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 burning 12-story residential building hit by Russian forces on Aug. 30, 2024, in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (Oleh Syniehubov/Telegram)
Editor's note: This story is being updated.
Russian forces attacked the city of Kharkiv on Aug. 30 with UMPB D-30 munitions, killing at least seven people, including a child, and injuring 97 others, local authorities reported.
The Russian strike hit a 12-story residential building in the city's Industrialnyi district, causing a fire. At least three people were killed, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.
Kharkiv's Nemyshlianskyi district also came under attack, killing a 14-year-old girl, according to Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov. There are 22 children among the injured, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said.
Russian forces also hit downtown Kharkiv and the city's Slobidskyi district, damaging a warehouse building and three houses, the governor said.
Syniehubov said that 20 of those injured are in serious or "extremely serious" condition.
"There may be people on the upper floors of the hit building, including at least one woman. There is a risk that the building will be destroyed," he added.
The body of a woman was removed from the rubble in the evening, bringing the death toll of the attack to seven.
The burning 12-story residential building hit by Russian forces on Aug. 30, 2024, in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (Oleh Syniehubov/Telegram)
The burning cars after a Russian attack on Aug. 30, 2024, in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (Oleh Syniehubov/Telegram)
President Volodymyr Zelensky urged partners to allow Ukraine to strike military air bases on Russian soil with Western-supplied weapons.
"We need strong decisions from our partners to stop this terror. This is an absolutely fair need. And there is no rational reason to limit Ukraine's defense," he said following the attack.
Attacks against population centers in Kharkiv Oblast intensified after Russian forces launched a new cross-border offensive in the northern part of the region in May. While the push has been halted by Ukrainian troops, Russia continues to hold a handful of settlements just across the border.
Kateryna Denisova works as a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a news editor at the NV media outlet for four years, covering mainly Ukrainian and international politics. Kateryna holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv. She also was a fellow at journalism schools in the Czech Republic and Germany.
Natalia Yermak
