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.
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.
Rescuers extract a man from the rubble of a two-story building in the town of Pidhorodne in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast after a Russian missile struck a residential area on June 3, 2023. (State Emergency Service/Telegram)
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 4 during his video address that Russia manages to bypass international sanctions and benefit from Western technology by using a network of intermediaries.
“We see every direction (used by Russia to) bypass existing sanctions, every country whose territory, jurisdiction, or citizens are used by Russia to continue terror,” Zelensky said. “Together with our partners, we must close all such areas so that there would be no products of the free world in Russian missiles, in Russian weapons. And neceessary steps will be taken."
As a result of Russia's June 3 attack on the city of Pidhorodne, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 2-year-old girl was killed and 25 civilians were injured, including 5 children.
Since Feb. 24 2022, at least 485 Ukrainian children have been killed due to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, the real number (of killed children) is higher. Every time we liberate our territories, we learn the terrible truth about the occupation," Zelensky said.
We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.
Lili Bivings
