Zelensky arrives in Turkey ahead of possible peace talks as Putin refuses to join
President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15.
Ukraine
Kremlin rules out Putin's visit to Turkey for talks with Zelensky
Russian President Vladimir Putin will not visit Istanbul for a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 15, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
'Slap in the face' — Estonia blasts Russia's low-level peace delegation in Istanbul
Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to send junior aides for peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul is like a "slap in the face," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on May 15.
Ukraine plans to discuss only ceasefire with Russia at Istanbul talks, media reports
When asked by the Kyiv Independent, a source close to the Presidential Office did not confirm whether Ukraine would still hold the talks if Putin does not join.
Trump says he might join Russia-Ukraine peace talks on May 16 if progress is made
U.S. President Donald Trump said he might still go to the potential Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations in Istanbul on May 16 if there is progress toward a deal, the BBC reported.
As potential peace talks in Turkey loom, Russia kills 5 civilians, injures 29 in Ukraine
Ukrainian forces downed 62 out of the 100 Shahed-type attack drones and other drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.
Pro-Ukraine partisans sabotage railway track near Russia's Smolensk
The operation was carried out in Russia's Smolensk Oblast, a western region bordering Belarus, to disrupt arms and equipment shipments to Russian forces stationed at Ukraine's northeastern border.
Ukraine-Russia peace efforts could see progress within 2 weeks, NATO chief says
"I think there is this window of opportunity this week, but also in the next 10 days, two weeks, to really bring the whole issue of Ukraine to a better place," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
Russian delegation arrives in Istanbul ahead of potential Ukraine peace talks but Putin not expected to join
A plane with the Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul for planned peace talks with Ukraine, pro-state news agency Interfax reported on May 15, citing sources in aviation services.
General Staff: Russia has lost 970,590 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
The number includes 1,220 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
Zelensky names formerly imprisoned Crimean Tatar activist as Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey
Nariman Dzhelial, deputy chair of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, was released in a prisoner exchange with Russia on June 28, 2024.
Ukrainian actor Maksym Nelipa killed in action
Ukrainian actor and TV presenter Maksym Nelipa was killed in action on May 12, his friends and family reported on May 14. The details of his death have not been disclosed.
Drone attacks in 2025 shut down Russian airports record number of times since start of full-scale war
From January to May 10, 2025, Russian airports suspended operations 217 times — more closures than in 2023 and 2024 combined.
US, Europe urge Zelensky to commit to Istanbul peace talks whether or not Putin shows up, WP reports
European and U.S. officials, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, reportedly convinced Zelensky that attending the peace talks would reflect positively on Kyiv, diplomats told the Washington Post.
Rubio arrives in Turkey ahead of Ukraine-Russia peace talks, meets with FM Sybiha
"We discussed in detail the logic of further steps and shared our approaches... It is critical that Russia reciprocate Ukraine's constructive steps. So far, it has not. Moscow must understand that rejecting peace comes at a cost," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
Trump will skip Ukraine-Russia peace talks as Putin evades negotiations, US official says
U.S. President Donald Trump will not attend Ukraine-Russia peace talks to be held on May 15, an unnamed U.S. official said.
Putin won’t attend peace talks in Turkey, Kremlin says
The Kremlin unveiled its delegation for Ukraine-Russia peace talks in a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 14. Putin was not on the list of delegates, nor were any other top-ranking Russian officials.
Ukraine's next steps will be based on who Russia sends to peace talks, Zelensky says
"I am waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will decide which steps Ukraine should take. So far, the signals from them in the media are unconvincing," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Ukraine war latest: Trump says he's unsure whether Putin will attend Ukraine peace talks in Turkey as Kremlin stays silent
Key developments on May 14: * Trump says he's unsure whether Putin will attend Ukraine peace talks in Turkey as Kremlin stays silent * Russia likely preparing major offensive in Ukraine despite peace efforts, FT reports * Trump needs to understand that Putin lies, blocks peace efforts, Zelensky says * EU agrees on 17th
'Russians need to be taught a lesson' – why foreign soldiers keep fighting for Ukraine amid growing uncertainty
Editor's Note: This article contains graphic descriptions. Soldiers interviewed for this article are identified by their callsigns only due to security reasons. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, shocking the world, thousands of foreigners flocked to defend Ukraine – many with little to no connection with the country. More
Exclusive: Ukraine eyes new sanctions on China, but Kyiv wary of peace talks fallout
Ukraine faces a difficult balancing act — sanction more Chinese firms for aiding Russia’s war machine without alienating Beijing, which could be key to ending Russia’s invasion. Kyiv is currently considering imposing new sanctions against Chinese firms providing raw materials to Russia’s defense sector, a source close to
Lavrov won't attend possible Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, Russian media says
Earlier reporting from the Washington Post cited a former Russian official who claimed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, would represent Moscow in the talks.
Council of Europe backs special tribunal for Russian aggression against Ukraine
The Council of Europe on May 14 approved the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russia's top leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainian lawmaker Maria Mezentseva reported.
MPs appeal to Zelensky with request to award title of Hero of Ukraine to journalist Roshchyna
Viktoria Roshchyna, 27, disappeared in August 2023 while reporting from Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories. Moscow admitted she was in Russian detention the following year.
Trump unlikely to attend Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, Bloomberg reports
Turkish officials told Bloomberg that while they don't expect Trump to visit Istanbul, they are not ruling it out, and preparations for any scenario are underway.
3 killed, 9 injured in a Russian missile strike on city of Sumy
The air raid was announced at around 2:30 p.m. local time, while the explosion sounded around 2:50 p.m. The number of victims killed rose to three, Sumy Oblast Governor Oleh Hryhorov reported at 8:42 p.m.
Ukraine's gas storage reserves fall to their lowest level in at least 11 years
Ukraine's underground storage facilities are currently using 19.4% of their capacity. Almost 32%, or 2.79 bcm, less gas is available in the storages than in the previous year, according to the estimates.
As ceasefire talks loom, most Ukrainians oppose elections without full peace deal with Russia
The majority of Ukrainians, 71%, do not support holding elections before a full peace deal, even in the case of a ceasefire and security guarantees, according to a poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on May 14.
Germany detains Ukrainians in alleged Russia-backed sabotage plot, media reports
Two of the suspects were reportedly detained over the weekend, and the third on May 13, during police raids in Germany and Switzerland.
Russian political, corporate interests seize thousands of Ukrainian businesses, assets in occupied Mariupol, research reveals
More than 1,000 Russian government entities and 1,200 private companies are involved in the economy of occupied Mariupol, a major southeastern city occupied by Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022, according to a research paper published on May 14.
Zelensky's trust rating rises to 74%, highest since 2023, poll shows
This marks Zelensky's highest trust rating recorded by KIIS since December 2023, when he enjoyed the confidence of 77% of respondents.
Despite the hype, EU's latest Russia sanctions 'not as strong as they should be'
The European Union’s 17th package of sanctions against Russia, agreed on May 14, is being hailed in Brussels as a symbol of steady resolve. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the move, insisting it would "keep the pressure high on the Kremlin." But outside the EU bubble,
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