A Russian military jet “violated NATO territory” after the Estonian Navy made an attempt to intercept a tanker thought to belong to Moscow’s “shadow fleet,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on May 15 in comments reported by Reuters.

Speaking in Antalya, Turkey, ahead of a NATO informal meeting, Tsahkna said the Russian aircraft was deployed to “check the situation” after the ship refused to cooperate with Estonian authorities and was being escorted back to Russian waters.

“And this fighter jet violated NATO territory for close to one minute,” Tsahkna said, adding: “(The) Russian Federation is ready to protect the ‘shadow fleet’… the situation is really serious."

Russia’s “shadow fleet” consists of aging tankers used to circumvent sanctions, including those imposed by the EU, U.K., and U.S. Ukraine recently sanctioned captains of these vessels, targeting Russian and Iranian nationals involved in illicit oil exports.

A growing portion of Russia’s oil tanker fleet is being forced to reflag as sanctions intensify, disrupting Moscow’s oil export logistics and forcing tankers to re-register in less reputable jurisdictions, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 23.

According to the Estonian media outlet ERR, Russia sent a Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet to check on the status of the tanker Jaguar, which was sailing through international waters in the Gulf of Finland.

Estonian authorities said the tanker lacked a flag, meaning it was not authorized to sail in international waters.

To carry out the interception, Estonia deployed an AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter, an M28 Skytruck reconnaissance aircraft, and the EML Raju patrol vessel, according to Militarny.

After the incident on May 13 it returned to the Russian port of Primorsk.

Previously, on April 11, the Estonian Navy for the first time detained an oil tanker Kiwala, belonging to the shadow fleet.

Zelensky arrives in Turkey, decries Russia’s ‘sham’ delegation ahead of potential peace talks

President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, began in Ankara on May 15, Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu reported.

The meeting is taking place ahead of potential peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.

“First of all, I would like to thank President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for organizing the possibility of direct negotiations,” Zelensky said upon his arrival, according to his Telegram channel.

After Moscow proposed to hold peace talks in Turkey this week, Zelensky agreed and invited Russian President Vladimir Putin for a face-to-face meeting. The Russian leader declined to attend and appointed his aide, Vladimir Medinsky, to lead the talks.

“We need to understand what the level of the Russian delegation is, what their mandate is, and whether they are capable of making decisions on their own,” said Zelensky.

“Because we all know who makes decisions in Russia,” he added, saying Moscow appears to have sent a “sham” delegation.

Zelensky previously met Erdogan in Ankara in February, during which the two leaders reportedly discussed Turkey’s potential participation in a peacekeeping force after a ceasefire.

Erdogan has maintained close ties with both Kyiv and Moscow during the full-scale war, positioning Turkey as a mediator in the war.

In 2022, Istanbul hosted the unsuccessful — and so far, the only — direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Turkey also helped to broker a Black Sea grain deal that allowed safe maritime shipment until Russia pulled out of the agreement in 2023.

Zelensky arrives in Turkey, decries Russia’s ‘sham’ delegation ahead of potential peace talks

President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) on May 14 for the first time presented its latest versatile Magura naval drones to the public.

The Magura drones, as well as the Sea Baby drones of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), have been pivotal in turning the tide of the war in the Black Sea, destroying or damaging multiple Russian ships and other assets.

HUR’s Group 13 has deployed Magura drones to successfully hit 17 naval and aerial Russian targets. Fifteen of them, including two Mi-8 helicopters, two Su-30 fighter jets, and the Sergey Kotov, Ivanovets, and Ceasar Kunikov warships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, have been destroyed, the agency said.

Several variants of the Magura drones exist, including the “ship-killer” V5, the V7 capable of carrying machine guns or anti-air missiles, and the multi-platform V6P.

As of 2024, Ukraine was reportedly able to destroy or disable one-third of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in a drone and missile campaign, despite Moscow’s significant advantage in sheer naval power.

Black Sea hostilities have since then quieted down as Russia moved most of its naval assets from occupied Crimea further east and Ukraine managed to resume its maritime shipping.

As Ukraine, Russia agree to ceasefire at sea, Moscow’s battered Black Sea Fleet is set to get a reprieve

The White House on March 25 announced that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to “eliminate the use of force” in the Black Sea, returning the spotlight to a theater of battle that has been relatively quiet for more than a year. Throughout 2022 and 2023, Ukrainian strikes against Russian ships,

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Turkey on May 15 ahead of potential ceasefire negotiations with Russia, even as Russian President Vladimir Putin is skipping the talks.

Zelensky’s plane has landed at Ankara airport as the president first plans to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey’s capital.

Speaking to journalists at the airport, Zelensky said that the Ukrainian delegation is of the “highest level,” including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, representatives of the military and the Presidential Office, and heads of “all intelligence agencies."

A Russian delegation has also arrived to meet with Ukrainian representatives for peace talks in Istanbul — without Putin. The Kremlin has ruled out Putin’s trip to Turkey, revealing that the negotiations will instead be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.

Ukraine’s president will decide on his next steps regarding peace talks with Russia after meeting with Erdogan, a source close to the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent.

U.S. President Donald Trump initially voiced optimism about the prospects of a Zelensky-Putin meeting and suggested he might attend as well on May 16 if progress is made.

“I don’t really believe that Putin himself is capable of meeting. It seems to me that he is afraid,”  Zelensky said in an interview with Spiegel published earlier this week.

Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on May 13 that Zelensky would not meet with lower-level Russian officials in Istanbul if Putin failed to appear, saying there would be no point in such negotiations.

Zelensky said on May 14 that he was waiting for information on Russia’s decision before determining Ukraine’s next steps. According to the Washington Post, U.S. and European officials reportedly urged Zelensky not to abandon the Istanbul talks regardless of Putin’s participation.

While not in the cards for the May 15 talks, a presidential-level meeting could signal a breakthrough in stalled diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s full-scale invasion. Zelensky and Putin met only once during the 2019 Normandy Four meeting in France. Since then, there have been no direct in-person meetings between the two presidents.

Zelensky said that a potential talk with Putin would center around an unconditional ceasefire and an all-for-all prisoner exchange.

It is unclear whether Zelensky will still join the Istanbul talks without Putin’s participation.

Kyiv and its allies have proposed an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning on May 12 as a first step toward peace — a proposal that Russia has so far ignored.

Who else is visiting Turkey?

While no additional meetings have been officially announced, representatives from Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia are also arriving in Turkey.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Turkey on May 14 and met with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Antalya. Sybiha also met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Istanbul with Rubio on May 16 to participate in discussions on Ukraine.

The Kremlin revealed its list of delegates late on May 14. In addition to Medinsky, Russia is sending Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Military Intelligence Director Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will not attend, nor will Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov.

There were no reports of any other scheduled meetings between Ukrainian, U.S., and Russian officials.

Despite the hype, EU’s latest Russia sanctions ‘not as strong as they should be’

The European Union’s 17th package of sanctions against Russia, agreed on May 14, is being hailed in Brussels as a symbol of steady resolve. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the move, insisting it would “keep the pressure high on the Kremlin.” But outside the EU bubble, critics see it as another incremental move that fails to match the urgency of the moment, and behind closed doors, even EU officials acknowledge the package was watered down during negotiations. The s

The Kyiv IndependentAlex Cadier

Editor’s note: This story is being updated.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not visit Istanbul for a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 15, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed.

The Kremlin withheld confirmation of whether President Putin would travel to Turkey until the last moment. It released the delegation list late on May 14, but the Russian leader was not included.

The Russian delegation is led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. It also consist of Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Military Intelligence Director Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to send junior aides for peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul is like a “slap in the face,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on May 15.

The comments come as Russian and Ukrainian officials are expected to hold talks in Istanbul on May 15. This would be the first direct negotiations between the two parties since unsuccessful peace talks in 2022.

After rejecting a ceasefire proposal backed by Kyiv and its partners, Moscow instead proposed holding negotiations with Ukraine in Turkey this week. However, Russia has seemingly declined an offer by President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin face-to-face.

The Russian delegation is also void of other senior officials, like Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and will be led by Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky, who headed the failed talks with Ukraine in 2022.

The step has drawn criticism from Ukraine’s allies as NATO foreign ministers are gathered for a summit in Antalya in Turkey.

Latvia’s chief diplomat, Baiba Braze, commented that there are no indications that Russia seeks peace in Ukraine.

A source close to the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent that Zelensky has yet to decide whether to meet Russian representatives despite Putin’s absence. Some media reported that Ukraine intends to hold the meeting anyway in order to discuss the 30-day ceasefire.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pledged to broker a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, spoke more optimistically about the meeting and suggested he might join on May 16 if progress is made.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, were said to join the discussions on May 16.

Russian delegation arrives in Istanbul ahead of potential Ukraine peace talks but Putin not expected to join

A plane with the Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul for planned peace talks with Ukraine, pro-state news agency Interfax reported on May 15, citing sources in aviation services.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

A Ukrainian delegation would meet the Russian side in Turkey on May 15 specifically to discuss how to implement and monitor a U.S.-backed unconditional 30-day ceasefire, the Wall Street Journal and Suspilne reported, citing undisclosed sources.

The direct talks between Russia and Ukraine are expected to take place in Istanbul on May 15, following an invitation by Russia issued in lieu of agreeing to the 30-day ceasefire. President Volodymyr Zelensky immediately agreed to attend and invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to an in-person meeting.

The Russian leader seemingly declined to join himself and appointed his aide, Vladimir Medinsky, to lead the talks. Russian representatives have reportedly already arrived in Istanbul this morning. Kyiv has not yet named members of its delegation.

When asked by the Kyiv Independent, a source close to the Presidential Office did not confirm whether Ukraine would still hold the talks if Putin does not join. Zelensky insisted on a meeting only with Putin to discuss an unconditional ceasefire and an all-for-all prisoner exchange.

According to the source, Zelensky will decide whether to meet with Russian representatives and who will represent Ukraine after his meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Ankara.

In early March, Kyiv agreed to a U.S.-backed strategy calling for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Russia has so far ignored all ceasefire proposals and violated its own, continuing its attacks against Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced optimism about the talks and suggested he might join on May 16 if progress is made on May 15. Trump dismissed Putin’s supposed absence, saying, “Why would he go if I’m not going?"

The U.S. president has pledged to broker a swift peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow, but has grown frustrated with the stalled progress. The U.S. president has been critical of both Ukraine and Russia, blaming them for the deadlock in the negotiations.

Trump says he might join Russia-Ukraine peace talks on May 16 if progress is made

U.S. President Donald Trump said he might still go to the potential Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations in Istanbul on May 16 if there is progress toward a deal, the BBC reported.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

U.S. President Donald Trump said he might still go to the potential Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations in Istanbul on May 16 if there is progress toward a deal, the BBC reported.

“We’d like to see (the war) end and I think we have a chance of doing it,” Trump told journalists during his official visit to Qatar on May 15.

Reuters previously reported that Trump, currently on his tour in the Middle East, would not attend the expected talks on May 15. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, were confirmed to join the discussions on May 16.

Russia proposed to launch direct negotiations with Ukraine this week in lieu of an unconditional ceasefire proposed by Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky immediately agreed to attend and invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to an in-person meeting in Istanbul on May 15.

The Russian leader seemingly declined to join himself and appointed his aide, Vladimir Medinsky, to lead the talks. The Russian delegation has already arrived in Istanbul.

When asked by the Kyiv Independent, a source close to the Presidential Office did not confirm whether Ukraine would still hold the talks if Putin does not join.

When asked about Putin’s absence by a journalist, Trump responded, “Why would he go if I’m not going?"

The White House has grown increasingly frustrated with the stalled peace efforts as its self-imposed 100-day deadline to broker a deal has passed. The U.S. president has been critical of both Ukraine and Russia, blaming them for the deadlock in the negotiations.

After meeting Zelensky in the Vatican on April 26, Trump admitted that Putin may not be interested in peace and floated the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Russia.

Russian delegation arrives in Istanbul ahead of potential Ukraine peace talks but Putin not expected to join

A plane with the Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul for planned peace talks with Ukraine, pro-state news agency Interfax reported on May 15, citing sources in aviation services.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least five people and injured 29 others over the past day, regional authorities said on May 15 ahead of expected peace talks in Istanbul.

Ukrainian forces downed 62 out of the 100 Shahed-type attack drones and other drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.

Twenty-nine more drones disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement. Drones that disappear from radars before reaching their targets are usually decoys. Russia launches them alongside real drones to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense.

A Russian missile strike on an industrial site in the city of Sumy killed three people and injured six others, according to local authorities.

A woman and a man, aged 52 and 55, suffered injuries after Russia had dropped guided aerial bombs on the Bilopillia community, Sumy Oblast Governor Oleh Hryhorov said. A Russian drone also attacked a truck near the Terny village in the region, injuring a 40-year-old man.

A 60-year-old man was killed in a Russian attack on Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Two men, aged 75 and 86, suffered injuries as a result of Russia’s shelling near the village of Kozacha Lopan, he added. Another Russian attack injured a 58-year-old woman in Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi.

One person was killed in Torske in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Seven more people were injured in the region over the past day.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 35 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson. Nine people were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

Russian attacks injured a 67-year-old woman in the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, according to Governor Serhii Lysak. A nine-story building, two administrative buildings, a house, and a sports club were damaged.

Russian delegation arrives in Istanbul ahead of potential Ukraine peace talks as Putin not expected to join

A plane with the Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul for planned peace talks with Ukraine, pro-state news agency Interfax reported on May 15, citing sources in aviation services.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Members of Ukraine’s Atesh partisan group have set fire to a relay cabinet at a Russian railway track used by the Russian military, the group said on May 15.

The operation was allegedly carried out in Russia’s Smolensk Oblast, a western region bordering Belarus, to disrupt arms and equipment shipments to Russian forces stationed at Ukraine’s northeastern border.

The Ukrainian leadership has warned that Moscow is amassing forces near Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts in the northeast for a potential new offensive.

“Thanks for the courageous steps by our partisans, Russia faced serious disruption in timely deliveries of front-line supplies,” Atesh said on Telegram.

A video shared by the partisans shows an unknown person behind the camera setting fire to the relay cabinet at night. According to the partisans, the targeted equipment was located close to the city of Smolensk, some 270 kilometers (170 miles) north of the Russia-Ukraine border.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

The Atesh movement regularly commits sabotage attacks on Russian territory and in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

“Our work is not limited to one operation. We operate along the entire front, creating difficulties for Russia and restricting its capabilities,” the group said.

‘Russians need to be taught a lesson’ – why foreign soldiers keep fighting for Ukraine amid growing uncertainty

Editor’s Note: This article contains graphic descriptions. Soldiers interviewed for this article are identified by their callsigns only due to security reasons. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, shocking the world, thousands of foreigners flocked to defend Ukraine – many with little to no connection with the country. More

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

Introducing Insignia Overhaul, a monthly series that showcases overhauled unit insignias that have been added to the site. Each article will feature insignias across the Ukrainian Armed Forces and other…

Source

The settlement of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine may see progress over the next 10–14 days, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in an interview with Turkish state news agency Anadolu aired on May 14.

Rutte’s comments came ahead of possible direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul on May 15, after Russia issued the invitation in lieu of agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky immediately agreed to attend and invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to an in-person meeting. The Kremlin withheld information about the Russian leader’s possible attendance until late on May 14 to reveal its delegation, with Putin not on the list.

“I think there is this window of opportunity this week, but also in the next 10 days, two weeks, to really bring the whole issue of Ukraine to a better place,” Rutte said.

“Under the leadership of President Zelensky, but also very much steered by the American government, and Turkey plays a big role here."

U.S. President Donald Trump said he was ready to attend the potential high-level meeting between the two leaders in case Putin arrived. However, a White House official on May 14 said that Trump would not attend the peace talks.

Russian representatives have reportedly already arrived in Istanbul ahead of the expected talks with the Ukrainian delegation. It remains unclear whether Ukraine plans to go ahead with the negotiations if Putin does not join in himself.

“I am waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will decide which steps Ukraine should take,” Ukraine’s president said on May 14. Zelensky insisted on a meeting only with Putin to discuss an unconditional ceasefire and an all-for-all prisoner exchange.

From spy rings to arson — Russia’s sabotage across Europe continues unpunished

Alongside Russia launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has also ramped up its hybrid attacks across Europe. In 2024 alone, Russia could be behind around 100 “suspicious incidents” in Europe, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky claimed. Last month, the Dutch intelligence said that Moscow keeps stepping up its attacks

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Editor’s note: The article was updated with a statement from Ukrainian official Andrii Kovalenko.

A plane with the Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul ahead of planned peace talks with Ukraine, pro-state news agency Interfax reported on May 15, citing sources in aviation services.

President Volodymyr Zelensky invited Russian President Vladimir Putin for direct negotiations in Istanbul, but the Russian leader seemingly declined to attend and appointed his aide, Vladimir Medinsky, to lead the talks.

The negotiations are expected to begin at around 10 a.m. local time in a closed-door format, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported. Ukrainian official Andrii Kovalenko later refuted that the meeting would be scheduled for this time.

The Russian delegation will also consist of Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Military Intelligence Director Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

The delegation’s list is notably void of Putin himself and other of the Kremlin’s top politicians, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, was also absent from the list.

Ukraine’s Presidential Office has said that Zelensky would not meet lower-level Russian officials if Putin refuses to come, making the format of the expected talks uncertain.

The Ukrainian president is set to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara before the expected Istanbul talks.

“I am waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will decide which steps Ukraine should take. So far, the signals from them in the media are unconvincing,” Zelensky said on the evening of May 14.

Kyiv and its allies have urged Moscow to adopt an unconditional ceasefire starting May 12 as the first step toward peace talks — a proposal Russia has ignored.

U.S. President Donald Trump initially voiced optimism about the prospects of a Zelensky-Putin meeting and suggested he might attend as well. However, a White House official on May 14 said that Trump will not attend the peace talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Turkey on May 14 and met with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Antalya. Sybiha also met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Istanbul with Rubio on May 16 to participate in discussions on Ukraine.

Ukraine’s next steps will be based on who Russia sends to peace talks, Zelensky says

“I am waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will decide which steps Ukraine should take. So far, the signals from them in the media are unconvincing,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

Russia has lost 970,590 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on May 15.

The number includes 1,220 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,812 tanks, 22,514 armored fighting vehicles, 48,547 vehicles and fuel tanks, 27,872 artillery systems, 1,384 multiple-launch rocket systems, 1,166 air defense systems, 372 airplanes, 336 helicopters, 36,000 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

Putin won’t attend peace talks in Turkey, Kremlin says

The Kremlin unveiled its delegation for Ukraine-Russia peace talks in a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 14. Putin was not on the list of delegates, nor were any other top-ranking Russian officials.

The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Nariman Dzhelial, deputy chair of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, to the position of ambassador to Turkey in a decree issued May 14.

Dzhelial was released from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange in June 2024.

“To appoint Dzhelial Nariman Enverovych as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Turkey,” the presidential decree reads.

Dzhelial served as the first deputy chairman of the Mejlis, a representative body of the Crimean Tatar people. Following the occupation of Crimea, Russian forces banned the Mejlis in 2016, declaring it an “extremist organization."

Dzhelial participated in the first Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Aug. 23, 2021. The platform aimed to build international support for the peninsula’s liberation from Russian occupation. On Sept. 4, 2021, Dzhelial was arrested in Crimea and sentenced by a Russian court to 17 years in prison.

He was released alongside nine other prisoners in a swap on June 28, 2024.

The announcement of Dzhelial’s appointment comes the day before Zelensky is set to travel to Turkey for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15. The status of the talks remains unclear, as Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed at the last minute that he will not attend.

Zelensky plans to first meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, and potentially fly to Istanbul afterwards.

Turkey has positioned itself as a potential mediator in Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine by maintaining diplomatic and economic ties with both nations. Leveraging its strategic position and influence in the Black Sea region, Turkey has facilitated negotiations and grain exports, while expressing willingness to participate in ceasefire monitoring.

Exclusive: Ukraine eyes new sanctions on China, but Kyiv wary of peace talks fallout

Ukraine faces a difficult balancing act — sanction more Chinese firms for aiding Russia’s war machine without alienating Beijing, which could be key to ending Russia’s invasion. Kyiv is currently considering imposing new sanctions against Chinese firms providing raw materials to Russia’s defense sector, a source close to the matter told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity. But doing so could risk pushing Beijing — an important economic partner for Kyiv — further from Ukraine and cl

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

Ukrainian actor and TV presenter Maksym Nelipa was killed in action on May 12, his friends and family reported on May 14.

Nelipa enlisted in the Armed Forces in March 2022, immediately after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Actor Dmytro Oksin shared a screenshot of a Facebook post from Nelipa’s wife, Tamara, announcing the news of his death. Tamara Nelipa said that her husband had been killed on May 12 and that there was “little information about his death so far.”

Other friends and colleagues of Nelipa shared remembrances on social media.

“Our colleague, TV presenter Max Nelipa, was killed in action,” wrote journalist Elena Filonova.

“I can’t believe it, it’s a heavy loss. My sincere condolences to the family and friends. Max, your smile will always be in our memory.”

Nelipa hosted and appeared on popular television programs, including the comedic “Diesel Show."

Many Ukrainian actors and artists have been killed on the front lines while defending their country against Russia. Earlier this month, the Dnipro Academic Youth Theater reported that actor-turned-soldier Maksym Kovtun had been killed in combat.

‘Russians need to be taught a lesson’ – why foreign soldiers keep fighting for Ukraine amid growing uncertainty

Editor’s Note: This article contains graphic descriptions. Soldiers interviewed for this article are identified by their callsigns only due to security reasons. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, shocking the world, thousands of foreigners flocked to defend Ukraine – many with little to no connection with the country. More than three years later, many of them remain in Ukraine’s military ranks, while new volunteers continue arriving from abroad to join the fight, risking th

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

Drone attacks in the first months of 2025 forced Russia to suspend airport operations over 200 times, a record number since the start of the full-scale war, the independent Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on May 14, citing data from the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya).

Ukraine regularly launches drones at military and industrial targets in Russia, though Kyiv rarely comments on attacks within Russian territory.

From January to May 10, 2025, Russian airports shut down a record number of 217 times, Novaya Gazeta Europe reported. In contrast, there were 58 total closures in 2023 and 91 in 2024.

The first week of May saw a particularly high number of closures, with restrictions introduced at airports almost 50 times. In the days leading up to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day parade on May 9, waves of drones targeted Moscow, prompting repeated closures.

The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) claimed on May 7 that Ukraine’s intensifying drone strikes affected 60,000 Russian passengers and that delays and cancelations affected at least 350 flights.

According to the analysis, a total of 37 civilian airports have experienced disruptions this year, mostly in central Russia. The highest number of disruptions have occurred at Moscow airports.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Russia to accept a complete, unconditional 30-day  ceasefire. While Moscow has refused, Russian and Ukrainian delegates are expected to meet in Istanbul on May 15 for their first direct peace talks since the early days of the full-scale invasion.

From spy rings to arson — Russia’s sabotage across Europe continues unpunished

Alongside Russia launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has also ramped up its hybrid attacks across Europe. In 2024 alone, Russia could be behind around 100 “suspicious incidents” in Europe, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky claimed. Last month, the Dutch intelligence said that Moscow keeps stepping up its attacks amid reports that the U.S. had scaled down efforts in countering Russian sabotage. The events had heightened tension between Russia and Europe, as Russian activities

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

U.S. and European officials persuaded President Volodymyr Zelensky to represent Ukraine at upcoming peace talks in Istanbul despite Russia’s evasiveness about who it would send, the Washington Post (WP) reported on May 14, citing unnamed officials.

The first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since 2022 are set to take place in Istanbul on May 15, following an invitation Russian President Vladimir Putin issued in lieu of agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire. While Zelensky immediately agreed to attend, the Kremlin waited until late at night on May 14 to reveal its delegation — and Putin was not on the list.

As Russia withheld details about its participation in the talks, Zelensky was prepared to cancel Ukraine’s participation, diplomats told the WP on the condition of anonymity.

“Zelensky didn’t see the point in going at all,” one diplomat said.

European and U.S. officials, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, reportedly convinced Zelensky that attending the peace talks would reflect positively on Kyiv. He argued that if Ukraine attended the talks and Russia didn’t, the Kremlin would appear to be unserious about a peace deal. If both sides showed up, there could be an opportunity to make a meaningful ceasefire agreement.

Moscow announced late on May 14 that their delegation would be headed by presidential advisor Vladimir Medinsky, Russia’s chief negotiator who headed the failed talks in 2022. The other delegates are Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Military Intelligence Director Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

Putin, notably, will not attend the talks.

Shortly before the Kremlin announced the delegation, Zelensky said Ukraine would determine its next steps based on the Russian delegate list.

“I am waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will decide which steps Ukraine should take. So far, the signals from them in the media are unconvincing,” he said.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has already arrived in Turkey ahead of the talks. He reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to the talks in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senator Lindsey Graham in the port city of Antalya.

Rubio, Witkoff, and Special Envoy Keith Kellogg will join the peace talks, though U.S. President Donald Trump will not attend.

Uncertainty around the Istanbul talks has also undermined efforts to coordinate sanctions against Russia, officials told the WP.

Ukraine, the U.K., France, Germany, and Poland initially threatened to impose harsh sanctions on Moscow if they did not accept their call for an unconditional ceasefire. Trump said that the U.S. would join those sanctions, but when Putin refused to accept the ceasefire and instead called for direct talks, Trump urged Ukraine to participate in the negotiations.

“There has been coordination with the Americans on sanctions, and there have been good signals. But in the end, it depends on the flavor of the day,” a European official said.

Exclusive: Ukraine eyes new sanctions on China, but Kyiv wary of peace talks fallout

Ukraine faces a difficult balancing act — sanction more Chinese firms for aiding Russia’s war machine without alienating Beijing, which could be key to ending Russia’s invasion. Kyiv is currently considering imposing new sanctions against Chinese firms providing raw materials to Russia’s defense sector, a source close to the matter told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity. But doing so could risk pushing Beijing — an important economic partner for Kyiv — further from Ukraine and cl

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Turkey on May 14 ahead of peace talks planned between Ukraine and Russia.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 13 that Rubio will attend the peace talks alongside Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg. Trump himself will not be attending the negotiations, a U.S. official has said.

Rubio and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham met with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in the port city of Antalya.

“We discussed in detail the logic of further steps and shared our approaches… It is critical that Russia reciprocate Ukraine’s constructive steps. So far, it has not. Moscow must understand that rejecting peace comes at a cost,” Sybiha said.

Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to peace talks as they are set to begin on May 15.

“I reaffirmed Ukraine’s strong and consistent commitment to President Trump’s peace efforts and thanked the United States for its involvement. We are ready to advance our cooperation in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will attend the peace talks and invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet him.

The Kremlin has thus far refused, announcing that their delegation would be headed by presidential advisor and propaganda architect, Vladimir Medinsky.

The Russian delegation will also consist of Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Director of Russian Military Intelligence Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

Putin won’t attend peace talks in Turkey, Kremlin says

The Kremlin unveiled its delegation for Ukraine-Russia peace talks in a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 14.

The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

U.S. President Donald Trump will not attend Ukraine-Russia peace talks to be held on May 15, Reuters reported on May 14, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, will reportedly travel to Istanbul for the planned peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Trump to join the negotiations in Turkey.

Trump will not attend the peace talks, as Russian President Vladimir Putin skips the negotiations, the U.S. official said after Russia unveiled who will be a part of its delegation.

The Kremlin announced that their delegation would be headed by presidential advisor and propaganda architect, Vladimir Medinsky.

The Russian delegation will also consist of Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Director of Russian Military Intelligence Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

The delegation is notably void of the Kremlin’s top politicians, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Following Putin’s calls for direct peace talks, Zelensky on May 11 said he will attend the negotiations and invited Putin to meet him in Turkey.

In his address, Zelensky called for Trump to attend the peace talks.

"(W)e also hear that President Trump is considering attending the meeting in Turkey. That could become the strongest argument," he said.

Trump has said that the U.S. may consider implementing additional sanctions against Russia if it does not reach a peace deal with Ukraine to end the war.

Exclusive: Ukraine eyes new sanctions on China, but Kyiv wary of peace talks fallout

Ukraine faces a difficult balancing act — sanction more Chinese firms for aiding Russia’s war machine without alienating Beijing, which could be key to ending Russia’s invasion. Kyiv is currently considering imposing new sanctions against Chinese firms providing raw materials to Russia’s defense sector, a source close to the matter told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity. But doing so could risk pushing Beijing — an important economic partner for Kyiv — further from Ukraine and cl

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell