Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, said that the new pontiff had a phone call with Zelensky on Monday, during which the pope expressed willingness to facilitate meetings between global leaders and vowed to support efforts for "a just and lasting peace."
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.
People line up to cast their ballots during Poland's Parliamentary elections on October 15, 2023 in Warsaw, Poland. (Omar Marques / Getty Images)
With 99.96% of the votes counted, the Polish Electoral Commission released the results of the Oct. 15 elections in the morning of Oct. 17.
The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party won 35.4%, followed by the centrist Civic Coalition at 30.68%, the center-right Third Way at 14.41%, the New Left at 8.6%, and far-right Confederation at 7.16%.
Voter turnout was at 74.37%, the electoral commission reported. In the Senate, PiS won 34.86%, followed by 28.93% for the Civic Coalition, 11.55% for the Third Way, 6.76% for Confederation, and 5.28% for the New Left.
PiS, which has been in power since 2015, lacks enough support to build rule without forming a coalition as they will not hold the 248 seats in parliament needed to rule alone.
The centrist Third Way, which is composed of the agrarian Polish People's Party (PSL) and the Poland 2050 movement, ruled out any talks with the PiS on forming a new government on Oct. 16.
The opposition is therefore expected to build a coalition government, as they will hold the majority of the seats.
Donald Tusk, Civic Coalition leader, already declared victory shortly after the exit poll predicted that the three opposition parties would secure a majority in the Polish Parliament on Oct. 15.
"Poland won, democracy has won. This is the end of the bad times, this is the end of the ruling party, PiS," Tusk said.
Martin Fornusek
