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Almost 50,000 draft-age men detained trying to illegally cross border since 2022, Border Guard says
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
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EU officially agrees on 150-billion-euro defense fund
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 againIn 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
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US opposes joint G7 statement on further support for Ukraine, Politico reports
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 againIn 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
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US Senate to vote on new Russia sanctions unless peace efforts progress soon, Senator Graham says
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 againIn 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
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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.
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 againIn 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
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Pope Leo willing to host Ukraine peace talks in Vatican, Italy's Meloni says
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 againIn 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
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General Staff: Russia has lost 976,780 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
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 againIn 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
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'It is already being prepared' — Ukraine, Lithuania call for harsher sanctions against Russia in 18th package
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 reportsSpeaking 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
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Trump refusing to adopt sanctions against Russia as it would affect business opportunities with Moscow, NYT reports
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
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Radio Free Europe to receive $6.2 million in 'emergency funding' from EU amid Trump cuts
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 reportsDuring 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
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EU to lift economic sanctions on Syria
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 talksU.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
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US senators introduce bipartisan resolution demanding return of abducted Ukrainian children
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 earlyMy 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 homeAround 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 beenThe Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko
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Ukraine war latest: 'Russia is trying to buy time to continue the war' — Zelensky says after Putin-Trump call
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 againIn 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 fleetThe 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.
Rubio says US, NATO seek more Patriot air defense systems for UkraineThe 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 captivityWarning: 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 bodyThe Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko
Kyiv to receive 400,000 more shells from Czech initiative, Ukraine's PM saysUkraine 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 upEditor’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 thatThe Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell
Trump administration considers deporting nearly 200,000 Ukrainians using foreign aid funds, WP reportsWashington 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.
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‘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 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.
President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media during a press briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 19, 2025, following a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. (Sergei Supinsky / AFP via Getty Images) 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."
Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia, on May 19, 2025, in this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik. (Alexander Kazakov / Pool / AFP via Getty Images) 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.
“Europe can do more, but is choosing to hope for either Putin or Trump changing their minds.”
"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."
Soldiers of the 115th Brigade fire on drones in the Lyman area, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on April 24, 2025. (Jose Colon / Anadolu via Getty Images) 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 againIn 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
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Russia's ambitious plan to capture four Ukrainian regions by year's end met with skepticism
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.
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'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 just days after a U.S.-backed but largely inconclusive negotiation between Kyiv and Moscow, where Russia sent a delegation of low-level officials and reiterated sweeping territorial demands.
Following the call, Trump told reporters that he trusts Putin, will not sanction Russia, but will abandon Ukraine peace efforts if progress is not made.
In a follow-up call between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky, the latter had to remind his U.S. counterpart that negotiations with Russia are already underway and that Moscow has been stalling all efforts to impose a ceasefire.
“It is obvious that Russia is trying to buy time to continue the war and occupation," Zelensky later wrote on X.
Yet the tone coming from the White House after the call suggested that at least to one man, it wasn’t that obvious at all.
“Nothing good is expected,” Yelyzaveta Yasko, a lawmaker from the governing Servant of the People party, told the Kyiv Independent when asked for her initial reaction to the phone conversations.
The results of the Trump, Putin callDespite the U.S. president claiming “it went very well,” that “some progress was made,” and that the “tone and spirit of the conversation was excellent,” Ukraine and its European allies were stunned by the outcome of Trump’s call with Putin.
Trump also claimed that Putin had agreed to “immediately start negotiations towards a ceasefire,” seemingly forgetting that he himself has been demanding one since March 11, and that direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are already underway.
According to Axios, when Trump told Zelesnky and other European leaders about the results of the call, he was met with a stunned silence.
Once this had passed, Zelensky had to gently remind Trump that it had been his idea all along to start the peace talks with an immediate 30-day ceasefire.
“Putin has humiliated him in public several times in a row, and the U.S. president doesn’t want to recognize that and doesn’t know what to do.”
In addition, Russia once again refused to agree to the ceasefire, instead saying it was prepared to negotiate a "memorandum regarding a potential future peace treaty."
Neither Trump nor Putin discussed a deadline for a ceasefire, and the U.S. president once again threatened to walk away if Ukraine and Russia could not negotiate a peace between themselves, effectively giving Putin free rein to continue waging war against Ukraine.
In Kyiv, the news was met with a now familiar mix of resignation, disappointment, and increasing unease over Trump's continuing appeasement of Putin's position.
Russian President Vladimir Putin smiles during a meeting with students at the Sirius Education Center for Talented Children in Sirius, Russia, on May 19, 2025. (Contributor / Getty Images) "The main conclusion of the latest phone conversation between Trump and Putin is that Trump doesn't know how to deal with real gangsters," Andrii Osadchuk, a lawmaker from the Holos faction, told the Kyiv Independent.
"Putin has humiliated him in public several times in a row, and the U.S. president doesn't want to recognize that and doesn't know what to do."
Of particular concern is the idea that future negotiations should be conducted solely between Russia and Ukraine, without a mediator, and that Trump appears to perceive his attempts at brokering a peace as bearing fruit, despite Russia not having budged from the demands it set way back in 2022.
"The fact that Americans believe that peace can be achieved through direct conversations is a dangerous sign," Inna Sovsun, a lawmaker from the Holos faction, told the Kyiv Independent.
"The Russians are only willing to negotiate and compromise if there is some pressure on them that they feel."
Any hopes of the U.S. placing its first real pressure on the Kremlin since Trump took office was swiftly quashed by the U.S. president — immediately after the call he told reporters at the White House that he will not impose further sanctions against Russia "because there's a chance" of progress towards a ceasefire.
The view from Ukraine, however, is very different.
"Ukraine, through years of dealing with Russia, has learned one very clear lesson: Putin constantly lies," Halyna Yanchenko, a lawmaker from the Servant of the People party, told the Kyiv Independent.
"Today, he continues to use the same tactic — trying to blind Donald Trump, stall for time, and use any pause to seize even more Ukrainian territory," she added.
Russia's demandsUnderpinning the intense feeling of frustration in Ukraine is a fact that appears obvious to almost everyone except Trump — that after 119 days, Putin has not made a single concession that suggests he is truly interested in peace.
"This phone call hasn't changed anything at all," Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian lawmaker and chair of the parliament's foreign affairs committee, told the Kyiv Independent.
"Putin continues to insist on his ultimatums and maximalist demands, and keeps rejecting ceasefire proposals."
At the May 15 Istanbul talks, Russia sent a delegation of low-level officials and reiterated maximalist demands, including that Ukraine accept the loss of occupied Crimea and four oblasts in their entirety despite Russia not fully controlling any of them.
"I will continue to resist even if Crimea remains part of Russia, because Crimea was and is Ukraine, regardless of political decisions."
Attacks against civilians have only escalated since Trump took office, and on May 18, Russia carried out its largest drone attack since the start of its full-scale invasion.
President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference following a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 19, 2025. (Danylo Antoniuk / Anadolu via Getty Images) 'One big deal'Trump, the author of "The Art of the Deal," once again trumpeted his alleged negotiating skills when telling reporters on May 19 about his call with Putin.
"My whole life is like deals — one big deal," he said.
In the context of his failed peace process in Ukraine so far, the claim rang hollow.
"The stance of the EU and the U.S. was to step up pressure on Russia if it rejects a ceasefire," Olena Halushka, a board member at the Anti-Corruption Action Centre (AntAC), told the Kyiv Independent.
"It rejected it, so now it's time to act — step up sanctions and military aid, and confiscate frozen Russian assets. Russia doesn't want peace, it wants Ukraine," she added.
On May 20, the EU kept up its side of the bargain, formally approving its 17th package of sanctions imposed on Russia over aggression in Ukraine, including measures against almost 200 shadow fleet vessels.
To date, Trump has not taken a single concrete action to place any pressure on the Kremlin.
The cost of failed negotiationsWhile phone calls, negotiations, and Truth Social posts play out on the global stage, those with perhaps the most at stake — Ukrainians living under Russian occupation — watch on.
"I am worried that as a result of the negotiations, Crimea may be left under Russian control," a woman currently living in occupied Crimea, whose name is being withheld for security reasons, told the Kyiv Independent on May 19.
She is an activist with the Yellow Ribbon resistance movement, fighting back against Russian occupation because she wants the "world to see that Ukrainians here have not surrendered."
"I will continue to resist even if Crimea remains under Russian rule, because Crimea was and is Ukraine, regardless of political decisions," she added.
As Russia’s fiber optic drones flood the battlefield, Ukraine is racing to catch upEditor’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
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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 captivityWarning: 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
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Zelensky accuses Putin of using talks as stalling tactic, calls for firm international pressure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of using "negotiations" to bide time to prolong the war and occupation. Zelensky noted that leaders discussed yesterday's conversation between him and U.S. President Donald Trump.
He stressed the importance of coordinating diplomatic efforts to achieve real results, saying, "We're working with our partners to ensure pressure forces Russia into changing its behavior. Sanctions matter, and I'm grateful to everyone making them more impactful for those responsible for the war." Zelensky reiterated his belief that the war should end at the negotiating table, albeit with clear and realistic proposals. "Ukraine is ready for any productive format of negotiations. Should Russia continue to impose unrealistic conditions and sabotage possible outcomes, there must be strict consequences," he emphasized. Zelensky also mentioned scheduled talks with other partners.
Following a lengthy two-hour phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump expressed his belief that Putin wants peace in Ukraine. Meanwhile, according to Financial Times, some European leaders briefed by Trump after his conversation with the Russian leader were reportedly astonished by the U.S. president's stance. A source noted it became apparent that Trump "has no intention of applying substantial pressure on Putin" to compel him to engage earnestly in negotiations.
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Zelensky proposes free trade agreement to Trump, Kyiv says
President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a free trade agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. to President Donald Trump, Deputy Economy Minister and Trade Representative Taras Kachka said on May 20.
According to Kachka, Zelensky offered an agreement in a letter to Trump, alongside mentioning other opportunities for cooperation in trade and the defence industry.
“This, accordingly, will be the next stage of our conversations,” Kachka said during a conference in Ukraine’s capital.
Kyiv is interested in such an agreement, despite the fact that the U.S. is not Ukraine’s largest trading partner, he added.
“We are interested in free trade agreements with all G7 countries. That is, we have (agreements) with Britain, Canada, and the European Union. We also need the United States and Japan,” he said.
Ukraine and the U.S. launched initial talks on a free trade zone back in 2021.
Earlier, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Kyiv seeks to boost bilateral trade and an agreement with the U.S. to allow “everything except for the fixed exceptions."
Ukrainian trade with the U.S. has dropped in recent years, with only $874 million of exports and $3.4 billion of American imports last year. But the knock-on effect could be a global trade war that hits Ukraine too, Oleksandra Myronenko from the Center for Economic Strategy (CES) in Kyiv, told the Kyiv Independent last month.
In early April, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all Ukrainian goods, except metal products, which had already been subject to a 25% tariff in March.
Zelensky had to remind Trump peace talks already underway during call with EU leaders, Axios reportsDonald Trump told the leaders that Vladimir Putin agreed to start direct negotiations on a ceasefire immediately, which led to a few seconds of “puzzled silence,” Axios reported.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
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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.
Zelensky had to remind Trump peace talks already underway during call with EU leaders, Axios reportsDonald Trump told the leaders that Vladimir Putin agreed to start direct negotiations on a ceasefire immediately, which led to a few seconds of “puzzled silence,” Axios reported.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
