"Russia is ready for negotiations without any preconditions," Putin claimed in an address marking the end of the three-day Victory Day ceasefire. He invited Ukraine to begin talks in Istanbul on May 15.
Both men face charges related to terrorism and espionage. Daniil B. was detained in Lithuania, where he is in temporary custody, while Oleksandr V. remains at large in Russia.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine and its allies discussed tougher sanctions against Russia's banking sector, central bank, and energy industry.
"We are ready for all options. But of course, we are separately waiting for a response on the ceasefire," a source close to President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Kyiv Independent.
The EU plans to unveil on May 14 its next package of sanctions imposed against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine, an EU official told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity.
Polish truckers plan to restrict freight traffic at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on the Ukrainian border, Ukraine's State Border Guard said on May 12.
"If the Russians are using this level of specialists in urban combat, they are probably facing some difficulties," Ivan Petrychak, spokesperson for the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, said.
Previously, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused the Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a May 2024 arson attack on the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw.
"Perhaps in some areas, the intensity decreased slightly to create an image of compliance with their own announcement. But in reality, (Russia) continued attacks every day, using all available weapons — including aircraft to drop guided bombs on Ukraine," Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, said.
Beijing supports all efforts toward achieving peace in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on May 12 when asked about Kyiv and Europe's proposal for a 30-day truce.
"I invited His Holiness to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine. Such a visit would bring real hope to all believers and to all our people," Zelensky said.
Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak voiced doubt about leading negotiations with anyone from Russia except President Vladimir Putin, implying only the Russian leader can make real decisions.
This includes at least seven people injured in drone attacks overnight on May 12, a date from which Kyiv and its allies put forward a demand for a 30-day unconditional truce, a step that Moscow continues to reject.
A house is on fire after one of the Russian attacks on Ukraine's eastern Donetsk Oblast on June 26-27, 2023. (Pavlo Kyrylenko/Telegram)
Two civilians were killed, and six more were injured in Russian attacks against Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kherson oblasts, according to the regional authorities.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian attacks were reported in another six oblasts, but there were no casualties. Those are Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Luhansk.
Russia's military hit 15 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast 45 times in the past day, killing a resident of Orikhiv in her own house, the regional administration wrote on June 27. Her 59-year-old husband was reportedly injured and hospitalized.
Two more civilians, aged 52 and 59, were wounded in Russian attacks against the villages of Preobrazhenka and Pavlivka, according to Zaporizhzhia Oblast authorities.
In Ukraine's eastern Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed one civilian and injured another in the village of Novyi Komar, said Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko.
Russia hit at least 11 settlements in the region, damaging 20 houses, six apartment buildings, and an enterprise, according to Kyrylenko.
Russian forces struck southern Kherson Oblast 55 times, using mortars, artillery, multiple-launch rocket systems, tanks, drones, and aviation, as reported by Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
The attacks hit residential areas and wounded two people in the region, according to Prokudin.
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.
Alexander Query
