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 Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast on June 20, 2024. (Vadym Filashkin/Telegram)
Russian attacks against Ukraine killed six people and injured 13 over the past day, regional authorities said on June 21.
Russia targeted a total of 10 Ukrainian oblasts — Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Luhansk, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Donetsk. Casualties were reported in the latter three regions.
The Pokrovsk, Bakhmut and Kramatorsk districts came under Russian attack in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.
Three people were killed and four injured in the village of Rozkishne, according to the governor. One resident was killed and three injured after Russia's attack on the town of Mykolaivka, Filashkin said.
Russian forces attacked the town of Kostiantynivka, killing one person and injuring another, according to the governor. Three more people were injured in the villages of Maksymilianivka, Pivnichne and Mykolaivka, he added.
In Kharkiv Oblast, a Russian attack on the village of Ruski Tyshky and Kruhli injured a man, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
Russian attacks against Kherson Oblast damaged five houses and an administrative building, said Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. One person was killed and one injured in the region over the past day, according to Prokudin.
Ukraine's air defenses shot down all four Kh-59/69 aerial missiles over Kirovohrad and Kherson oblasts launched by Russia overnight, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said. No casualties or damages were reported.
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.
Abbey Fenbert
