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.
The Ukrainian, the EU and other EU countries' flags in front of the European Parliament on July 28, 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)
Only 5% of Ukrainians are opposed to joining either the European Union or NATO, according to a poll released by the Rating Sociology Group on Nov. 29.
An overwhelming majority of Ukrainians are in favor of joining both the EU and NATO, although the level of support has seen a slight decrease since the summer.
In total, 78% of Ukrainians would vote to join the EU if a referendum were held now, down from 85% in July, and 77% are in favor of joining NATO, a drop from 83% in July.
The figures from July also represented a slight decrease from a similar poll taken in January 2023, in which a record high of 86% of Ukrainians were in favor of joining NATO.
A majority across the country support joining both institutions, but the level of support is highest in the western part of Ukraine and in Kyiv.
When asked if Ukraine joining NATO with only the territories currently controlled by the government was acceptable, more than half said no (53%), but the idea was fully or partially supported by 43% of respondents.
There was a slight regional deviation in the results, with those in the western part of Ukraine and Kyiv being more willing to support the idea of joining with only the territories controlled by Ukraine and those in the south, center, and east, as well as older generations, being generally opposed.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier on Nov. 29 that Ukraine had made significant progress in implementing the reforms required for NATO membership.
"Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before," he added.
The European Commission recommended on Nov. 8 that Ukraine begin accession talks on joining the EU. A unanimous vote from member states in December will be required for the talks to officially begin.
Nate Ostiller is a former News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. He works on special projects as a researcher and writer for The Red Line Podcast, covering Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and focused primarily on digital misinformation, memory politics, and ethnic conflict. Nate has a Master’s degree in Russian and Eurasian Studies from the University of Glasgow, and spent two years studying abroad at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine. Originally from the USA, he is currently based in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Anastasiia Malenko
