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.
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) charged two social media bloggers for allegedly sharing the positions of Ukraine's Armed Forces on their social media platforms, the SBU announced on June 21, 2024. (SBU/web)
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) charged two social media bloggers for allegedly sharing the positions of Ukraine's Armed Forces on their social media platforms, the SBU announced on June 21.
The first unnamed suspect, a man from Zaporizhzhia, allegedly shared firing positions of Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast, as well as defensive positions near Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The man allegedly shared the details to his Telegram channel with a following of over 140,000 users.
According to the SBU, the man also livestreamed the movement of armored vehicles and artillery systems.
The suspect was reportedly detained while uploading more prohibited military content online.
The other suspect, a man from Vinnytsia Oblast, posted the geolocation and a video of a Ukrainian military helicopter in flight on his Telegram channel.
The accused were charged under Ukraine's Criminal Code for "unauthorized dissemination of information on the movement of Defense Forces."
In its release, the SBU notes that the distribution of photos and videos online that jeopradize Ukrainian military positions are "considered aiding enemy fire and is a crime punishable by law."
The SBU's investigation is ongoing and if convicted the suspects face up to 8 years in prison.
Dmytro Basmat is a senior news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He previously worked in Canadian politics as a communications lead and spokesperson for a national political party, and as a communications assistant for a Canadian Member of Parliament. Basmat has a Master's degree in Political Management from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Abbey Fenbert
