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.
The measures target almost 200 ships of Russia's "shadow fleet," 30 companies involved in sanctions evasion, 75 sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, and more.
The government has approved "reform roadmaps in the rule of law, public administration, and democratic institutions, as well as Ukraine’s negotiation position," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
The statement did not name the ex-official by name, but details of the case indicate it relates to Oleh Hladkovsky, a former deputy secretary of Ukraine's top security body who has been wanted since mid-April.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva claimed that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had appealed to his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, to ask Putin if he was willing to conclude a peace agreement.
"Trump needs to believe that Putin actually lies," Zelensky told journalists in Kyiv. "And we should do our part. Sensibly approach this issue, to show that it’s not us that is slowing down the process."
The EU plans to significantly increase tariffs on Ukrainian goods after the current duty-free deal lapses on June 6, the Financial Times reported on May 14, citing undisclosed diplomatic sources.
The blockade ended at 10:30 p.m. local time. Truck traffic in both directions is now moving as usual, according to Ukraine's State Border Guard's statement.
Russia seems to be preparing a significant offensive in Ukraine as it is moving troops toward key positions on the front, the Financial Times reported on May 13, citing undisclosed Ukrainian intelligence officials.
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.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in his seat in the main hall of the Hungarian parliament to attend the delegates' first meeting on their autumn agenda, on Sept. 25, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Atitila Kisbenedek/AFP via Getty Images)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will continue what he called a "peace mission" despite criticism from the European Union, Bloomberg reported on July 19.
Orban's rogue diplomatic efforts, namely his meetings with Russian and Chinese leaders Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping under the EU presidency logo, drew ire across the EU.
Brussels stressed that despite Hungary's ongoing chairmanship of the Council of the EU, the trips have not represented the bloc.
During an interview on state radio, Orban said that the EU needs to join China and the U.S. in light of potential Trump's return to power to press Russia and Ukraine to start peace negotiations, Bloomberg reported.
Orban said he will give updates on his future meetings only after they happen, as it was with his visits to Moscow and Beijing.
The summaries of Orban's recent trips were published on his website, containing 10 points.
In his conclusions, Orban claimed that the war between Ukraine and Russia will escalate, and the warring states "will not seek a way out of the war without external intervention."
He also mentioned that the EU will bear the financial burden of helping Ukraine if Trump wins the U.S. presidential elections.
Orban added that Trump will not launch any peace initiatives before the U.S. election, but if he wins, he will be ready to "act as a peace mediator immediately," even before the inauguration.
The Hungarian prime minister also suggests the EU to begin high-level talks with China at the next peace summit, restore diplomatic ties with Russia, and launch a "coordinated political offensive against the Global South, whose favor has been lost because of the EU's position on the war in Ukraine."
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on July 18 called Orban's efforts an "appeasement mission," while the Hungarian prime minister called her "naive."
The European Commission on July 15 announced that it will reduce its participation in informal meetings planned by Hungary during its EU presidency following Orban's "peace mission."
The commission will also skip the traditional visit of its commissioners to the country holding the presidency.
Kateryna Hodunova is a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a sports journalist in several Ukrainian outlets and was the deputy chief editor at Suspilne Sport. Kateryna covered the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and was included in the Special Mentions list at the AIPS Sport Media Awards. She holds a bachelor's degree in political journalism from Taras Shevchenko University and a master's degree in political science from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
Martin Fornusek
