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.
A captive named Umit allegedly agreed to serve in the Russian army in exchange for Russian citizenship and a monetary reward of 2 million rubles ($25,000).
Donald Tusk, the leader of the Civic Coalition, speaking during a press conference in Warsaw, Poland, on Nov. 21, 2023. (Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he would convince Polish carriers blocking the border with Ukraine not to use such methods, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported on Jan. 3.
Since November, Polish protesters have been blocking four crossings with Ukraine due to the EU's liberalization of transit rules for Ukrainian truckers. The blockade has left thousands of Ukrainian truckers stranded in long lines in freezing temperatures.
Polish farmers also joined the protests, promising to resume their blockade at the Shehyni-Medyka crossing on Jan. 4 after a temporary reprieve.
Speaking at a press conference, Tusk noted that he understands the "interests of Polish carriers, drivers, and farmers."
"I have to study the reasons why...some farmers... decided to return to the border blockade," the head of the Polish government said.
Farmers' representatives have demanded written assurances about state subsidies for growing corn, increased loans, and maintenance of the agricultural tax at the current rate.
Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski visited the border blockade in late December and promised that the farmers' grievances would be addressed, said Roman Kondrow, one of the leaders of the protesters.
Tusk also said he would convince Polish carriers "not to use the blockade as a method of protecting their interest" and instructed Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak to prepare suitable solutions for resolving the conflict.
"My government and I will do everything... to protect their (carriers') interests in today's unequal competition with Ukrainian carriers," Tusk stressed.
"I will be more effective in protecting Polish carriers when there is no blockade... Our arguments will be better heard when Poland is not blocking the border."
