The measures target almost 200 ships of Russia's "shadow fleet," 30 companies involved in sanctions evasion, 75 sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, and more.
The EU plans to significantly increase tariffs on Ukrainian goods after the current duty-free deal lapses on June 6, the Financial Times reported on May 14, citing undisclosed diplomatic sources.
The blockade ended at 10:30 p.m. local time. Truck traffic in both directions is now moving as usual, according to Ukraine's State Border Guard's statement.
Russia seems to be preparing a significant offensive in Ukraine as it is moving troops toward key positions on the front, the Financial Times reported on May 13, citing undisclosed Ukrainian intelligence officials.
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.
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.
Trump supporters cheers as Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S., on July 13, 2024. (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. President Donald Trump on April 2 announced a 10% baseline tariff on all imports into the country, along with higher rates for dozens of countries that maintain trade surpluses with the United States.
He claimed the measure would ultimately strengthen the U.S. economy and lower prices for consumers, adding that it will serve as a hard reset for American industry.
Speaking at the “Make America Wealthy Again” event in the Rose Garden, Trump said the United States had been exploited for decades by both allies and adversaries, describing the nation as having been "looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered."
Cambodia faces the highest tariff at 49%, followed by Vietnam at 46%. The European Union is set to receive a 20% tariff, while goods from China will be hit with an additional 34%, and will now face a 54% tariff. Ukraine is also included on the list, subject to a 10% tariff.
Russia and Belarus are not included on the list, according to the charts from the White House.
This is likely because, since 2022, trade and economic relations between the United States and both countries have been governed by sanctions and special restrictions. As a result, tariff policy is no longer reciprocal but driven by sanctions.
The tariffs will take effect on April 5, according to the White House. "These tariffs will remain in effect until such a time as President Trump determines that the threat posed by the trade deficit and underlying nonreciprocal treatment is satisfied, resolved, or mitigated," reads the announcement.
Some goods will be exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, including steel, aluminum, copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber, bullion, and certain energy and mineral resources not available in the United States.
Several Democrats have criticized Donald Trump's "reciprocal tariffs," arguing that the measures will negatively impact working-class Americans. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois said that with the new tariffs "American families will see higher prices on groceries, cars, gas, and American jobs will suffer."
"Instead of lowering the cost of living, President Trump is raising it," Durbin wrote.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster added that "Trump is forcing us into a needless trade war with no clear objective or strategy."
Trump is forcing us into a needless trade war with no clear objective or strategy. History has proven time and again—including during Trump's first Administration—that these tariffs will raise costs for American consumers and businesses. https://t.co/N9aZc052vq
— Congressman Bill Foster (@RepBillFoster) April 2, 2025
From across the Atlantic, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk commented on the tariff decision, writing: "Friendship means partnership. Partnership means really and truly reciprocal tariffs. Adequate decisions are needed," and included the EU and U.S. flag emojis.
While Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is considered an ally of Trump, said on April 2 that the tariffs introduced by his administration were "wrong" and would not serve the interests of the United States.
"We will do everything we can to work towards an agreement with the United States, with the aim of avoiding a trade war that would inevitably weaken the West in favor of other global players," she wrote.
Olena Goncharova is the Head of North America desk at The Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a development manager and Canadian correspondent. She first joined the Kyiv Post, Ukraine's oldest English-language newspaper, as a staff writer in January 2012 and became the newspaper’s Canadian correspondent in June 2018. She is based in Edmonton, Alberta. Olena has a master’s degree in publishing and editing from the Institute of Journalism in Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv. Olena was a 2016 Alfred Friendly Press Partners fellow who worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for six months. The program is administered by the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia.
Dominic Culverwell
