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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The White House has grown increasingly frustrated with the stalled peace efforts as the self-imposed 100-day deadline to broker a deal has passed. The U.S. president has been critical of both Ukraine and Russia, blaming them for the deadlock in the negotiations.

After meeting Zelensky in the Vatican on April 26, Trump admitted that Putin may not be interested in peace and floated the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Russia.

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Russia has lost 969,370 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on May 14.

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

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

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

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

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

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

What will the new pope mean for Ukraine?

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

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Russia’s economy faces mounting pressure due to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Western sanctions, according to a new report from the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) presented for talks of European Union finance ministers on May 13.

While the Kremlin continues to project economic strength—citing GDP growth of 4.3% in 2024—SITE researchers warned that the apparent resilience is misleading.

“The fiscal stimulus of the war economy has kept the economy afloat in the short term, but the reliance on opaque financing, distortionary resource allocation, and shrinking fiscal buffers makes it unsustainable in the long term,” the report read, according to Reuters. “Contrary to Kremlin narratives, time is not on Russia’s side.”

Torbjorn Becker, who presented the findings, cast doubt on the credibility of Russia’s economic statistics. He questioned the government’s claim of 9–10% inflation, pointing to the central bank’s unusually high policy rate of 21%. “Which regular central bank would have a policy rate that’s basically 11.50 percentage points higher than the inflation rate? If any of our central banks were doing something like that, they would be out of their job the next day,” Becker said. “If you understate inflation, you will then overstate real GDP numbers."

Becker also raised concerns about Russia’s true fiscal deficit.

Despite the war, Moscow has officially reported a budget shortfall of just 2% of GDP annually since the invasion began. “Fiscal numbers in Russia don’t really correspond to what we think that they are putting into the war effort,” Becker said.

He argued that if off-budget military financing through the banking system were accounted for, the actual deficit could be twice as high. That, he warned, is increasing financial risks, as banks report unusually high credit growth. “These are all indicators that we usually look at when we want to predict the banking crisis,” he added.

European Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis backed the SITE analysis. “Their analysis highlights the unreliability of Russian statistics, and how the Russian economy is not performing as well as its official statistics suggest,” Dombrovskis said.

“The Commission broadly agrees with this analysis and the overall increasing fragility of the Russian economy. This underlines the importance of the international community’s ongoing efforts to limit the Kremlin’s capacity to continue its war of aggression against Ukraine."

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergey Ryabkov, has articulated Moscow's firm stance ahead of anticipated talks in Istanbul slated for May 15. Speaking at a press briefing, Ryabkov said that Russia intends to emphasize the "denazification of the Kyiv regime" and will push for the recognition of occupied Ukrainian territories as part of the Russian Federation.

"The issues remain unchanged... Specifically addressing the root causes of this conflict, resolving matters related to the denazification of the Kyiv regime, and ensuring acknowledgment of the realities that have emerged on the ground recently, including the incorporation of new territories into the Russian Federation," Ryabkov stated, highlighting Russia's strategic objectives.

However, Ryabkov refrained from making any predictions about the potential outcomes of the talks, indicating that it's too early to speculate.

The Moscow-Kyiv direct negotiations are set for May 15 in Istanbul. While Russian President Vladimir Putin initially proposed the face-to-face meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, it remains uncertain whether Putin will physically attend the discussions. Sources suggest lacking activity from Putin's security team regarding travel preparations, whereas Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov are expected to head to Istanbul.

On May 11, Putin expressed readiness to engage in direct negotiations with Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukraine to agree to the Istanbul talks promptly, without waiting for a ceasefire.

Ukraine and the U.S. signed two additional agreements on May 13 to formally launch a joint Reconstruction Investment Fund as part of the deal for Ukraine’s mineral resources, Ukraine’s Economy Ministry said on May 13 during a briefing.

The move follows Ukraine’s ratification of the minerals agreement earlier this week, as well as Zelensky’s signing of the ratified deal. Ukraine’s parliament also on May 13 approved in the first reading changes to the budget code necessary for the fund to operate in Ukraine.

The documents concerning the establishment and operation of the fund were signed between Ukraine’s Public-Private Partnerships Agency and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), a key agency of the U.S. government for foreign investment.

The Reconstruction Investment Fund will be jointly managed by Kyiv and Washington under an equal partnership model. Both sides have declined to publicly disclose operational specifics.

Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko wrote in a post on Facebook that Ukraine had “completed all the necessary procedures to launch the American-Ukrainian Reconstruction Fund,” adding that she had passed along a communique to Julie Davis, U.S. chargé d’affairs in Ukraine.

“There are no provisions on debt in the agreement and there is an obligation to invest exclusively in Ukraine,” she wrote. “This is another clear signal: Ukraine is on its way to strategic investment."

The minerals agreement, signed on April 30, allows the U.S. special access to projects involving Ukraine’s reserves of lithium, titanium, and other critical minerals. These resources are considered critical to global supply chains for the defense, aerospace, and green energy industries.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal previously said future U.S. military aid could be counted as contributions to the fund, but stressed that past assistance would not be included.

The agreement emerged after months of difficult talks that strained relations between the U.S. and Ukraine. Plans to sign the deal in late February collapsed following a heated White House argument between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The final version excluded controversial provisions from earlier drafts that experts warned could have exploited Ukraine’s resources. However, it does not include explicit security guarantees from the U.S., a long-standing priority for Kyiv.

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York,

Key developments on May 13:

• Germany’s Merz threatens ‘significant tightening’ of Russia sanctions ahead of Ukraine peace talks
• Rubio to attend Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul, Trump says
• Zelensky to meet Erdogan in Turkey where both will wait for Putin ahead of peace talks
• Ukraine reports destroying Russian Buk air defense system, Uragan rocket launcher
• Former nuclear power plant employee arrested for allegedly helping Russia’s GRU target drone strikes

The European Union is prepared to significantly tighten sanctions against Russia if no progress is made in ending the war in Ukraine this week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 13, Reuters reported.

The statement comes ahead of a potential meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on May 15.

Merz said EU leaders support Zelensky’s diplomatic push for a ceasefire but warn of sweeping new sanctions if Putin refuses to engage seriously.

“We are waiting for Putin’s agreement, and we agree that if there is no real progress this week, we want to work together at the European level for a significant tightening of sanctions,” Merz said during a news conference.

An EU official told the Kyiv Independent that the bloc will unveil its next package of sanctions on May 14. The 17th round of EU measures could target additional sectors of Russia’s economy, with new penalties reportedly focused on energy and financial markets.

The EU has imposed 16 sanctions packages since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, targeting military suppliers, Russian state entities, and individuals involved in the war.

Merz warned that further concessions from Ukraine during negotiations would be unreasonable if Russia continues to attack civilian targets.

“I believe more compromise and more concessions are no longer reasonable,” he said. “We support President Zelensky’s efforts, but there must be a real effort from Russia in return — starting with a ceasefire."

‘Not what Putin was expecting’ — What we know (and don’t know) about Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul

Russian President Vladimir Putin may have gotten more than he bargained for when, on May 11, he rejected calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire and invited Ukraine to engage in direct talks in Istanbul later this week. In what may have been a surprise for the Russian leader, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by accepting the invitation, saying he was ready to meet Putin in Turkey on May 15. “This is not what Putin was expecting,” Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian lawmaker and

The Kyiv IndependentChris York,

Rubio to attend Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul, Trump says

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on May 13 that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials will attend planned peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey on May 15

The announcement comes as international attention centers on Istanbul, after Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed hosting direct talks there between Kyiv and Moscow.

Zelensky has said he will attend but the Kremlin has so far stayed quiet about the possibility of Putin attending.

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

Earlier, Reuters reported that Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, would travel to Istanbul to observe the negotiations. Rubio’s participation marks the first public confirmation of Cabinet-level U.S. involvement.

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York,

Zelensky to meet Erdogan in Turkey where both will wait for Putin ahead of peace talks

Zelensky said on May 13 that he expects a ceasefire to result from a potential in-person meeting with Putin, which may take place in Istanbul on May 15.

Zelensky said he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but said both leaders are ready to fly to Istanbul if Putin chooses to attend the talks there.

“We will be waiting to meet with Putin in Turkey. So that Russia does not manipulate cities and say that Putin is not ready to fly to Ankara, but is ready to fly only to Istanbul,” Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv during a press conference.

“I have conveyed the signal to President Erdogan, and the Turkish side is ready."

The meeting, if it occurs, would mark the first direct negotiations between the two leaders since 2019 and could signal a breakthrough in stalled diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The Kremlin has not confirmed Putin’s participation, while Kyiv continues to demand an unconditional ceasefire.

Russia killed Ukrainian author Victoria Amelina — but not her words or quest for justice

Ukrainian author Victoria Amelina never got to finish writing her book “Looking at Women, Looking at War.” After she was killed in a Russian missile strike on Kramatorsk in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk Oblast in 2023, it fell upon her closest friends and colleagues to do what they could to make sure it would still be published. The book, which Amelina dubbed “a war and justice diary,” is partly a deeply personal chronicle of how Russia’s war led her to set aside her career as one of Ukraine’s mos

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Ukraine reports destroying Russian Buk air defense system, Uragan rocket launcher

Ukrainian Special Operations Forces' attack drones destroyed a Russian Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system and a Uragan-1 multiple launch rocket system (MLSR), the military branch reported on May 13.

During reconnaissance in an unspecified front-line sector, Special Operations Forces' operators detected the Buk-M3 and the Uragan-1 on combat duty, the unit said.

Ukrainian forces then launched attack drones and hit the targets, destroying the Buk-M3 system with an estimated value of $45 million, as well as its ammunition. The statement did not specify the time of the attack.

The Soviet-era Buk surface-to-air missile systems are used both by Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine inherited Buk anti-aircraft systems from the Soviet Union, but the weapons typically use Russian-produced missiles. In 2023, Ukraine announced it had converted the systems to fire U.S. missiles.

The Uragan-1 is a Russian multi-caliber rocket launcher with the ability to swap launch containers. It operates with calibers of 200 and 300 mm.

After spying scandal erupts, Orban accuses Ukraine of meddling, cooperating with Hungarian opposition

“Ukraine has initiated a coordinated campaign to vilify Hungary in order to undermine our initiative to hold a poll on (Kyiv’s) EU membership,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Former nuclear power plant employee arrested for allegedly helping Russia’s GRU target drone strikes

A former employee of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) has been arrested on suspicion of working with Russian military intelligence (GRU) to help target drone strikes on the facility’s power lines, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced on May 13.

According to the SBU, the man was to assist strikes on high-voltage power lines that connect the Rivne NPP in Rivne Oblast with the Kyiv Oblast power facilities, supplying electricity to the capital and the surrounding area.

The suspect quit his job at the Rivne NPP before the full-scale war began. In the spring of 2025, a GRU liaison contacted him and offered cooperation in exchange for money.

The suspect tried to install a GPS tracker on one of the main power line’s poles. To approach the facility unnoticed, he allegedly scouted the locations of Ukrainian troops guarding the NPP.

The man was detained when trying to activate a tracking module, the SBU said.

Romania heads to historic presidential runoff as populist and pro-EU candidate are neck-and-neck

Days before the Romanian presidential election runoff, the two presidential hopefuls are neck-and-neck. According to the latest poll by AtlasIntel, far-right George Simion and liberal pro-EU Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan are tied at 48.2%. Yet, another poll by CURS gives Simion 52% and Dan 48%. Both are running on an anti-establishment platform in a country seeking change. Yet, with two drastically different views on the country’s future, whoever takes the presidency will have the chance to chan

The Kyiv IndependentPaula Erizanu

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Ukraine of meddling in Hungary’s internal affairs and colluding with an opposition party, European Pravda reported on May 13.

"Ukraine has initiated a coordinated campaign to vilify Hungary in order to undermine our initiative to hold a poll on (Kyiv’s) EU membership," Orban said after the meeting of the Hungarian Defense Council.

The remarks came days after Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) claimed it had exposed a Hungarian espionage network in western Ukraine, detaining two agents.

In response, Hungary expelled two Ukrainian diplomats, a move met with reciprocal expulsions by Kyiv.

Orban escalated the accusations by claiming that Kyiv had “renewed its contacts in Hungary to carry out this campaign” and had “launched a campaign against the Hungarian Defense Forces with the help of a Hungarian politician."

“Thus, the Hungarian opposition party took an active part in the special operation of the Ukrainian secret service. Such a thing has never happened in our memory,” Orban said, likely referring to the Tisza party led by opposition figure Peter Magyar.

The opposition politician visited Kyiv in July 2024, raised funds for humanitarian aid, and pledged to “end Hungary’s isolation from the West” if elected.

The country is scheduled to hold national elections in 2026.  

‘Not all Hungarians are Orban,’ say Ukrainians living in EU’s most pro-Russian country

Every time Daryna Koryagina enters her Budapest flat rented to her by a Hungarian friend, she sees the same sticker on a wardrobe inside the entrance. “Sorry about our prime minister,” it reads. The 33-year-old refugee and PhD student is one of tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled Russia’s full-scale invasion and chose to live in what many might consider a strange choice — Hungary, the EU’s most pro-Russian, anti-Ukraine country. “It was a bad idea to go on Tinder dates with Hungarians,”

The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk

Orban said Hungary would proceed with a national consultation on Ukraine’s EU membership bid, emphasizing that “neither Brussels nor Kyiv can decide instead of the Hungarian people."

The poll is non-binding and part of Orban’s regular political playbook. Past consultations have been criticized for low turnout and manipulative questions.

For instance, a 2023 consultation on EU migration policy asked Hungarians if they supported Brussels’s creation of “migrant ghettos” in Hungary.

Less than 20% of voters participated, but 99% of those who did responded “no."

Kyiv formally applied for EU membership in 2022 and began accession talks in June 2024. EU leaders have outlined 2030 as a tentative target for Ukraine’s potential entry.

As a member state, Hungary holds veto power over each phase of the process.

Orban, widely regarded as the EU’s most pro-Russian leader, has repeatedly opposed military aid for Ukraine and warned that Ukraine’s EU membership would “destroy” Hungary.

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York,

Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on May 13 that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials will attend planned peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey on May 15

The announcement comes as international attention centers on Istanbul, after Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed hosting direct talks there between Kyiv and Moscow.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will attend but the Kremlin has so far stayed quiet about the possibility of Russian President Vladimir Putin attending.

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

Earlier, Reuters reported that Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, would travel to Istanbul to observe the negotiations. Rubio’s participation marks the first public confirmation of Cabinet-level U.S. involvement.

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

“We will be waiting to meet with Putin in Turkey. So that Russia does not manipulate cities and say that Putin is not ready to fly to Ankara, but is ready to fly only to Istanbul,” Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv on May 13.

The Kremlin has acknowledged preparations for the talks but has not confirmed whether Putin will personally attend. Trump, who is currently on a four-day tour of the Middle East, suggested he might join the summit.

“I’ve also been working relentlessly to end the terrible bloodshed between Russia and Ukraine, and, very importantly, talks are being held in Turkey later this week… and they could produce some pretty good results,” Trump said.

A senior U.S. official told CNN that Trump’s attendance would “largely depend” on Putin’s presence. Zelensky said Trump had been formally invited, adding that his participation “would have an additional impetus for Putin to come."

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York,

Days before the Romanian presidential election runoff, the two presidential hopefuls are neck-and-neck. According to the latest poll by AtlasIntel, far-right George Simion and liberal pro-EU Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan are tied at 48.2%.

Yet, another poll by CURS gives Simion 52% and Dan 48%.

Both are running on an anti-establishment platform in a country seeking change. Yet, with two drastically different views on the country’s future, whoever takes the presidency will have the chance to change Romania for years to come.

The shocking vote

After Russian-friendly nationalist Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), took the first round by storm with 41% of the votes on May 5, the government coalition formed by the mainstream National Liberal Party, the Social Democrat Party and the Hungarian minority UDMR — whose common candidate Crin Antonescu came third with 20% of the vote — dismantled.

The national currency, the leu, fell to a historic low when compared to the euro and dollar, despite the Romanian Central Bank’s billion-euro effort to stabilize the national currency.

Scoring a mere 21% of the votes, Dan’s chances to win the presidency seemed dim without an incredibly high mass mobilization of the electorate.

The first opinion poll made by Verified and published by Dan after the first round showed Simion winning with almost 55% of the votes in the runoff. The poll excluded Romania’s diaspora, which is backing Simion. There has also been a tendency for Simion voters to refuse to participate in polls.

Running as an independent and relying on private donations, Dan has gained the support of the liberal Save Romania Union (USR), the party he founded in 2016 but left next year over the question of LGBTQ+ rights.

Dan was opposed to giving same-sex partnerships the same rights as those of heterosexual couples.

For the runoff, Dan has also garnered the support of the National Liberal Party and the Hungarian minority party UDMR. The Social Democratic Party, Romania’s biggest political party, officially abstained from endorsing a candidate. Antonescu, who came third, dismissed both candidates.

“There is no precedent for this runoff,” political scientist Claudiu Craciun told the Kyiv Independent.

“In 2004, 2009, and 2014, we had candidates who took 40% of the votes in the first round of presidential elections, and then they lost in the runoff. But they were center-left candidates defeated by center-right candidates, from the two major parties representing those ideological positions. Now, historical parties are in decline, for the second time in a row, they cannot bring candidates into the runoff, which means that this is a systemic issue,” Craciun added.

“We have a new situation, with the candidates of two smaller parties, USR, on the relatively progressive neoliberal center, and AUR, on the ultra-conservative side. We can anticipate that towns and cities, wealthier, more educated people will vote for Dan, but it’s not clear how religious groups will vote, or how social democrats will be split,” he added.

In the first televised debate between Simion and Dan, which lasted over four hours on May 8, national security and Russia’s war against Ukraine were major topics. The relationship with Moldova, the cost of living crisis, the public health sector and foreign investment were also widely discussed.

“In the debate, Nicusor Dan showed a different facet, which took Simion by surprise: he was much more combative and managed to project the image of a leader more powerfully,” journalist Ioana Dogioiu told the Kyiv Independent.

“He was resilient and spontaneous — things that people said he’d lacked before. He managed to stick the financial crisis to Simion, to say that the chaos he created scared investors, and to show Simion’s duplicity by confronting him on his contradictory claims, which generate uncertainty and mistrust. But I’m not sure this is enough to create (additional) 3.5 million votes, which is how much Dan needs in order to win,” Dogioiu added.

Simion, who is the executive vice president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party, tried to appear more moderate and calm, repeatedly invoking the example of Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, while also tying himself to the Trump administration.

Narrowly overcoming pro-Russian comeback, Moldovan President Sandu is facing tough term ahead

Moldovan President Maia Sandu begins her second term in office on Dec. 24 in unprecedented circumstances. Russian meddling in domestic affairs is widespread, and the Kremlin makes clear their position of not acknowledging Sandu as a legitimate president of her own country. Sandu also begins her term amid an energy crisis sparked by years of dependency on Russian gas. Meanwhile, the U.S. support for Ukraine is not a certainty under the new administration, leaving neighboring Moldova in a precar

The Kyiv IndependentPaula Erizanu

Dan and Simion on Ukraine

In the debate, while Dan pleaded for further support of Ukraine, Simion, who is persona non grata in both Ukraine and Moldova, emulated banned Russian-linked Calin Georgescu, saying that Romania has to stay “neutral” and only spend money on itself rather than give military aid to its neighbor.

Dogioiu says Simion’s position on the war may garner some support, fueling old tensions between Romania and Ukraine, concerning Romanian minority rights. It can also give a voice to the frustrations with the market disruption caused by cheap Ukrainian grains passing through Romania since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

But according to political scientist Cristian Preda, post-communist Romania has never had candidates openly supported by Russia until Georgescu and Simion.

On election day, Kremlin ideologist Alexandr Dugin said that Simion’s success “is Georgescu’s win” and “a chance” for Russia.

"Romanians have mobilized before for smaller bets," Preda told the Kyiv Independent. "It wouldn't be bad for Ukraine and Moldova to provide more details about why Simion was made persona non grata now. This would clarify the situation even better. How do you elect a president who can't enter two such important neighboring countries?"

Further on, Preda argues that Simion is perceived as a candidate who will "prolong the electoral dispute" after Romanians have been exhausted from voting in five different elections — parliamentary, local, European, and two sets of presidential ones.

"Simion says he would organize a referendum to sack the members of the Constitutional Court who canceled the Nov. 24 presidential elections (citing malicious foreign influence), and organize snap elections," Preda said.

"We've never had snap elections. This gives a sense of instability."

What happens if Simion wins?

"If Simion wins, we may get the old, radical, extremist, anti-media Simion, or the new, runoff Simion, who is more pro-European, more moderate. Let's say he goes through a 'Melonization' process," Dogioiu said.

"It will take time to convince international markets that he is not a radical; will his party, AUR, also go through a 'Melonization' process? Even in the best-case scenario, it will take time to gain the trust of the markets," she added.

"He is trying to appeal to both radicalized Georgescu voters and to the more moderate electorate, which creates uncertainty but not panic."

In addition to the financial crisis and the potential loss of EU funds, a Simion victory would isolate Romania, Craciun said.

"He will play in the Fico-Orban field, building a pressure group within the EU. It's enough for him to delay initiatives, such as military aid to Ukraine, to become a malign actor."

Despite Russian-backed Georgescu barred from presidential race, Romania’s far-right still aim to win

Protests erupted in downtown Bucharest following the Central Electoral Bureau’s decision to ban Russian-backed far-right politician Calin Georgescu from running in the upcoming re-run presidential elections. Georgescu, who is openly supported by the Russian and the U.S. administrations, said this was a “direct hit against democracy.” Following the announcement on March 9, Georgescu’s supporters began setting the streets of Bucharest on fire and throwing bottles, stones, and firecrackers at the

The Kyiv IndependentPaula Erizanu

The European Union is prepared to significantly tighten sanctions against Russia if no progress is made in ending the war in Ukraine this week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 13, Reuters reported.

The statement comes ahead of a potential meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on May 15.

Merz said EU leaders support Zelensky’s diplomatic push for a ceasefire but warn of sweeping new sanctions if Putin refuses to engage seriously.

“We are waiting for Putin’s agreement, and we agree that if there is no real progress this week, we want to work together at the European level for a significant tightening of sanctions,” Merz said during a news conference.

An EU official told the Kyiv Independent that the bloc will unveil its next package of sanctions on May 14. The 17th round of EU measures could target additional sectors of Russia’s economy, with new penalties reportedly focused on energy and financial markets.

The EU has imposed 16 sanctions packages since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, targeting military suppliers, Russian state entities, and individuals involved in the war.

Merz warned that further concessions from Ukraine during negotiations would be unreasonable if Russia continues to attack civilian targets.

“I believe more compromise and more concessions are no longer reasonable,” he said. “We support President Zelensky’s efforts, but there must be a real effort from Russia in return — starting with a ceasefire."

Zelensky has confirmed his readiness to meet Putin in Istanbul on May 15. While Russia has not disclosed whether Putin will attend, the Kremlin has indicated interest in sending a delegation.

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Kyiv and its allies have demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which Russia has so far rejected.

"If Putin doesn't show up, that's the final signal that they are not ready to end the war," Zelensky said. "That means all the promises of the United States, Europe, and other leaders must be fulfilled. This should be the strongest package of sanctions."

In Washington, Republican lawmakers have echoed the call for punitive action. U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told Fox Business on May 13 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, Senator Lindsey Graham said on May 1.

"And we've alerted President Putin to that — these sanctions are very serious," Kellogg added.

CNN reported that Kellogg and Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer serving as Trump's unofficial envoy to Moscow, will observe the May 15 talks in Istanbul.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the potential meeting between the two leaders, suggesting he might attend as well. The U.S. president has just begun his four-day Middle Eastern tour.

Zelensky and Putin last met face-to-face in December 2019 in Paris during a Normandy Format summit. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, there have been no direct talks between the two leaders.

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York,

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has derailed plans for a meeting in Istanbul despite demands from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former US President Donald Trump. After Zelensky expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with Putin in Turkey, and Trump hinted at his presence in the city, the main question arose: Will the Russian leader attend? Today it appears clear that Putin is not planning to hold talks, effectively sabotaging the meeting.

Zelensky is ready to speak exclusively with Putin during any potential talks in Istanbul, according to Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior advisor to the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, during an interview on The Breakfast Show on Tuesday, May 13.

When asked if Zelensky would meet with any other Russian officials if Putin doesn’t attend, Podolyak stated, "No, of course not. That’s not the format. The President cannot meet... Moreover, Medinsky’s status is unclear... It’s unlikely this person is suitable for discussing fundamental issues." Podolyak asserted that neither Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov nor Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin have the authority to make decisions regarding the end of the war, emphasizing that having anyone other than Putin would yield no results.

Simultaneously, Russian media outlets, citing sources, report that Putin has no intention of traveling to Turkey for talks. However, a plane is reportedly being prepared for Lavrov and Presidential Assistant Yuri Ushakov to head to Istanbul, although the decision to organize a visit for Putin could be made at any time. "...if a certain (highly unlikely) personal arrangement is made with U.S. President Donald Trump, the decision to prepare Putin's visit could be taken at any time. For now, Putin's schedule includes meetings in the Kremlin on May 15," these media sources add. Moscow has not officially disclosed who will be part of the Russian delegation, but preparations are ongoing. "The Kremlin will announce who will represent Russia at the talks with Ukraine as soon as Putin deems it necessary," spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated.

European leaders have decided to await the potential meeting between Zelensky and Putin in Turkey before urging the U.S. to intensify sanctions against Russia, Bloomberg reports, citing informed sources. Following consultations between American and European officials on May 12, it became clear that Washington wants to give the Istanbul talks, previously scheduled for May 15, a chance. Only after this would the U.S. consider increasing pressure on Moscow. Should Putin decline to meet or the Kremlin fail to meet the demand for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, European leaders are expected to call on Trump to follow through on his preliminary sanctions pledge. Journalists have observed "uncertainty" from the White House regarding its stance on Russian sanctions over the last 48 hours. Last Saturday, the U.K., France, and Germany were confident they had secured Trump's agreement on joint sanctions should the ceasefire be violated. However, following Putin's refusal to commit to a 30-day silence, Trump refrained from imposing restrictions. Instead, he urged Zelensky to meet Putin in Turkey personally. European officials noted that this position was unexpected.

Today, senior advisor and special representative for the U.S. President, Steve Witkoff, announced that Trump has issued an ultimatum: the U.S. will walk away from the negotiation process if there are no immediate direct talks between Zelensky and Putin. Key discussion topics, he said, include territorial details regarding Ukraine, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, and Ukraine's access to crucial waterways. Primarily, the negotiations focus on five regions, with discussions ongoing about the potential retreat of both sides to certain administrative lines. "There will be no peace agreement without Putin's consent. I don't understand the logic behind the idea of not talking with him. We need to talk with everyone," Witkoff added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly not planning to travel to Istanbul on Thursday, reports Gulagu.net, citing sources close to the Putin’s  security. Instead, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov are said to be preparing to head to Turkey.

According to Gulagu.net, if any (highly unlikely) personal agreement is reached with U.S. President Donald Trump, a visit by Putin could be arranged at any moment.

However, for the time being, meetings are scheduled for Putin in the Kremlin on May 15.

The Russian side is continuing its preparations for the negotiations in Istanbul. The Kremlin will announce who will represent Russia in talks with Ukraine once Putin deems it necessary, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

On May 10, after concluding talks in Kyiv, the leaders of the "coalition of the willing" phoned U.S. President Donald Trump and declared that the position of the West and Ukraine is for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting May 12.

Russia is being threatened with intensified sanctions and increased military support for the Ukrainian forces if they refuse to comply.

Nonetheless, President Vladimir Putin has effectively dismissed the proposal, suggesting instead a return to the Istanbul track.

In response, President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed holding a summit in Turkey and has announced he will fly there on May 15.

Moreover, there's a possibility that Trump might also travel to Istanbul for the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 13 that he expects a ceasefire to result from a potential in-person meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which may take place in Istanbul on May 15.

Zelensky said he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but said both leaders are ready to fly to Istanbul if Putin chooses to attend the talks there.

“We will be waiting to meet with Putin in Turkey. So that Russia does not manipulate cities and say that Putin is not ready to fly to Ankara, but is ready to fly only to Istanbul,” Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv during a press conference.

“I have conveyed the signal to President Erdogan, and the Turkish side is ready."

The meeting, if it occurs, would mark the first direct negotiations between the two leaders since 2019 and could signal a breakthrough in stalled diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The Kremlin has not confirmed Putin’s participation, while Kyiv continues to demand an unconditional ceasefire.

“An unconditional ceasefire as of today, and based on the experience of all these days and months, cannot be guaranteed by anyone on the Russian side except Putin,” he said.

The Ukrainian president added that U.S. President Donald Trump had been invited to the meeting.

“If he confirmed his participation, it would have an additional impetus for Putin to come,” Zelensky said.

Trump, currently on a four-day Middle East tour, voiced support for the talks, calling them “very important” and saying he “strongly pushed” for them to happen.

“I think good things can come from it,” he said on May 12.

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CNN reported that Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, and Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer serving as Trump's unofficial envoy to Moscow, will be in Istanbul to observe the negotiations, regardless of Trump's own attendance.

An undisclosed senior administration official told the news outlet that Trump's attendance would largely depend on whether Putin would arrive as well.

Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak emphasized on May 12 that while Russia may send envoys, only Putin can make binding decisions.

"We understand who is ultimately in charge," he said. Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Yermak, added: "Only Putin can make a decision to continue the war or stop the war."

Kyiv and several European capitals have urged an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning May 12 as a first step toward peace. Russia has refused the proposal and continued to launch strikes across Ukraine in recent days.

"If Putin doesn't show up, that's the final signal that they are not ready to end the war," Zelensky said. "That means all the promises of the United States, Europe, and other leaders must be fulfilled. This should be the strongest package of sanctions."

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

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York,

Russian forces are ramping up their offensive in southern Ukraine in an attempt to breach the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces spokesperson, Vladyslav Voloshyn, said on May 13.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a major industrial and logistical hub, remains untouched by ground incursions but is under growing threat.

Voloshyn said Russian troops continue to use artillery, kamikaze drones, guided aerial bombs, and unguided missiles to attack Ukrainian positions.

“The number of these assault operations is quite high,” he said, citing 24 combat engagements in the Novopavlivka direction alone.

Novopavlivka lies in central-eastern Ukraine, roughly 130 kilometers (about 80 miles) southeast of Dnipro, near the tri-border area of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.

Voloshyn described it as the “most mobile area” on the southern front, where four Russian regiments have concentrated assault units.

“They are trying to break through toward the administrative border of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts,” he said, adding that fighting involves small assault groups and constant shelling.

The Russian assaults prompted local authorities on April 28 to begin mandatory evacuations of families with children from four frontline villages: Kolona Mezhova, Novopidhorodne, Raipole, and Sukhareva Balka.

These settlements lie just 5–15 kilometers from Russian positions.

Although Russian troops have not yet entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the region has suffered regular missile, drone, and airstrike attacks that have killed and wounded civilians and damaged critical infrastructure.

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentChris York,

Editor’s note: This is a developing story.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, will travel to Istanbul for possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Reuters reported on May 13, citing three undisclosed sources.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Turkey for negotiations on May 15, potentially marking the first direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022.

The Kremlin said it is preparing for the talks but has not revealed whether Putin will attend in person.

Trump expressed optimism about the potential meeting between the two leaders, suggesting he might attend as well.

Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, and Witkoff, officially a Middle East envoy who also leads talks with Kyiv and Moscow, are expected to travel to Turkey to observe the talks regardless of whether Trump joins as well, CNN reported, citing sources.

Russia’s Buryatia Republic declared a state of emergency on May 13 over massive forest fires that have engulfed multiple regions in the Russian Far East.

Authorities in the republic, which lies some 4,000 kilometers  (2,500 miles) from Moscow and borders Mongolia, said that 22 fires have been recorded in the region, covering an area of 53,000 hectares.

Buryatia’s Forestry Agency said that 90% of the 174 forest fires registered since the start of this fire season have been caused by human carelessness.

Even heavier fires have been raging in the neighboring Zabaykalsky Krai, covering 576,000 hectares, the Russian Emergency Ministry said on May 13. A state of federal emergency in Zabaykalsky Krai was announced already in April.

Russian authorities blamed the swift spread of the fires on the wind and dry, hot weather. Wildfires are common in the vast forests of Siberia and Russia’s Far East, especially during the dry summer months.

In Amur Oblast, a massive fire reportedly came close to a major highway, though state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the flames there had been extinguished as of May 13.

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

With just two days to go before Russian-proposed peace talks might begin in Istanbul, the Kremlin is still refusing to confirm whether or not President Vladimir Putin will attend the event.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has already said he will meet Putin there, a move that puts the ball very much into the Kremlin’s court.

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

“We’re quite hesitant about whether or not Putin will arrive in Turkey,” Yelyzaveta Yasko, a lawmaker from Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, told the Kyiv Independent.

“I wonder if he would send someone else or make up an excuse not to be there — it’s very hard to say at this point what will happen."

What was Putin’s plan?

Russia has consistently demonstrated it has no interest in a full, 30-day ceasefire and has repeatedly refused to agree to U.S., European, and Ukrainian proposals to implement one.

Instead, it has unilaterally announced short-term ceasefires that Ukraine says have all been violated by Moscow.

Putin’s proposal to hold direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey came after the latest push for a full, 30-day ceasefire, backed by Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S.

The Kremlin has not responded well, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying that “ultimatum language” in talks with Russia is “unacceptable."

“It’s not appropriate. You cannot talk to Russia in this language,” Peskov told a pool of Russian journalists on May 12.

The consensus among experts and Ukrainian lawmakers who spoke with the Kyiv Independent is that Russia’s counterproposal for talks in Istanbul, and its faux outrage, are simply delaying tactics to avoid doing the one thing Putin doesn’t want to do — stop the war and give up his maximalist demands.

"In my view, Russia's proposal to hold talks in Turkey serves two main objectives," Halyna Yanchenko, a lawmaker from the Servant of the People party, told the Kyiv Independent.

"First, it's an attempt to damage Ukraine's reputation as a responsible international partner and paint us as unwilling to negotiate — Moscow clearly hoped we would reject the offer outright.

"Second, it's a push to revive the so-called 'Istanbul agreements' from 2022 which effectively demanded Ukraine's capitulation. What Russia is trying to do now is normalize those old ultimatums and use them as a starting point for new talks."

Moscow and Kyiv held unsuccessful talks in Belarus and Turkey in the early months of the full-scale war, with no direct negotiations having taken place ever since.

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

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

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

How has Putin's plan gone?

What Russia didn't appear to anticipate was Zelensky immediately agreeing to talks and insisting that Putin meet him there.

Ukraine has made very clear that Zelensky will be in Istanbul on May 15, and that he will only talk to Putin, with presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak explaining that talks with lower-level representatives would be pointless.

"Only Putin can make a decision to continue the war or stop the war," Podolyak said on May 15.

The Kremlin has yet to say whether or not Putin will attend in person, and to do so would not be in the Russian president's interests.

Putin does not see himself as Zelensky's equal, and has repeatedly mocked him and called him "illegitimate," so to appear on the same level on the global stage would risk him, in Russian eyes, as gifting Zelensky with the legitimacy he has tried so hard to deny.

"I don't think there's a cat in hell's chance of him turning up," former U.K. Defense Attache in Moscow, John Foreman, told the Kyiv Independent.

"He doesn't regard Zelensky as legitimate, and any talks would be technical. He'll send a functionary," he added.

This view is shared by Jenny Mathers, a Russian political expert and lecturer at the U.K.'s Aberystwyth University, who told the Kyiv Independent that Putin is "very good at finding excuses" and will likely try to engineer one that allows him to save face whilst also keeping Trump on side.

"It seems unlikely that he would grant Zelensky the status of meeting him personally, president to president, after years of claiming that the post-EuroMaidan political order is illegitimate and indeed full of Nazis," she said.

"He could easily engineer another pressing engagement, or give no excuse at all but send a negotiating team," she added.

What are the possible excuses?

One possible excuse on hand is a decree approved by Zelensky in the fall of 2022, that "stated the impossibility of holding negotiations with Russian President Putin," as a response to Russia's illegal annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, parts of which it didn't even control.

Moscow has previously cited Zelensky's decree as a ban on talks with Putin and used it as an excuse for avoiding direct talks with Kyiv.

But according to a source in the President's Office, the decree was a "a signal to those in Ukraine who wanted to speak (to Russians) bypassing the central government."

They added that it had been "twisted" by the Kremlin and it was in fact solely up to Zelensky to determine if he could speak directly with Putin.

What is Putin's longer-term plan?

Among Ukrainian lawmakers who spoke to the Kyiv Independent, it's clear that Putin is simply stalling for time in order to prolong the war.

"Putin is not ready to stop the military campaign already planned for this summer and autumn," Volodymyr Ariev, Ukrainian lawmaker from the opposition European Solidarity party, said.

"He will not change his mind," he added.

As Russia continues to reject a full ceasefire, there are plenty of signs that its military and offensive operations are still in full swing.

Even as the U.S.-led peace talks have been in progress since February, Russia has been amassing troops across the border from Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, Zelensky has said.

And on the front lines in the east, Russia this week reportedly bolstered troops trying to take the city of Chasiv Yar with the elite FSB Presidential Regiment.

Meanwhile, devastating missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian civilians have only escalated during Trump's term in office, and there is no indication they will relent.

Over the weekend, after a warning from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv of a "significant attack in the coming days, it was reported that Russia could be closing the airspace over the site from which it launches its Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile.

Russia regularly uses close, and short-range ballistic missiles in aerial attacks against Ukraine, but intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are far larger, can be equipped with nuclear payloads, and are designed to hit targets at far longer ranges.

"Putin does not want any peace talks, because his goal is to seize Ukraine," Ariev said.

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

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

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima