"Trump needs to believe that Putin actually lies," Zelensky told journalists in Kyiv. "And we should do our part. Sensibly approach this issue, to show that it’s not us that is slowing down the process."
The measures target almost 200 ships of Russia's "shadow fleet," 30 companies involved in sanctions evasion, 75 sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, and more.
The EU plans to significantly increase tariffs on Ukrainian goods after the current duty-free deal lapses on June 6, the Financial Times reported on May 14, citing undisclosed diplomatic sources.
The blockade ended at 10:30 p.m. local time. Truck traffic in both directions is now moving as usual, according to Ukraine's State Border Guard's statement.
Russia seems to be preparing a significant offensive in Ukraine as it is moving troops toward key positions on the front, the Financial Times reported on May 13, citing undisclosed Ukrainian intelligence officials.
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.
Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, said that the new pontiff had a phone call with Zelensky on Monday, during which the pope expressed willingness to facilitate meetings between global leaders and vowed to support efforts for "a just and lasting peace."
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.
For illustration purposes only: Russian-Ukrainian politician Ilya Ponomarev speaks at the Congress of People's Deputies, a self-proclaimed Russian parliament in exile, as Russian opposition members gather in the Airport Hotel Okecieto to work and vote on the new Russian constitution on June 11, 2023, in Warsaw, Poland. (Magdalena Chodownik/Getty Images)
A Russian kamikaze drone struck the house of a former Russian lawmaker, Ilya Ponomarev, in Kyiv's outskirts overnight on Aug. 1, injuring the anti-Kremlin politician, Ukrainian media reported, citing sources.
The incident was reported a day after three drones allegedly hit an area near Ponomarev's house during a previous attack on July 31.
The Obozrevatel outlet wrote that the Russian Geran-2 drone exploded five meters from the Russian-Ukrainian politician's house, damaging it. Ponomarev suffered multiple shrapnel wounds, but his life is not in danger, the outlet wrote, sharing a photo of the wounded politician.
RBC Ukraine also reported that according to its law enforcement sources, Ponomarev's house was hit in the overnight attack.
According to Obozrevatel's sources, the two attacks in a row suggest that Ponomarev has been directly targeted by Russia. The claim could not be immediately verified, but the Kremlin has often carried out targeted assassinations against its opponents living abroad.
The politician is now under protection, Obozrevatel added.
According to an official police report, a man and his wife were injured during the attack on Kyiv Oblast. The police did not mention the names of the victims.
"Today seems to be my second birthday. The fifth attempted attack was the most unconventional and the most successful," Ponomarev wrote on X in the morning, promising details later.
Ponomarev, 48, was the only member of Russia's State Duma to vote against Moscow's illegal seizure of Crimea in 2014. He subsequently fled to the U.S. and later to Ukraine, obtaining Ukrainian citizenship in 2019.
After Russia's full-scale invasion broke out in 2022, Ponomarev joined Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces and called upon Russian citizens to take up arms against the Kremlin.
Moscow added the politician to its list of terrorists and extremists in January 2023 and charged him with treason in February this year.
Ponomarev was cooperating closely with the Freedom of Russia Legion – an armed group of Russians fighting on Kyiv's side – but the formation announced on July 31 that it was breaking ties with the politician.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Oleg Sukhov
