President Volodymyr Zelensky would not meet any other Russian official apart from Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul this week, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on the Breakfast Show program on May 13.
U.S. and European officials held talks on May 12, during which Washington made it clear that it wanted to allow talks between Russia and Ukraine before increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin, sources told Bloomberg.
According to Steve Witkoff, the key topics in the peace discussions are the fate of the five partially or fully occupied Ukrainian regions, the status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and Ukraine's access to the Dnipro River and the Black Sea.
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is reportedly offering a deal that would give U.S. companies access to Syria's natural wealth, reminiscent of the minerals agreement Washington recently signed with Kyiv.
Russia attacked Ukraine with drones and guided bombs during the night, targeting multiple regions after the May 12 deadline for an unconditional ceasefire expired.
"Only member states can take out loans within the 150 billion euros instrument, but they can use these funds for joint procurement with Ukraine," EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said.
"We agreed to pursue ambitious measures to reduce Russia's ability to wage war by limiting Kremlin revenues, disrupting the shadow fleet, tightening the Oil Price Cap, and reducing our remaining imports of Russian energy."
Zelensky on May 12 removed Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk from the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the top command and control body for all branches of Ukraine's defense apparatus.
Ukraine remains the most mined country in the world. Nearly one-third of Ukraine's territory, approximately 174,000 square kilometers, had been mined since Russia began its full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.
The phone call comes as Moscow once again rejected a 30-day ceasefire, with Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova claiming that a ceasefire would give "Kyiv a break to restore its military potential and continue its confrontation with Russia."
Flight MH17 departed from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport en-route to Kuala Lumpur International Airport on July 17, 2014. Three hours into the flight, the Boeing-777 was shot down by Russian proxy forces using a Buk surface-to-air missile above Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast.
The aftermath of Russia's overnight missile attack against a psychiatric hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on April 27, 2024. (Oleh Syniehubov/Telegram)
Russia’s recent attacks against Ukraine’s Kherson, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts killed one person and wounded another 14, regional authorities reported early on April 27.
Russia attacked the southern city of Kherson and 13 other settlements in the region overnight and on April 26, killing one person and wounding another eight, according to Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
The strikes against Kherson Oblast reportedly damaged two houses, critical infrastructure facilities, and civilian cars.
Russian forces struck a psychiatric hospital in Kharkiv overnight, injuring a 53-year-old female patient, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
“At the time of the attack, 60 patients and five employees were in the medical building,” he said.
Another person, a 67-year-old man, was injured when Russian forces shelled the city of Vovchansk at around 10 p.m. local time, according to Syniehubov.
Three civilians were injured in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk Oblast, Vadym Filashkin, the regional governor, said on Facebook.
Russian troops launched a total of 16 attacks against Donetsk Oblast settlements, destroying or damaging 12 houses and five other unnamed buildings, added Filashkin.
Russia hit the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast several times late on April 27, wounding an 82-year-old woman, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.
According to Lysak, seven apartment buildings, a market, over 10 shops, an administrative building, and a beauty salon were damaged.
Dinara Khalilova is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a news editor. In the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she worked as a fixer and local producer for Sky News’ team in Ukraine. Dinara holds a BA in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Master’s degree in media and communication from the U.K.’s Bournemouth University.
Kateryna Hodunova
