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.
A captive named Umit allegedly agreed to serve in the Russian army in exchange for Russian citizenship and a monetary reward of 2 million rubles ($25,000).
Russia's Buryatia Republic declared a state of emergency on May 13 over massive forest fires that have engulfed multiple regions in the Russian Far East.
President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, May 8, 2024. (Presidential Office)
President Volodymyr Zelensky published a declaration of his family's assets, income, expenses, and financial obligations in 2024, the Presidential Office announced on March 30.
The system of mandatory electronic asset declarations for public officials wasinstituted in 2014 as part of Ukraine's fight against corruption. After its suspension at the start of the full-scale invasion, Zelensky signed a law resuming the declarations in October 2023.
According to his latest declaration, Zelensky's family income totaled Hr 15,286,193 ($368,556) in 2024, including Hr 8,585,532 ($207,000) from the sales of government bonds. The remaining income consisted of the president's salary, bank interest, and payments from renting out private real estate.
"The increase in the Ukrainian President's family income compared to the previous year was due to the resumption of full rental payments," the Presidential Office said.
"There were no other significant changes in the assets, real estate, or vehicles of the President's family last year."
Abbey Fenbert is a senior news editor at the Kyiv Independent. She is a freelance writer, editor, and playwright with an MFA from Boston University. Abbey served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine from 2008-2011.
Oleg Sukhov
