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.
Russian forces are reportedly using the occupied port city of Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast to steal transport stolen Ukrainian grain. Sep. 9, 2022. (Photo credit: STRINGER/AFP via Gett
The members of the Group of Seven (G7) are preparing a plan to combat the theft of Ukrainian grain by Russia, Reuters reported on June 12, citing U.K. Minister of State for Food, Farming, and Fisheries Mark Spencer.
The scheme will involve using chemical identification of the grain's origin, the minister explained.
Spencer revealed at an International Grains Council (IGC) conference in London that the U.K. is leading the initiative and Ukraine is closely cooperating with the G7.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of stealing grain from the occupied territories since last year.
Russian ships have been spotted severaltimes loading stolen agricultural products in the occupied port city of Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Local farmers are reportedly coerced into selling grain at low prices or their stocks are simply confiscated.
Ukraine is one of the world's leading grain producers and exporters, as its supplies feed countries across the Middle East and Africa. At the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia blocked Ukrainian-controlled ports.
Although Turkey and the U.N. brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July 2022 to ensure the transit of Ukraine grain, Russia has repeatedly attempted to sabotage the deal, and a looming global food crisis persists.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Kate Tsurkan
