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.
"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.
The office of the State Bureau of Investigation in Kyiv on Sept. 21, 2020. (Olena Khudiakova/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation reported on April 3 that since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, 1,633 cases of suspected treason have come under investigation, resulting in 1,072 people being declared suspects.
The State Bureau of Investigation was set up in 2016 and primarily deals with pre-trial investigations into high-ranking officials and those in positions of power or authority, such as law enforcement officers or judges.
In total, the Bureau has investigated 2,150 suspected crimes against national security.
As well as the 1,633 cases of suspected treason, these include 399 investigations into collaboration and 32 cases of suspected Russian accomplices, the Bureau said.
According to the latest figures, 534 people have been declared wanted, and 768 indictments were sent to court.
Among recent cases of wanted suspects is a Ukrainian border guard who defected to Russia via Germany, the Bureau said.
One of the most high-profile cases of the Bureau is that of lawmaker Oleksandr Dubinsky, who was charged with treason in November 2023 in connection with promoting pro-Russian narratives.
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has reportedly opened investigations into over 8,000 cases of suspected high treason since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Nate Ostiller
