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.
Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on May 19, 2023. (Photo for illustrative purposes) (Bandar Aljaloud Royal Court of Saudi Arabia/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Zelensky said on Telegram on Nov. 27.
The two "discussed recent events in the Middle East" and strengthening ties between Saudi Arabia and Ukraine.
The implementation of the peace formula, Ukraine's 10-point peace plan, was also a topic of discussion, Zelensky said.
Since Saudi Arabia hosted a summit on the peace plan in August, Zelensky has held a call with the Saudi Crown Prince on a near-monthly basis.
Zelensky traveled to Saudi Arabia for the first time in May 2023, meeting the crown prince and appealing to Arab leaders to support Ukraine's peace plan.
Saudi Arabia played an important role in negotiating prisoner exchanges with Russia, allowing Ukraine to achieve a major exchange involving nearly 300 people in September 2022.
Dinara Khalilova
