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.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (C) walks to a Senate Republican luncheon alongside Sen. Rick Scott and Sen. Ron Johnson on Nov. 1, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson told Senate Republicans on Nov. 1 that he supports aiding Ukraine and funding the government through Jan. 15, Politico reported.
Johnson said he would back additional aid to Ukraine, but did not support combining it with funding for Israel. He also said he supported a stop-gap bill to extend government funds after the current bill expires on Nov. 17.
Johnson's remarks indicate the newly elected speaker is open to compromise on Ukraine, an issue that has divided congressional Republicans.
However, Johnson remains strongly opposed to linking Ukrainian aid packages with defense spending for Israel. According to Sen. Roger Marshall, who was present at the Nov. 1 meeting, Johnson said that if a proposed bill combined Ukraine aid with funds for Israel, Taiwan, and U.S.-Mexico border security, "[Johnson's] caucus would revolt and it would probably be the end of the speakership.”
Instead, Johnson told Republican senators that Ukraine aid should be combined with border security funds. Sen. John Cornyn said Johnson described the two issues as "inextricably intertwined."
Following his meeting with Senate Republicans, Johnson spoke with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The representative told Politico that they had a “very open, honest, positive and candid conversation," but that Johnson did not present a timeline for passing Ukraine legislation.
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) said on Oct. 31 that President Joe Biden would veto any bill put forth by the House that included aid to Israel without provisions for Ukraine.
Abbey Fenbert is a senior news editor at the Kyiv Independent. She is a freelance writer, editor, and playwright with an MFA from Boston University. Abbey served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine from 2008-2011.
Daria Shulzhenko
