A captive named Umit allegedly agreed to serve in the Russian army in exchange for Russian citizenship and a monetary reward of 2 million rubles ($25,000).
News Feed
Tuesday, May 13
Russia's Buryatia Republic declared a state of emergency on May 13 over massive forest fires that have engulfed multiple regions in the Russian Far East.
(Updated: )War
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko's statement came as Strong Shield 5 exercises involving military personnel from other NATO countries began in Lithuania.
"Amendments to the Budget Code are needed to implement the provisions on funding the U.S.-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund," lawmaker Roksolana Pidlasa said.
Russia will announce its representative for the expected talks in Istanbul once Putin "deems it necessary," the Kremlin said.
During reconnaissance in an unspecified front-line sector, Special Operations Forces' operators detected Buk-M3 and Uragan-1 on combat duty, the unit said.
The revision was connected to global trade upheavals, which only aggravate Ukraine's economic challenges stemming from Russia's full-scale invasion.
The suspect quit his job at the Rivne NPP before the full-scale war began. In the spring of 2025, a GRU liaison contacted him and offered cooperation in exchange for money.
The sanctions will expire at the end of July unless all 27 EU member states agree to extend them.
President Volodymyr Zelensky would not meet any other Russian official apart from Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul this week, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on the Breakfast Show program on May 13.
Ukrainian air defenses shot down all 10 drones launched by Russia overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.
U.S. and European officials held talks on May 12, during which Washington made it clear that it wanted to allow talks between Russia and Ukraine before increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin, sources told Bloomberg.
Trump 'issued an ultimatum' to Ukraine, Russia to advance peace talks or face US exit, Witkoff says.
According to Steve Witkoff, the key topics in the peace discussions are the fate of the five partially or fully occupied Ukrainian regions, the status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and Ukraine's access to the Dnipro River and the Black Sea.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Jan. 17 talked to his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier via a video conference.
They discussed German military, humanitarian, and financial aid for Ukraine, as well as a peace plan to end Russia’s war.
Zelensky’s peace formula, presented in November at a G20 summit, envisages preventing ecocide in Ukraine, punishing those responsible for war crimes, withdrawing all Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine, restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and the release of all prisoners of war and deportees.
The proposals also call for ensuring energy security, food security, and nuclear safety.
The two leaders also discussed the situation on the front line in Ukraine, Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
“Thank you for Germany's comprehensive assistance to Ukrainians, which made our army stronger, and for the financial support. I would like to express particular gratitude to the citizens of Germany for sheltering Ukrainians in this difficult period,” he said.
Steinmeier, who was Germany's foreign minister in 2013-2017, had been a supporter of closer ties with Russia before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022.
Specifically, he was against expelling Russia from G8, supported economic integration between Russia and the EU and accused NATO of "warmongering" directed against Russia.
In April, Steinmeier admitted having made mistakes in his policy on Russia, saying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project was among the biggest ones.
In October, Steinmeier paid a visit to Ukraine’s capital and announced new military aid, including two additional MARS II multiple launch rocket systems and four howitzers.
Zelensky's conversation with Steinmeier comes as Germany is expected to make a decision on whether to step up military aid for Ukraine.
Since the beginning of Russia's all-out invasion in February 2022, the German government has been criticized for delaying and blocking arms supplies to Ukraine. Amid pressure from the media, the public and NATO allies, Germany has increased its arms supplies to Ukraine but German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is still accused of being reluctant to antagonize Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Currently a lot depends on the position of Germany, since several countries are reportedly ready to supply German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine. They need approval from the German government, which has not made a decision on the issue yet.
Scholz on Jan. 13 complained about alleged pressure to supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine and said that Germany would not rush to deliver weapons and would "weigh every step carefully," AP and Der Spiegel reported.
Bloomberg has reported, citing two unnamed officials familiar with the matter, that Germany would likely make a decision this week on whether to supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
The decision is expected to be made ahead of the Jan. 20 Ramstein defense summit, which will be devoted to coordinating military aid for Ukraine.
Oleg Sukhov: What should be done to ensure Ukraine's victory in 2023
Most Popular
After 3 years of full-scale war in Ukraine, Europe announces plan to ban all Russian gas imports
Journalist Roshchyna's body missing organs after Russian captivity, investigation says
Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian fighter jet in 'world-first' strike, intelligence says
Ukraine is sending the war back to Russia — just in time for Victory Day
'Justice inevitably comes' — Zelensky on deaths of high-ranking Russian officials
Editors' Picks
How medics of Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade deal with horrors of drone warfare
As Russia trains abducted children for war, Ukraine fights uphill battle to bring them home
'I just hate the Russians' — Kyiv district recovers from drone strike as ceasefire remains elusive
