Putin no-show at peace talks and new Russian offensive | Ukraine This Week

10:35 PM

Nicusor Dan wins Romanian presidential election, defeating anti-Ukraine Simion.

In an anxiously watched race, Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan won the presidency against the far-right candidate George Simion, who is banned from entering both Ukraine and Moldova due to his extremist views.

10:18 PM

Denmark announces nearly $600 million in military aid to Ukraine.

The package includes additional artillery and shells via the Czech ammunition initiative as well as equipment for fighter jets and funds for expanded training, the Danish Defense Ministry announced.

9:00 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call.

2:36 PM  (Updated:  May 18, 2025 8:21 pm)

Zelensky meets Pope Leo XIV at Vatican.

Zelensky presented the pope with a special icon, "Mother of God with Child," painted on a fragment of a box that held heavy artillery in the war-torn town of Izium.

7:55 PM

Russia detains oil tanker leaving Estonian port.

"Today's incident shows that Russia continues to behave unpredictably," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. Estonia will redirect port traffic through its own territorial waters.

7:03 PM

Trump growing impatient with Russia, Finnish president says.

"If you put it together, you could say that Zelensky is patient and President Trump is getting impatient, but in the right direction, which is towards Russia," Finnish President Alexander Stubb said after holding separate talks with both Trump and Zelensky this weekend.

6:15 PM

Europe 'far from' discussing foreign troop deployment to Ukraine, Merz says.

"There is no reason to talk about (troops) at the moment, we are far from that. We want the weapons to stop, the killing to end," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.

6:03 PM

Zelensky meets Vance for first time since Oval Office showdown, discuss Istanbul peace talks, sanctions on Russia.

"During our talks we discussed negotiations in Istanbul to where the Russians sent a low level delegation of non-decision-makers," Zelensky wrote on X.

5:01 PM

Ukraine's General Staff responds after accusations of 'stupid objectives' from 47th Brigade battalion commander.

The move follows the resignation of Oleksandr Shyrshyn, commander of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade.

4:51 PM

Investigations

Investigation: Uncovering the secret Russian FSB operation to loot Ukraine's museums.

3:44 PM  (Updated:  May 18, 2025 4:44 pm)

Russia plans 'training' launch of Yars intercontinental ballistic missile overnight on May 19, Ukraine's HUR claims.

According to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), the move is intended to intimidate Ukraine, as well as EU and NATO member states.

3:52 PM

New clips from Putin documentary suggest Russia dismissed Ukraine peace talks, ceasefire weeks ago.

The comments — publicly withheld until now — come nearly four months into U.S. President Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire.

3:47 PM

Video

Putin no-show at peace talks and new Russian offensive | Ukraine This Week.

In this week’s episode, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down the back-and-forth developments surrounding peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey. As negotiations stall, the battle rages on in multiple sectors of the front.

12:56 PM  (Updated:  May 18, 2025 3:25 pm)

Eastern Europe

Poland, Romania presidential elections held amid Russian interference, far-right surge — what you need to know.

2:12 PM

2 killed, 23 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia attacked with 273 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type suicide drones.

2:00 PM

Culture

‘Everything is translation’ — 13th Book Arsenal festival in Kyiv to bridge gaps between language and war

4:39 PM  (Updated:  May 18, 2025 1:16 pm)

Defense tech

How Russia's Shaheds are getting more dangerous — and what Ukraine is doing about it

12:32 PM

Russian tank losses in Ukraine — Syrskyi claims 1,159 'hit' since start of year.

At the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia was estimated to have around 3,300 operational tanks.

10:24 AM

Russia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call.

Ukraine's Air Force said it intercepted 88 drones, while 128 others vanished from radars, likely used as decoys to overwhelm air defenses. The assault involved coordinated use of electronic warfare units, mobile fire teams, and anti-aircraft systems.

9:48 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 973,730 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,130 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

6:20 PM  (Updated:  May 18, 2025 9:35 am)

Trump to talk to Putin on May 19 in push to end 'bloodbath.'

"Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war — a war that should have never happened — will end. God bless us all!!!" U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.

7:08 AM  (Updated:  May 18, 2025 9:24 am)

Russian drone strike in Kyiv Oblast kills 1, injures 3.

An overnight Russian drone strike in Kyiv Oblast killed one person and injured three more, Governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported on May 18.

10:10 PM  (Updated:  May 18, 2025 8:58 am)

Ukraine's 47th Brigade battalion commander resigns, slams military leadership over 'stupid objectives'

"I have never received more stupid tasks than in the current direction," Oleksandr Shyrshyn wrote in a blunt Facebook post announcing his decision on May 16. "Someday I will tell you the details, but the stupid loss of people, trembling in front of a stupid generals, leads to nothing but failures."

5:48 AM

Russia kills 1, injures 8 people in Donetsk Oblast.

The Russian military attacked Donetsk Oblast on May 17, killing one person and injuring an additional eight. The attack occurred in the morning and impacted the Yablunivka settlement, as well as Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and Andriivka.

2:56 AM

Ukraine takes 9th place in Eurovision 2025.

Ukrainian band Ziferblat took ninth place at the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final on May 17 in Basel, Switzerland. Their song "Bird of Pray" received 218 points – 60 from the jury and 158 from the audience.