Russia claims 4 Ukrainian drones downed overnight on Nov. 4

12:52 AM  (Updated:  May 20, 2025 2:39 am)

Trump says he will not impose new sanctions on Russia.

“Because I think there’s a chance of getting something done, and if you do that, you could also make it much worse," Trump told reporters from the Oval Office on May 19.

12:50 AM  (Updated:  May 20, 2025 2:06 am)

Trump says he trusts Putin, won't sanction Russia, prepared to 'back away' from Ukraine peace talks.

U.S. President Donald Trump, in separate statements, told reporters on May 19 that he trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin, will not sanction Russia, but will abandon Ukraine peace efforts if progress is not made.

9:48 PM  (Updated:  May 20, 2025 1:47 am)

Peace Talks

'It's our land' — Zelensky responds to Putin's call with Trump.

A source in the President's Office told the Kyiv Independent that Trump and Zelensky spoke twice on May 19 — once before the scheduled call with Putin and again after it.

1:35 AM

Romania

Romania’s new president faces daunting challenges after surprise victory over far-right upstart

1:10 AM

Trump threatens to 'back away' from Ukraine-Russia peace talks if progress is not made.

"I tell you, big egos involved, but I think something's going to happen. And if it doesn't, I just back away, and they're going to have to keep going," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

11:46 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Putin refuses ceasefire after Trump call; Zelensky rejects Russia's demand to withdraw troops from 4 regions.

11:24 PM

EU to push G7 to lower Russian oil price cap, commissioner says.

EU officials told Reuters they would propose bringing the cap down from $60 to $50 per barrel, as Brussels and its allies seek to further reduce the Kremlin's revenue from fossil fuel exports.

10:51 PM

Trump seeks direct peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, Zelensky says.

"For Trump, the most important thing is direct talks between Ukraine and Russia," President Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Russian President Vladimir Putin's adviser, Vladimir Medinsky, held a call on May 19 and discussed a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange.

10:10 PM  (Updated:  May 19, 2025 10:39 pm)

Ukraine eyes peace talks with Russia, US, and EU in neutral venue, possibly Vatican, Zelensky says.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 19 said that Kyiv is exploring the possibility of a meeting with delegations from Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the EU in Turkey, the Vatican, or Switzerland.

10:26 PM

'Strong EU sanctions' coming soon, US expected to sanction Russian banks, energy, Zelensky says.

Ukraine knows the date that the EU package will go into effect, though the president did not share that detail in his remarks. Zelensky also said he expects the U.S. to impose sanctions 'when they see fit.'

9:56 PM  (Updated:  May 19, 2025 10:22 pm)

Zelensky dismisses Putin's demand to withdraw troops from 4 Ukrainian regions.

"It means that they (Russia) don't want peace," President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "If they demand what they know we won't agree to," he added.

8:21 PM  (Updated:  May 19, 2025 10:00 pm)

After call with Trump, Putin still refuses full ceasefire, again cites Russia's 'root causes' of war in Ukraine.

The Russian president made no mention of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire — the key demand pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump and accepted by Ukraine back in March.

5:44 PM  (Updated:  May 19, 2025 9:58 pm)

Trump calls Putin after Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul.

The call comes days after largely inconclusive negotiations in Istanbul, where Russia sent a delegation of low-level officials and reiterated sweeping territorial demands, including that Ukraine accept the loss of Crimea and four eastern regions.

5:45 PM

Field report

Ukraine’s mental health workers tackle war trauma and Soviet stigma in front-line regions

4:51 PM

'Need to put pressure on Russia to end the war,' Zelensky says hours before Trump-Putin call.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led Ukraine's delegation in Turkey, briefed President Volodymyr Zelensky on the Istanbul talks.

4:14 PM

EU coordinating next Russia sanctions with US, Germany says.

Washington's participation in a potential sanctions package would be "very central," German government spokesperson Stefan Cornelius said.

4:04 PM

Trump & Ukraine

Ukraine 'not yet in worst-case scenario,' McCain Institute head says

3:54 PM

'It is important that support for Ukraine continues' — Zelensky congratulates Romania's President-elect Dan after election.

"We are deeply grateful for Romania’s contribution to protecting the lives of our people. It is important that support for Ukraine continues," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

2:57 PM  (Updated:  May 19, 2025 3:12 pm)

EU members preliminarily agree to launch 150-billion-euro defense fund, source says.

The new mechanism, proposed by the European Commission in March, will allow member states to borrow money from the EU to purchase weapons and military equipment.

2:51 PM

Culture

Aestheticized aggression — why Gosha Rubchinskiy’s ‘Victory Day’ photo book is Russian propaganda

2:41 PM

Ukrainian detained in Poland for allegedly smuggling migrants across Belarus border.

According to an official statement, Polish officers stopped a Mazda car for inspection and discovered the 36-year-old woman behind the wheel, along with five Afghan nationals in the vehicle.

1:53 PM

Russia declares Amnesty International an 'undesirable organization.'

The agency accused the London-based headquarters of Amnesty International of being a hub for what it called "global Russophobic projects funded by supporters of the Kyiv regime."

1:32 PM

Commander of Ukraine's 59th Brigade replaced, media reports.

Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan Shevchuk was dismissed as the commander of the 59th Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces and replaced by Colonel Oleksandr Sak, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing its sources in the brigade.

1:02 PM

Kremlin confirms Putin-Trump call on May 19 to discuss Istanbul peace talks.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the conversation between the two leaders is scheduled for 5 p.m. local time and will "reflect the outcomes of last week’s negotiations in Istanbul" between Russian and Ukrainian delegations.

1:24 AM  (Updated:  May 19, 2025 12:38 pm)

Poland heads to runoff between pro-EU Trzaskowski and Eurosceptic Nawrocki.

Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski narrowly led Poland’s presidential election on May 18, but failed to secure an outright victory.