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.
"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.
Officers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau hand charges to the leadership of Ukraine's State Service of Special Communications in connection to embezzling around $1.7 million of state funds. (National Anti-Corruption Bureau/Telegram)
The head of Ukraine's State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection and one of his deputies were charged with embezzling over Hr 62 million ($1.7 million) of state funds, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau reported on Nov. 20.
The State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection is Ukraine's primary agency responsible for the national cyber security system and a part of the country's defense sector.
According to the investigation, the officials cooperated with a businessman to embezzle budget funds allocated for purchasing equipment and software in 2020-2022.
The suspects used companies controlled by the businessman in question and classified the procurement "to avoid open bidding and to ensure their victory," the bureau wrote.
A state enterprise subordinate to the Special Communications Service allegedly bought the software from these companies for Hr 285 million ($7.9 million), while their real value was about Hr 223 million ($6.1 million), allowing the suspects to seize the remaining money.
The suspects then transferred the funds to the companies' accounts abroad to legalize and distribute them among the criminal group members, according to the bureau.
The charges were handed to the Special Communications Service chief, his deputy, the businessman and his employee, as well as to the head and an employee of the subordinate state enterprise.
The bureau didn't name the suspects, but earlier the same day, Kyiv dismissed the service's chief Yurii Shchyhol and Viktor Zhora, his deputy in charge of digitalization, according to the government's representative in the parliament.
Dinara Khalilova is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a news editor. In the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she worked as a fixer and local producer for Sky News’ team in Ukraine. Dinara holds a BA in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Master’s degree in media and communication from the U.K.’s Bournemouth University.
