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.
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.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the 15th Ramstein summit on Sept. 19. (Photo: Rustem Umerov / Twitter)
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that Ukraine's allies at the Sept. 19 Ramstein meeting agreed to form 'Capablities Coalitions' around five key defense priorities: air defense, artillery, aviation, the navy, and armored vehicles.
"Held productive meetings on the sidelines of Ramstein 15," Umerov said. "Hope results will soon be tangible for our warriors on the battlefield."
The Ukraine Defense Contact Group met at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany to discuss coordinated security assistance efforts in the 15th meeting of its kind since April 2022.
In a press briefing following the summit, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that creating targeted coalitions was part of the long-term strategy to aid Ukraine.
"Meanwhile, our long-term support for Ukraine will continue to evolve through dedicated capability coalitions, like the ones that we started for armor and F-16 training and information technology," Austin said.
"And these important coalitions will help Ukraine continue to build up a combat-credible force for the future."
"We are providing support in a way that maximizes the benefits to Ukraine, focusing on the core areas of artillery, air defense, ammunition, sustainment and training," said German Parliamentary State Secretary Siemtje Möller.
The German support package will include air defense systems, artillery munitions, and mine-clearing systems.
Abbey Fenbert is a senior news editor at the Kyiv Independent. She is a freelance writer, editor, and playwright with an MFA from Boston University. Abbey served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine from 2008-2011.
Martin Fornusek
