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.
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.
Ukrainian refugees gather at the railway station on March 3rd, 2022, in Przemysl, Poland. Photo for illustrative purposes. (Francesco Pistilli/IRC)
Half of Ukrainian refugees in Germany, Poland, and Czechia said they are "less likely to return" to Ukraine, according to a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) released on May 14.
According to Eurostat, over 4.2 million Ukrainian refugees are currently registered for temporary protection to legally access housing, find work, and receive social benefits in EU states. Poland hosts roughly 1 million of them, representing the highest number of all countries.
The poll found that 66% of respondents said they were "completely" or "rather satisfied" with their lives in Germany, Poland, and Czechia.
While only 7% said they had already received citizenship from another country, and 12% said they had submitted documents, another 45% said they would like to obtain citizenship.
When asked what factors would help respondents decide to move back, safety and the proper functioning of critical infrastructure were among the most cited reasons. At the same time, 26% said they would not go back until the full-scale invasion was over.
"The results of the survey given in this press release show that a significant part of Ukrainian refugees are losing (or have already lost) their connection with Ukraine," said Anton Hrushetskyi, the executive director of KIIS.
"At the personal level, many Ukrainians abroad face a difficult decision - to take root in a new place or wait for a certain moment to return."
Hrushetskyi concluded by saying, "If there is a sincere desire to return, the government and Ukrainian society must show support."
The results indicate an increase in the hesitance that many Ukrainian refugees feel about coming back to Ukraine.
A study conducted in January found that around 64% of respondents planned to return.
Olga Aivazovska
