Trump wouldn’t want ‘major Russian victory,’ says ex-US ambassador

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."

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

10:51 AM  (Updated:  May 16, 2025 12:15 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

7:20 AM

Ukrainian citizen charged in arson attacks on UK Prime Minister's property.

Ukrainian citizen, Roman Lavrynovych, was charged on May 15 following a series of arson attacks on property linked to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

5:52 AM

Ukraine faces more diplomatic pressure to end war than Russia, Zelensky says.

"Ukraine is fighting for itself, we are not ready to lose our lives and our land. It doesn't mean that we are aggressors," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

3:57 AM

'Putin did not show up' — EU to adopt Russian sanctions on May 20 after Putin snubbed peace talks with Zelensky.

The European Union will adopt sanctions against Russia on May 20 in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's declining to attend face-to-face talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 15.

2:09 AM

Upwards of 640,000 Russian soldiers fighting against Ukraine, Syrskyi says.

Russia's ground forces participating in combat against Ukraine amount to upwards of 640,000 soldiers, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on May 15.

11:44 PM

Russia ready to begin peace talks with Ukraine on May 16, Russian official says.

A Russian delegation will await its Ukrainian counterparts to begin direct peace talks at 10 a.m. local time in Istanbul on May 16, Vladimir Medinsky, Russia's delegation lead and advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

10:46 PM

'We didn't oppose it' — Rubio denies opposing Zelensky's participation at NATO summit.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 15 denied reports that the United States opposes President Volodymyr Zelensky's participation at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague.

10:14 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Zelensky sends delegation to Istanbul, as peace talks with Russia are expected on May 16

5:06 PM  (Updated:  May 15, 2025 10:03 pm)

Zelensky sends Ukrainian delegation to Istanbul, as peace talks with Russia are expected on May 16.

"Out of respect for President Trump, the high level of the Turkish delegation, and President Erdogan, and since we want to try to achieve at least the first steps toward de-escalation, an end to the war – namely a ceasefire – I have decided to send our delegation to Istanbul," Zelensky said.

10:01 PM

Who really funds the Kyiv Independent?

A closer look at how the Kyiv Independent is financed and how our reader-revenue funding model works.

9:41 PM

Putin appoints Russian Ground Forces Commander Saliukov to Security Council role.

It remains unclear who will replace General Oleg Saliukov as commander of the Ground Forces.