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.
President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Pope Francis in Italy on June 14, 2024. (President of Ukraine)
President Volodymyr Zelensky met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy on June 14, and discussed topics including establishing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
Zelensky previously met Pope Francis in May 2023 during a visit to the Vatican, where they spoke for over half an hour.
On the sidelines of the G7 summit, Zelensky thanked the Pope "for his prayers for peace in Ukraine, spiritual closeness to our people, and humanitarian aid to Ukrainians."
Zelensky said he "informed the Pope about the consequences of Russian aggression, its air terror, and the difficult energy situation" and discussed "the Holy See's role in establishing a just and lasting peace," as well as expectations of the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland.
Pope Francis was criticized in March by leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO General Jens Stoltenberg for calling on Ukraine to "not be ashamed to negotiate" with Russia.
In an interview with Swiss broadcaster RSI, Pope Francis said that Ukraine should have the "courage" to negotiate peace with Russia and raise the "white flag."
President Volodymyr Zelensky responded in his nightly address on March 10 without mentioning the Pope directly, saying that Russia is "not moving further into Europe only because they are being held back by Ukrainians with weapons in their hands and under the blue and yellow flag."
The Vatican responded on March 11 that Russia should take the first steps toward negotiations with Ukraine, and that the Pope's call was to "create the conditions for a diplomatic solution in search of a just and lasting peace."
Andrea Januta
