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.
"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.
Previously, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused the Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a May 2024 arson attack on the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw.
"Perhaps in some areas, the intensity decreased slightly to create an image of compliance with their own announcement. But in reality, (Russia) continued attacks every day, using all available weapons — including aircraft to drop guided bombs on Ukraine," Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, said.
Beijing supports all efforts toward achieving peace in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on May 12 when asked about Kyiv and Europe's proposal for a 30-day truce.
"I invited His Holiness to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine. Such a visit would bring real hope to all believers and to all our people," Zelensky said.
Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak voiced doubt about leading negotiations with anyone from Russia except President Vladimir Putin, implying only the Russian leader can make real decisions.
Demonstrators attend a protest against EU climate measures and Ukrainian imports in Warsaw, Poland, on Feb. 27, 2024. (Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images)
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Warsaw on Feb. 27 to join the Polish farmers' protest against Ukrainian agricultural imports and EU environmental policies.
Polish farmers launched a new wave of protests on the border with Ukraine in early February in opposition to Ukrainian agricultural imports to the EU, claiming that Ukrainian imports create unfair competition.
The farmers are also against the European Commission's Green Deal policies, which have sparked protests in countries across the EU, including Belgium, Germany, France, Slovakia, Italy, Czechia, and Greece.
The ongoing protests continue to threaten Ukraine-Poland relations, as some participants dumped Ukrainian crops and displayed anti-Ukrainian slogans.
Some of the protesters carried placards through downtown Warsaw with anti-Ukraine slogans, as well as anti-EU slogans such as "down with the European Union" and "we are farmers, not EU-kolkhoz farmers," referring to a Soviet form of collective farm.
The city authorities estimated that 10,000 people had joined the march, though the organizers told journalists they expect as many as 50,000 participants.
The farmers will reportedly organize a general strike in Warsaw on March 6 if no action is taken to implement their demands.
Polish truckers may also resume protests at up to four border crossings with Ukraine on March 1, claiming that promises made to them by the Polish government have not been fulfilled.
The truckers, along with farmers, began a protest at Ukraine's border in November 2023 against the EU's liberalization of transit rules for Ukrainian truckers.
The truckers suspended their blockade in January after Warsaw promised to address the demands of the protesters.
