Western and central Ukraine targeted by Russian drones

2:57 PM  (Updated:  May 19, 2025 3:12 pm)

EU members preliminarily agree to launch 150-billion-euro defense fund, source says.

The new mechanism, proposed by the European Commission in March, will allow member states to borrow money from the EU to purchase weapons and military equipment.

2:51 PM

Culture

Aestheticized aggression — why Gosha Rubchinskiy’s ‘Victory Day’ photo book is Russian propaganda

2:41 PM

Ukrainian detained in Poland for allegedly smuggling migrants across Belarus border.

According to an official statement, Polish officers stopped a Mazda car for inspection and discovered the 36-year-old woman behind the wheel, along with five Afghan nationals in the vehicle.

1:53 PM

Russia declares Amnesty International an 'undesirable organization.'

The agency accused the London-based headquarters of Amnesty International of being a hub for what it called "global Russophobic projects funded by supporters of the Kyiv regime."

1:32 PM

Commander of Ukraine's 59th Brigade replaced, media reports.

Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan Shevchuk was dismissed as the commander of the 59th Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces and replaced by Colonel Oleksandr Sak, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing its sources in the brigade.

1:02 PM

Kremlin confirms Putin-Trump call on May 19 to discuss Istanbul peace talks.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the conversation between the two leaders is scheduled for 5 p.m. local time and will "reflect the outcomes of last week’s negotiations in Istanbul" between Russian and Ukrainian delegations.

1:24 AM  (Updated:  May 19, 2025 12:38 pm)

Poland heads to runoff between pro-EU Trzaskowski and Eurosceptic Nawrocki.

Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski narrowly led Poland’s presidential election on May 18, but failed to secure an outright victory.

12:33 PM

Finland to send ammunition to Ukraine using proceeds from frozen Russian assets.

Under the agreement, Finland will provide 90 million euros (approximately $100 million) worth of heavy ammunition procured from domestic suppliers.

11:32 AM

Russia detains 8 teenagers accused of plotting attacks on police during Victory Day.

Russian authorities have detained nine residents of Stavropol Krai, accusing them of plotting an attack on security forces during May 9 celebrations, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said on May 19.

10:57 AM

France rejects Telegram CEO's accusations of Romanian election meddling.

Durov, a Russian-born founder of the Telegram messaging app who also holds French citizenship, claimed that a "Western European government" requested the company to "silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of today's presidential elections."

10:09 AM

Russian attacks kill 2, injure 13 in Ukraine over past 24 hours.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 41 of the 112 Russian attack drones and other drones launched overnight, the Air Force said. Thirty-five drones were neutralized by electronic warfare systems, according to the statement.

10:02 AM

Ukrainian drones destroy Russian radar, supply depots on Black Sea gas platforms, SBU says.

An aerial drone first struck one of the platforms, followed by a naval drone that delivered a secondary hit.

9:14 AM

Thousands protest in Hungary against Russia-style bill targeting media, NGOs.

Protesters packed Kossuth Square outside Hungary's parliament, denouncing the bill as an attack on civil society and democratic freedoms.

9:02 AM

US allows Australia to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine despite private objections, media reports.

Despite private protests, Washington eventually gave permission for Australia to begin shipping out the U.S.-made tanks to Ukraine, ABC reported.

8:30 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 974,770 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,040 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:13 AM

Australian PM confirms Abrams tanks for Ukraine when meeting Zelensky in Rome.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met in Rome on May 18 to discuss defense support for Ukraine, cooperation within the Coalition of the Willing, and increased pressure on Russia.

3:35 AM

Starmer, Western leaders call for unconditional Ukraine ceasefire ahead of Trump-Putin talks.

Ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, European leaders also discussed the potential for additional sanctions should Russia fail to engage constructively in ceasefire negotiations.

10:35 PM  (Updated:  May 19, 2025 12:03 am)

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.

11:43 PM

European leaders to speak with Trump before Putin call, Merz says.

French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will speak to Trump before he calls Putin on the morning of May 19.

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.