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

U.S. President Donald Trump is not expected to attend the possible Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul on May 15, Bloomberg reported on May 14, citing unnamed Turkish officials.

The officials told Bloomberg that preparations are underway but downplayed expectations of Trump’s attendance, despite earlier remarks suggesting he might join the summit.

The talks, proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, have drawn international attention amid hopes they could mark the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022.

While President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed his readiness to attend, the Kremlin has only committed to sending a delegation, withholding confirmation on whether Putin will appear in person.  

“I believe both leaders are going to be there. I even thought about flying over — I’m not sure where I’ll be on Thursday, I have so many meetings,” Trump said on May 12.

The U.S. president announced on May 13 that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior U.S. officials will attend the talks. According to Reuters, Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg are also expected in Istanbul.

“Our people are going to be going there. Marco (Rubio) is going to be going there. Others are going to be going, and we’ll see if we can get it done,” Trump said during the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum.

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Zelensky said he will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but both leaders are prepared to fly to Istanbul if Putin agrees to attend.

The Kremlin has not yet named the composition of its delegation. Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky said the details may be announced late on May 14.

"If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war," Zelensky said during a May 13 press conference in Kyiv.

Ukraine and its European allies have backed a U.S.-proposed unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting May 12 as a prerequisite to peace talks. Moscow has rejected the proposal, continuing to launch missile and drone attacks across Ukraine.

The White House has shown growing frustration with the lack of progress in peace talks. Trump, who vowed to end the war within 100 days of taking office, has missed the self-imposed deadline.

The U.S. president has alternated between blaming both sides for the impasse and suggesting breakthroughs are still possible.

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 Moscow court on May 14 sentenced Grigory Melkonyants, the co-chair of independent Russian election monitor Golos, to five years in prison over allegedly participating in activities of an “undesirable” organization.

Melkonyants was arrested in August 2023 in connection with Golos’s claimed links to the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO), a Montenegro-based international network of election monitors working in Europe and Central Asia.

Russia branded ENEMO as an “undesirable” organization – a legal classification used to repress the regime’s perceived opponents – in September 2021.

Prosecutors have called for a six-year sentence and claimed that Golos was a structural part of ENEMO, which Melkonyants and the network both denied. The Montenegro-based network has said it has not interacted with Golos since 2021.

Independent news outlet Mediazona noted that neither the Golos association – the original iteration of the organization dissolved after being branded a “foreign agent” – not the current Golos movement has been named an “undesirable” organization.

Melkonyants was also banned from public activities for nine years after serving his sentence. The prison term will count since the start of his pretrial detention in 2023.

The case has been largely described as part of the Kremlin’s crackdown on civil society.

Golos, in its various forms, has monitored Russian elections since 2000. It has faced hostility from the Kremlin for highlighting widespread electoral violations — most notably during the 2012 presidential election, which marked Vladimir Putin’s return to power.

The crackdown against the organization has only intensified after the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as Golos’s members have openly criticized the war.

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

Turning into a small, inconspicuous courtyard in the center of Kyiv this week, I was filled with joy as I saw a sign that said "Crimea," alongside a Crimean flag in Ukrainian colours.

There, in the heart of bustling Kyiv, I felt something within me calm down. I felt at home, even though I'm not a Crimean Tatar.

At the entrance to the Hederlez event, the Tatars greeted me with smiles and hugs. Hederlez is a Crimean festival that marks the end of spring and the arrival of summer.

For Crimean Tatars, the holiday is more than just a seasonal event — it’s a symbol of resilience and identity. In exile in Uzbekistan after Stalin’s 1944 deportation, Crimeans gathered together during Hederlez to dream of going home. That dream finally came true in modern independent Ukraine. But it lasted only briefly, as Russia occupied Crimea in 2014.

And this year, Donald Trump’s support of the Russian occupation has echoed like a final blow.

"Crimea will stay with Russia," Trump told Time magazine last month. When Trump envoy Steve Witkoff provided European officials with a plan to end the war, it included American recognition of Russia's control of Crimea.

Yet, even now, Crimean Tatars refuse to surrender. Dispersed across the occupied peninsula, mainland Ukraine, and the front lines, they commemorate Hederlez as a silent act of resistance.

It is their way of preserving their culture, language, and connection with one another.

Their story is not just about one people, but about what it means to lose a homeland twice – and continue the struggle.

And I felt lucky when they let me tag along for the experience.

Read more

Natural gas reserves in Ukraine’s underground storage facilities amounted to 6.02 billion cubic meters (bcm) as of May 11, marking the lowest level in at least the last 11 years, ExPro Daily Gas consulting group said on May 14.

Russian forces regularly attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leading to power and heat shortages across the country, as well as difficulties with natural gas storage.

Ukraine’s underground storage facilities are currently using 19.4% of their capacity. Almost 32%, or 2.79 bcm, less gas is available in the storages than in the previous year, according to the estimates.

Meanwhile, pumping volumes in May 2025 are higher than in May last year. Since the beginning of the month, over 350 million cubic meters (mcm) of natural gas have been pumped into the storage facilities, which is 33% more than in the same period last year.

Since April 17, 2025, when the injection of natural gas into underground facilities began, 610 mcm of natural gas have been pumped, including 258 mcm in April. As a result, the total pumping volumes decreased to 26 mcm as of May 11.

As of the end of May 2025, gas reserves in Ukrainian underground facilities could reach almost 6.6 bcm with stable natural gas imports of about 14 mcm per day in recent days, according to ExPro Daily Gas.

Ukraine also continues to gradually restore natural gas production, which was damaged after numerous Russian attacks in February and March, the report read.

Russia attacked 34 facilities of Ukrgasvydobuvannya, Ukraine’s largest gas producer and part of the state Naftogaz Group, last winter, leading to a loss of almost 50% of gas production, the company reported.

In March, Ukrgasvydobuvannya restored more than half of the production volumes lost because of the attacks.

Naftogaz also imported 800 mcm of gas and began restoring the damaged infrastructure to withstand the autumn and winter of 2024-2025 and compensate for losses.

‘Like a game of tennis’ — Russia, Ukraine court Trump to avoid being blamed for peace talks failure

In the middle of the night, Russian President Vladimir Putin gathered Russian state TV to inform them that he is ready to begin direct peace talks with Ukraine on May 15. A day later, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he’ll be waiting for Putin in Turkey. “We expect Russia to confirm a full, durable, and reliable ceasefire starting May 12, and Ukraine is ready to meet,” Zelensky said. The statements by Moscow and Kyiv caught the attention of the main viewer — U.S. President Donald Trump. “I

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

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.

According to a former Russian official who spoke to the Washington Post, Moscow will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov.

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. 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

NATO allies have begun working on a plan to increase defense spending, aiming to meet U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for each country to allocate 5% of GDP to their militaries, Bloomberg reported on May 14.

Citing diplomats familiar with the issue, Bloomberg said progress is being made toward reaching the goal by 2032. The development of the plan comes ahead of a NATO summit set to take place in The Hague in June.

Trump has long demanded that NATO allies increase their military spending, previously calling for the alliance to raise its benchmark from 2% to 5% of GDP.

Defense spending at the level Trump is calling for would be the largest increase in military expenditures by Western allies since the Cold War, as NATO members bolster their defenses in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

As of 2024, 24 of NATO’s 32 members meet the current 2% target, with Poland (4.12%), Estonia (3.43%), and the U.S. (3.38%) leading the way. Several nations, including Italy, Canada, and Spain, still fall short.

Trump’s remarks follow his declaration from last year that he would allow Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to NATO countries failing to meet defense criteria, a statement widely seen as undermining NATO’s collective-defense principle.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte quipped on Jan. 13 that allies should increase spending or prepare to “take Russian language courses or move to New Zealand.”  

Rutte is now pushing allies to commit to 3.5% of GDP for defense over the next seven years, plus an additional 1.5% for broader defense-related areas, Bloomberg reports.

NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs will discuss the defence spending during an informal meeting in Antalya, Turkey, on May 14–15.

Ministers will discuss what qualifies under the 1.5% for broader defense-related areas, and it’s still unclear if this would involve new or existing spending.

The meeting takes place at the same time as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on May 15, though the Kremlin has not confirmed Putin’s presence.

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

More than 1,000 Russian government entities and 1,200 private companies are involved in the economy of occupied Mariupol, a major southeastern city captured by Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022, according to a research paper published on May 14.

A Serious Organized Crime & Anti-Corruption Evidence (SOC ACE) research paper titled “Looting Mariupol: Russia’s use of illicit finance and economic crime in Ukraine” has identified individuals and companies leading and benefiting from the Russian occupation.

The researchers have compiled a Russian Illicit Finance in Occupation Database (“RIFO Database”) to explore the mechanisms of illicit funding and business seizures in Mariupol, a Ukrainian city on the Azov Sea captured by Russia in the spring of 2022.

The database includes a dataset of more than 1,000 Russian officials and institutions involved in the occupied Mariupol’s economy, indicating potential abuse of authority and/or participation in asset theft, along with providing the administrative capacity underpinning the Russian policy of de-Ukrainianisation of the occupied territories.

Another dataset of more than 1,200 private companies involved in the occupied Mariupol’s economy may also contain indicators of potential benefits from corruption and fraud, as well as services provided to Russia’s security forces that may have carried out war crimes or crimes under the law of occupation.

The third dataset contains more than 180 Russia-based companies potentially involved in business takeovers without the consent of legal owners, which may give rise to claims of fraud, theft, or pillage.

The paper focuses on emerging Russian economic and political networks in Mariupol’s reconstruction after Russia’s assault left large parts of the city devastated.

The study also investigates new developments around the city’s major industrial plants, including Azovmash and MMK Ilych, and examines Mariupol’s role as a major logistics center for the Russian military and for the illegal export of Ukrainian grain and other goods.

“These economic practices in many cases constitute criminal activities and may be potential war crimes,” the researchers conclude.

The study suggests that targeted sanctions could raise the cost of Russia’s occupation and make its long-term hold on the territory less certain. That would require a more coordinated and targeted effort among G7 members.

The SOC ACE Research Program is funded by the U.K. Foreign Office.

As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putin’s next move

With just two days 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

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s trust rating increased from 69% in March to 74% in the first half of May, while 22% of respondents said they do not trust the Ukrainian leader, according to a poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on May 14.

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

The institute carried out the survey as the Ukrainian leader is preparing for a possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 15 in Turkey for peace talks.

Compared to the March poll, the level of trust in the president has increased by 5%, while the level of distrust has decreased from 28% to 22%. A trust-distrust balance is +52%. Researchers also noted that Zelensky enjoyed confidence in all regions across Ukraine.

The poll was conducted from May 2 to May 12 among 1,010 citizens over 18 years of age living in the territories controlled by Ukraine.

Russia invited Ukraine to direct talks in Istanbul after rejecting calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire backed by Europe, Ukraine, and the United States. Zelensky accepted the invitation and said he was ready to personally meet Putin in Turkey on May 15.

The Kremlin has not confirmed Putin’s participation but said Russia would dispatch a delegation.

The meeting between Zelensky and Putin, if it occurs, could signal a breakthrough in stalled diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The last and only face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Putin occurred in December 2019 in Paris under the Normandy Format. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, there have been no direct meetings between the two.

As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putin’s next move

With just two days 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

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 comments come ahead of Zelensky’s planned trip to Turkey, where he invited Putin to discuss a potential ceasefire and a prisoner exchange in what would be the first direct peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022.

Russia has confirmed that it would dispatch a delegation to the talks, which will also be attended by top U.S. officials, but declined to confirm Putin’s participation.

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

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.

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

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.

As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putin’s next move

With just two days 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

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least four civilians and injured at least 26 others over the past day, regional authorities reported on May 14.

Russian forces launched an Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missile from Russian-occupied Crimea and 145 drones from the Russian cities of Kursk, Bryansk, Orel, Shatalovo, Millerovo, and Primorsk-Akhtarsk against Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.

Ukraine’s air defense shot down 80 drones, while another 42 disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement.

Drones that disappear from radars before reaching their targets are often decoys that Russia launches alongside real drones to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense.

In Nechvolodivka in Kharkiv Oblast, Russian attacks killed an 80-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman. Three women aged 88, 83, and 67, as well as a 69-year-old man, were injured, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

In the town of Kupiansk, a 56-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man were injured. In the village of Staryi Saltiv, two men aged 63 and 35 also suffered injuries.

In the village of Ruski Tyshky, a 51-year-old man was injured in a Russian strike, while in the village of Oleksandrivka, three people were injured in Russian attacks: a 90-year-old woman and two men aged 54 and 49.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed two people in the village of Berestok, injured three in the town of Pokrovsk, and four others in the villages of Novoekonomichne, Illinivka, Vasiutynske, and Zolotyi Kolodiaz, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

In Kherson Oblast, Russia targeted 30 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, over the past day. As a result of the attacks, two people were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

At around 7:00 a.m. on May 14, Russian forces also dropped explosives from a drone on a car, injuring a 49-year-old man. He suffered a mine-blast trauma and concussion, as well as multiple shrapnel wounds to his face, arms, torso, and thigh, the local military administration reported.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian forces' artillery and FPV (first-person-view) drones struck the Nikopol district over the past day, injuring two men, according to the local military administration.

In Rivne Oblast, Russian forces targeted civilian infrastructure, injuring two people, Governor Oleksandr Koval reported.

As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putin’s next move

With just two days 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 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 “effectively already begun” with the intensification of Russian assaults.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is traveling to Turkey this week and has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a ceasefire in what would be their first meeting since 2019.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who pledged to broker a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv, voiced optimism about the potential talks and dispatched Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg to attend.

The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Putin will attend the talks himself, but the Washington Post reported that Moscow will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov.

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."

As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putin’s next move

With just two days 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 has lost 969,370 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 14.

The number includes 1,240 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,804 tanks, 22,501 armored fighting vehicles, 48,382 vehicles and fuel tanks, 27,827 artillery systems, 1,382 multiple-launch rocket systems, 1,165 air defense systems, 372 airplanes, 335 helicopters, 35,860 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putin’s next move

With just two days 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

President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to attend the inaugural Mass of newly elected Pope Leo at the Vatican this Sunday, if his wartime obligations allow, his chief of staff Andriy Yermak told Reuters on May 13.

The event, taking place in St. Peter’s Square, will mark the formal installation of the new leader of the Catholic Church, who was elected on May 8. A number of global leaders are expected to be present.

“He (Zelensky) is planning to come, but you know that before (Sunday) we have some other very important meetings,” Yermak said, referring to potential peace talks scheduled in Turkey this week. He added that while plans remain uncertain due to the ongoing war, Zelensky would be “happy to be in Rome on this day."

What will the new pope mean for Ukraine?

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include comments from a 2022 interview, given while Robert Prevost was Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. With the announcement that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen as the new pope and leader of the Catholic Church, Ukrainians are wondering what the surprise appointment of the American-born pontiff will mean for their country. Past comments made by the new pope, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, quickly surfaced to form an idea of his vie

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

Yermak confirmed that the new pontiff had a phone call with Zelensky on Monday, during which the pope expressed willingness to facilitate meetings between global leaders and vowed to support efforts for “a just and lasting peace.” According to Yermak, the pope spoke “very warmly” about Ukraine and reacted “very, very positively” to an invitation to visit the country, though no visit has been confirmed.

Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump met previously in St. Peter’s Basilica during the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26. The two leaders reportedly discussed air defense systems and further sanctions on Russia. “It’s a great place for such meetings. The meeting with Trump was the confirmation of this,” Yermak said.

While the United States has yet to announce who will represent the Trump administration at Sunday’s Mass, expectations are high for key side meetings.

Yermak acknowledged past tensions between Kyiv and the Vatican during Pope Francis’s tenure—particularly after his controversial “white flag” comment—but expressed cautious optimism. “We think it (Leo’s papacy) will be some continuation of the policy of Pope Francis,” he said, noting the Church’s humanitarian aid and efforts to help return Ukrainian children taken by Russia. “But at the same time, it will be a new policy."

As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putin’s next move

With just two days 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