According to the Verkhovna Rada's website, Ukraine completed the ratification of the U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement on May 12. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the deal.
"I believe both leaders are going to be there," U.S. President Donald Trump said.
"I myself have heard relatives talking: our village is being attacked, let's roll the car out of the garage, maybe they will shell it — at least we will get money. The car is old, we can't sell it," Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
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.
"The clock is ticking — we still have twelve hours until the end of this day," German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius reportedly said.
"There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will wait for Putin on Thursday in Turkey," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"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.
US envoy Witkoff expected to visit Moscow this week, Putin aide says
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a confirmation from the White House.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow this week, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian state-controlled media outlet Interfax on April 22.
"We are expecting (him)," Ushakov said when asked if Witkoff would arrive in the coming days.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed at a briefing on April 22 that Witkoff will visit Russia "later this week to continue talks with (Russian President) Vladimir Putin."
The visit would come as Ukraine faces mounting pressure to respond to a controversial U.S. proposal that reportedly includes provisions for recognizing Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and barring Kyiv from joining NATO, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Senior Trump administration officials presented the plan to Ukrainian and European officials during the Paris talks on April 17. If Kyiv, Washington, and its European allies align, the plan could be officially presented to Moscow.
Ukraine is expected to deliver its formal response during a follow-up meeting in London on April 23, where representatives from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States will reconvene.
Witkoff, the Trump administration's envoy to the Middle East, has visited Russia several times this year and met Putin on three occasions.
The envoy has drawn criticism from both U.S. and Ukrainian officials for promoting Kremlin-aligned positions, including the idea of trading Ukrainian territory for peace.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 21 that there is a "very good" chance of reaching a deal, though Washington has warned it may end its mediation efforts in the coming days if talks stall.
"I will be giving you full details over the next three days, but we had very good meetings on Ukraine, Russia," Trump said. "There is a very good chance (to reach a ceasefire)."
Despite the push for a ceasefire, Russia has rejected a joint U.S.-Ukraine proposal for a 30-day truce and continues offensive operations. Putin declared a symbolic one-day Easter ceasefire on April 19, which President Volodymyr Zelensky said was violated roughly 3,000 times.
Kyiv has proposed a separate 30-day truce focused on halting long-range drone and missile strikes on civilian infrastructure. Putin said the Kremlin needs to "look into" the proposal.
Tim Zadorozhnyy
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