"Perhaps in some areas, the intensity decreased slightly to create an image of compliance with their own announcement. But in reality, (Russia) continued attacks every day, using all available weapons — including aircraft to drop guided bombs on Ukraine," Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, said.
Beijing supports all efforts toward achieving peace in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on May 12 when asked about Kyiv and Europe's proposal for a 30-day truce.
"I invited His Holiness to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine. Such a visit would bring real hope to all believers and to all our people," Zelensky said.
Previously, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused the Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a May 2024 arson attack on the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw.
Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak voiced doubt about leading negotiations with anyone from Russia except President Vladimir Putin, implying only the Russian leader can make real decisions.
This includes at least seven people injured in drone attacks overnight on May 12, a date from which Kyiv and its allies put forward a demand for a 30-day unconditional truce, a step that Moscow continues to reject.
"When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs," the Elysee Palace reacted to a fake story pushed by Russia.
The comments came after Trump urged Ukraine to agree to direct negotiations with Russia, which has invited Kyiv to peace talks in Istanbul on May 15, without first agreeing to halt military operations.
A Russian drone hit a civilian freight train in Donetsk Oblast on May 12 and injured its driver, Ukrainian Railways said amid Kyiv's calls for a ceasefire.
Moscow and Hanoi agreed to negotiate and sign agreements to construct nuclear power plants in Vietnam, the two countries said in a joint statement on May 11.
The sanctions appear to be in response to Russia's rejection of a 30-day ceasefire that the U.K., alongside Ukraine, France, Germany, and Poland, demanded during a visit to Kyiv on May 10.
"We now know for sure that the great fire of the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw was caused by arson ordered by the Russian special services," Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X. "Some of the perpetrators have already been detained, all the others are identified and searched for."
Illustrative purposes only: A locomotive body with the inscription "Ukrzaliznytsia" on March 22, 2022, in Lviv, Ukraine. (Stanislav Ivanov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
A Russian drone hit a civilian freight train in Donetsk Oblast on May 12 and injured its driver, Ukrainian Railways said amid Kyiv's calls for a ceasefire.
Ukraine and its European allies put forward a demand for a 30-day unconditional truce beginning May 12, a step that Moscow continues to reject.
"Truce proposals are being ignored, attacks on railway infrastructure continue," Ukrainian Railways said on Telegram.
"As a result of the attack on the locomotive, the driver suffered a shrapnel wound to his leg. His life is not in danger." According to the statement, the attack failed to halt railway traffic.
Ukraine's railway infrastructure has played a crucial role during Russia's all-out war and has been repeatedly targeted by Russian attacks.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on May 11 that he would travel to Turkey on May 15, "expecting (Russian President Vladimir) Putin," while reiterating calls for an unconditional truce.
"We expect a ceasefire from tomorrow — this proposal is on the table. A complete and unconditional ceasefire — long-term, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy — could bring peace much closer," he added in a separate statement.
As Ukraine's allies push for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, Putin has rejected an immediate ceasefire and instead suggested direct peace talks be held in Istanbul beginning May 15.
The Kremlin has not responded to Zelensky's proposal for a face-to-face meeting of the two leaders.
U.S. President Donald Trump urged Russia and Ukraine to hold peace talks "immediately" as efforts by the White House have thus far failed to establish a ceasefire.
Volodymyr Ivanyshyn
