In an interview with French broadcaster TF1 on May 13, Macron discussed new Russia sanctions and stationing French nuclear weapons in other European countries as a deterrent against Russia.
Performing their song "Bird of Pray," Ukrainian band Ziferblat passed the Eurovision semi-finals on May 13, qualifying Ukraine for the grand final on May 17.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a Russian delegation will be in Istanbul on May 15 for direct peace talks with Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov will likely represent Russia.
The move follows Ukraine's ratification of the minerals agreement, deepening U.S.-Ukraine economic ties and signaling expanded U.S. involvement in Ukraine's long-term recovery.
"Ukraine has initiated a coordinated campaign to vilify Hungary in order to undermine our initiative to hold a poll on (Kyiv's) EU membership," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that further concessions from Ukraine during negotiations would be unreasonable if Russia continues to attack civilian targets.
U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, will travel to Istanbul for possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Reuters reported on May 13, citing three undisclosed sources.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but said both leaders are ready to fly to Istanbul if Russian President Vladimir Putin chooses to attend the talks there.
The aftermath of a Russian attack against Odesa, Ukraine, on Nov. 25, 2024. (State Emergency Service/Telegram)
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Russia launched a missile attack against downtown Odesa on Nov. 25, injuring at least 11 people, Governor Oleh Kiper reported.
Two people received medical attention on-site, one is receiving treatment on an outpatient basis, and eight civilians have been hospitalized. One woman is in serious condition, according to the governor.
"Civilian infrastructure was damaged, namely residential buildings," Kiper said. Officials later said that the damage was caused by fallen missile debris.
Russia launched the strike into a densely populated residential area where there are no military targets, damaging a school and a university sports hall, said Oleksandr Kharlov, Kiper's deputy. No students were reported as injured, as they were hiding in shelters.
The attack came shortly after Russian forces struck the city of Kharkiv, injuring at least 23 people.
"Since yesterday evening, Russia has used around 150 attack drones, aerial bombs, and missiles against more than 10 Ukrainian regions," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram on Nov. 25.
Odesa, lying on the Black Sea coast in southern Ukraine, is home to some 1 million residents. The port city has been repeatedly targeted throughout the full-scale war.
An earlier missile attack on Odesa on Nov. 18 killed at least 10 people and injured over 50.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Martin Fornusek
