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.
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.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko's statement came as Strong Shield 5 exercises involving military personnel from other NATO countries began in Lithuania.
"Amendments to the Budget Code are needed to implement the provisions on funding the U.S.-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund," lawmaker Roksolana Pidlasa said.
During reconnaissance in an unspecified front-line sector, Special Operations Forces' operators detected Buk-M3 and Uragan-1 on combat duty, the unit said.
The suspect quit his job at the Rivne NPP before the full-scale war began. In the spring of 2025, a GRU liaison contacted him and offered cooperation in exchange for money.
President Volodymyr Zelensky would not meet any other Russian official apart from Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul this week, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on the Breakfast Show program on May 13.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech on the stand in front of the first General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon received by Ukraine, congratulating the Ukrainian military on Aug. 4, 2024. (Ukrainian Presidency/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Crimea must be returned diplomatically, and Ukraine is open to discussing its territories only after a full, unconditional ceasefire has been reached, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 25.
"A full unconditional ceasefire opens the possibility to discuss everything," Zelensky told journalists.
Washington's latest proposal for ending Russia's war against Ukraine reportedly includes U.S. de jure recognition of Moscow's control over Crimea. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said earlier on April 25 that Ukraine may be forced to temporarily give up some territories to Russia.
"I agree with President Trump that Ukraine does not have enough weapons to regain control of the Crimean peninsula by force of arms," Zelensky said.
Earlier on April 25, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Crimea "will stay with Russia," reiterating recent remarks made by the U.S. president.
Zelensky called for Ukraine's allies to continue to pressure Russia using diplomatic means to bring an end to its illegal occupation of Ukraine's territories.
"But the world has sanctions, opportunities, other economic pressure, diplomatic pressure to talk about this, to discuss territorial issues," he said.
Zelensky said Ukraine is open to discussing occupied territories "only after a complete, unconditional ceasefire.”
"We are ready for dialogue in any... format, at any time, but only after a real signal that Russia is ready to end the war," Zelensky said.
Moscow has shown signs it is unwilling to move forward on a peace deal with Ukraine. Russian authorities have listed maximalist demands in ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine and the U.S.
Ukraine has already agreedto a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to theterms. So far, Moscow has refused.
On April 23, Zelensky reaffirmed that Ukraine insists on an "immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire."
"That was the proposal put forward by the United States on March 11 of this year — and it was absolutely reasonable," Zelensky said.
Volodymyr Ivanyshyn is a news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He is pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto, majoring in political science with a minor in anthropology and human geography. Volodymyr holds a Certificate in Business Fundamentals from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto. He previously completed an internship with The Kyiv Independent.
Asami Terajima
