USA

May 19, 2025 3:14pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ben Borges

The German government supports newly proposed European Union sanctions, which are being coordinated with the U.S. government, spokesperson Stefan Cornelius said on May 19, Tagesshau reported.

The proposed sanctions would involve measures targeting the Nord Stream gas pipelines, the spokesperson added.

“The federal government supports the elements that affect Nord Stream,” Cornelius said in response to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement of new punitive measures. He added that Washington’s participation in a potential sanctions package would be “very central."

“Chancellor (Friedrich) Merz is working with U.S. and European partners on new sanctions against Russia,” Cornelius reportedly said, adding that “the intention of these sanctions is to achieve agreement from Russia to an unconditional truce."

Von der Leyen called for new sanctions against Russia after President Vladimir Putin failed to attend Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul. The new package would include sanctions on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, additional listings of vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet, a lower oil price cap, and sanctions on Russia’s financial sector.

The absence of Russia’s top leadership from the Istanbul negotiations — proposed by the Kremlin but attended only by lower-ranking aides — was widely viewed as a signal that Moscow remains unwilling to engage in meaningful talks.

Previously, President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of the U.K., 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.

Last week, EU members agreed on the bloc’s 17th sanctions package, which primarily targeted Russia’s “shadow fleet” and came under criticism for not being “as strong as it should be."

Although Nord Stream 2 was never activated, and Nord Stream 1 ceased operation after suspected sabotage in 2022, sanctions on the pipelines would carry a symbolic value. They would also close loopholes and prevent future attempts to revive Russian energy exports to Europe.

The media previously reported that pro-Moscow figures have contacted the Trump administration to resume the operation of the Nord Stream pipelines, a step that would require European nations to agree.

In Washington, the U.S. Senate is preparing its own response to Russia’s delays. U.S. lawmakers have advanced the “Russian Sanctions Act of 2025,” which includes sweeping measures such as 500% tariffs on countries that continue to buy Russian energy products. At least 72 senators reportedly support the bill.

European leaders are also expected to call U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of his planned phone conversation with Putin on May 19. The U.S. president has repeatedly floated the idea of imposing additional sanctions on Russia to pressure it toward a peace deal, but has yet to take the step.

Trump announced that he plans to speak with Putin on May 19, after which he will hold a call with Zelensky. Trump said he hopes the discussions will result in a ceasefire — a step the Kremlin has doggedly resisted since the U.S. first proposed a 30-day truce in March.

Aestheticized aggression — why Gosha Rubchinskiy’s ‘Victory Day’ photo book is Russian propaganda

Russia’s war against Ukraine is waged not only with missiles and tanks, but with distorted myths — powerful narratives that romanticize empire, rewrite history, and embolden Russian soldiers to reduce once prosperous cities to rubble. Those very same myths surfaced at the Photo London Festival from May 15 to 18, where

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

May 19, 2025 3:04pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 8 minutes

Ben Borges

In October of last year, just days before the U.S. presidential election, Head of the McCain Institute Evelyn Farkas told the Kyiv Independent that a Donald Trump victory would be the “worst-case scenario” for Ukraine.

In the months since, a victorious Trump has taken office, dismantled the global post-World War II security architecture, blamed President Volodymyr Zelensky for starting Russia’s full-scale invasion, and left Ukraine in limbo, all without securing a peace deal.

The Kyiv Independent sat down with Farkas at the Kyiv Security Forum on May 8 to ask her if that worst-case scenario had come true, or if there was still some hope left for Ukraine.

The Kyiv Independent: When we last spoke, you said a Trump election victory was the “worst-case scenario” for Ukraine — are we now in it?

Evelyn Farkas: I imagined an administration that turned its back on Ukraine. And we aren’t there yet.

It remains to be seen ultimately what position the United States takes. Our government has not clearly delineated — aside from saying that we want to make peace — what our position is on the definition of peace.

It seems to me it’s part of a negotiating strategy — where you don’t tell anyone what you really want and you confuse everyone.

It’s not a negotiation strategy that I would employ (but) it could potentially work. But it does, of course, make people nervous about what the ultimate objective is because it hasn’t been clarified.

If the ultimate objective is not to support Ukraine, then that is the worst-case scenario because it means that Russia will not be stopped.

Russia will then turn its aggressive attention to other neighboring states — first the ones that used to be part of the Soviet empire, and then it will threaten Europe, and ultimately the United States.

The Kyiv Independent: Have you noticed a shift in rhetoric from the White House in recent weeks towards Russia?

Evelyn Farkas: As I’ve said all along, my view is to stay open-minded and give the administration the benefit of the doubt until they make some definitive statement one way or the other. Then we can judge it.

But right now, I am encouraged by the fact that the vice president and even the president have indicated impatience with Putin.

And maybe there's a dawning realization that in this world that Vladimir Putin is not stronger after Prigozhin marched on Moscow, and he's weaker economically, politically, militarily, and heavily dependent on China.

In this world, Vladimir Putin doesn't want an end to the war because it will likely mean the end of his political existence, if not his actual existence, because there will be a lot of angry veterans running around Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The Kyiv Independent: Why do you think it has taken the White House so long to realize this?

Evelyn Farkas: Probably because there are competing interests. There are those who really want to bring the war to an end and do it in a way that's sustainable, that looks like a victory for the president, not a defeat. Because there are some versions of a peace agreement that would look like a defeat for President Trump and for the United States.

And then there are others who are interested in making deals with the Russian elites, Putin and his oligarchs. And the people interested in making deals probably have the upper hand.

And so initially, at least, I think the impatience and the overwhelming desire to make business deals were impacting their diplomacy more in the beginning.

And now it seems that the reality is becoming understood — you can't just go and make business deals. You can't just quickly make peace so you can make business deals. That's not going to work.

The Kyiv Independent: How much has this peace process been driven by people's personal interests rather than America's interests?

Evelyn Farkas: It's hard to say from the outside, but it is disconcerting to see a lack of a clear separation between the governance, the business of the American people, and the special interests of people working in the administration.

The Kyiv Independent: What do you think of U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's performance?

Evelyn Farkas: I think he was a peculiar choice because he's not a seasoned diplomat, and I don't really know whether he's a seasoned business deal broker either.

And so he seems to have been enlisted to try to maybe charm Putin and entice him with some offers, perhaps business offers. But that hasn't worked.

The Kyiv Independent: Do you think that Witkoff was the one who was charmed?

Evelyn Farkas: I can't say, I don't know him. Of course, he was repeating things the Kremlin told him, and we know that the Kremlin sells a bunch of propaganda and lies.

So he was either charmed by them, or for some other reason, he felt like he needed to repeat their propaganda and really omit some of the truth when he spoke publicly.

The Kyiv Independent: Here in Ukraine, at some moments during Trump's term, it has seemed like the U.S. might not only abandon Ukraine, but outright betray it by giving Russia everything that it wants — was that felt by Ukraine supporters in the U.S.?

Evelyn Farkas: I think for pro-Ukraine people in the United States, there was a lot of concern around statements like 'Ukraine can't ever become part of NATO', that 'Crimea was always Russian.’

Those kinds of statements are a betrayal of Ukraine and its interests.

And frankly, they are a betrayal of our interests, because our interest is in stopping Putin's neo-imperial aggression, and getting a just, lasting peace for Ukraine.

So, yes, we were alarmed by those statements because they seemed to indicate that that was the private negotiating position of the administration. Again, not a lot has been made public.

And of course, when the issue of the Coalition of the Willing was raised by the Europeans, led by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the reaction from the White House was non-committal. And that's also disturbing because you can't have a deterrence of Putin, and that is to say, a lasting peace for Ukraine, without the United States military to back it up.

The Kyiv Independent: Do you think Trump and Zelensky's relationship is OK now, or could we see it revert to a time similar to the infamous Oval Office showdown?

Evelyn Farkas: You can't rule it out. I was shocked by the treatment of President Zelensky in the White House. It was appalling.

I think a lot of it is tactics, although, of course, Trump (does) seem to have this preference for Russia over Ukraine that goes all the way back to the 80s when he visited Moscow.

The Kyiv Independent: What can Democrats do, if anything, right now to help Ukraine?

Evelyn Farkas: Continue to work with Republicans who want to support Ukraine.

(Republican Senator) Lindsey Graham has a sanctions bill that has a veto-proof majority. There should be more efforts like that, more bipartisan legislation.

The Democrats...  I wish sometimes they would be more honest about things that we did wrong, things that we might have done better, in order to actually give the Republicans an incentive to do more right now in Ukraine.

Politicians rarely do that, though.

And the last thing that they can do is continue to speak to their constituents. And then listen to their constituents, because there are a lot of constituents who care and who want America to do the right thing when it comes to Ukraine and other places in the world.

The Kyiv Independent: Do you get the sense that American public opinion differs very wildly from the opinions that we get out of the White House on Ukraine?

Evelyn Farkas: Yes. The polls show that there's still a majority of Americans in favor of supporting Ukraine.

But in the White House, it's unclear. And I think the American people feel very clearly that Ukraine was and is the victim, and Russia was and is the aggressor.

That is not articulated clearly from the White House.

Investigation: Uncovering the secret Russian FSB operation to loot Ukraine’s museums

As Ukraine’s liberating forces advanced in the fall of 2022, several trucks stopped near the rear yard of the Kherson Local History Museum. Inside the building itself, dozens of people moved back and forth like ants through the corridors. These people didn’t work there — they were employees from museums in

The Kyiv IndependentYevheniia Motorevska

May 19, 2025 12:02pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 19, the Kremlin said, confirming the plan announced by Trump over the weekend.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the conversation between the two leaders is scheduled for 5 p.m. local time and will “reflect the outcomes of last week’s negotiations in Istanbul” between Russian and Ukrainian delegations.

The Kremlin’s statement comes days after peace talks in Istanbul on May 16 ended with no breakthrough.

Russia once again issued sweeping demands, including Ukraine’s adoption of neutral status, dropping claims for war reparations from Moscow, and the recognition of Russian hold over Crimea and four partially occupied regions.

Peskov claimed that Russia remains open to reaching its goals in Ukraine through diplomacy, suggesting that U.S. mediation efforts could play a role.

“If U.S. mediation helps achieve the objectives of (the war) by peaceful means, Russia would prefer that option,” Peskov said. Moscow has repeatedly declared readiness for peace while rejecting a ceasefire and pushing for maximalist demands.

After his talk with Putin, Trump is expected to call President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Neither Trump nor Putin attended the May 15–16 negotiations in person. Instead, the Russian leader sent a delegation of lower-level aides even after Zelensky invited him to meet face-to-face at the negotiating table.

Zelensky meets Vance for first time since Oval Office showdown, discuss Istanbul peace talks, sanctions on Russia

“During our talks we discussed negotiations in Istanbul to where the Russians sent a low level delegation of non-decision-makers,” Zelensky wrote on X.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

May 19, 2025 9:57am

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

The French Foreign Ministry on May 18 refuted insinuations by Telegram CEO Pavel Durov that Paris sought to restrict “conservative voices” in Romania ahead of a key presidential vote.

Durov, the Russian-born founder of the Telegram messaging app who also holds French and Emirati citizenship, claimed that a “Western European government” requested the company to “silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of today’s presidential elections."

The businessman identified the Western European country only with a baguette emoji, apparently referring to France.

The exchange came shortly before the pro-EU mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, was elected Romanian president, defeating hard-right Eurosceptic George Simion with a lead of seven percentage points.

“You can’t ‘fight election interference’ by interfering with elections,” Durov said on Telegram, claiming he had “flatly refused” France’s alleged request and did not restrict Romanian users or political channels.

Durov is currently under investigation in France for criminal activity on his messaging app.

“France categorically rejects these allegations and calls on everyone to exercise responsibility and respect for Romanian democracy,” the French Foreign Ministry reacted on X.

“France calls on all Romanian political actors to exercise responsibility and defend democracy."

Accusations of election interference have accompanied the Romanian presidential election since November 2024, when the country’s Constitutional Court annulled the results and ordered a re-run.

The step came after Romanian intelligence agencies pointed to a massive foreign interference and a campaign on TikTok designed to boost pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu. Georgescu, who won the most votes in the first annulled round, was later banned from running again in May amid charges of activities “against the constitutional order” and other legal concerns.

Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians, who has been banned from Ukraine, then became the leading right-wing candidate instead of Georgescu.

“In this context, the recent accusations against France are merely a diversionary maneuver from the real threats of interference targeting Romania,” the French government said.

Various right-wing voices, including senior members of the Trump administration, have criticized the annulment of the original vote and a ban on Georgescu’s candidacy, presenting it as an attack on democracy.

The clash has underscored the growing political and ideological rift between the U.S. under President Donald Trump and the EU.

Nicusor Dan wins Romanian presidential election, defeating anti-Ukraine Simion

In an anxiously watched race, Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan won the presidency against the far-right candidate George Simion, who is banned from entering both Ukraine and Moldova due to his extremist views.

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

May 19, 2025 9:09am

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

Russian forces launched attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours, killing at least two civilians and injuring at least 13 others in multiple regions, local officials said on May 19.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 41 of the 112 Russian attack drones and other drones launched overnight, the Air Force said. Thirty-five drones were neutralized by electronic warfare systems, according to the statement.

The strikes come as Russia continues to reject an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by Kyiv and its allies.

In Kherson Oblast, two people were killed and six injured amid intense shelling, drone strikes, and air strikes on more than 30 towns and villages, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. Residential areas, a factory, a cell tower, and railway infrastructure were among the damaged sites.

In Kharkiv Oblast, three civilians were wounded in the town of Kupiansk during aerial strikes. Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that over 30 houses and agricultural buildings were damaged in the Kupiansk and Chuhuiv districts, as Russia used glide bombs and 14 Shahed-type drones.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks injured two civilians, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

In Sumy Oblast, two civilians were injured, according to the local administration. The region endured 135 Russian strikes targeting 24 settlements, damaging houses, non-residential buildings, and energy infrastructure.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast came under 421 separate Russian attacks, including air strikes, artillery shelling, and drone assaults across 11 settlements, regional officials said. Though homes and vehicles were damaged, no injuries were reported.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, five drones were shot down overnight. Russian forces used FPV (first-person-view) drones to target the Nikopol district and damage houses and infrastructure in the Kryvyi Rih area, though no injuries were reported.

European leaders to speak with Trump before Putin call, Merz says

French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will speak to Trump before he calls Putin on the morning of May 19.

The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert

May 19, 2025 8:02am

Ukraine Russia Protests Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

Australian authorities have begun loading the first of the 49 decommissioned Ukraine-bound Abrams tanks onto a cargo ship despite continued private objections from U.S. officials, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on May 19.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the upcoming delivery of the tanks when meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome on May 18. The exact date of their arrival is withheld for security reasons, ABC reported.

The Australian broadcaster reported back in April that the shipments of the retired tanks, which are meant to bolster Ukrainian forces as they resist Russian aggression, are delayed in part due to resistance from Washington.

These objections have not fully subsided, with at least one U.S. official questioning their usefulness on the Ukrainian battlefields, according to ABC. An undisclosed Australian defense official told the broadcaster that Canberra is uncertain whether Kyiv is even interested in the vehicles, as their weak roof makes them vulnerable to drones.

U.S. officials have also reportedly pointed to difficulties with their maintenance in the demanding conditions of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Despite the private protests, Washington eventually gave permission for Australia to begin shipping out the U.S.-made tanks to Ukraine, ABC reported.

Australia pledged to send Kyiv the 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks as part of a broader military aid package in October 2024. Ukraine previously received 31 Abrams tanks from the Biden administration in late 2023, though it is unclear how many are still operational as of 2025.

Unlike his predecessor, Joe Biden, U.S. President Donald Trump has been reluctant to allocate additional military aid to Kyiv, aiming instead to broker a peace deal with Russia.

The effectiveness of Abrams tanks on the battlefield in Ukraine has been previously called into question by Western officials. The Associated Press (AP) reported in April 2024 that Ukrainian forces were pulling the tanks from the front lines due to the high risk of detection by Russian drones. The Ukrainian military denied the claim.

Ukraine war latest: Russia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call

Key developments on May 17-18: * Russia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call * Trump to talk to Putin on May 19 in push to end Ukraine war ‘bloodbath’ * Russia plans ‘training’ launch of Yars intercontinental ballistic missile overnight on May 19, Ukraine’s HUR claims * New clips

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

May 19, 2025 5:13am

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

President Volodymyr Zelensky and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met in Rome on May 18 to discuss defense support for Ukraine, cooperation within the Coalition of the Willing, and increased pressure on Russia.

The two leaders discussed specific sanctions that might pressure Russia to accept a ceasefire, as well as how to coordinate actions with international partners.

During the meeting, Zelensky also expressed his gratitude to Australia and the Australian people for their support of Ukraine.

“It is a good thing that we have allies from different continents. Together we can truly bring the current situation closer to peace by exerting pressure on Russia. And we are very grateful for the sanctions,” Zelensky said.

He also briefed Albanese on the recent peace talks in Istanbul between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing that Russia is currently doing everything it can to prolong the war.

Defense support was also a key topic of discussion. Albanese confirmed that Abrams tanks are on their way to Ukraine and noted that Australia’s total aid has now reached $1.5 billion.

“Russia’s illegal aggression must be stopped, and we stand clearly and unequivocally on the side of Ukraine. Of course, we also call for peace and insist that it is Ukraine that should determine its future,” Albanese emphasized.

Zelensky and Albanese also discussed Australia’s potential participation in the Coalition of the Willing, as well as contributing to future security guarantees for Ukraine once a just and lasting peace is achieved.

Ukraine war latest: Russia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call

Key developments on May 17-18: * Russia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call * Trump to talk to Putin on May 19 in push to end Ukraine war ‘bloodbath’ * Russia plans ‘training’ launch of Yars intercontinental ballistic missile overnight on May 19, Ukraine’s HUR claims * New clips

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

May 19, 2025 2:35am

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a call on May 18 with the leaders of the U.S. France, Germany, and Italy to coordinate positions ahead of  U.S. President Donald  Trump’s upcoming conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump said he will be  speaking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on May 19 at 10 a.m. Washington time.

According to a Downing Street spokesperson, the leaders discussed Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and emphasized the urgent need for an unconditional ceasefire, more than three years after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion.

On May 10, the U.K., France, Germany, and Italy publicly backed a 30-day ceasefire proposal initiated by Trump and supported by Ukraine.

“Tomorrow, President Putin must show he wants peace by accepting the 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by President Trump and backed by Ukraine and Europe,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X following Sunday’s call.

The leaders also raised the possibility of imposing additional sanctions if Russia refuses to engage meaningfully in ceasefire negotiations, the spokesperson said, according to Reuters.

On May 17, U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy criticized Moscow for “obfuscating” after Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul on May 16 ended with no breakthrough, and 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 occupied regions none of which Russia fully controls.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, has continued to signal reluctance. Russian officials say they are unwilling to agree to a pause in fighting until the terms of a potential ceasefire are clearly defined—fearing that Ukraine may use the break to regroup and rearm while Russia continues its slow advance on the battlefield.

5 lies Europe tells itself about Russia’s criminal war

Editor’s note: This opinion first appeared in German in Süddeutsche Zeitung. Russia’s President — a wanted war criminal — Vladimir Putin failed to show up in Istanbul for the “direct talks” with Ukraine that he himself proposed. For the Kremlin to wage an unprovoked war of conquest, reject a ceasefire, and

The Kyiv IndependentAndrew Chakhoyan

May 18, 2025 10:43pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

European leaders will call U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of his planned phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 18, according to Deutsche Welle (DW).

Trump announced that he plans to speak with Putin at 10 a.m. on May 19, after which he will hold a call with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump said he hopes the discussions will result in a ceasefire — a step the Kremlin has doggedly resisted since the U.S. first proposed a 30-day truce in March.

French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Merz will speak with Trump before the Putin call, Merz told reporters from the Vatican on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass.

“We have now agreed that we will talk again — the four heads of state and government and the American president in preparation for this conversation,” Merz said.

“We can only hope that now there will be further progress (towards a ceasefire).”

Merz said that he has already discussed the upcoming Trump-Putin call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The European leaders' conversation with Trump will come a week after Merz, Macron, Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke with the U.S. president about their demand that Russia accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning May 12. Trump indicated support for the proposal and agreed Washington would impose sanctions on Russia if they did not agree.

When Putin countered with an invitation to direct peace talks in Istanbul on May 15, however, Trump quickly urged Ukraine to accept. He said a ceasefire could potentially be negotiated in Turkey and said he might also join the talks.

Trump did not attend the Istanbul peace talks — nor did Putin, who instead sent a delegation of lower-level aides even after President Volodymyr Zelensky invited him to meet face-to-face at the negotiating table.

The talks failed to produce a ceasefire agreement.

Ukraine accepted the U.S.-backed unconditional 30-day ceasefire when Washington first proposed it on March 11. Russia rejected the proposal and continued its attacks.

Following the Istanbul peace talks, Russia launched a record-setting drone attack against Ukraine overnight on May 18.

May 18, 2025 9:18pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

Denmark has prepared its 26th military aid package for Ukraine, worth 4 billion Danish kroner (approximately $598 million), the Danish Defense Ministry announced on May 17.

The package includes additional artillery and shells via the Czech ammunition initiative as well as equipment for fighter jets, the ministry said.

A portion of the funds will also go towards increasing training capacity for Ukrainian forces.

“Unfortunately, Ukraine’s need for help and support has not diminished. I am happy and proud that we can once again allocate funds for donations that will make a difference on the battlefield in both the short and long term,” Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

Denmark’s latest military aid package is financed under the country’s Ukraine Fund and the European Peace Facility (EPF). The assistance covers the years 2025-2028.

The additional funds to the Czech initiative will allow Ukraine to better plan for a stable supply of ammunition, the ministry said.

“Denmark is doing what we can to give Ukraine the best possible hand both on the battlefield and in the negotiating room,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said.

Denmark has pioneered efforts to support Ukraine by investing in its defense industry, creating the so-called “Danish model” of purchasing arms for Kyiv from Ukrainian producers. Copenhagen has provided around $9.8 billion in military aid under its Ukraine Fund for the years 2023-2028.

Ukraine war latest: Russia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call

Key developments on May 17-18: * Russia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call * Trump to talk to Putin on May 19 in push to end Ukraine war ‘bloodbath’ * Russia plans ‘training’ launch of Yars intercontinental ballistic missile overnight on May 19, Ukraine’s HUR claims * New clips

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

May 18, 2025 8:00pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 9 minutes

Ben Borges

Key developments on May 17-18:

• Russia launches record 273-drone attack on Ukraine ahead of planned Trump-Putin call
• Trump to talk to Putin on May 19 in push to end Ukraine war ‘bloodbath’
• Russia plans ‘training’ launch of Yars intercontinental ballistic missile overnight on May 19, Ukraine’s HUR claims
• New clips from Putin documentary suggest Russia dismissed Ukraine peace talks, ceasefire weeks ago
• Ukraine’s 47th Brigade battalion commander resigns, slams military leadership over ‘stupid objectives’

Russia carried out its largest single drone attack since the start of its full-scale invasion, launching 273 drones overnight on May 18, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.

The attack comes just two days after Ukraine and Russia held their first direct peace talks since 2022, and one day ahead of a planned call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kyiv Oblast Governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported that the attack killed one person and injured three others. Actual casualties from the attack are still being clarified, he said.

Kyiv Independent journalists in the capital heard multiple explosions throughout the night as air defenses worked in the city.

The Air Force said it intercepted 88 drones, while 128 others vanished from radars, likely used as decoys to overwhelm air defenses. The air defense involved the coordinated use of electronic warfare units, mobile fire teams, and anti-aircraft systems.

The previous largest drone attack of the full-scale invasion occurred on Feb. 23, when 267 drones entered Ukrainian airspace, Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said at the time.

Despite increasing international pressure for an unconditional ceasefire, Moscow has intensified its assaults, displaying ongoing resistance to and disdain for diplomatic efforts.

How Russia’s Shahed drones are getting more deadly — and what Ukraine is doing about it

Editor’s note: Due to the security protocols of the unit featured in this story, the Ukrainian soldiers are identified by first name only. Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine have become far more deadly in recent months. Part of the uptick is due to limited air defense to bring

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Trump to talk to Putin on May 19 in push to end Ukraine war ‘bloodbath’

U.S. President Donald Trump said he will be  speaking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on May 19, at 10 a.m.

Trump’s comments come as peace talks in Istanbul on May 16 ended with no breakthrough, and 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 occupied regions — none of which Russia fully controls.

“The subjects of the call will be stopping the ‘bloodbath’ that is killing, on average, more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“I will then be speaking to President Zelensky of Ukraine and then, with President Zelensky, various members of NATO,” he added. “Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war — a war that should have never happened — will end. God bless us all!!!"

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency on May 17 that the preparations for the call are underway.

Join our community

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.

Support Us

Following his Middle East trip, Trump told Fox News' Bret Baier in an interview published on May 16 that he believes Putin is ready to strike a deal to end the war in Ukraine, but warned that if negotiations fail, his administration will move forward with sanctions against Moscow.

"Honestly, I will (impose sanctions), if we're not gonna make a deal," Trump  said. "This is turkey time, we’re talking turkey, and we’ll see what happens. This would be crushing for Russia because they're having a hard time now with the economy, oil prices are low."

Trump said he believes a deal won't be possible without his involvement and expressed plans to meet with Putin soon, adding: "I have a very good relationship with Putin."

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call on May 17, reportedly initiated by the U.S., to discuss bilateral relations and recent peace talks in Istanbul, Russian state media said.

Lavrov welcomed what he called Washington's "constructive" role in encouraging Kyiv to accept Putin's proposal to resume talks. Rubio reportedly praised the 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange and ongoing efforts to define ceasefire terms.

Russia plans 'training' launch of Yars intercontinental ballistic missile overnight on May 19, Ukraine's HUR claims

Russia is planning a "training" launch of an RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile overnight on May 19, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported on May 18.

According to the agency, the missile will be equipped with a "training" warhead, and the move is intended to intimidate Ukraine, as well as EU and NATO member states.

The launch is set to take place near the village of Svobodny in Sverdlovsk Oblast, roughly 100 kilometers northeast of Yekaterinburg, according to HUR.

The agency did not specify what the potential target of a possible attack might be.

Yars, or RS-24, is a strategic solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile system adopted by Russia in 2009. It has a claimed range of  11,000 kilometers and, when equipped with a combat warhead, an explosive power equivalent to a million tons of trinitrotoluene (TNT).

The Kyiv Independent could not verify all the claims.

The possible launch echoes Russia's use of an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) in an attack on Dnipro on Nov. 21, 2024, which followed the lifting of U.S. and U.K. restrictions on long-range Ukrainian strikes inside Russia.

That strike was also followed by a Russian media campaign aimed at eroding Western support for Ukraine.

Investigation: Uncovering the secret Russian FSB operation to loot Ukraine’s museums

As Ukraine’s liberating forces advanced in the fall of 2022, several trucks stopped near the rear yard of the Kherson Local History Museum. Inside the building itself, dozens of people moved back and forth like ants through the corridors. These people didn’t work there — they were employees from museums in

The Kyiv IndependentYevheniia Motorevska

New clips from Putin documentary suggest Russia dismissed Ukraine peace talks, ceasefire weeks ago

Vladimir Putin said on March 27 that Moscow has "enough forces and means" to bring its war against Ukraine to a "logical conclusion" without making any meaningful concessions, it has been revealed in new clips from a documentary released on May 18.

"Russia has enough forces and means to bring what we started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the result Russia needs," Putin said while recording the film "Russia. Kremlin. Putin. 25 Years."

"This result is the elimination of the causes that led to this crisis, the creation of conditions for long-term sustainable peace, and the security of the Russian state."

The documentary aired on May 4 but made only passing references to the U.S.-led peace process ongoing at the time of the interview.

The latest comments — publicly withheld until now and posted on Telegram by the interviewer — come nearly four months into U.S. President Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire which has been repeatedly rejected by Russia.

A source in the Ukrainian President's Office told the Kyiv Independent that Russia's delegation in Istanbul on May 16 reiterated demands for Ukraine to retreat from all annexed territories.

In the new comments, Putin said a priority is securing Russian-speaking populations in territories Russia claims as its own — a reference to Crimea and the partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.

The Kremlin declared its annexation of the four regions in 2022 after sham referenda, despite not fully controlling any of them.

Moscow also insisted Ukraine abandon NATO ambitions, forgo reparations, and accept a neutral status with no foreign military support — demands Kyiv has categorically rejected.

Despite initiating the Istanbul talks, the Kremlin dispatched only mid-level officials. Zelensky had called on Putin to attend personally, stressing that only the Russian president could authorize a ceasefire.

Kyiv and European governments continue to push for an unconditional truce, which Ukraine accepted in March. Moscow has ignored the offer and intensified its strikes on Ukrainian cities.

‘Everything is translation’ — 13th Book Arsenal festival in Kyiv to bridge gaps between language and war

The 13th Book Arsenal festival, one of Ukraine’s premier interdisciplinary cultural events attracting voices from across the country and around the globe, will take place in Kyiv from May 29 to June 1. Over the course of four days, the festival offers a number of discussion panels, book presentations,

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Ukraine's 47th Brigade battalion commander resigns, slams military leadership over 'stupid objectives'

Oleksandr Shyrshyn, battalion commander of the 47 Separate Mechanized Brigade, has submitted his resignation, sharply criticizing Ukraine's military leadership for what he described as senseless orders and unnecessary casualties.

"I have never received more stupid objectives than in the current direction," Shyrshyn wrote in a blunt Facebook post announcing his decision on May 16. "Someday I will tell you the details, but the stupid loss of people, trembling in front of a stupid generals, leads to nothing but failures."

"I hope your children will also serve in the infantry and carry out your orders," he added.

Ukraine's General Staff initiated an internal investigation on May 18 in response to Shyrshyn's accusations.

The Kyiv Independent reported in 2023 that the brigade, which was formed from scratch in 2022 and is often known by the name "Magura," was prepared with the summer 2023 counteroffensive in mind; its soldiers were trained in NATO countries and equipped with superior new Western equipment.

In 2024, the brigade was engaged in combat operations within Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine launched its cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, marking the first major foreign ground offensive into Russian territory since World War II. The operation sought to delay a planned Russian push into Ukraine's Sumy Oblast and redirect Russian forces away from eastern Donetsk Oblast.

Moscow began a major counteroffensive in early March, retaking large portions of territory including the town of Sudzha. Ukrainian forces have since withdrawn from much of the area but still maintain limited control in some zones as of late April despite Russia's claims that its forces have fully recaptured the territory of the region.

Meanwhile, Shyrshyn on May 16 accused the military command of focusing on punishments rather than results. "All they are capable of is reprimands, investigations, imposition of penalties. Everyone is going to hell," he wrote. "Political games and assessment of the real state of affairs do not correspond to either reality or possibilities. They played games."

Shyrshyn said he has filed a formal report requesting dismissal from his post and expressed hope that it would be accepted soon.

Ukraine’s General Staff responds after accusations of ‘stupid objectives’ from 47th Brigade battalion commander

The move follows the resignation of Oleksandr Shyrshyn, commander of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

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.

Zelensky meets Pope Leo XIV at Vatican

Zelensky presented the pope with a special icon, “Mother of God with Child,” painted on a fragment of a box that held heavy artillery in the war-torn town of Izium.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

May 18, 2025 6:03pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ben Borges

U.S. President Donald Trump is becoming more impatient with Russia as he attempts to negotiate a ceasefire in the war against Ukraine, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said at a press conference on May 18, according to the Finnish news outlet Ilta-Sanomat.

Stubb’s remarks come after he held talks with Trump on May 17 and a separate conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 18.

“If you put it together, you could say that Zelensky is patient and President Trump is getting impatient, but in the right direction, which is towards Russia,” Stubb told reporters on the sidelines of the Lennart Meri defense conference in Tallinn, Estonia.

Progress towards a ceasefire has been moving “slowly but surely” in a better direction for Ukraine, Stubb said.

The Finnish leader’s comments come a day before Trump is set to hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 19. Following his talk with Putin, Trump plans to speak with Zelensky and “various members of NATO.”

Trump has said he hopes the talks will result in a ceasefire agreement.

The planned calls follow failed peace talks in Istanbul, which Putin proposed as an alternative to accepting Ukraine and Europe’s demand for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Zelensky agreed to meet Putin in Turkey, but Putin instead sent a delegation of lower-level aides to represent Russia.

The talks, which represented the first direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia since the early days of the full-scale invasion in 2022, failed to result in a ceasefire. Moscow repeated its maximalist demands, including sweeping territorial concessions and neutral status for Ukraine, while hurling insults at Ukrainian leadership.

The countries did agree to to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, which Ukraine’s military intelligence says may take place next week. The swap will mark the largest such exchange throughout the war.

Stubb said that the prisoner exchange was a positive sign and that he urged Trump to hold a summit with both Zelensky and Putin. He did not have any details to share regarding the upcoming call between Putin and Trump.

“After (the call) we will be a degree wiser. We’ll go a little bit day by day,” he said.

European leaders want to show Trump that Ukraine’s position is relatively strong and Russia has serious weaknesses, Stubb said.

“So there has been a lot of talk that Ukraine is strongly at a loss. The answer is that it is not,” he said.

“Russia has been trying to invade Ukraine for three years. This year they have advanced less than a percentage point of Ukrainian land."

Russia’s economy is also weaker than it may seem, he said.

Trump has several times threatened to impose new sanctions against Russia if it does not agree to a ceasefire, but has not yet followed through on any of those threats despite the Kremlin’s continued stalling. The Trump administration has instead consistently put pressure on Ukraine to make concessions towards a peace deal.

Ukraine first agreed to a U.S. proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire on March 11. Russia continues to refuse.

Investigation: Uncovering the secret Russian FSB operation to loot Ukraine’s museums

As Ukraine’s liberating forces advanced in the fall of 2022, several trucks stopped near the rear yard of the Kherson Local History Museum. Inside the building itself, dozens of people moved back and forth like ants through the corridors. These people didn’t work there — they were employees from museums in

The Kyiv IndependentYevheniia Motorevska

May 18, 2025 5:15pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

Europe is “far from” discussing foreign troop deployment to Ukraine, as efforts focus on securing an unconditional ceasefire, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 17, Reuters reported.

“There is no reason to talk about (troops) at the moment, we are far from that. We want the weapons to stop, the killing to end,” Merz said during a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

His comments come amid growing interest in a potential multinational force to monitor a future peace agreement in Ukraine, even as Russian strikes continue.

A so-called “coalition of the willing” led by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron has pushed the idea, emphasizing that a “reassurance force” would monitor an eventual ceasefire, not engage in combat with Russia.

Merz stressed that the next diplomatic step is to establish a viable framework for peace negotiations and determine potential security guarantees for Ukraine once a truce is in place.

The statement comes after peace talks held in Istanbul on May 16, which were the first direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since 2022.

The Russian delegation — composed of lower-level aides — reiterated maximalist demands including Ukraine’s neutrality, withdrawal from all annexed regions, and an end to foreign military aid.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to participate in direct talks, condemned the absence of top Russian leadership as a signal Moscow is not serious about ending the war.

Ukraine accepted a U.S.-proposed unconditional 30-day ceasefire in March. Russia rejected it and continued its attacks, including a record-setting drone attack on May 18.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov earlier rejected the idea of deploying European peacekeepers in Ukraine.

“We cannot allow NATO’s military infrastructure to get that close to our borders,” Peskov told ABC News on May 11.

While U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out sending American troops, U.S. officials have indicated Washington could support the coalition with intelligence-sharing and logistics.

European leaders continue to weigh next steps amid Moscow’s intransigence and Kyiv’s calls for stronger guarantees and tougher sanctions in the absence of a ceasefire.

How Russia’s Shahed drones are getting more dangerous — and what Ukraine is doing about it

Editor’s note: Due to the security protocols of the unit featured in this story, the Ukrainian soldiers are identified by first name only. Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine have become far more deadly in recent months. Part of the uptick is due to limited air defense to bring

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

May 18, 2025 5:03pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 18, following the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV, where the leaders discussed sanctions on Russia and recent peace talks in Istanbul.

The meeting marked the first public encounter between Zelensky and Vance since their heated Oval Office exchange with U.S. President Donald Trump on Feb. 28.

“During our talks we discussed negotiations in Istanbul to where the Russians sent a low level delegation of non-decision-makers,” Zelensky wrote on X.

“I reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to be engaged in real diplomacy and underscored the importance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible.”

The meeting also occurred one day before a scheduled call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin and followed negotiations in Istanbul on May 16, where Russia sent only low-level delegates, raising doubts about Moscow’s commitment to ending the war.

“We have also touched upon the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, battlefield situation and upcoming prisoners exchange,” Zelensky added.

In one positive development, Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement on May 16 for the exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) on a 1,000-for-1,000 basis, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who was leading Ukraine’s delegation, told reporters.

“Pressure is needed against Russia until they are eager to stop the war,” Zelensky said.

Trump, who has not imposed new sanctions on Russia to pressure it into establishing a ceasefire, plans to speak with Putin on May 19, followed by calls with Zelensky and NATO leaders. He said the talks are intended to end the “bloodbath” and achieve a ceasefire.

Ukraine accepted a U.S.-proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire in March. Moscow has continued its large-scale drone and missile strikes, including the largest drone attack of the war on May 18, when 273 drones entered Ukrainian airspace.

In Washington, Republican lawmakers have echoed the call for punitive actions against Moscow. U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told Fox Business that the “Russian Sanctions Act of 2025 is ready to go."

At least 72 senators support the legislation, which includes sweeping financial penalties and 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, or uranium, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on May 1.

Russia plans ‘training’ launch of Yars intercontinental ballistic missile overnight on May 19, Ukraine’s HUR claims

According to Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR), the move is intended to intimidate Ukraine, as well as EU and NATO member states.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

May 18, 2025 3:30pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 13 minutes

Ben Borges

Yurii Semenenko found his apartment mangled and damaged when he returned to his home in Kharkiv after the withdrawal of Russia forces in 2023.

The apartment above them burned down, while their apartment got flooded.

It was devastating. But he rolled his sleeves up, and rebuilt it with his wife, Olha, to ensure their daughter had a good place to live.

But a year later, a Russian glide bomb hit his apartment building, tearing it to pieces.

“We’ve learned the hard way that all material things — they come and go,” Yurii said. He had been sitting on his couch watching TV, preparing to give an online class at the university. When he stepped into the hallway, he was thrown inside by a strong blast.

“I was lying with the glass and red dust everywhere. The room [I had been in] collapsed. My wife said, ‘We just bought a couch for that room.’ Yes. We did,” Yurii told The Counteroffensive.

All their hard work. Gone.

As Russia continues to bomb Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, the buildings in the Northern Saltivka district continue to collapse — just like many Soviet-style buildings across Ukraine.

Following the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine kept many Soviet habits, including those in urban planning. These buildings are not only ill-suited for modern living but have also proven to be inadequate for wartime.

Cheap, low-durability and unsafe housing structures are unfit for wartime conditions. Residential blocks clustered around industrial zones. These are all remnants of a Soviet legacy. Today, Ukraine has the chance to leave it behind through post-war reconstruction.

This is not only an opportunity to create safer buildings and more livable cities, but a chance to break free from lingering Soviet-era traditions and move toward new standards of urban life. War, though devastating, can become a catalyst for long-overdue change that may have seemed too daunting during peace.

Yurii and his wife moved to Northern Saltivka in Kharkiv in September 2020, just a month before their daughter was born. The housing there was affordable, and Saltivka is the largest bedroom suburb of Kharkiv.

The place was mostly built between the 1980s and the 1990s, when the Soviet Union’s collapse was looming. Before the full-scale invasion, nearly half a million people lived in Saltivka.

Yurii holds a PhD in engineering and works at the Ukrainian State University of Railway Transport. His wife, Olha, is a teaching assistant at an aviation institute. Yurii kept many of his recent scientific documents in their apartment. But they were now destroyed, alongside most of their memories at home.

Despite Ukraine gaining independence over 30 years ago, Soviet influence continues to linger. According to Yurii, much of Saltivka comprises of panel buildings: prefabricated concrete structures with built-in door and window openings. These became the dominant form of housing in the Soviet Union.

Panel buildings spread across the Soviet Union in the 1950s, when there was a housing shortage and people were massively moving from rural areas to the cities after World War II.

In 1959, when the Soviet Union set its course toward mass housing construction, Soviet architects, along with General Secretary Khrushchev, traveled to France to examine panel buildings designed by engineer Raymond Camus, who had patented the technology.

Khrushchev was highly impressed by these buildings, as they were quick and simple to build, so the USSR decided to purchase a license for a mass-production system.

The Soviets eventually reworked the technology – the buildings ended up looking even simpler than their French counterparts.

As part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine started to build panel buildings across the city. Cities had to adapt fast to the growing number of people looking for a place to stay. Panel buildings were ideal: the materials were cheap, and the construction was quick.

Authorities prioritized cost over comfort: the buildings were usually cold in the winter, and people could hear their neighbors’ phone calls across the thin walls.

"This was a period of 20th-century urbanization when people moved from villages to cities. Cities were often built in open fields. And we are still in a transition, we haven’t yet moved to a new understanding of housing… Such mass construction erases human relationships in cities," explained urbanist and head of the NGO Urban Reform, Oleksandra Naryzhna.

As a result, many areas in Ukraine became identical to one another, as their architecture became a symbol of Soviet identity, where no one was allowed to stand out or be different.

Yet, Yurii considered his neighborhood comfortable to live in. One of the reasons for this is that his building was built more recently than most of the ones in Saltivka.

"The most important thing for us, when our child was born, was to have a place where it was easy to walk with a stroller. We had everything we needed. There were a few shops nearby. I went to work, and my wife stayed home with the baby. We never imagined that war would come,” Yurii recalled, as he remembered peaceful times in Saltivka.

Even though panel buildings appeared during the Cold War era, they were not designed to endure war. Most Ukrainians today have nowhere to hide in their homes during an air raid alert, finding their basements a suitable alternative shelter.

But basements are not prepared to protect their residents from drones and missiles. Amid the lack of ventilation and emergency exits, a basement can turn into a deadly trap if targeted by Russian forces.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, panel buildings have collapsed if targeted by a missile or a drone.

This is what happened to Yurii’s building:

According to urbanist and architect Oleksandra Naryzhna, it’s unrealistic to think Ukraine can build every home to endure a missile or a drone. For now, that’s still a fantasy, she said. Yet, Ukraine can start by making sure there are shelters available in every building.

Naryzhna considers Israel a prime example of how to pursue this concept: every apartment has a shelter and armored windows and doors. In every city, you can also find shelters in public spaces, such as in bus stops.

After having had their home destroyed, Yurii believes post-war reconstruction should focus on creating better living conditions for Ukrainians, especially as he has a daughter who will be starting school soon.

Urbanists and architects tend to agree: the future of Ukrainian cities must lie in low-rise housing designed around cohesive blocks or neighborhoods. These buildings must also be equipped with alternative energy sources, since Ukrainians are experiencing daily blackouts throughout the war.

Modular and frame housing has recently become popular in Ukraine, as it can be assembled quickly and provides temporary shelter for people who have lost their homes. These structures are built on-site within a few days using the necessary materials and serve as housing until permanent homes are constructed. In case of danger, they can be dismantled and relocated within a few days.

Ukraine has also begun constructing homes using 3D printing technology, which allows them to be built in just a few days. These houses are more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. As monolithic structures, they have no gaps between construction elements, unlike panel buildings.

Moreover, some infrastructure in Ukraine may be built underground in preparation for a potential future war.

For example, underground schools already exist in Kharkiv, designed to provide education during constant shelling. This is not a permanent solution for children’s learning, but rather a contingency plan for times of danger. Having such facilities ensures that city life will not come to a complete halt if Russia launches another full-scale attack.

Besides, against the backdrop of the war, a rebuilt Ukraine needs to become more inclusive, considering the estimates of those affected by the war.

Inclusive infrastructure remains a crucial part of Ukraine’s rebuilding, as well as the construction of rehabilitation centers for victims that will be accessible in every city.

Take the Unbroken ecosystem in Lviv, which has been operating since 2022, working for IDPs, wounded soldiers, and civilians. It has departments for orthopedics, surgery, rehabilitation, and psychological assistance. In addition, prostheses are manufactured on site.

It used to be a problem in the Soviet Union that it was not always easy to get from home to the hospital. Now, all possible transportation lines are planned to be laid to the hospital, including trams.

According to Maria Pavliuk, the lead architect of the firm Balbek Bureau, demolishing all existing buildings can be expensive and environmentally harmful. Instead, she insists on using the existing structure and renovating the buildings.

Today, most Ukrainian cities — including the neighborhood where Yurii once lived — are built around residential areas: streets filled with randomly built buildings that turn cities into sprawling, chaotic ant colonies.

A solution would be to create more walkable cities.

“You get this feeling that it's yours, that you’re responsible for it. But with these large residential zones, no one really feels responsible. They feel like no man’s land,” said architect Maria Pavliuk.

Ukraine’s decentralization reform, launched in 2014, has given communities a greater voice in the decisions made for their cities. Families such as Yurii’s can now help decide on the construction of schools and hospitals in their community, instead of entirely relying on their government.

“There are communities, for example, where only three children live. Do they need a school? In the Soviet Union, that question simply wouldn’t have been asked. There was a plan, so there had to be a school. But now, the community has the right to decide,” explained Vodotyka.

NEWS OF THE DAY:

THE COUNTEROFFENSIVE’S ANTI-MINE TRAINER, CHRIS GARRETT, HONORED IN DEATH: During a ceremony in central Kyiv, visitors lit sparklers to honor the colorful life of an explosives expert nicknamed ‘Swampy.’ Family and friends gave eulogies and laid flowers at Chris Garrett’s portrait.

“I offered him a contract for [Ukrainian military], but you know, he's a homeless Viking, a gypsy, a vagrant who doesn't want to be driven back into the system,” said the deputy commander of the 3rd Army Corps, call-sign 'Kirt.' “He said: ‘Commander, you've tried to kill me too many times. Now I want to be on my own. I want to decide my own fate.’”

He was well-known in Kyiv’s volunteer community as someone who would go to any lengths to shield people and expand their knowledge of how to be safe.

“When I headed the training in the third assault brigade, I needed help. We were very raw. My friend Swampy and his friend Mark dropped everything, came and created a new generation of assault sappers for the third assault brigade,” Kirt recalled.

Garrett was fatally injured while defusing an explosive device on May 6 near Izium, in the Kharkiv region. Two other people were injured along with him. One of them, Nicholas Parsons, also died.

Swampy was a British bomb disposal expert who worked in Ukraine since the beginning of the war in 2014. In 2023, he founded the NGO ‘Prevail’, which specialized in clearing mines. During this time, he defused about 5,000–6,000 landmines, his colleague and friend Shaun Pinner said.

At the end of the event, a poem by Ukrainian dissident Mykhailo Semenko called ‘Patagonia’ was read out.

TRUMP TO SPEAK WITH RUSSIA AND UKRAINE: President Trump is expected to speak with Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy on Monday to end the "bloodbath" of war.

Trump's announcement follows a failed attempt at peace talks in Turkey earlier this week, where President Putin, despite proposing the meeting, did not attend. The Kremlin also launched its largest assault on Ukraine to date on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressing appreciation for what he called the US' "positive role" in facilitating peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine.

ZELENSKYY ATTENDS POPE LEO INAUGURAL MASS: Zelenskyy attended the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Sunday, following the Pope's expression of willingness to help mediate an end to the war in Ukraine. Rubio said the Holy See had extended a "very generous offer" to host peace talks, noting that the Vatican would be a neutral venue where both sides could feel at ease.

"The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face to face, to talk to one another," Pope Leo said.

ROMANIA, POLAND ELECTIONS WITH WAR IN MIND: Romanians head to the polls on Sunday in a presidential election shaped by the ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine.

The two leading candidates are Nicușor Dan, the centrist mayor of Bucharest, and George Simion, a right-wing populist who admires former President Donald Trump and has vowed to "make Romania great again."

Romania, a member of both NATO and the EU, shares a long border with Ukraine. Dan has pledged to provide Ukraine with whatever it needs to win the war, while Simion argues that military aid to Kyiv should end soon.

Meanwhile, Poles are voting in their presidential election amid rising security concerns due to the war in Ukraine, and growing unease that a return of President Trump could weaken America’s commitment to Europe.

DOG OF WAR

In memory of Swampy, and in keeping with our traditions not to feature a photo here when someone we know has passed, we will not include this section today.

Stay safe out there.

Best,
Tim

May 18, 2025 9:24am

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

Russia carried out its largest single drone attack since the start of its full-scale invasion, launching 273 drones overnight on May 18, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.

The attack comes just two days after Ukraine and Russia held their first direct peace talks since 2022, and one day ahead of a planned call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kyiv Oblast Governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported that the attack killed one person and injured three others. Actual casualties from the attack are still being clarified, he said.

Kyiv Independent journalists in the capital heard multiple explosions throughout the night as air defenses worked.

Ukraine’s Air Force said it intercepted 88 drones, while 128 others vanished from radars, likely used as decoys to overwhelm air defenses. The air defense involved the coordinated use of electronic warfare units, mobile fire teams, and anti-aircraft systems.

The previous largest drone attack of the full-scale invasion occurred on Feb. 23, when 267 drones entered Ukrainian airspace, Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said at the time.

Despite increasing international pressure for an unconditional ceasefire, Moscow has intensified its assaults, displaying ongoing resistance and distain to diplomatic efforts.

The Russian delegation at the May 16 peace talks in Istanbul consisted solely of lower-ranking officials, despite the Kremlin proposing the discussions. President Volodymyr Zelensky had called on Putin to attend personally, saying only the Russian leader could authorize a ceasefire.

Russian negotiators reiterated sweeping demands: that Ukraine abandon NATO aspirations, renounce foreign military support, drop reparations claims, and accept Russian control over Crimea and four occupied regions — demands Kyiv has categorically rejected.

Trump has pushed to broker a deal but has yet to impose new sanctions on Moscow despite mounting frustration from U.S. allies over Russia’s refusal to halt its attacks.

Ukraine accepted a U.S.-proposed 30-day unconditional truce in March. Russia has ignored the offer and continued targeting Ukrainian cities with missiles, drones, and guided bombs.

How Russia’s Shahed drones are getting more dangerous — and what Ukraine is doing about it

Editor’s note: Due to the security protocols of the unit featured in this story, the Ukrainian soldiers are identified by first name only. Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine have become far more deadly in recent months. Part of the uptick is due to limited air defense to bring

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

May 18, 2025 1:08am

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed his country’s “steadfast and unwavering support” for Ukraine in a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, which took place on May 17 in Rome.

This was the first meeting between Zelensky and Carney, the President’s Office reported, and was one of several high-level meetings in the Italian capital, where world leaders gathered to attend Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass.

During the meeting, the Canadian prime minister expressed his admiration for Ukraine and its people.

“We admire what you are doing. We admire your commitment to peace, which you have demonstrated again this week. And let me underscore that there can be no peace without the full support and participation of Ukraine – and that you have our absolute support,” Carney said.

Following the meeting, Zelensky voiced his gratitude for Canada’s support on X. “We truly value having Canada as a real friend of Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote.

Zelensky also shared the details of what was discussed during the meeting, naming the conditions needed for a lasting peace in Ukraine.

“We discussed what is needed to bring a lasting peace closer. The key priority is to apply pressure on Russia in a way that compels real steps toward ending the war,” he wrote.

Just a day earlier on May 16, Ukrainian and Russian delegates met in Istanbul for peace talks, speaking for less than two hours without reaching a breakthrough.

Zelensky emphasized the need for additional sanctions on Russia as well as defense cooperation between Ukraine and its allies.

“We spoke in detail about which sanctions can be effective — including secondary sanctions, energy-related measures, and sanctions against the shadow fleet. We also discussed defense cooperation and the development of the Coalition of the Willing."

Carney confirmed Zelensky’s invitation to the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in June, which will be hosted by Canada as current G7 president. Zelensky also invited Carney to visit Ukraine, writing that he looks forward to “welcoming the Prime Minister to Ukraine."

‘It was my duty to step down’ — Former US Ambassador to Ukraine confirms resignation over Trump’s policy

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, who held the role since 2022, accused the Trump administration of prioritizing pressure on Ukraine, the victim of Russia’s full-scale invasion, rather than confronting the Kremlin.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

May 17, 2025 9:10pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

Oleksandr Shyrshyn, battalion commander of the 47 Separate Mechanized Brigade, has submitted his resignation, sharply criticizing Ukraine’s military leadership for what he described as senseless orders and unnecessary casualties.

“I have never received more stupid tasks than in the current direction,” Shyrshyn wrote in a blunt Facebook post announcing his decision on May 16. “Someday I will tell you the details, but the stupid loss of people, trembling in front of a stupid generals, leads to nothing but failures."

Ukraine’s General Staff, who was tagged in Shyrshyn’s post, had not commented on the matter at the time of the publication.

The Kyiv Independent reported in 2023 that the brigade, which was formed from scratch in 2022 and is often known by the name “Magura,” was prepared with the summer 2023 counteroffensive in mind; its soldiers were trained in NATO countries and equipped with superior new Western equipment.

In 2024, the brigade was engaged in combat operations within Russia’s Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine launched its cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, marking the first major foreign ground offensive into Russian territory since World War II. The operation sought to delay a planned Russian push into Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast and redirect Russian forces away from eastern Donetsk Oblast.

Moscow began a major counteroffensive in early March, retaking large portions of territory including the town of Sudzha. Ukrainian forces have since withdrawn from much of the area but still maintain limited control in some zones as of late April despite Russia’s claims that its forces have fully recaptured the territory of the region.

Meanwhile, Shyrshyn on May 16 accused the military command of focusing on punishments rather than results. “All they are capable of is reprimands, investigations, imposition of penalties. Everyone is going to hell,” he wrote. “Political games and assessment of the real state of affairs do not correspond to either reality or possibilities. They played games."

Shyrshyn said he has filed a formal report requesting dismissal from his post and expressed hope that it would be accepted soon.

Trump to talk to Putin on May 19 in push to end ‘bloodbath’

“Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war — a war that should have never happened — will end. God bless us all!!!” U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

May 17, 2025 6:52pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ben Borges

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on May 17 that the Vatican could serve as a venue for future peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

Speaking to reporters in Rome ahead of his meeting with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Vatican’s point man on Ukraine, Rubio said he would discuss “the status of the talks, the updates after yesterday (Friday), and the path forward,” according to Associated Press.

Asked whether the Vatican could act as a peace broker, Rubio responded: “I wouldn’t call it broker, but it’s certainly — I think it’s a place that both sides would be comfortable going.”

“So we’ll talk about all of that and obviously always grateful to the Vatican for their willingness to play this constructive and positive role."

Rubio also met with top Vatican diplomats, including the secretary of state and foreign minister. During the meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Rubio thanked Zuppi for the Holy See’s humanitarian efforts, including facilitating prisoner exchanges and supporting the return of Ukrainian children. U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Rubio “emphasized the importance of continued collaboration under the new leadership of Pope Leo XIV."

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 as pope, he echoed his predecessor’s call for peace, urging all sides to pursue “an authentic, just and lasting peace.” The pope has also met with eastern rite Catholics, including leaders of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and appealed for direct negotiations between the warring sides.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said the Holy See remains ready to host direct talks. “We have always said, repeated to the two sides that we are available to you, with all the discretion needed,” he said, according to Associated Press. Parolin called the failure of the May 16 Istanbul talks to achieve a ceasefire “tragic” and added, “One would aim to arrive at this, that at least they talk. We’ll see what happens. It’s an offer of a place."

The peace talks in Istanbul between Ukrainian and Russian delegation lasted less than two hours without reaching a breakthrough. Ukraine had proposed an immediate ceasefire, an all-for-all POW exchange, and a face-to-face meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia, however, 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 occupied regions none of which Russia fully controls.

Trump to talk to Putin on May 19 in push to end ‘bloodbath’

“Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war — a war that should have never happened — will end. God bless us all!!!” U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

May 17, 2025 5:20pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

U.S. President Donald Trump said he will be  speaking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday, at 10 a.m.

Trump’s comments come as peace talks in Istanbul on May 16 ended with no breakthrough, and 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 occupied regions none of which Russia fully controls.

“The subjects of the call will be stopping the ‘bloodbath’ that is killing, on average, more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“I will then be speaking to President Zelensky of Ukraine and then, with President Zelensky, various members of NATO,” he added. “Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war — a war that should have never happened — will end. God bless us all!!!"

Following his Middle East trip, Trump told Fox News’ Bret Baier in an interview published on May 16 that he believes Putin is ready to strike a deal to end the war in Ukraine, but warned that if negotiations fail, his administration will move forward with sanctions against Moscow.

“Honestly, I will (impose sanctions), if we’re not gonna make a deal,” Trump  said. “This is turkey time, we’re talking turkey, and we’ll see what happens. This would be crushing for Russia because they’re having a hard time now with the economy, oil prices are low."

Trump said he believes a deal won’t be possible without his involvement and expressed plans to meet with Putin soon, adding: “I have a very good relationship with Putin."

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call on May 17, reportedly initiated by the U.S., to discuss bilateral relations and recent peace talks in Istanbul, Russian state media said.

Lavrov welcomed what he called Washington’s “constructive” role in encouraging Kyiv to accept Putin’s proposal to resume talks. Rubio reportedly praised the 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange and ongoing efforts to define ceasefire terms.

‘Putin is laughing at Trump’ — Ukraine in disbelief as Russia makes a mockery of US-led ceasefire attempts

“In Putin’s eyes, all the leaders of the Western world are weaklings and suckers,” Ukrainian infantryman “Mamai,” told the Kyiv Independent.

The Kyiv IndependentAlex Cadier