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9:46 PM

Syria reportedly ends currency printing deal with Russia, eyes UAE, Germany for new banknotes.

As sanctions against Syria ease, the new leadership is seeking deeper ties with Arab and Western countries, ending its reliance on Moscow.

'It's all a farce' — Ukrainian soldiers on Russia's 'smokescreen' peace talks in Istanbul

8:28 PM

(Updated: May 16, 2025 9:23 pm)

War analysis

'It's all a farce' — Ukrainian soldiers react to peace talks in Istanbul

The first direct peace talks in years between Kyiv and Moscow ended on May 16 with Russia once again rejecting an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. In turn, Russia demanded that Ukrainian troops leave four of the country's regions, which Moscow partly controls. Such a demand is a non-starter for Ukraine. Ukrainian

Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul end, Moscow demands Kyiv withdraw from 4 regions, no ceasefire agreement

3:33 PM

(Updated: May 16, 2025 9:21 pm)

Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul end, Moscow demands Kyiv withdraw from 4 regions, no ceasefire agreement.

Some of Russia's demands include the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from their own territory as a condition for a ceasefire, an unnamed Ukrainian source told Sky News.

8:43 PM

'We have to increase the pressure' — Von der Leyen vows new Russia sanctions after Putin skips peace talks.

Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Commission is preparing a new sanctions package, which would include sanctions on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, additional listings of vessels from Russia's shadow fleet, a lower oil price cap, and sanctions on Russia's financial sector.

8:32 PM

Peace Talks

Who is Vladimir Medinsky? The Putin aide leading Russia’s delegation at Ukraine peace talks

Despite an invitation from President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet face to face in Istanbul, President Vladimir Putin was a no-show in Turkey, sending instead an aide, Vladimir Medinsky, to head the Russian delegation in peace talks. Medinsky headed the last and only other direct talks between the two sides in

8:29 PM

Eurovision

Three years into full-scale war, Eurovision still hasn’t solved its Russia problem

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in neutral Switzerland, but politics are center stage. While debate continues over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza, Russia — banned from the contest since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine — continues to cast a shadow over the event. This year,

7:36 PM

'It was my duty to step down' — Former US Ambassador to Ukraine confirms resignation over Trump's policy.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, who held the role since 2022, accused the Trump administration of prioritizing pressure on Ukraine, the victim of Russia's full-scale invasion, rather than confronting the Kremlin.

With Ukraine’s Peaky Blinders chasing Russian soldiers near Pokrovsk

6:57 PM

Video

With Ukraine’s Peaky Blinders chasing Russian soldiers near Pokrovsk.

The Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko spent a day with one of Ukraine's most effective drone units, "Peaky Blinders." As Russian forces continue to push across the front line, Peaky Blinders are tasked with stopping Russian assaults near the embattled city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast.

'Time to increase the pressure' — Zelensky, European leaders speak with Trump following Istanbul peace talks

4:56 PM

(Updated: May 16, 2025 6:16 pm)

'Time to increase the pressure' — Zelensky, European leaders speak with Trump following Istanbul peace talks.

The conversation took place shortly after the conclusion of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, which ended with little progress beyond an agreement on prisoner exchange.

6:04 PM

Ukraine, Russia agree to hold follow-up meeting after Istanbul peace talks, Turkish FM says.

"Parties have agreed in principle to come together again," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.

When did the war in Ukraine start? A timeline of Russia's aggression

11:32 PM

(Updated: May 16, 2025 5:54 pm)

When did the war in Ukraine start? A timeline of Russia's aggression

Russia's war against Ukraine began immediately following the end of the EuroMaidan Revolution in February 2014, when Russia swiftly moved to annex and occupy Crimea

Up to 640,000 Russian troops fighting against Ukraine, Syrskyi says

2:09 AM

(Updated: May 16, 2025 5:21 pm)

Up to 640,000 Russian troops fighting against Ukraine, Syrskyi says.

Vadym Skibitskyi, the deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), reported in March that Russia had deployed 620,000 soldiers to fight in Ukraine, a rise from his previous estimate of nearly 580,000 in November 2024.

4:34 PM

Russia, Ukraine agree on 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange in Istanbul, Umerov says.

"We know the date, but we're not going to say it yet," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.

2:59 PM

Putin appoints general who led Mariupol assault as new Russian Ground Forces Commander.

Under Andrey Mordvichev’s command, Russian troops carried out the destruction of civilian infrastructure and committed atrocities against both civilians and the Ukrainian military, Ukraine has said.

2:40 PM

European summit in Albania to focus on tougher sanctions against Russia, Politico reports.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the next set of EU sanctions will target Nord Stream, more "shadow fleet" listings, a lower oil price cap, and new measures targeting Russian and third-country banks aiding the war effort, according to the Kyiv Independent reporter.

Ukraine holds meeting with US, Turkey ahead of peace talks with Russia

10:51 AM

(Updated: May 16, 2025 1:40 pm)

Ukraine holds meeting with US, Turkey ahead of peace talks with Russia.

Later in the day, the Ukrainian delegation is set to meet Russian officials for the first direct negotiations since 2022, with Turkish representatives also to be present. Separate meetings between the Russian and U.S. officials are expected.

1:37 PM

Peace Talks

BREAKING: Ukraine, Russia start peace talks in Turkey for first time since 2022

The meeting marks the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022.

1:25 PM

Ukraine reportedly accuses Russia of undermining peace talks with last-minute demands.

Ukraine has blamed Russia for undermining the expected peace talks in Istanbul by demanding a one-on-one meeting, excluding Turkish or U.S. officials, at the last minute, Sky News and the Guardian reported on May 16.

1:21 PM

Ukraine brings back bodies of 909 fallen soldiers.

The bodies of soldiers were recovered from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts as well as from morgues in Russia.

12:59 PM

Trump says he's returning to US, expects to meet Putin 'as soon as we can set it up.'

"I think it’s time for us to just do it," U.S. Presidnet Donald Trump said in Abu Dhabi, adding that the meeting between the two would happen "as soon as we can set it up."

Romania heads to historic presidential runoff as populist and pro-EU candidate are neck-and-neck

7:17 PM

(Updated: May 16, 2025 12:27 pm)

Eastern Europe

Romania heads to historic presidential runoff as pro and anti-Ukraine candidate are neck-and-neck

Editor's note: this article was updated on May 16 with the latest polling data. Just days before the Romanian presidential election runoff, the two presidential hopefuls are neck-and-neck in the polls. Polling by AtlasIntel, released on May 13, showed far-right George Simion and liberal pro-EU Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan were

12:04 PM

NATO set to agree on 5% GDP defense spending, Rubio says.

"We are headed for a summit in six weeks in which virtually every member of NATO will be at or above 2%, but more importantly, many of them will be over 4% and all will have agreed on a goal of reaching 5% over the next decade," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Ukrainian delegates meet Kellogg, French, German, UK advisors before Istanbul talks

10:40 AM

(Updated: May 16, 2025 11:34 am)

Ukrainian delegates meet Kellogg, French, German, UK advisors before Istanbul talks.

Presidential Office Chief Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with French, German, U.K., and the U.S. officials in Istanbul on May 16, Suspilne reported, citing sources in the Ukrainian delegation.

'It's a mess' — after all the hype, Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul descend into name-calling shambles

10:04 PM

(Updated: May 16, 2025 11:09 am)

Peace Talks

'It's a mess' — after all the hype, Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul descend into name-calling shambles

Istanbul — it’s where Asia meets Europe, but as we now know, not where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian attacks kill 3, injure 15 in Ukraine over past day

9:24 AM

(Updated: May 16, 2025 11:08 am)

Russian attacks kill 3, injure 15 in Ukraine over past day.

The attacks took place as Russian and Ukrainian delegates are set to meet in Istanbul in what would be the first direct negotiations between the two parties since 2022.

9:51 AM

Ukraine, Russia, Turkey to hold trilateral peace talks after midday, media reports.

Ukrainian, Russian, and Turkish officials will hold a trilateral discussion in Istanbul on May 16 at 12:30 p.m. local time as part of peace efforts, Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported, citing Turkish Foreign Ministry sources.

9:29 AM

Zelensky arrives in Albania for European Political Community summit.

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Albania on May 16 to attend the summit of the European Political Community, presidential spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov said, according to the state news channel Freedom TV.

Explosions heard in Kyiv amid Russian drone attack as Ukraine-Russia peace talks loom

6:54 AM

(Updated: May 16, 2025 9:10 am)

Explosions heard in Kyiv amid Russian drone attack as Ukraine-Russia peace talks loom.

Explosions were heard in Kyiv amid a Russian drone attack on the capital in the early hours of May 16, as Ukraine and Russia are set to begin peace talks later in the day.

9:05 AM

Explosions rock occupied Crimea as drone attack reportedly sets Russian ammo depot on fire.

A fire broke out at an ammunition depot in the village of Perevalne in Russian-occupied Crimea following a series of explosions during a drone attack on the morning of May 16, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported, citing local residents.

8:08 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 971,690 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,100 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

8:06 AM

Ukraine 'lost contact' with F-16 during combat, pilot ejected, Air Force says.

The Air Force "lost contact" with an F-16 jet during a mission to repel a Russian aerial attack overnight on May 16 following an emergency situation on board, the Air Force reported.

7:51 AM

Ukraine to receive $84 million from World Bank to restore homes damaged in Russia's war.

Ukraine will receive $84 million from the World Bank to restore housing damaged in Russia's war, the Finance Ministry announced on May 15.

News Feed

4:17 AM

Rutte praises Trump in a NYT interview while warning of Russia's rising threat to NATO.

"Russia is reconstituting itself at a pace and a speed which is unparalleled in recent history," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, adding that "...they are now producing three times as much ammunition in three months as the whole of NATO is doing in a year."

1:49 AM

Kremlin's war economy shows cracks as military spending boom fades.

The slowdown indicates that Western sanctions, though not a knockout blow, are increasingly damaging the Russian economy.

11:09 AM

(Updated: July 5, 2025 10:50 pm)

Trump says Putin 'wants to keep killing people,' signals US may send Patriots to Ukraine.

"It just seems like he wants to go all the way and just keep killing people. It's not good," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

10:29 PM

Zelensky describes phone call with Trump as 'best conversation in all this time.'

"Patriot (missiles) are key to protection from ballistic (missiles). We discussed several other important issues that our teams will work out in detail at meetings in the near future," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

9:09 PM

Pipelines supplying Russian military explode in Russia's Far East, source says.

Explosions near Russia's Vladivostok damaged a gas pipeline and destroyed a water pipeline that supplied military facilities in the area, an unnamed intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent on July 5.

7:35 PM

BlackRock halted Ukraine recovery fund following Trump victory, France working on replacement, Bloomberg reports.

BlackRock, a U.S. investment firm, suspended work on its multibillion-dollar Ukraine recovery fund following U.S. President Donald Trump's election victory, prompting France to work on a replacement, Bloomberg reported on July 5.

6:05 PM

Ukraine hits Russian electronic warfare facility making Shahed, Iskander components, General Staff says.

The facility develops and manufactures Kometa adaptive antenna arrays used in Shahed-type drones, Iskander-K cruise missiles, and guided aerial bomb modules, according to the Ukrainian military.

5:33 PM

Russia captures 2 villages near Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border, monitoring group says.

Russian troops have been escalating their assaults in the area and are attempting to breach into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, which has not seen significant Russian incursions since 2022.

4:44 PM

Ukraine's army chief warns of new Russian offensives in northeast as he visits Kharkiv Oblast front.

Russian troops are ramping up attacks in the sector using large numbers of troops, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.

9:11 PM

(Updated: July 5, 2025 2:46 pm)

'Nothing but terror and murder' — Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 2 dead, 26 injured.

Fires broke out across the city as Russia attacked the capital overnight on July 4. At least 23 people have been injured, with 14 of the victims hospitalized.

2:27 PM

EU to help Moldova fight hybrid attacks from 'agents of autocracy,' von der Leyen says ahead of September election.

"Who is behind those attacks is clear to all of us here," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

2:08 PM

Drone threat reportedly causes mass flight delays in Russia's Moscow, St Petersburg airports.

Some passengers reported waiting more than 10 hours, according to the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Shot.

1:03 PM

Russia seeks to involve Laos in war against Ukraine, military intelligence claims.

Moscow is organizing the deployment of a combined unit of military engineers from the Lao People's Armed Forces to Russia's Kursk Oblast, allegedly to help with demining operations, Ukraine's military intelligence said.

11:49 AM

4 killed, 37 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Russia launched 322 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type attack drones, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

7:44 AM

(Updated: July 5, 2025 11:10 am)

Ukrainian drone strike on Russian airfield hits bomb depot, aircraft.

The airfield hosts Su-34, Su-35S, and Su-30SM jets that Russia regularly uses in air strikes against Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian military.

9:20 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,025,260 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,050 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day, according to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

8:00 AM

New NATO commander takes helm as alliance lauds outgoing chief for modernizing defense.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte presided over the handover, commending outgoing U.S. Army General Christopher G. Cavoli for his contributions to modernizing NATO's collective defense and bolstering support for Ukraine.

5:47 AM

Moldova's EU future rests on September election, President Sandu says.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu hopes her pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) will retain its parliamentary majority in the September 28 elections.

4:41 AM

NATO chief urges US 'flexibility' on Ukraine aid as Washington halts deliveries.

"The US has to make sure that the stockpiles are at the level we need for the U.S. to have, because they are crucial for our collective defense," Rutte told reporters on July 4. "At the same time, of course, we hope for the flexibility, we have to make sure also that Ukraine can move forward."

2:59 AM

Russia

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