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.
Ukraine's Olga Kharlan (L) celebrates with teammates and Ukrainian flag after winning in the women's sabre team gold medal bout between South Korea and Ukraine during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Aug. 3, 2024. (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)
Ukraine's women's saber fencing team won the country's first gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 3, defeating South Korea with a score of 45-42 in the finals.
Ukraine's five-time Olympic medalist Olga Kharlan, along with fencers Olena Kravatska, Alina Komashchuk, and Yuliia Bakastova, made their way to the Olympic finals by beating Italy and Japan.
"Thank you for the result, for your character, for the fact that Ukrainians are winning!" President Volodymyr Zelensky said following the match.
"We are cheering for ours and supporting them with the whole country. Ukraine knows how to inspire at the Olympic Games, even in times like these."
Gold medalists of Ukraine's team Olena Kravatska, Alina Komashchuk, Olga Kharlan and Yuliia Bakastova celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's sabre team competition during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Aug. 3, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)
Kharlan won Ukraine's first Olympic medal in the 2024 games, defeating South Korea's Choi Sebin on July 29. The gold makes her Ukraine's most decorated Olympian in history by medal count, six in total. Swimmer Yana Klochkova, who retired in 2008, has five Olympic medals.
Ukraine has so far won three medals at the Paris Olympics. Shooter Serhii Kulish took silver in the 50m rifle three-position event.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak defeated Brazilian Wanderley Pereira in the 80-kilogram weight category quarterfinals. Khyzhniak has secured a spot in the semifinals, guaranteeing him at least a bronze medal, as the Olympic regulations stipulate that there is no third-place match.
Kateryna Hodunova
