TURKEY — Istanbul — it’s where Asia meets Europe, but as we now know, not where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The world’s media descended on the Turkish city on May 15, primed for something potentially historic — the first direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow in three years, amid an international push to reach a full, 30-day ceasefire.

Instead, reporters and correspondents were left hanging around in the springtime sun, with little to report other than a slanging match between the two country’s foreign ministries.

“This is a negotiating farce,” Hanna Hopko, co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory, told the Kyiv Independent. “It’s already clear that Putin is just mocking (U.S President Donald) Trump."

The talks in Istanbul were Russia’s idea, proposed by Putin on May 11 in yet another attempt to distract from the fact that after exactly two months, the Kremlin is still refusing to agree to the full, 30-day ceasefire that Trump originally called for.

The Ukrainian position was clear from the beginning — Zelensky immediately said he was going to Istanbul and expected to see Putin there, a move which appeared to catch the Kremlin off-guard and stun it into a days-long silence as it contemplated its next move.

Upping the pressure further, Trump on May 12 said he believed that “both leaders” will be there, thrusting Putin into a delicate diplomatic dilemma — how to avoid caving into Zelensky’s proposal without upsetting Trump.

The ‘sham delegation’

After days of consideration, Putin decided the best option was to just not show up and not give an explanation, the news coming late in the evening of May 14 in the form of a list of names of those who would be representing Russia in Istanbul.

As well as omitting Putin’s name, the list also lacked those of any Russian ministers or high-ranking officials, setting the tone for the following day and giving a clear indication of how seriously the Kremlin was taking the very talks it proposed itself.

“Putin was not ready for any fair peace talks,” Mykola Kniazhytskyi, a Ukrainian lawmaker from the European Solidarity party, told the Kyiv Independent. “Russia’s strategy is to continue the war as long as possible."

Zelensky decried the Russian representatives as a “sham delegation,” highlighting that the Ukrainian delegation was of the “highest level,” including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

The Kremlin was not pleased.

“Who uses the word ‘sham’? A clown, a loser, a person with no education at all,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova seethed during a press briefing.

Ukraine hit back, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi saying it was “not the first time the Russian Foreign Ministry became a laughing stock."

“It is also worth noting that the delegation in Turkey is not led by the Russian Foreign Ministry — their role is to bark from Moscow,” he added.

The Trump response

Despite the rhetoric and the glaring absence of Putin in Istanbul, Trump appeared to let the Russian president off the hook for not attending."

I didn’t think it was possible for Putin to go if I’m not there," he said during a visit to the United Arab Emirates on May 15, later telling reporters: "Nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together."

For the journalists in Istanbul, many of whom had been in Antalya for the NATO foreign ministers meeting and then diverted for the talks, it was just about the biggest news of the day.

In Kyiv, it sparked huge frustration.

“America is losing its credibility," Hopko, said, adding: "Trump is already acting as Putin's lawyer. It's humiliating, it's a shame."

"The worst part of all this is that when Russia is vulnerable, when its economy is cracking, instead of pushing harder, (the West is holding back)," she added.

"Putin will agree to talks and come to the negotiation table only when he’s cornered — when he understands that the West has a united front with serious plans."

Kniazhytskyi said Putin was simply trying — and succeeding — to keep Trump onside, hoping "the opportunities to make money together with Putin will be more important to him" in the long run.

Others were even more blunt. "It's a mess," Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian lawmaker and chair of the parliament's foreign affairs committee, told the Kyiv Independent.

The 'trap

Hopko, Kniazhytsky, and Merezhko all warned of what the latter described as a "trap" being laid by the Kremlin both on May 15, and in the days leading up to it — the setting of a benchmark for negotiations based on those it set at the last talks held in the early months of the full-scale war in 2022, which amounted to Ukraine's full capitulation.

"Putin wanted to turn this into a continuation of (the 2022 talks) and that's why he sent (his aide Vladimir) Medinsky, who was at (the 2022 talks), to put forward all the same demands," Kniazhytsky said.

Leaked copies of Russia's demands at this time show that in 2022 Moscow was demanding Ukraine reduce its army to 50,000 people, five times less than the country had before the all-out war, as well as reduce the number of ships, helicopters, and tanks.

Russia also planned to ban Ukraine from developing "any other types of weapons as a result of scientific research, and not to produce, acquire or deploy in Ukraine missile weapons "of any type with a range of more than 250 km."

As well as leaving Ukraine defenseless, Russia now insists that, as a condition for peace negotiations, Ukrainian troops must leave the country's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts – all four of which Russia partially occupies – recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea, and abandon any ambition to join NATO.

The second day of talks

On the evening of May 15, journalists in Istanbul found out they'd likely have to wait at least another day for anything concrete to come from the talks which, at the time of writing, had yet to even begin.

After a diplomatic stand–off of sorts, Zelensky has now sent a Ukrainian delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to Istanbul from Ankara to demonstrate Ukraine’s commitment to peace. Zelensky said the delegation’s top priority would be reaching a ceasefire agreement.

Russia's low-level delegation awaits them. What those talks will lead to is anyone’s guess — skeptics will say they are probably just for show. Nevertheless, they are historic, at any level.

Russia has said their delegation is in a constructive mood, though what that actually means remains unclear.

But based on what we have seen so far, Zelensky is taking a step toward peace, while Putin refuses to step out of Moscow.

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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

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed General Oleg Saliukov, the commander of the Russian Ground Forces, as deputy secretary of the Security Council, Russian state-controlled media reported on May 15.

It remains unclear who will replace Saliukov as commander of the Ground Forces.

The appointment comes amid media reports claiming that Russia is preparing a major offensive in Ukraine despite the ongoing peace efforts led by the United States.

Saliukov, who turns 70 on May 21, had led Russia’s Ground Forces and the Moscow Garrison since 2014, according to Radio Liberty.

Known for overseeing annual Victory Day parades on Red Square from 2014 through 2025, he is currently under Western sanctions for his role in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

His retirement from active military service had been expected this month under Russian law, which mandates retirement at age 70 unless a special exemption is granted.

Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s former defense minister, has headed the Security Council since May 2024 and now has several deputies, including Saliukov.

Trump expects no progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks until he meets Putin

“Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together,” U.S. President Donald Trump told journalists aboard Air Force One before landing in Dubai as part of his Middle Eastern tour.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio said on May 15 peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey are unlikely to yield meaningful progress, calling the low-level Russian delegation “not indicative of one that’s going to lead to a major breakthrough."

“I hope I’m wrong. I hope I’m 100% wrong. I hope tomorrow the news says they’ve agreed to a ceasefire, they’ve agreed to enter serious negotiations,” Rubio told reporters during a briefing in Ankara. “But I’m just giving you my assessment."

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

Ukraine, in turn, decided to send its delegation on May 15, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Rubio said that meaningful progress would likely only come through a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The same idea was echoed by Trump earlier in the day.

“The next thing that has to happen for there to be a breakthrough is going to involve President Trump’s direct involvement,” Rubio said. “And I believe the president shares my assessment."

Rubio also said he would meet with Ukraine’s senior delegation and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, while other lower-level members of the U.S. team will attend the talks involving Russian representatives.

He added that Trump is “impatient to end this war,” saying, “Our goal here is to achieve peace — whether that begins with a 30-day ceasefire, a one-day ceasefire, or a final deal that’s all negotiated in a single day. To us, the process is less important than the outcome.”

The talks, which could become the first direct diplomatic encounter between Zelensky and Putin since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, stalled after the Russian leader appointed a delegation of lower-level officials to attend instead. 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.

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.

‘Bark from Moscow’ — Kyiv hits back as Russian Foreign Ministry insults Zelensky

“Not the first time the Russian Foreign Ministry becomes a laughing stock,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said after his Russian counterpart, Maria Zakharova, called Zelensky a “clown.”

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry hit back at Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova after she called President Volodymyr Zelensky a “clown” ahead of expected peace talks in Turkey on May 15.

“Not the first time the Russian Foreign Ministry becomes a laughing stock,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on X in response to Zakharova’s comments.

“It is also worth noting that the delegation in Turkey is not led by the Russian Foreign Ministry — their role is to bark from Moscow.”

Upon arriving in Ankara earlier in the day, Zelensky said he would decide on his next steps regarding peace talks with Russia after meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ukraine’s president said that Kyiv is represented at the highest level, while describing the Russian delegation as “a sham.”

Zakharova responded with insults aimed at Zelensky: “Who uses the word ‘sham’? A clown, a loser, a person with no education at all."

As Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Kyiv’s appeal to attend, Moscow’s delegation is led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Military Intelligence Director Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

In contrast, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Chief Vasyl Malyuk, and General Staff Chief Andrii Hnatov are among those accompanying Zelensky in Turkey. In addition, Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha joined Zelensky for talks with Erdogan.

Trump expects no progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks until he meets Putin

“Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together,” U.S. President Donald Trump told journalists aboard Air Force One before landing in Dubai as part of his Middle Eastern tour.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 15 that peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will not move forward until he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported.

“Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together,” the U.S. president told journalists aboard Air Force One before landing in Dubai as part of his Middle Eastern tour.

Putin has rejected President Volodymyr Zelensky’s appeal to meet in person in Istanbul on May 15 to discuss a ceasefire, even though Moscow itself suggested resuming negotiations. Instead, Russia dispatched a delegation of junior aides and deputy ministers dismissed by Ukraine as “sham."

Trump has previously suggested he might join the talks on May 16 if progress is made, but downplayed Putin’s absence on the first day of the negotiations, saying, “Why would he go if I’m not going?"

Despite his latest comments, Trump previously voiced optimism about the expected talks in Turkey. Top U.S. administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are expected to join the discussions in Istanbul on May 16.

The U.S. president has often boasted about his supposedly warm ties with the Russian leader, though the two have not met since Trump returned to office this January.

Trump has adopted a more critical rhetoric toward the Kremlin recently amid stalled peace efforts. The new White House has also often used a scathing tone toward Ukraine, most notably during an explosive meeting between Trump and Zelensky in the White House in February.

The two leaders held a second meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral in April, which was described by both parties in more positive terms.

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

“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,” Zelensky said.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Chief Vasyl Malyuk, and General Staff Chief Andrii Hnatov are among those accompanying President Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey ahead of potential peace talks with Russia on May 15, videos released by the Ukrainian media revealed.

In addition, Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha joined Zelensky for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

A Russian delegation has also arrived to meet with Ukrainian representatives for peace talks in Istanbul — without Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin has rejected Ukraine’s invitation for an in-person meeting of the two leaders, appointing presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky to lead the Russian delegation.

Zelensky is expected to decide on his next steps regarding peace talks with Russia after meeting with Erdogan.

“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,” he said after arriving in Ankara.

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

The ceasefire is reportedly the only topic that the Ukrainian side was open to discussing with Russia in Turkey.

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

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

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

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

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

Turkey? Or Chicken?

The Kremlin has confirmed that President Putin will not travel to Turkey on Thursday for highly-anticipated negotiations with the Ukrainian delegation.

On Wednesday night the Russian government released the list of the delegation that will be in Istanbul for the first face-to-face talks between Kyiv and Moscow since the initial days of the war in 2022.

But the Russian president himself was not on the list. Nor was his foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov.

Zelenskyy is expected to arrive in Ankara on Thursday, where he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He planned to go to Istanbul only if Putin did.

On Tuesday, he told reporters that if Putin does not show up, “it means only one thing: that Russia is not ready for negotiations.”

President Trump also indicated his intention to travel to Istanbul should Putin agree to high-level peace talks. Putin’s absence will make that far less likely.

On Wednesday, he told reporters on America's Air Force One that it is still "a possibility" as Putin would "like me to be there."

Supporters of Ukraine in the EU and the U.S. Congress will likely take Putin’s absence as a signal that he is not serious about peace, and use it as leverage to push additional sanctions. Both the EU and the U.S. Congress have new sanctions proposals before them that they could implement.

Read more

Kyiv will determine its next steps in Ukraine-Russia peace talks when Moscow unveils its delegation, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 14.

“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 in his evening address.

Ukraine and Russia are set to meet for direct peace talks on May 15. Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused calls for a ceasefire and instead insists on negotiations to begin before a ceasefire is implemented.

Following Zelensky’s address, 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 U.S. President Donald 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.

Zelensky noted that various world leaders, including those from the Global South, support direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

“Today, there was a very important statement from Pope Leo XIV, expressing the Vatican’s willingness to play a mediatory role. The Vatican can help diplomacy,” Zelensky said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected the idea of deploying European peacekeepers in Ukraine in an interview with ABC News released on May 11.

“We cannot allow NATO’s military infrastructure to get that close to our borders,” Peskov said.

Zelensky has repeatedly called for a 30-day ceasefire, saying on April 23, Ukraine insists on an “immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire."

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

Key developments on May 14:

• Trump says he’s unsure whether Putin will attend Ukraine peace talks in Turkey as Kremlin stays silent
• Russia likely preparing major offensive in Ukraine despite peace efforts, FT reports
• Trump needs to understand that Putin lies, blocks peace efforts, Zelensky says
• EU agrees on 17th package of Russia sanctions targeting ‘shadow fleet’
• Council of Europe backs special tribunal for Russian aggression against Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 14 that he is unsure whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey on May 15.

“He’d like me to be there, and that’s a possibility… I don’t know that he would be there if I’m not there. We’re going to find out,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling to Qatar, Reuters reported.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Putin to hold ceasefire talks in Turkey this week in what would be the first direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv since 2022.

Russia has confirmed that it will dispatch a delegation but declined to confirm Putin’s participation. Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky hinted that the delegation’s composition would be announced on the evening of May 14.

A former Russian official told the Washington Post that Moscow will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and aide Yuri Ushakov. However, pro-government outlet Kommersant reported that Lavrov will not attend the possible Russia-Ukraine talks.

Without confirming his attendance, Ushakov told journalists that the Russian delegation’s composition will be based on the range of political and technical issues that should be discussed.

Trump has voiced optimism about the possible meeting of the two leaders and suggested he might attend as well.

“Thursday’s meeting between Russia and Ukraine is very important. I strongly pushed for it to happen. I think good things can come from it,” the U.S. president said earlier this week.

Zelensky welcomed Trump’s potential participation while calling upon the U.S. leader to realize that Putin continues to manipulate and obstruct peace efforts.

Trump is not expected to join the meeting, unnamed Turkish officials cited told Bloomberg, but added that they did not fully rule out a last-minute visit.

Ukraine and its allies have called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting on May 12 as the first step toward peace — a proposal ignored by Russia.

“If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war,” Zelensky said in Kyiv on May 13.

The White House has grown increasingly frustrated with the stalled peace efforts as the 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.

Will Putin meet Zelensky? As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Kremlin’s next move

With just a day to go before Russian-proposed peace talks might begin in Istanbul, the Kremlin is still refusing to confirm whether or not President Vladimir Putin will attend the event. President Volodymyr Zelensky has already said he will meet Putin there, a move that puts the ball very much into the Kremlin’s court. Upping the pressure further, U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 12 that he believes that “both leaders” will be there, thrusting Putin into a delicate diplomatic dilemma —

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Russia likely preparing major offensive in Ukraine despite peace efforts, FT reports

Russia seems to be preparing a significant offensive in Ukraine as it is moving troops toward key positions on the front, the Financial Times reported on May 13, citing undisclosed Ukrainian intelligence officials.

These reported preparations indicate Moscow’s efforts to escalate the war despite expected ceasefire talks this week and calls by Kyiv and its partners for an unconditional 30-day truce.

Russia has rejected ceasefire proposals unless accompanied by a halt on military aid for Ukraine and continues ground assaults along the front and long-range strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.

Some 163 clashes were recorded at the front over the past day, the Ukrainian military reported on the morning of May 14. The DeepState monitoring group said that Russian forces recently advanced in Toretsk and near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast.

Kyiv has been warning about a major Russian spring offensive aimed at seizing as much territory as possible to strengthen its position in potential negotiations. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said last month this campaign had “effectively already begun” with the intensification of Russian assaults.

Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, said on May 13 that if Putin does not come to Turkey, it will be “the last signal” that Russia “does not want to end the war and is not ready for any negotiations."

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

Trump needs to understand that Putin lies, blocks peace efforts, Zelensky says

U.S. President Donald Trump must realize that Russian President Vladimir Putin is an obstacle to peace efforts, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in comments reported by the Guardian on May 13.

“Trump needs to believe that Putin actually lies,” Zelensky told journalists in Kyiv.

“And we should do our part. Sensibly approach this issue, to show that it’s not us that is slowing down the process."

The White House has grown increasingly frustrated with the stalled peace efforts as the 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.

Zelensky’s trust rating rises to 74%, highest since 2023, poll shows

This marks Zelensky’s highest trust rating recorded by KIIS since December 2023, when he enjoyed the confidence of 77% of respondents.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

EU agrees on 17th package of Russia sanctions targeting ‘shadow fleet’

EU ambassadors on May 14 agreed on the bloc’s 17th package of sanctions against Russia, primarily targeting its shadow fleet of oil tankers.

“This is a strong signal that the EU remains united behind the people of Ukraine,” European Council President Antonio Costa said on X.

The measures target almost 200 ships of Russia’s shadow fleet, 30 companies involved in sanctions evasion, and 75 sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, a senior EU official speaking on condition of anonymity told the Kyiv Independent.

Russia has been using the shadow fleet to avoid Western sanctions and ship out its oil above the G7-imposed price cap. European countries have also linked the fleet to espionage and sabotage operations.

The new set of steps further includes measures targeting Russia’s hybrid operations, namely establishing the legal basis for countering propaganda outlets or vessels and entities involved in the sabotage of underwater cables, airports, or servers.

“So, you can see the direction we are going. In addition to ‘traditional’ sectoral and individual sanctions, we are broadening and more actively using other sanctions to hit Russia where we see the threats or where they aim to bypass the existing sanctions,” the source said.

The EU will also sanction more than 20 entities and individuals disseminating disinformation, and 20 judges and prosecutors involved in legal cases against two Russian oppositionists, Vladimir Kara-Murza and late Alexei Navalny.

Brussels is further imposing a ban on chemicals used in missile production.

“I welcome the agreement on our 17th sanctions package against Russia,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X.

“This war has to end. We will keep the pressure high on the Kremlin."

Talks on the 17th package began shortly after the EU adopted the 16th package on Feb. 24. The last package targeted the shadow fleet, financial institutions, entities involved in the Russian military-industrial complex, and more.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland have pledged to impose additional sanctions against Russia if the Kremlin does not accept their proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

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

Council of Europe backs special tribunal for Russian aggression against Ukraine

The Council of Europe on May 14 approved the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s top leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainian lawmaker Maria Mezentseva reported.

The decision marks a milestone in international efforts to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials accountable for launching the full-scale war against Ukraine.

“The decision was made in Luxembourg as part of the annual meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe,” Mezentseva, who chairs Ukraine’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), wrote on Telegram.

European foreign ministers gave political approval to the tribunal, which will operate under the auspices of the Council of Europe, during a meeting in Lviv on May 9.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has long advocated for the tribunal to ensure that Putin and other senior Russian officials face justice for launching the invasion three years ago.

Ukrainian prosecutors have documented thousands of war crimes committed by Russian forces, including attacks on civilians, cultural and medical sites, and acts of torture and deportation.

While war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide can be prosecuted against individuals at any level, the crime of aggression applies exclusively to state leaders responsible for planning and waging a war.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Note from the author:

Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community.

The United States is opposing President Volodymyr Zelensky’s participation at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, Italy’s ANSA news agency reported on May 14, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.  

If confirmed, the decision would mark the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion that Zelensky is absent, either physically or virtually, from a NATO summit.

The Ukrainian president has attended every NATO summit since February 2022: in person in 2024 in Washington and 2023 in Vilnius, and virtually in 2022.

According to ANSA, almost all allies have expressed surprise to Washington over this move.

One Dutch official told the NOS broadcaster that denying Zelensky a seat at the table would be “a diplomatic disaster for the Netherlands that no speaker could justify."

NATO foreign ministers are expected to meet informally in Antalya on May 14, where the issue could surface despite the session being designated as non-decision-making.

The summit agenda itself remains limited, reportedly to avoid controversy with U.S. President Donald Trump. According to ANSA, the Netherlands has scaled down the format to a single session focused on defense spending and alliance capabilities.

Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO members for not meeting the alliance’s 2% of GDP defense spending benchmark and has pushed for it to be raised to 5%.

NOS sources noted the summit is still six weeks away and the decision to bar Zelensky could still be reversed.

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

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 closer to Russia, the source said.

As momentum builds around peace talks, with President Volodymyr Zelensky heading to Istanbul on May 15, Kyiv is hoping China can nudge its Russian ally toward negotiating a ceasefire and bringing end to the invasion, Ukrainian officials said.

China could be a key country in ending Russia’s war and ushering in a “sustainable” peace, the press service of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry told the Kyiv Independent.

Ukraine has largely abstained from publicly bad-mouthing China, but the relationship has taken a hit in recent weeks as Kyiv grows more vocal against Beijing’s support for Russia.

Days after Chinese troops were captured in Donetsk Oblast fighting alongside Russians, President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 18 slapped sanctions on three Chinese companies. In an speech, he accused Beijing of supplying Moscow with gunpowder and weapons.

While claiming to be neutral in the full-scale invasion, China provided 76% of Russia’s battlefield goods in 2023, according to the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE).

Top Ukrainian sanctions official Vladyslav Vlasiuk told the Kyiv Independent that Ukraine is “concerned about some apparently Chinese-made components found in weapons used to attack civilians and count on our partners to take some serious action to stop it.”

Ukraine sanctioned two Chinese firms — ​​Beijing Aviation and Aerospace Xianghui Technology Co. Ltd — as well as Zhongfu Shenying Carbon Fiber Xining Co. Ltd, for supplying carbon fiber to Russia used in Iskander ballistic missiles that frequently target cities across Ukraine, according to an official document seen by the Kyiv Independent.

Days later, Zelensky said Chinese citizens were working in Russian drone production factories, even claiming Russia could have “stolen” drone technology from China, during a news conference in Kyiv.

On May 9, as Xi Jinping watched Russian soldiers march through Moscow during the WWII Victory Day parade, Ukraine followed up with sanctions on the Hong Kong-based firm Smart Kit Technology. The company was already subject to U.S. sanctions for shipping raw materials and technology like chip-making machines to Russian enterprises.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian media reported in February that Chinese companies were also investing in occupied territories and working with the occupying authorities. Kyiv notifies Beijing when Russia attempts to lure a Chinese company to the occupied territories, Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Ministry press service said.

“The government bodies of China respond to such appeals of the Ukrainian side and, after confirming the relevant information, take measures to prevent interaction of Chinese business circles with representatives of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine,” the ministry said.

The recent sanctions are Ukraine’s first proper slap on China’s wrist. Zelensky previously accused Beijing of “disrupting” the peace process and supplying “elements of Russia’s weaponry” during a conference in Singapore in June 2024, but took no tangible action.

Rocking the boat

Prior to the crackdown on the Chinese companies, Zelensky’s administration turned a blind eye to Beijing’s “no limits” partnership with Moscow, despite China helping Russia, including by skirting Western sanctions and supplying dual-use goods for military purposes.

There is little anti-China rhetoric from the Ukrainian government, and unlike other countries that support Russia, Kyiv hasn’t cut ties with Beijing. In July 2024, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister at the time, Dmytro Kuleba, even visited Guangdong Province to convince local businesses and authorities to invest in Ukrainian regions, specifically in Mykolaiv Oblast.

“At this moment, we cannot see a strong will from the side of the government to move away from China,” Arthur Khartyonov, President of the Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine, an NGO, and founder of the Free Hong Kong Center, a pro-democracy initiative , told the Kyiv Independent.

Chinese exports to Ukraine reached a record high last year. The value of Chinese goods increased to $14.5 billion from $10.44 billion in 2023, outgunning Polish, German, and Turkish imports for the top spot, according to the Center for Economic Strategy (CES) in Kyiv.

While Ukrainian exports to China dipped from $8 billion in 2021 to $2.4 billion last year, this is largely due to blocked trade routes and war-time complications rather than any political decision, Dmytro Goriunov, an expert at the KSE Institute and Head of the “Russia Will Pay” project, told the Kyiv Independent.

Ukraine is unlikely to divest from China, as Beijing remains the top producer for goods that it needs, including radio equipment for military use, drones, generators, and equipment that props up the energy grid after attacks, he added. Kyiv’s budgetary constraints mean it is stuck with China, for now.

Issues began piling up when Kyiv failed to woo Beijing with its 10-point peace plan presented in 2022. Instead, Xi presented his own peace formula in February 2023 that received a lukewarm response in Ukraine.

Zelensky said he agreed with only some of China’s points. In the West, the plan was largely criticized for being too much in Moscow’s favor, while Russia celebrated it.

The points were general and included conditions like a cease-fire, the lifting of sanctions on Russia, and respect for territorial sovereignty. Beijing hasn’t recognized Russia’s 2-14 annexation of Crimea nor the occupied Ukrainian territories Moscow claims to have annexed in 2022.

A year later, China snubbed Kyiv’s invitation to the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland that gathered nations supportive of Ukraine’s peace formula. To add insult to injury, Beijing then announced that over two dozen countries backed the Chinese peace plan.

By June, Zelensky’s frustrations reached a tipping point, and he accused China of “working hard… to prevent countries from coming to the peace summit.” Beijing maintained its neutrality and refuted “fanning fire or fueling the flames.”

On China’s end, it wants to make sure the status quo within Russia remains steadfast, Dr. Marina Rudyak, an international development consultant and a lecturer at Heidelberg University's Center for Asian and Transcultural Studies, told the Kyiv Independent.

“It's in China’s interest to keep its border (with Russia) stable and secure and keep Russia stable. Anything that is not (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is more unpredictable than Putin,” she said.

What next?

After several attempts to engage with Chinese officials in Ukraine failed, Kyiv realized it needed a different approach. When Ukraine captured several Chinese soldiers on April 8 and Beijing denied any involvement, Kyiv saw its opportunity to put its foot down.

While Ukraine can’t simply cut trade with China, it knew it had scope to go after Chinese companies involved in Russian weapons production, as well as two Chinese captains sailing sanctioned Shadow Fleet vessels.  

It’s not clear how informed the CCP is about the involvement of Chinese citizens and companies in the war. The central leadership is unlikely to have full knowledge or responsibility for all the Chinese support for Russia, said Rudyak.

The testimonies of the captured Chinese troops suggest there is a “significant number” of Chinese citizens fighting with Russia, the Foreign Ministry’s press service said. “This may indicate a systemic problem and insufficient effectiveness of the Chinese authorities' measures to prevent this phenomenon,” the ministry added.

For now, China has not publicly responded to the sanctions aside from calling the accusations “groundless.” Tensions then escalated when Kyiv presented evidence of Chinese citizens and companies to the Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Ma Shengkun.

“We have clarified China's position on the relevant issues. China strongly opposes groundless accusations and political manipulations,” Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said during a press briefing on April 22.

Ukraine wants to open up dialogue with China so that tensions don’t boil over. The country is powerful and, like Turkey, a possible mediator between Ukraine and Russia if Kyiv can win it over.

“China is first pro-China, not exactly pro-Russia, so there are hopes that China may persuade Russia to stop the war,” Goriunov said.  Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Perebyinis cautiously assured Ambassador Shengkun on April 22 that Ukraine “values its strategic partnership with China” while urging Beijing to “stop supporting Russia.”

President Xi didn’t seem to get the message as he sat next to President Putin during Moscow’s Victory Day Parade. The day before, the two “friends of steel” reiterated their partnership in a joint statement and announced deeper cooperation, including in military ties to counter the U.S.

Conceringly for Ukraine, the statement included a line about China helping establish peace in Ukraine with Russia and addressing the “root causes” of the war– a thinly veiled reference to Russia’s narrative about NATO expansion.

While Ukraine is eager for a diplomatic meeting to iron out the tensions, the Chinese side is taking a long time to consider Kyiv’s proposals, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said. This does not bode well for their bilateral relations.

“Further delaying or avoiding such contacts could lead to a crisis of confidence, which is highly undesirable,” the ministry added.

Will Putin meet Zelensky? As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Kremlin’s next move

With just a day to go before Russian-proposed peace talks might begin in Istanbul, the Kremlin is still refusing to confirm whether or not President Vladimir Putin will attend the event. President Volodymyr Zelensky has already said he will meet Putin there, a move that puts the ball very much into the Kremlin’s court. Upping the pressure further, U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 12 that he believes that “both leaders” will be there, thrusting Putin into a delicate diplomatic dilemma —

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

The Council of Europe on May 14 approved the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s top leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainian lawmaker Maria Mezentseva reported.

The decision marks a milestone in international efforts to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials accountable for launching the full-scale war against Ukraine.

“The decision was made in Luxembourg as part of the annual meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe,” Mezentseva, who chairs Ukraine’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), wrote on Telegram.

European foreign ministers gave political approval to the tribunal, which will operate under the auspices of the Council of Europe, during a meeting in Lviv on May 9.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has long advocated for the tribunal to ensure that Putin and other senior Russian officials face justice for launching the invasion three years ago.

Ukrainian prosecutors have documented thousands of war crimes committed by Russian forces, including attacks on civilians, cultural and medical sites, and acts of torture and deportation.

While war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide can be prosecuted against individuals at any level, the crime of aggression applies exclusively to state leaders responsible for planning and waging a war.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Will Putin meet Zelensky? As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Kremlin’s next move

With just a day to go before Russian-proposed peace talks might begin in Istanbul, the Kremlin is still refusing to confirm whether or not President Vladimir Putin will attend the event. President Volodymyr Zelensky has already said he will meet Putin there, a move that puts the ball very much into the Kremlin’s court. Upping the pressure further, U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 12 that he believes that “both leaders” will be there, thrusting Putin into a delicate diplomatic dilemma —

The Kyiv IndependentChris York