More than 1,000 Russian government entities and 1,200 private companies are involved in the economy of occupied Mariupol, a major southeastern city occupied by Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022, according to a research paper published on May 14.
The measures target almost 200 ships of Russia's "shadow fleet," 30 companies involved in sanctions evasion, 75 sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, and more.
The government has approved "reform roadmaps in the rule of law, public administration, and democratic institutions, as well as Ukraine’s negotiation position," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
The statement did not name the ex-official by name, but details of the case indicate it relates to Oleh Hladkovsky, a former deputy secretary of Ukraine's top security body who has been wanted since mid-April.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva claimed that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had appealed to his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, to ask Putin if he was willing to conclude a peace agreement.
"Trump needs to believe that Putin actually lies," Zelensky told journalists in Kyiv. "And we should do our part. Sensibly approach this issue, to show that it’s not us that is slowing down the process."
The EU plans to significantly increase tariffs on Ukrainian goods after the current duty-free deal lapses on June 6, the Financial Times reported on May 14, citing undisclosed diplomatic sources.
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.
Vadym Prystaiko, the outgoing Ukrainian ambassador to the U.K., on February 8, 2023 in London, England. (Photo credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images)
President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree on July 21 on the dismissal of Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine's ambassador to the U.K.
While the presidential office did not comment on the reason for the firing of the ambassador, the decision comes after Prystaiko's comments for Sky News on July 13 that Zelensky's "sarcasm" toward the outgoing U.K. Defense Minister Ben Wallace is not "healthy."
Contacted by the Kyiv Independent, the Ukrainian embassy in the U.K. did not immediately respond for comment.
Earlier, Wallace commented that Kyiv should show more gratitude for the weapon supplies provided by the U.K. and other allies.
Zelensky responded that he does not know how else should Ukraine show its thankfulness.
"Let him write to me (about) how else I should express my words of gratitude, or we could get up in the morning and express our words of gratitude to the minister," Zelenskyy said.
When asked by Sky News whether the president's response was sarcastic, the ambassador said he believes "it was a little bit of sarcasm."
Prystaiko, a seasoned diplomat, served as Ukraine's ambassador in London since July 2020. He previously held the position of foreign minister between 2019-2020, ambassador to NATO between 2017-2019, and ambassador to Canada between 2012-2014.
The U.K. has been one of Kyiv's staunchest allies in its fight against Russian aggression, providing substantial economic, military, and diplomatic support.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
