Performing their song "Bird of Pray," Ukrainian band Ziferblat passed the Eurovision semi-finals on May 13, qualifying Ukraine for Saturday's grand final.
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.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attend a press meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on April 17, 2024. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was officially appointed to be the next NATO Secretary General on June 26.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he endorsed Rutte after the Dutch prime minister pledged he would support Budapest in opting out of NATO initiatives to support Ukraine.
In a post on X, Stoltenberg said," I warmly welcome" Rutte's selection as his successor. He characterized the Dutch prime minister as a "true transatlanticist, a strong leader and a consensus-builder. I wish him every success as we continue to strengthen NATO."
"I know I am leaving NATO in good hands," Stoltenberg added.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said, "I know Mark Rutte as a principled and strong leader, who has demonstrated his decisiveness and vision on many occasions over the past years."
Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak congratulated Rutte on being appointed to his new position, saying that his "leadership and dedication to democratic principles are crucial for our shared future."
Elsa Court
