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.
The aftermath of one of Russia's attacks on Kherson Oblast on Jan. 1, 2024. (State Emergency Service/Telegram)
Russian attacks in Kherson Oblast injured four people, including two 9-year-old twin boys, on Jan. 6, the regional authorities reported.
Two children have been hospitalized with shrapnel wounds after Russian forces hit the Darivka community east of Kherson, the regional prosecutor’s office reported.
A 56-year-old man was injured when Russian forces attacked the Tiahynka community east of Darivka, according to the report.
The Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported that the man had been hospitalized in moderate condition with a fractured arm.
Another man was injured in Ivanivka in his own house. The 53-year-old man has been hospitalized with multiple wounds, the regional administration said in a separate Telegram post.
Ukrainian forces liberated Darivka and Tiahynka from Russian occupation in November 2022 when Ukrainian forces reached the city of Kherson. Ever since, the area on the west bank of the Dnipro River has been subjected to daily Russian attacks.
Targeting and killing civilians violates the Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime.
The Prosecutor General’s Office has launched an investigation into the violation of the rules and customs of war.
Alexander Khrebet is a reporter with the Kyiv Independent. He covers Ukraine’s foreign policy, alleged abuse of power in the country’s military leadership, and reports on the Russian-occupied territories. Alexander is the European Press Prize 2023 winner, the #AllForJan Award 2023 winner and Ukraine's 2022 National Investigative Journalism Award finalist. His was published in the Washington Times and Atlantic Council.
Alexander Khrebet
