"We discussed in detail the logic of further steps and shared our approaches... It is critical that Russia reciprocate Ukraine's constructive steps. So far, it has not. Moscow must understand that rejecting peace comes at a cost," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
"I am waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will decide which steps Ukraine should take. So far, the signals from them in the media are unconvincing," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The air raid was announced at around 2:30 p.m. local time, while the explosion sounded around 2:50 p.m. The number of victims killed rose to three, Sumy Oblast Governor Oleh Hryhorov reported at 8:42 p.m.
If confirmed, the decision would mark the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion that President Volodymyr Zelensky is absent, either physically or virtually, from a NATO summit.
The disclosure follows a warning from Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski, who on May 6 said Moscow was carrying out an "unprecedented" interference campaign.
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.
Earlier reporting from the Washington Post cited a former Russian official who claimed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, would represent Moscow in the talks.
The Council of Europe on May 14 approved the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russia's top leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainian lawmaker Maria Mezentseva reported.
Portuguese and Ukrainian officials sign a Memorandum of Understanding on rebuilding Ukrainian schools at a recovery conference in Zhytomyr Oblast, northwestern Ukraine, on Feb. 5, 2024. (Portugal’s Foreign Ministry/X)
Portuguese officials visited the third international forum on the reconstruction of Zhytomyr Oblast and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on rebuilding Ukrainian schools affected by the war, Portugal’s Foreign Ministry reported on Feb. 5.
The delegation led by Portugal’s Foreign Minister Joao Cravinho and Education Minister Joao Costa arrived in the country earlier the same day for a two-day visit "with the war and the recovery of Ukraine on the agenda."
The memorandum describes how Ukraine and Portugal can cooperate to build and rebuild Ukrainian schools and other educational institutions, particularly in the northwestern city of Zhytomyr, according to Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne.
"For the full implementation of this Memorandum, specific cooperation agreements must be signed to determine agreed joint actions, relevant implementation plans, the total estimated cost, anticipated funding, relevant terms of payments, and other obligations," reads the document, cited by Suspilne.
Apart from signing the memorandum, the Portuguese delegation presented a project to rebuild a school in Zhytomyr destroyed by Russian attacks in March 2022.
During the second day of their visit, Costa and Cravinho will meet with their Ukrainian counterparts Oksen Lisovy and Dmytro Kuleba, according to the Portuguese Foreign Ministry.
Cravinho and Kuleba will reportedly discuss the latest developments of the war, Kyiv’s path to the European Union accession, and relations between the two countries.
The Portuguese ministers are also set to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss the Ukrainian peace formula, reconstruction of schools, and the integration of Ukrainian refugee children in Portugal.
Portugal joined the Group of Seven (G7) declaration on security guarantees for Ukraine in July 2023, which aims to bolster Ukraine's ability to resist Russian aggression. The guarantees also address sanctions, financial aid, and post-war reconstruction.
Portugal is also one of 11 members of an international coalition to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, which was announced by former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023.
Yulia Svyrydenko
