The new tranche brings total recent EU defense support for Ukraine to 3.3 billion euros ($3.6 billion), marking a significant expansion of European efforts to boost Kyiv's defense industry.
"Russia is ready for negotiations without any preconditions," Putin claimed in an address marking the end of the three-day Victory Day ceasefire. He invited Ukraine to begin talks in Istanbul on May 15.
Both men face charges related to terrorism and espionage. Daniil B. was detained in Lithuania, where he is in temporary custody, while Oleksandr V. remains at large in Russia.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine and its allies discussed tougher sanctions against Russia's banking sector, central bank, and energy industry.
"We are ready for all options. But of course, we are separately waiting for a response on the ceasefire," a source close to President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Kyiv Independent.
The EU plans to unveil on May 14 its next package of sanctions imposed against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine, an EU official told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity.
Polish truckers plan to restrict freight traffic at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on the Ukrainian border, Ukraine's State Border Guard said on May 12.
"If the Russians are using this level of specialists in urban combat, they are probably facing some difficulties," Ivan Petrychak, spokesperson for the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, 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.
"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.
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.
Solar panels of a rooftop in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 2, 2023. Julia Kochetova/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Ukraine's government has approved a plan that aims to increase the share of renewable energy in overall power consumption to 27% over the next six years, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Aug. 13.
Ukraine plans to increase production of energy through solar, wind, biogas, and hydropower energy, Shmyhal said.
The government approved the National Renewable Energy Action Plan for the years up to 2030, which "clearly correlates with European norms and standards," Shmyhal said.
As part of the plan, Ukraine aims to increase the share of renewable energy consumption to 27% by 2030. Before the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the share of renewable energy in Ukraine's grid was about 10%.
According to Reuters, Ukraine will need $20 billion in investments to develop the renewable energy sector as part of the plan, which envisages providing support quotas for green energy producers.
Russia's full-scale invasion has led Ukraine to accelerate its investment in renewable energy.
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian power infrastructure since the start of the full-scale invasion and continues to occupy the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
Several large-scale Russian attacks on Ukraine's power grid over the spring caused rolling blackouts across Ukraine in May, which intensified in July due to an abnormal heat wave.
By early July, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated the losses of the Ukrainian energy sector due to Russian strikes at $56.5 billion.
DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, said in June that it had lost nearly 90% of its generating capacity due to Russia's attacks, but aims to recover 60-70% of its power generation capacity by October.
The company announced plans in December 2023 to build the largest wind farm in Eastern Europe in partnership with Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas, aiming to diversify and strengthen Ukraine's energy system.
Andrea Januta
