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.
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.
Rescuers dealing with the aftermath of the Russian missile strike against Kramatorsk on June 27, 2023. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Telegram)
At least 11 people have died in a June 27 missile strike on the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast, the State Emergency Service reported on June 28.
The figure includes three children, two of which were born in 2008 and one in 2011, earlier reports said.
Some 56 people were reported as injured so far, including an eight-month-old child.
On the evening of 27 June, Russian S-300 missiles struck a restaurant in the center of the city, a place popular with volunteers, journalists, and soldiers, who all often use Kramatorsk as a base of operations in Donetsk Oblast.
At least three foreigners are among the wounded, Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on the previous evening.
Rescuers dealing with the aftermath of the Russian missile strike against Kramatorsk on June 27, 2023. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Telegram)
Rescuers dealing with the aftermath of the Russian missile strike against Kramatorsk on June 27, 2023. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Telegram)
Rescuers dealing with the aftermath of the Russian missile strike against Kramatorsk on June 27, 2023. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Telegram)
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
