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.
A captive named Umit allegedly agreed to serve in the Russian army in exchange for Russian citizenship and a monetary reward of 2 million rubles ($25,000).
The aftermath of a Russian missile strike against Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine, on March 29, 2025. (State Emergency Service/Telegram)
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
A Russian missile attack against the city of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on March 29 injured at least eight people, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.
High-rise buildings, houses, a school, cars, and a car wash were damaged, the governor said. Three of the victims have been hospitalized with bruises, shrapnel wounds, and cuts and are in condition of moderate severity.
Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's military administration, reported the attack at 11:33 a.m. local time, saying Moscow deployed a ballistic missile.
Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelensky, remains a frequent target of Russian missile attacks. With a population of about 660,000, it is the second-largest city in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, located roughly 70 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of the nearest front line.
Russia has continued launching missile and drone strikes across Ukraine despite the U.S. efforts to broker a ceasefire and move toward a broader peace deal. Kyiv has said the attacks against civilian targets demonstrate Moscow is not serious about peace.
Russia has rejected a full 30-day truce agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine in Jeddah on March 11 and only agreed to a partial ceasefire on strikes against energy facilities and in the Black Sea.
Kyiv has already accused Russia of violating the energy ceasefire, while the future of the Black Sea ceasefire is in doubt as Moscow has linked it to the lifting of some Western sanctions.
Olena Goncharova
