The blockade ended at 10:30 p.m. local time. Truck traffic in both directions is now moving as usual, according to Ukraine's State Border Guard's statement.
Russia seems to be preparing a significant offensive in Ukraine as it is moving troops toward key positions on the front, the Financial Times reported on May 13, citing undisclosed Ukrainian intelligence officials.
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.
Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, said that the new pontiff had a phone call with Zelensky on Monday, during which the pope expressed willingness to facilitate meetings between global leaders and vowed to support efforts for "a just and lasting peace."
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.
First Lady Olena Zelensky speaks with her Israeli counterpart, Michal Herzog, on the phone on Oct. 17, 2023. (Olena Zelenska/Twitter)
First Lady Olena Zelensky held a phone call with Israeli First Lady Michal Herzog on Oct. 17, during which she expressed her condolences to the victims of Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
"We feel your pain, the pain of every family in Israel. Ukrainians in all corners of our country express support for the people of Israel, and I want to convey this to you," Zelenska said, according to the Presidential Office.
"Our military recorded a video in support of the Israeli people. These and many other manifestations of solidarity confirm how close our peoples are in both joy and sorrow."
Zelenska also noted that, as of Oct. 17, 13 Ukrainian citizens are confirmed dead as a result of Hamas' attack, although identification of the bodies is reportedly ongoing and information is changing daily.
According to the statement, a Ukrainian boy whose mother was killed in the attack was wounded, and he is being provided with medical and psychological assistance.
A total of 436 Ukrainian citizens have been evacuated from Israel thus far.
Meanwhile, around 260 Ukrainian nationals remain trapped in the besieged region of northern Gaza as of Oct. 17.
"The First Lady of Ukraine emphasized that terrorism has no borders," the Presidential Office's statement said.
"Therefore, it is even more important that countries that oppose it act together. Ukraine consistently stands for peace in the Middle East for all peoples."
The Palestinian armed militant group Hamas launched an attack of unprecedented scale on Israel on Oct. 7, using missiles and soldiers who infiltrated into Israeli territory.
Anastasiia Lapatina
