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 in his office in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 24, 2023. (Volodymyr Zelensky/X)
President Volodymyr Zelenksy signed a law that resumes tax inspections for businesses, the online portal of the Ukrainian parliament announced on Dec. 6.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), amending the tax code to lift the moratorium on tax audits forms a key benchmark in Ukraine's efforts to "restore a taxpaying culture and avoid unduly narrowing the tax base."
Tax audits for businesses were suspended with the onset of martial law in Ukraine amid the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion.
The passing of the law follows a previous amendment to the tax code in August, which restored the pre-war taxation system and lifted a moratorium on inspections for excise goods (alcohol, tobacco, and fuel), as well as the gambling business and financial services.
Adopting the law was "an important condition stipulated by the agreement with the IMF," MP Yaroslav Zhelezhniak said on June 30.
The law on resuming tax inspections only applies to specific businesses, such as enterprises with an annual income of more than Hr. 10 million ($272,000) in 2021, where expenses accounted for more than 75% of the yearly income.
The law does not apply to certain small and medium-sized businesses, which will continue to benefit from a moratorium on tax inspections until December 2024.
Companies located in Russian-occupied territories or front-line regions will also remain exempt.
The move to restore tax audits for businesses in Ukraine comes amid growing anxieties around the state budget.
The parliament passed the state budget for 2024 on Nov. 9, setting revenues at Hr 1.77 trillion ($49 billion) and expenses at Hr 3.35 trillion ($93 billion). Almost half of the budget was allocated to defense needs.
Nate Ostiller
