces.
According to Gulyas, efficient negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow can only take place with Washington's participation, while long-term peace efforts would need to include the deployment of peacekeepers and other similar decisions.
Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on Gulyas' statement.
Hungary has been at odds with Ukraine and the West over its amicable stance towards Russia, even amid the full-scale war. PM Orban has said that Ukraine is a financially "non-existent" and "no longer sovereign" state due to its "dependence" on international support.
Hungary has repeatedly blocked the European Union's financial support for Ukraine.
Budapest blocked the provision of funds, vetoing aid on the grounds that Ukraine has designated the Hungarian OTP Bank an international sponsor of war.
Francis Farrell
