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.
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on Feb. 21, 2025. (Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has created and hosted multiple sensitive national-security conversations on Signal with cabinet members, including those on peace between Russia and Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on March 30, citing undisclosed U.S. officials.
The news comes after Waltz reportedly caused a leak of sensitive information by adding Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine, to a Signal chat room discussing a future U.S. attack on Yemen.
The Signal incident has undermined Waltz's credibility with U.S. President Donald Trump, while the national security advisor continues to walk a fine line, multiple media outlets wrote.
According to two U.S. officials, Waltz also discussed sensitive topics, such as peace between Russia and Ukraine and military operations, on Signal, the WSJ reported. The officials declined to say whether any classified information was posted in those chats.
Waltz is a key member of the U.S. team seeking to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia. He participated in talks with the two countries' delegations in Saudi Arabia in February and March.
Goldberg received a Signal message from a user named "Michael Waltz" on March 11 — four days before the U.S. military strike on Yemen. After accepting the request, he found himself in a chat named "Houthi PC small group" (PC referring to the Principals Committee, a U.S. national security decision-making body).
The chat reportedly included 18 accounts with names corresponding to top U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Trump advisor Steve Witkoff.
Messages within the chat detailed the planning and discussion of the March 15 strike on Yemen, leading Goldberg to conclude that the group was real.
Dominic Culverwell
