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 law enforcement officers search a member of Ukraine’s parliament accused of receiving $50,000 from a foreigner in exchange for help with avoiding extradition. (Ukraine's Security Service)
A member of Ukraine’s parliament was charged with fraud after promising a foreigner his assistance in avoiding extradition for $50,000, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) reported on June 30.
The lawmaker allegedly offered to use his sources in court to make the State Migration Service reverse its decision on refusing the foreigner refugee status in Ukraine.
The SBU officers reportedly caught the lawmaker red-handed receiving $30,000 as the second tranche of the financial reward.
If convicted, the parliament’s deputy may face up to 12 years in prison.
According to Ukrainska Pravda’s sources in law enforcement, the suspect is Serhii Alieksieiev, an MP from the Yevropeiska Solidarnist (European Solidarity) party.
The party confirmed that the SBU had searched Alieksieiev, calling it “continued provocations and pressure on our representatives.”
It claimed that the law enforcement agencies had repeatedly searched other party members as well as allegedly attempted “to pressure and intimidate their families.”
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.
