• Russian semiconductor plant making missile, jet parts hit in Ukrainian attack, military says
• Putin visits Kursk Oblast for first time since Moscow claimed its recapture
• Ukraine dismisses Russian claims of full control over Kursk Oblast, says fighting ongoing
• Russia massing troops near Kharkiv Oblast ahead of possible attack, military warns
• NATO summit in The Hague to focus on long-term support, lasting peace for Ukraine, Rutte says

Ukrainian drones struck Russia's Bolkhov semiconductor plant in Oryol Oblast, which produces parts for Sukhoi warplanes and Iskander and Kinzhal missiles, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on May 21.

The statement comes after Russia claimed to have downed over 150 Ukrainian drones overnight in multiple regions, including 53 in Oryol Oblast.

The region's governor, Andrey Klychkov, initially reported no damage or casualties, but later said that the semiconductor plant and several residential buildings were damaged.

Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ shared what it claimed to be footage of the burning and damaged facility.

Ten drones hit the plant's premises, resulting in a fire, the General Staff reported. The full consequences of the attack are being determined. The plant has been sanctioned by the U.S. since last year over its role in the Russian military-industrial complex.

The Bolkhov plant is one of Russia's leading producers of semiconductor devices and components, focusing on diodes, microcircuits, optoelectronic switches, and more, the General Staff said.

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Putin visits Kursk Oblast for first time since Moscow claimed its recapture

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kursk Oblast, the Kremlin said on May 21, marking his first known visit since Moscow declared it had retaken the Russian border region from Ukrainian forces.

Russia claimed on April 26 that it had completed its operation to liberate Kursk Oblast. Ukraine has refuted the claim, saying that the fighting is ongoing in some areas.

During the visit, Putin met with Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein, heads of local municipalities, and members of volunteer organizations. He also visited the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, the Kremlin's press service said. The exact date of the visit was not revealed.

The Russian president previously visited Kursk Oblast in March, which was his first trip to the region since Ukraine began its incursion last summer.

Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, marking the first large-scale invasion of Russian territory by foreign forces since World War II. The operation aimed to disrupt a planned Russian offensive on the neighboring Sumy Oblast and draw Russian forces away from the embattled Donetsk Oblast.

Top commander’s resignation puts new scrutiny on Ukraine’s military leadership

Ukraine’s military has once again been rocked by a scandal around its leadership culture, with another high-profile commander speaking out against the country’s top brass over bad orders leading to excess losses. On May 16, well-renowned officer Oleksandr Shyrshyn, callsign “Genius,” announced his resignation from his position as

The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell

Ukraine dismisses Russian claims of full control over Kursk Oblast, says fighting ongoing

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces dismissed on May 21 Russian claims that fighting in Russia's Kursk Oblast has ended, insisting that operations by the Ukrainian military in the border region are ongoing.

"The statements by representatives of (Russia) about the alleged end of combat operations in Kursk Oblast do not reflect the actual situation," the General Staff said in a statement.

Earlier on May 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly visited Kursk Oblast. It marked Putin's first known visit to the region since Moscow declared on April 26 that it had completed a military operation to liberate the territory from Ukrainian incursions.

Ukrainian forces continue to carry out missions across the border, the military said, adding that while conditions remain difficult, Ukrainian troops are holding their positions and inflicting losses on Russian troops.

Since launching its operation in Kursk Oblast, Ukraine claims Russia has lost 63,402 troops, including 25,625 killed, and that 971 Russian soldiers have been captured. Ukrainian forces also report destroying or damaging 5,664 pieces of Russian military equipment.

EU officially agrees on 150-billion-euro defense fund

“SAFE is an advantageous, low-interest, multi-year loan guaranteed by the EU budget,” the Council of the EU said.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Russia massing troops near Kharkiv Oblast ahead of possible attack, military warns

Russia may be preparing to launch new attacks in the Kharkiv sector, as indicated by the buildup of its forces near the Ukrainian border, Andrii Pomahaibus, the chief of staff of Ukraine's 13th National Guard Khartiia Brigade, said on May 21.

Speaking to Suspilne, Pomahaibus said that Russia is trying to move its forces closer to the contact line, but has so far failed to carry out attacks.

The reported preparations indicate Moscow's efforts to escalate the war despite calls by Kyiv and its partners for an unconditional 30-day truce.

"There is an accumulation of personnel closer to the state border, that is, there are attempts to involve the (Russian) personnel, obviously preparing for active assault operations. Our Defense Forces are ready to repel attacks," he said.

Trump claims ‘progress’ on ending Russia-Ukraine war

“We are trying to settle Russia-Ukraine,” U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters. “I spoke with President Putin for two hours the day before yesterday. I think we made a lot of progress. But that’s a bloodbath.”

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

NATO summit in The Hague to focus on long-term support, lasting peace for Ukraine, Rutte says

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on May 21 that the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague will focus on the military support for Ukraine to ensure it is in the strongest position possible both during its ongoing defense and in the eventual pursuit of a lasting peace, European Pravda reported.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Rutte emphasized that all 32 NATO member states will discuss the continued support for Ukraine and how to avoid repeating past failed agreements.

"As for Ukraine, it will be a topic of discussion at the summit in The Hague. We must ensure that Ukraine, while the fight continues, receives all possible collective support to be in the best possible position to continue," Rutte said.

He added that when the time comes for peace, whether through a ceasefire or a formal agreement, it must be "durable and sustainable."

"We must make sure we never return to what we saw with the Minsk agreements," Rutte stressed, referring to the 2015 accords that failed to bring lasting peace to eastern Ukraine.

Rutte concluded by highlighting NATO's collective strength, saying, "This will really show that NATO, composed of 32 countries with a combined economy of $50 trillion and defense spending at a high level, is truly capable of defending itself against any adversary."

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.

Iran’s parliament has ratified a 20-year strategic partnership agreement with Russia, deepening ties between the two countries, Reuters reported on May 21.

The agreement, initially signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Jan. 17, was backed by the Russian parliament in April. The Iranian vote is the final legislative step before full implementation.

Iran has emerged as a key ally of Russia in its war against Ukraine, supplying Moscow with kamikaze drones and short-range ballistic missiles used in attacks on Ukrainian cities.

While the pact does not include a mutual defense clause, it outlines commitments for both countries to cooperate against common military threats, enhance military-technical collaboration, and participate in joint military exercises, according to Reuters.

Beyond military cooperation, the agreement includes provisions aimed at expanding economic ties. It encourages direct interbank collaboration and the promotion of national financial instruments, aiming to ease transactions and reduce reliance on Western banking systems.

Moscow has been Tehran’s long-time ally, but their cooperation intensified after the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022. Iran has provided Russia with thousands of Shahed drones used in attacks against Ukrainian cities, as well as short-range ballistic missiles.

Reuters recently reported that Iran was preparing to send Russia Fath-360 short-range ballistic missile launchers with a range of 75 miles (120 kilometers).

With Iran’s assistance, Russia has begun producing its own variants of Shahed drones called Geran-2.

Iran and Russia have also been at the forefront of confronting what they see as the Western-led global order, with Tehran sponsoring militant groups in the Middle East attacking the West’s allies.

Their alliance suffered a major blow last December when Syrian rebels ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad, who was supported by both Russia and Iran.

Last June, Putin signed a similar partnership agreement with North Korea, under which both parties agreed to military support of each other in case of an armed attack. Months after the deal was signed, North Korea dispatched up to 12,000 troops to help fend off a Ukrainian incursion in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.

‘Trump doesn’t know how to deal with gangsters’ — US lets Ukraine down, once again

In what is now a semi-regular occurrence, the workings of U.S.-led global diplomacy has cast a dark shadow over Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on May 19 in the latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. The call came

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

The U.S. has achieved “a lot of progress” toward ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump said during a press briefing at the White House on May 21.

On May 19,  Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking their first known conversation in two months.

“We are trying to settle Russia-Ukraine,” Trump told reporters. “I spoke with President Putin for two hours the day before yesterday. I think we made a lot of progress. But that’s a bloodbath."

Trump described the war as “a horrible thing."

“There’s a lot of hatred, a lot of deaths,” he said. “I get satellite pictures of that field — you never saw anything like that in your life."

The recent call between two leaders came days after largely inconclusive negotiations in Istanbul, where Russia sent a delegation of low-level officials and reiterated sweeping territorial demands, including that Ukraine accept the loss of Crimea and four other regions.

After the call, Putin reiterated Russia’s maximalist demands, denying full ceasefire agreement.

Trump has been inconsistent in his rhetoric toward the Russian leader, at times voicing frustration with the stalled peace efforts but mostly avoiding direct criticism of Putin.

Despite U.S. efforts, Putin has shown little willingness to compromise to achieve a settlement.

Trump’s approach has caused frustration and confusion among European allies, many of whom wanted him to back a joint U.S.–EU ultimatum for an unconditional ceasefire starting May 12 and tougher sanctions on Moscow. Despite Russia’s refusal, no additional U.S. sanctions have so far been imposed.

Trump 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.

The two presidents previously held a phone call on March 18, during which Putin rejected Trump’s Kyiv-backed offer for a 30-day ceasefire but declared a pause on strikes against energy facilities, which Ukraine said was repeatedly violated.

Trump has adopted a more critical rhetoric toward the Kremlin recently amid Moscow’s delays in peace negotiations and continued attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine.

At the same time, the new U.S. administration 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.

‘There we go again’ — For war-weary Europe, Trump-Putin call yet another signal to ‘wake up’

After a two-hour call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia reiterated its refusal for a full ceasefire in the war in Ukraine while the U.S. once again failed to respond with any significant pressure. For observers across Europe, watching the way the negotiations

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on May 21 that the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague will focus on the military support for Ukraine to ensure it is in the strongest position possible both during its ongoing defense and in the eventual pursuit of a lasting peace, European Pravda reported.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Rutte emphasized that all 32 NATO member states will discuss the continued support for Ukraine and how to avoid repeating past failed agreements.

“As for Ukraine, it will be a topic of discussion at the summit in The Hague. We must ensure that Ukraine, while the fight continues, receives all possible collective support to be in the best possible position to continue,” Rutte said.

He added that when the time comes for peace, whether through a ceasefire or a formal agreement, it must be “durable and sustainable."

“We must make sure we never return to what we saw with the Minsk agreements,” Rutte stressed, referring to the 2015 accords that failed to bring lasting peace to eastern Ukraine.

Rutte concluded by highlighting NATO’s collective strength, saying, “This will really show that NATO, composed of 32 countries with a combined economy of $50 trillion and defense spending at a high level, is truly capable of defending itself against any adversary."

The allies are set to gather for an annual summit in The Hague on June 24-25 amid growing uncertainties of the U.S.’s commitment to NATO under U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump has been a long-time critic of the U.S.’s NATO partners and said he would not defend those that fail to meet defense spending targets, directly challenging the alliance’s principle of collective defense.

The U.S. president has accused European countries of failing to contribute their fair share to the alliance’s defense needs, and his administration has signaled that its strategic focus is shifting from Europe to the Indo-Pacific region.

NATO members have significantly increased their defense spending since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, with countries like Poland and the Baltic nations aiming to reach the 5% target in the coming years.

Previously, Italy’s ANSA news agency reported that the U.S. is opposing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s participation at the upcoming NATO summit. According to Euractiv, allies have agreed that appeasing Trump takes priority and have not extended an invitation to Ukraine, a move NATO officials have not publicly confirmed.

U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio later denied the U.S. opposed Zelensky’s presence, telling reporters: “No, I don’t know where that’s coming from."

The decision to exclude the Ukrainian president, if accurate, would mark the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion that Zelensky is absent, either physically or virtually, from a NATO summit.

Pope Leo willing to host Ukraine peace talks in Vatican, Italy’s Meloni says

Following the election of the new pope, several of Ukraine’s partners, including the United States, suggested that the Vatican could become a neutral platform for further peace talks.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

With the fading U.S. global leadership under Donald Trump, Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, and growing populism at home, Europe faces a stark choice: step up or fall into irrelevance. Speaking with the Kyiv Independent on May 16, British historian Timothy Garton Ash paints a picture of a West in transition. Europe is facing its deepest crisis since 1945 – but therein lies an opportunity, he says. Facing down the Russian threat and galvanizing liberal powers around the world will test the viability of liberal democracy in an increasingly multipolar era, according to the Oxford professor.

Around 49,000 draft-age men have been detained at border areas and checkpoints while trying to illegally cross Ukraine’s border since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, said on May 21.

Ukraine prohibits men aged 18-60 from leaving the country under martial law, which was instituted at the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale war in 2022.

Illegal border crossing schemes deepen the manpower shortages facing the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which then struggle to hold back the Russian advance at the front.

Nearly 45,000 individuals were detained in terrain-based border areas or at checkpoints along the border, while another 4,000 attempted to cross the border using fake documents and other illegal methods, according to the State Border Guard Service.

Speaking on air on national television, Demchenko clarified that the figures refer only to the period of martial law in Ukraine.

The State Border Guard Service actively cooperates with border guards from neighboring countries and the EU to jointly counter attempts to illegally cross the border, as the number of such cases has “significantly increased” since the beginning of martial law, the spokesperson added.

In January, the National Police uncovered nearly 50 schemes for draft-age Ukrainian men to illegally cross the border, charging 60 suspects.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko admitted last June that dozens of men try to illegally cross the border every day, but Ukrainian authorities have largely avoided providing exact figures.

‘There we go again’ — For war-weary Europe, Trump-Putin call yet another signal to ‘wake up’

After a two-hour call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia reiterated its refusal for a full ceasefire in the war in Ukraine while the U.S. once again failed to respond with any significant pressure. For observers across Europe, watching the way the negotiations

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

The EU has reached an agreement to launch a common defense fund of 150 billion euros ($170 billion) called SAFE, the Council of the EU announced on May 21.

“The more we invest in equipping our armies, the better we will deter those who wish us harm,” the council said on X.

“SAFE is the first major EU program to increase investment in European defense capabilities, which becomes a reality."

The move comes as Europe faces an increasingly challenging security environment, with Russia continuing to wage its war against Ukraine and U.S. security commitments to its European partners growing uncertain.

The new SAFE mechanism, proposed by the European Commission in March, will allow member states to borrow money from the EU to purchase weapons and military equipment.

EU members reached a preliminary agreement on the initiative on May 19, an EU official told the Kyiv Independent at the time. The program will be formally adopted on May 27.

“SAFE is an advantageous, low-interest, multi-year loan guaranteed by the EU budget,” the council said.

“The program is also about simpler and accelerated procedures for joint defense procurement."

Some non-EU countries will reportedly be able to participate in the program if their expenditures do not exceed 35% of the cost. Despite agreement on the need to hike defense spending, several EU states have previously disagreed on whether these efforts should be coordinated with nations outside of the bloc, such as the U.K. or Turkey.

The 150-billion-euro fund was proposed as part of the European Commission’s ambitious ReArm Europe program, which would also allow member states to spend an additional 650 billion euros ($730 billion) on defense by loosening fiscal rules.

Some of the funds raised under the ReArm Europe program will be allocated to military support for Ukraine, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said in a media interview in May.

‘Trump doesn’t know how to deal with gangsters’ — US lets Ukraine down, once again

In what is now a semi-regular occurrence, the workings of U.S.-led global diplomacy has cast a dark shadow over Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on May 19 in the latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. The call came

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

The U.S. objected to the inclusion of clauses on “further support” for Ukraine in a joint statement during the meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers in Canada, Politico reported on May 21, citing two undisclosed officials.

Canada, chairing the G7 group this year, is hosting a meeting of G7 finance ministers this week. The summit is a precursor to the main meeting of the G7 heads of state, which will take place on June 15-17.

Washington also refused to label Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine as “illegal” in the text, according to sources who spoke to Politico.

This is not the first time that the U.S. has blocked joint G7 statements in support of Ukraine and condemning Russia’s war.

Washington previously did not support a joint statement condemning Russia’s deadly attack on Sumy, which killed 35 people and injured 119 on Palm Sunday on April 13. The Trump administration also opposed a joint statement on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war and vetoed a proposal for a task force tracking the Russian “shadow fleet” of tankers.

Since taking office in January, Trump has upended years of U.S. foreign policy on the Russia-Ukraine war, resuming direct contact with Moscow while exerting pressure on Kyiv by pushing for a peace agreement with Russia on conditions favorable to the Kremlin.

During the recent talks in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine on May 16, Moscow continued to press its demands for full control over the four partially occupied Ukrainian oblasts and the Crimean peninsula, as well as Ukraine’s abandonment of its aspirations to join NATO.

Reacting to the Russian side’s demands, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine would never withdraw troops from its own territories.

‘Trump doesn’t know how to deal with gangsters’ — US lets Ukraine down, once again

In what is now a semi-regular occurrence, the workings of U.S.-led global diplomacy has cast a dark shadow over Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on May 19 in the latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. The call came

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

The U.S. Senate is ready to vote on a bill on sanctions against Russia if peace talks over the war in Ukraine do not progress soon, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said on May 20, as Voice of America journalist Tetiana Vorozhko reported.

The U.S.-mediated negotiations between Ukraine and Russia have stalled, as Moscow continues to refuse a ceasefire and pushes its claims to four partially occupied Ukrainian oblasts — Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk — and Crimea.

“If the next few days are like the last few months, then you can just count on us moving, because I think it’s our job to try to help the world end this war,” Graham said during the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearings.

“The Chinese are watching. This is a dress rehearsal for Taiwan. How this ends, I think, will greatly determine what happens with the future of Taiwan. And I want this war to end in a way that makes Xi (Jinping) think, ‘Well, that didn’t work out too well for (Vladimir) Putin,'” the senator said.

Graham stressed that the war in Ukraine must end in a way that prevents a new one from starting.

“Afghanistan was a disaster. If we do not get this right in Ukraine, and the world perceives that Putin got away with it, that will be even worse. That will be worse than Afghanistan,” he added.

The bill, introduced to the Senate in early April, would impose new penalties on Russia and slap 500% tariffs on imports from countries that buy Russian oil, petroleum products, natural gas, or uranium.

The bill, proposed by Graham and Senator Richard Blumenthal, was supported by 72 senators, a majority in the Senate, according to Graham.

Ukraine’s European allies are tightening sanctions against Russia as Moscow refuses to cease fire. Despite Russia’s refusal, no new U.S. sanctions have been imposed so far, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying that new sanctions “could also make it much worse” after he held a phone call with Putin.

Several media outlets reported on European leaders’ frustrations with the lack of U.S. sanctions against Russia, with a senior European official telling the New York Times (NYT) that Trump “never seemed invested in joining sanctions on Russia."

‘Trump doesn’t know how to deal with gangsters’ — US lets Ukraine down, once again

In what is now a semi-regular occurrence, the workings of U.S.-led global diplomacy has cast a dark shadow over Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on May 19 in the latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. The call came

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kursk Oblast, the Kremlin said on May 21, marking his first known visit since Moscow declared it had retaken the Russian border region from Ukrainian forces.

Russia claimed on April 26 that it had completed its operation to “liberate” Kursk Oblast. Ukraine has refuted the claim, saying that the fighting is ongoing in some areas.

During the visit, Putin met with Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein, heads of local municipalities, and members of volunteer organizations. He also visited the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, the Kremlin’s press service said. The exact date of the visit was not revealed.

The Russian president previously visited Kursk Oblast in March, which was his first trip to the region since Ukraine began its incursion last summer.

Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, marking the first large-scale invasion of Russian territory by foreign forces since World War II. The operation aimed to disrupt a planned Russian offensive on the neighboring Sumy Oblast and draw Russian forces away from the embattled Donetsk Oblast.

Reinforced by North Korean troops, Russia launched a push to recapture the region in early March, with Ukraine being forced to pull back from much of the initially taken territory, including the town of Sudzha.

According to the Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState, Ukrainian forces still hold limited positions in the villages of Gornal and Oleshnya.

Despite Moscow’s declaration of victory in the region, Putin acknowledged on April 30 that “remnants” of Ukrainian forces remain in Kursk Oblast.

‘Trump doesn’t know how to deal with gangsters’ — US lets Ukraine down, once again

In what is now a semi-regular occurrence, the workings of U.S.-led global diplomacy has cast a dark shadow over Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on May 19 in the latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. The call came

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Pope Leo XIV expressed his willingness to host the next round of talks in the Vatican to bring the end of Russia’s war in Ukraine closer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on May 20, according to the Italian government’s website.

Following the election of the new pope, several of Ukraine’s partners, including the United States, suggested that the Vatican could become a neutral platform for further peace talks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky also said that Kyiv is exploring the possibility of a meeting with delegations from Ukraine, Russia, the U.S., and the EU in Turkey, the Vatican, or Switzerland.

“Finding in the Holy Father confirmation of the readiness to host the next talks between the parties in the Vatican, the prime minister expressed deep gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for his unceasing commitment to peace,” the Italian government’s statement read.

The latest talks between Ukraine and Russia were held in Istanbul on May 16, marking the first direct negotiations between the parties since 2022. The talks lasted less than two hours without reaching a breakthrough.

Ukraine had proposed an immediate ceasefire and an all-for-all prisoner exchange. In turn, Russia once again issued sweeping demands, including Ukraine’s adoption of neutral status, dropping claims for war reparations from Moscow, and the recognition of its loss of Crimea and four partially occupied eastern regions.

After being elected, Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, has pledged to personally “make every effort so that this peace may prevail."

In his first Sunday address on May 11, the pope called for an “authentic and lasting peace” in Ukraine, adding that he carries in his heart the “suffering of the beloved people of Ukraine."

Previously, while serving as the bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, Leo XIV spoke out against Russia’s continued war against Ukraine.

‘Trump doesn’t know how to deal with gangsters’ — US lets Ukraine down, once again

In what is now a semi-regular occurrence, the workings of U.S.-led global diplomacy has cast a dark shadow over Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on May 19 in the latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. The call came

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Russia has lost 976,780 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 21.

The number includes 980 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,835 tanks, 22,569 armored fighting vehicles, 49,169 vehicles and fuel tanks, 28,090 artillery systems, 1,388 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,167 air defense systems, 372 airplanes, 336 helicopters, 36,692 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

‘Trump doesn’t know how to deal with gangsters’ — US lets Ukraine down, once again

In what is now a semi-regular occurrence, the workings of U.S.-led global diplomacy has cast a dark shadow over Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on May 19 in the latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. The call came

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Various European leaders are calling on the European Union to implement harsher sanctions against Russia in the upcoming 18th sanctions package.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels on May 20, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said that harsher sanctions must be imposed as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to reject a 30-day ceasefire proposal.

“Deception, disruption, distraction, and delay, and the whole point of it is to avoid sanctions,” Budrys said, in a likely reference to Putin’s phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump that yielded no commitments to a ceasefire. “We Europeans have to stop this vicious cycle and the instrument to stop it is to impose new sanctions."

Budrys' comments come following the EU’s adoption of the 17th package of sanctions against Russia on May 20, primarily targeting its shadow fleet of oil tankers.

Budrys further called on the EU to target Russia’s energy, liquid natural gas (LNG), oil, and nuclear fuel exports as well as financial institutions.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on May 19 on X that the next package of restrictions is “already in motion."

President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed similar points in his evening address on May 20, stating that the next sanctions package “is already being prepared."

Zelensky further called for the EU to to apply additional sanctions on “Russian oil, the tanker fleet, all their energy infrastructure that finances the war, all their banks, all financial schemes, and Russia’s military industry."

“A new European sanctions package — the 17th — is already in place. This is a step in the right direction, and there should be as many sanctioning steps as necessary for Russia to become interested in peace and to feel the full price of its aggression and desire to prolong the war,” Zelensky said.

Ukraine’s European allies are tightening sanctions against Russia as Moscow refuses to cease fire. Despite Russia’s refusal, no new U.S. sanctions have been imposed so far, with Trump saying that implementing sanctions “could also make it much worse,” following the phone call with Putin.

Several media outlets reported on May 20 on European leaders' frustrations the lack of U.S. sanctions against Russia, with a senior European official telling the New York Times (NYT) that Trump “never seemed invested in joining sanctions on Russia,” the publication wrote.

NYT further reported, citing a White House official, that Trump refuses to impose sanctions on Russia as it may hinder future business and trade opportunities with Moscow.

Trump refusing to adopt sanctions against Russia as it would affect business opportunities with Moscow, NYT reports

Speaking to the New York Times on the condition of anonymity, a White House official familiar with the call, said that imposing sanctions could impede Trump’s goal of “maximizing economic opportunities for Americans,” the publication wrote.

The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

U.S. President Donald Trump refuses to impose sanctions on Russia as it may hinder future business and trade opportunities with Moscow, the New York Times (NYT) reported on May 20, citing a White House official.

Following a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 19, Trump refused to adopt additional sanctions on Moscow, despite Putin again rejecting a 30-day ceasefire.

“I think there’s a chance of getting something done, and if you do that, you could also make it much worse,” Trump said, referring to implementing additional sanctions. “But there could be a time where that’s going to happen,” he added.

In a post on Truth Social following the call, Trump wrote that peace deal would be a “tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED."

“Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on Trade, in the process of rebuilding its country,” he added.

Speaking to NYT on the condition of anonymity, a White House official familiar with the call, said that imposing sanctions could impede Trump’s goal of “maximizing economic opportunities for Americans,” the publication wrote.

Trump on May 8 said the U.S. would join partners in imposing “further sanctions” if Russia does not agree to an unconditional ceasefire. Despite numerous threats, Trump has never followed through on imposing additional sanctions against Russia.

European leaders have urged the U.S. to impose additional sanctions on Russia to pressure it toward a ceasefire, with EU leaders threatening and subsequently adopting additional sanctions in response to Russia’s ceasefire rejections.

On May 20 Axios reported that European leaders reportedly seemed “surprised” that Trump was “relatively content” with what he heard from Putin, following a call with European leaders after Trump’s conversation with Putin.

When asked about potential sanctions against Russia, the U.S. president said he did not think it was a good idea, adding that he believes Putin wants a deal.

A senior European official familiar with closed-door discussion voiced European allies frustration with the lack of U.S. sanctions, telling NYT that Trump “never seemed invested in joining sanctions on Russia,” the publication wrote. Several other officials said that they did not expect Trump to implement additional sanctions in the immediate future.

Despite violating multiple short-term truces, Trump nonetheless has said Russia and Ukraine will be able to “do big business” with the United States if they secure a peace deal.

Frustrated by a lack of progress, Trump has also repeatedly threatened to “back away” from negotiations.

“I tell you, big egos involved, but I think something’s going to happen. And if it doesn’t, I just back away, and they’re going to have to keep going,” Trump said following his phone call with Putin.

Trump says he will not impose new sanctions on Russia

“Because I think there’s a chance of getting something done, and if you do that, you could also make it much worse,” Trump told reporters from the Oval Office on May 19.

The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert

The European Union is preparing to provide Radio Free Europe with a contract valued at 5.5 million euros ($6.2 million) in “emergency funding” to support the ongoing work of the media organization amid the Trump administration’s funding cuts.

The funding, announced by the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas, will serve as “short-term, emergency funding designed for the safety net for the independent journalism,” Kallas said, and will be administered through the European Endowment for Democracy.

The announcement comes in response to cuts imposed to U.S.-backed media organizations by U.S. President Donald Trump.

On March 15, Trump signed an executive order slashing funding to seven government agencies, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The agency soon after issued a notice terminating a congressionally approved grant for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), freezing around $75 million already allocated for the 2025 fiscal year.

Following Trump’s order, EU foreign minister expressed grave concerns about the situation with RFE/RL’s funding, with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski confirming that the EU is considering options to help the media after the U.S. funding cutoff.

“We are at the stage of brainstorming, but clearly, these are worthy institutions whose mission should continue,” Sikorski added.

Addressing reports that the EU may establish permanent funding for RFE/RL, Kallas said EU country must “come in to find solutions for the long-term financing."

“If we look at the total amount of funding that they have for operating all across the globe, then it is clear that Europe cannot step in with all this funding that is necessary. Our focus should be really to help Radio Free Europe to work and function in those countries that are in our neighbourhood,” Kallas told reporters in Brussels. “Like I said, it is the short-term financing."

The media organization, established during the Cold War to challenge Soviet influence, operates as an independent media corporation funded by U.S. congressional appropriations through USAGM.

On May 7, following a legal challenge brought upon by RFE/RL, a U.S. court of appeals ruled on  USAGM must release $12 million in funding previously approved by Congress, marking a significant victory for the media organization.

RFE/RL’s broadcasts have long been a target of Kremlin ire. The outlet provides critical coverage of authoritarian governments, human rights abuses, and Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

Trump administration considers deporting nearly 200,000 Ukrainians using foreign aid funds, WP reports

During Joe Biden’s presidency, Ukrainians and Haitians were granted temporary protection, allowing them to stay in the U.S. if they could not return to their home country.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

The European Union plans to lift economic sanctions on Syria, the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas announced on May 20.

After a meeting with the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council, Kaja Kallas announced that the EU, with regard to Syria, “agreed to lift all economic sanctions while maintaining those related to Assad’s regime and human rights violations."

Kallas noted that the decision to lift sanctions is “reversible and conditional… on progress,” while recognizing that “there can be no peace without the path to economic recovery."

“We all need a stable Syria,” Kallas added. “Is everything ideal there? No, it is not. It is very clear. But I think we need to give the Syrian people a chance."

Following the ouster of Russian-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad in a rebel offensive in December 2024, Syria’s new leader – President Ahmed al-Sharaa – has sought to reverse the country’s geopolitical isolation and years of crippling international sanctions.

Earlier this month, al-Sharaa reportedly offered the United States a deal that would give American companies access to Syria’s natural wealth, reminiscent of the minerals agreement Washington recently signed with Ukraine.

Writing on X, Kallas also expressed the EU’s desire to help rebuild Syria after more than a decade of war.

“We want to help the Syrian people rebuild a new, inclusive and peaceful Syria,” Kallas said. “The EU has always stood by Syrians throughout the last 14 years - and will keep doing so."

Trump says he trusts Putin, won’t sanction Russia, prepared to ‘back away’ from Ukraine peace talks

U.S. President Donald Trump, in separate statements, told reporters on May 19 that he trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin, will not sanction Russia, but will abandon Ukraine peace efforts if progress is not made.

The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

Washington, D.C. — In a rare display of bipartisan unity, a group of U.S. senators has introduced a resolution calling for the return of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, urging that no peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine be finalized until all minors are safely repatriated.

The resolution condemns what it describes as Russia’s systematic abduction, forced transfer, and illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. It states that “Russia’s abduction and Russification of Ukrainian children demonstrate Russia’s intent to erase the Ukrainian nation and identity."

The effort is being led by a group of six senators, including Republicans Charles E. Grassley, Roger Wicker, Joni Ernst, and Rick Scott, and Democrats Amy Klobuchar and John Fetterman. The resolution underscores that the invasion of Ukraine has increased the vulnerability of children to multiple threats, noting that the “invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation has significantly increased the risks of children being exposed to human trafficking and exploitation, child labor, sexual violence, hunger, injury, trauma, deprivation of education and shelter, and death."

According to Ukrainian authorities, as of April 16, more than 19,500 children have been confirmed as unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred to Russia, Belarus, or areas of Ukraine under Russian occupation. So far, only 1,274 have been returned to Ukrainian-controlled territories.

Because of Russia, my child understood fear early

My daughter is just over a year old. She’s learning to walk, says a few words in both Ukrainian and English, and because of Russia’s war, she already has an acute understanding of what it means to be afraid. The first time she reacted to the air raid

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

The resolution frames the abduction of children as a violation of international humanitarian law and the Genocide Convention, citing Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and Article II(e) of the Genocide Convention, which prohibits the forcible transfer of children from one group to another.

The U.S. State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report has also documented Russia’s recruitment of child soldiers and described the country as a global epicenter for state-sponsored human trafficking.

Razom for Ukraine, a U.S.-based nonprofit supporting Ukraine, has endorsed the resolution.

The organization stated, “This is an important step in President Donald Trump’s March 19 promise to ensure Ukrainian children abducted by Russia are returned to their families. By kidnapping over 19,546 children from Ukraine, Russia is simultaneously erasing these children’s identities as Ukrainians while holding them hostage. The United States must say clearly that children are not bargaining chips and must be returned immediately."

Ambassador John Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, said that “Ukraine’s kidnapped kids are counting on Congress and President Trump to insist that Moscow free them. Full stop."

“According to available data, Russia has abducted more than 19,400 Ukrainian children since 2022 — an outrageous crime. Freeing Ukraine’s children should be a prerequisite to any negotiations, and I thank President Trump for expressing his desire to help free Ukraine’s children."

Mykola Kuleba, CEO and founder of Save Ukraine and former ombudsman for children in Ukraine, emphasized the urgency of returning the children. “As a nonprofit leader working to rescue and reunite these children with their families, I’m grateful for every voice raised on their behalf. We deeply appreciate leaders urging action to ensure that these children are safely returned with urgency,” he said.

The resolution also references earlier remarks by former President Donald Trump, who has claimed he could persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to release the abducted children. “President Trump promised…to help make sure those children were returned home,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and then-National Security Advisor Mike Waltz at the time.

In 2022, Putin signed a decree that made it easier for Russian families to adopt Ukrainian children. The Russian government revised its adoption laws to fast-track the placement of abducted children with Russian families, often after stripping them of their names, language, and national identity.

The State Department’s Conflict Observatory reports that at least 35,000 children have been affected by these forced transfers. Researchers say the data is vital to Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to locate and repatriate abducted children.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for their roles in the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. The United States has also sanctioned at least 32 individuals and three Russian entities for their involvement in these abductions and related human rights violations.

The bipartisan resolution signals that both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are united in condemning Russia’s actions and in demanding the immediate return of Ukraine’s children.

As Russia trains abducted children for war, Ukraine fights uphill battle to bring them home

Around the world, abducting a child is a serious crime punishable by years behind bars. But when the kidnapper is Russia, justice remains a distant hope. So does the child’s return home. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has identified over 19,500 children who have been

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

Key developments on May 20:

• ‘Russia is trying to buy time to continue the war’ — Zelensky says after Putin-Trump call
• EU approves 17th package of Russia sanctions, targets shadow fleet
• Rubio says US, NATO seek more Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine
• Kyiv to receive 400,000 more shells from Czech initiative, Ukraine’s PM says
• Trump administration considers deporting nearly 200,000 Ukrainians using foreign aid funds, WP reports

Russia is trying to buy time to continue the war in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 20, reacting to a recent call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky’s statement follows his call with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, during which the Ukrainian leader told his counterpart about his May 19 phone call with Trump, as well as the latter’s talks with Putin.

“It is obvious that Russia is trying to buy time to continue the war and occupation,” Zelensky said on X. “We are working with our partners to pressure the Russians to change their behavior."

Zelensky thanked the partners who continue to impose sanctions on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine and stressed that the war should end at the negotiating table.

“Clear and realistic proposals must be on the table. Ukraine is ready for any effective negotiation format. And if Russia continues to put forward unrealistic conditions and undermine possible results, there must be harsh consequences,” Zelensky said.

Axios reported on May 20 that Zelensky had to remind Trump that negotiations with Russia are already underway after Trump announced to EU leaders the Kremlin’s readiness for talks, citing sources present at the call.

The exchange reportedly took place during a phone call involving Trump, Zelensky, and the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, Finland, and the European Commission.

It followed Trump’s earlier call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which the Russian leader provided vague assurances about peace efforts but again rejected a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Trump told the leaders that Putin agreed to start direct negotiations on a ceasefire immediately, which led to a few seconds of “puzzled silence” during the call, Axios' source said.

Zelensky then reminded Trump that Putin had previously agreed to this, and the first round of direct talks had already taken place on May 16 in Istanbul, marking the first direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022. Trump did not directly respond, the sources said.

The Ukrainian president and other leaders also pointed out to Trump that it had been his idea to start the peace talks with an immediate 30-day ceasefire, according to Axios.

Participants on the call reportedly seemed “surprised” that Trump was “relatively content” with what he heard from Putin. Even though the Kremlin’s position has not changed, Trump presented this as a new development in the negotiation process.

‘Trump doesn’t know how to deal with gangsters’ — US lets Ukraine down, once again

In what is now a semi-regular occurrence, the workings of U.S.-led global diplomacy has cast a dark shadow over Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on May 19 in the latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. The call came

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

EU approves 17th package of Russia sanctions, targets shadow fleet

The EU has formally approved its 17th package of sanctions imposed on Russia over aggression in Ukraine, including measures against almost 200 shadow fleet vessels, top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas announced on May 20.

“New measures also address hybrid threats and human rights. More sanctions on Russia are in the works,” Kallas said on X.

The step comes as the U.S. signals disinterest in imposing additional sanctions against Russia, even as Moscow refuses Western-backed ceasefire proposals.

The 17th package was supported by EU ambassadors last week, but has since then been criticized as weak and watered down.

The new sanctions target members of Russia’s military and political elite and foreign entities in China or the United Arab Emirates, accused of helping the Kremlin evade already-imposed measures.

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

The package also targets components vital to Russia’s defense industry, namely chemicals, materials, and dual-use goods.

The EU has threatened Russia with additional sanctions unless President Vladimir Putin commits to a ceasefire and agrees to seriously engage in peace efforts. President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced that a new “strong EU sanctions package” is underway.

While European leaders have proclaimed that additional sanctions are coordinated with Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump, who held a phone call with Putin on May 19, said he does not intend to impose new measures on Moscow to avoid disrupting peace efforts.

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Rubio says US, NATO seek more Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine

The United States is working with NATO partners to locate additional Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on May 20 during Senate testimony on the State Department's budget.

Ukraine has consistently warned that its current air defense capacity is insufficient to counter the scale of Russia's intensified missile and drone attacks.

"The U.S. is looking for Patriot batteries to be able to transfer from other NATO nations into Ukrainian hands," Rubio told lawmakers, adding that no country is willing to give up these systems, and the U.S. cannot produce them quickly enough.

Kyiv has requested more Patriots to shield cities and critical infrastructure.

In an April 13 interview with CBS News, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to buy 10 U.S.-made Patriot systems for $15 billion.

"We will find the money and pay for everything," he said.

Despite Kyiv's appeals, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the request, accusing Zelensky of "always looking to purchase missiles" and falsely blaming Ukraine for provoking the war.

The Patriot is a high-precision, U.S.-made surface-to-air missile platform capable of intercepting aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats. Zelensky has repeatedly said Ukraine needs at least seven more systems to defend its most at-risk regions.

The New York Times reported on May 4, citing unnamed U.S. officials, that a Patriot system currently based in Israel will be transferred to Ukraine following refurbishment. Western allies are also reportedly reviewing whether to reallocate systems from Germany or Greece.

Kyiv currently operates eight Patriot systems, though only six are functional, with two undergoing repairs, according to the publication.

Ukraine accepted a U.S.-proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire back in March.

Moscow has continued its large-scale drone and missile strikes, including the largest drone assault of the war on May 18, when 273 drones entered Ukrainian airspace.

‘No one saw surrender as an option’ – Mariupol defender on historic Azovstal fight and brutal Russian captivity

Warning: This article contains descriptions of graphic scenes. A bullet fired by a Russian sniper hit Azov Brigade member Artem Dubyna in the head and passed through his neck. “He’s dead,” crackled the message over the radio to his comrades. But Dubyna’s heart was still beating. Evacuating his unconscious body

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

Kyiv to receive 400,000 more shells from Czech initiative, Ukraine's PM says

Ukraine will receive 400,000 additional artillery shells in 2025 through the Czech-led munitions initiative, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on May 20 on Telegram.

The initiative, supported by contributions from Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, and other nations, has significantly enhanced Ukraine's artillery capabilities. Launched in 2024, it has become a vital supplement to the country's firepower amid shell shortages.

Following a meeting with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Shmyhal said Ukraine received around 1.5 million artillery shells of various calibers through the initiative in 2024.

He announced that Czechia has increased its annual aid allocation to Ukraine to over $43 million. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Prague has provided $900 million in military assistance to Kyiv.

Fiala and Shmyhal also discussed expanding cooperation on weapons production, economic support, and humanitarian assistance.

"We will strengthen the integration of the Ukrainian and Czech defense industries," Shmyhal wrote. "In addition, we agreed to cooperate in training Ukrainian pilots of F-16 airplanes."

Czechia has played a leading role within the EU in rallying military support for Ukraine and has hosted hundreds of thousands of refugees since the start of the war.

The country's opposition party, ANO, has threatened to suspend the munitions initiative if it wins parliamentary elections in October 2025.

ANO deputy leader Karel Havlicek made the remarks in January, raising concerns about the future of one of Ukraine's most reliable arms pipelines.

As Russia’s fiber optic drones flood the battlefield, Ukraine is racing to catch up

Editor’s Note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. Every year, as the way war is fought constantly evolves on the battlefields of Ukraine, the visuals of the fighting on the ground that

The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell

Trump administration considers deporting nearly 200,000 Ukrainians using foreign aid funds, WP reports

Washington plans to spend about $250 million of foreign aid funds to repatriate people from active conflict zones, including about 200,000 Ukrainians and 500,000 Haitians, the Washington Post reported on May 20, citing the draft internal documents the newspaper obtained.

During Joe Biden's presidency, Ukrainians and Haitians were granted temporary protection, allowing them to stay in the U.S. if they could not return to their home country.

With the Trump administration coming to office, the U.S. has tightened its immigration policy. U.S. President Donald Trump previously pledged to impose harsher legislation on migrants and launch the "largest deportation program in U.S. history," aimed at removing 15 to 20 million migrants from the country.

According to the draft internal documents, the proposal was prepared after the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement on May 5. The statement read that those immigrants who voluntarily leave the U.S. for their home countries would be eligible for $1,000 in assistance.

Besides Ukrainians and Haitians, the draft documents also mention Afghans, Palestinians, Libyans, Sudanese, Syrians, and Yemenis, who could become other targets of the deportation program, the WP reported.

Tricia McLaughlin, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, verified the documents' authenticity, but described them as "outdated." McLaughlin added that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has not made a "final" decision on temporary protected status for Haiti or Ukraine.

According to the draft documents reviewed by the newspaper, the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) will fund the voluntary resettlement program using funds allocated by Congress for charter flights or commercial airfare.

The State Department has acknowledged that it is working with the Department of Homeland Security to provide "travel support and financial incentives" to encourage migrants to leave the country voluntarily.

The Trump administration's proposal has been criticized, including by former government officials who called it inhumane and counter to long-held U.S. ideals, the WP reported.

According to the plan's opponents, the Trump administration is forcing asylum seekers to return to countries where they are "at risk of being killed." They also questioned whether the plan constitutes an abuse of foreign aid funds intended primarily to support refugees and their resettlement.

In late January, Washington suspended acceptance of applications from Ukrainians for asylum under the Uniting for Ukraine program. This program allowed for two years of asylum in the U.S., as well as the right to work, study, and have health insurance, among other benefits.

There are about 200,000 Ukrainian refugees in the U.S., according to the United Nations.

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.

After a two-hour call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia reiterated its refusal for a full ceasefire in the war in Ukraine while the U.S. once again failed to respond with any significant pressure.

For observers across Europe, watching the way the negotiations have been unfolding was an unpleasant reminder that the U.S. can no longer be relied on as a partner — but it was not a surprising revelation.

“Chewing the same gum which has lost its taste is not the best experience,” Mykola Bielieskov, Research fellow at Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, told the Kyiv Independent.

Frederic Petit, a French National Assembly deputy, was similarly underwhelmed by the information shared about the call.

“It gives nothing, because of all the contradicting signals that are coming from the Kremlin and also a few of them are coming from the Trump administration,” he told the Kyiv Independent.

“For example, about the business deal that (they) could do together — does it mean, Mr. President, that you will shift the sanctions or not?"

The phone call, which took place on May 19 after a conversation between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky, was followed by another call between Trump and other European leaders, including the Ukrainian president.

According to Zelensky, during his phone call with Trump, he advocated for a ceasefire, for the opportunity to express views on a potential memorandum that will be negotiated between the U.S. and Russia, and for decisions about Ukraine not to be made without his country’s inclusion.

But Russia did not back down from its maximalist demands during the call, according to statements from officials. It has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine hand over more territory than Russia currently controls — a non-starter for Ukraine and a condition that has been a roadblock in negotiations.

‘Imitating negotiations’

Throughout the peace process that began when Trump took office in January, Trump has repeatedly put heavy pressure on Ukraine to make concessions to Russia, while refusing to apply similar tactics to Russia.

As information about the discussions reached experts across Europe, it was yet another of many reminders since Trump’s election that Europe will need to be more self-reliant.

“Russia is prepared for a prolonged war and is currently not thinking about peace,” Eitvydas Bajarunas, ambassador at Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry and visiting fellow at the Center for Europe Policy Analysis (CEPA), told the Kyiv Independent.

“Clearly, Russia would prefer a short pause to catch its breath, and ideally, to see some sanctions lifted. At the same time, Putin doesn’t want to discourage Trump, so he will continue to respond positively to Trump’s requests to consider ending hostilities — though only by imitating negotiations."

Bajarunas also noted that negotiations for peace in Ukraine have fallen in priority for Washington.

Having failed to deliver on a campaign promise to end the war within 100 days, Trump again threatened on May 19 to abandon efforts to end the war if progress was not made towards a peace deal.

"In this context, I see only one solution. Europe must take responsibility and lead the way — impose sanctions on Russia, supply weapons to Ukraine, and offer a concrete peace plan," Bajarunas said.

"Time to wake up. It’s now or never," he added.

The subsequent phone call with European leaders was one positive sign, said Yohann Michel, a senior research fellow at the defense research institute IESD in Lyon.

"This time, he's calling the Europeans and we might actually have the Europeans at the table," Michel said. "Instead of having bilateral or trilateral talks somewhere where we are out of the room and out of the situation, we might actually be able to participate directly."

Yet Michel also added that Trump’s stance has shifted frequently and previous positive signals have been sometimes short-lived.

"My first reaction was to think, okay, there we go again. Trump had a different conversation with someone else. Therefore, he will now completely change his representation and understanding of the issue."

'Everyone is playing their part in this charade'

Europe has repeatedly called for ramped-up support to Ukraine as the new U.S. administration has signaled its unwillingness to continue providing aid to Kyiv.

"While discussions about European-led peacekeeping or security assistance are still in early stages — and would be complicated without U.S. backing — the UK and its allies are beginning to think seriously about what a more self-reliant European response might look like," said Ievgeniia Kopytsia, a legal expert and visiting research fellow at the University of Oxford.

The day after Trump and Putin spoke, the EU approved its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, including measures against Russia’s "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, which the country uses to break embargoes and sustain its economy.

"More sanctions on Russia are in the works," top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas said on X, announcing the package.

But for many, Europe’s measures fall short of the moment.

"Trump is constantly surprising everyone by how he manages to help Putin justify continuing his aggression. And everyone (Ukrainians and Europeans) is playing their part in this charade," Gabrielius Landsbergis, former Lithuanian Foreign Minister, told the Kyiv Independent.

"Europe can do more, but is choosing to hope for either Putin or Trump to change their minds."

One step Europe could take would be to quickly unfreeze Russian assets that have been seized and transfer the money to Ukraine, Evelyn Farkas, executive director of the McCain Institute, told the Kyiv Independent.

"They can ramp up their production of drones. That's not the only thing they need, of course. They need training. Europeans could come in and train again, especially if more air defense is provided."

"But there is not a sufficient sense of urgency," she said. "It's bad enough that the United States doesn't understand that we're on war footing. But the fact that the Europeans don't understand that is really distressing."

Dementiy Bilyi, a 56-year-old political scientist and local historian, has watched Europe’s response from Kherson, a city which remained under Russian occupation for 256 days from February to November 2022 before it was liberated during the Kherson counteroffensive.

Bilyi is trying to keep in touch with people on the Russian-occupied left bank of Kherson Oblast, who keep him informed about the information space in the area, which the Kremlin dominates.

"Many Russian Telegram channels are created in the occupied part of the Kherson region. They often try to spread the narrative that Russia will come back here," he said.

"People are tired; they need support. They need to hear words of support from our European partners and allies. This helps them not to lose hope."

‘Trump doesn’t know how to deal with gangsters’ — US lets Ukraine down, once again

In what is now a semi-regular occurrence, the workings of U.S.-led global diplomacy has cast a dark shadow over Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on May 19 in the latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. The call came

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Bloomberg reported that Russia aims to capture four Ukrainian regions by the end of the year. Speaking with the Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne, Ukrainian Armed Forces reserve colonel and military expert Serhiy Hrabskiy expressed skepticism about Russia's ability to achieve this plan within the stated timeline.

On May 19, Bloomberg reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin believes he has the upper hand on the front lines and thinks he can fully capture four Ukrainian regions by the year's end. Consequently, he is reportedly in no hurry to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine.

"Putin is confident that his forces can break through Ukrainian defenses by the end of the year and fully control the regions he claims. This belief suggests that the Russian leader will not rush into an agreement and is unlikely to make any substantial concessions to Trump during their conversation," the report stated.

Military expert Hrabskiy believes the Russian Armed Forces might find it impossible to meet these objectives in the allocated timeframe. "Bloomberg can publish whatever it wants, but there is a reality to consider, which indicates such a plan is unachievable for the Russian military. Despite their artillery advantage, they cannot penetrate our defenses, and at their current pace, it might take them up to ten years," Hrabskiy explained.

He highlighted the need to consider two main factors for Russia's plans to succeed: the availability of forces and resources, and the presence of opposing forces. Nonetheless, the expert predicts that Russia will continue exerting effort in its attacks, depleting its manpower and equipment.

"Our task is to strengthen our defense, hold our ground, and make the enemy's objectives unattainable," Hrabskiy emphasized.