President Volodymyr Zelensky would not meet any other Russian official apart from Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul this week, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on the Breakfast Show program on May 13.
U.S. and European officials held talks on May 12, during which Washington made it clear that it wanted to allow talks between Russia and Ukraine before increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin, sources told Bloomberg.
According to Steve Witkoff, the key topics in the peace discussions are the fate of the five partially or fully occupied Ukrainian regions, the status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and Ukraine's access to the Dnipro River and the Black Sea.
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is reportedly offering a deal that would give U.S. companies access to Syria's natural wealth, reminiscent of the minerals agreement Washington recently signed with Kyiv.
Russia attacked Ukraine with drones and guided bombs during the night, targeting multiple regions after the May 12 deadline for an unconditional ceasefire expired.
"Only member states can take out loans within the 150 billion euros instrument, but they can use these funds for joint procurement with Ukraine," EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said.
"We agreed to pursue ambitious measures to reduce Russia's ability to wage war by limiting Kremlin revenues, disrupting the shadow fleet, tightening the Oil Price Cap, and reducing our remaining imports of Russian energy."
Zelensky on May 12 removed Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk from the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the top command and control body for all branches of Ukraine's defense apparatus.
Ukraine remains the most mined country in the world. Nearly one-third of Ukraine's territory, approximately 174,000 square kilometers, had been mined since Russia began its full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.
The phone call comes as Moscow once again rejected a 30-day ceasefire, with Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova claiming that a ceasefire would give "Kyiv a break to restore its military potential and continue its confrontation with Russia."
Flight MH17 departed from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport en-route to Kuala Lumpur International Airport on July 17, 2014. Three hours into the flight, the Boeing-777 was shot down by Russian proxy forces using a Buk surface-to-air missile above Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius during the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 14, 2025. (Olena Zashko/The Kyiv Independent)
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius signalled Germany's openness to partake in a peacekeeping force on March 27.
Germany has previously sent mixed signals regarding its participation in a potential peacekeeping force. On Feb. 8, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it was "premature and inappropriate" to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.
Pistorius was accompanied by Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur in Berlin.
"I can't imagine any situation in which Germany would not be participating in whatever would be the result of negotiations of a ceasefire or even a peace," Pistorius said on March 27.
Pistorius noted that many details regarding a peacekeeping force still need to be agreed upon.
"(I)t has to be decided when the time has come and it depends on so many parameters, like: How many troops will be... accepted in the ceasefire? What could be the mandate? Who is taking part in it?" he said.
Pistorius urged caution in making any public commitments while a potential ceasefire is still being negotiated.
"This is nothing we should discuss publicly on the market places before it's even clear whether we will have a ceasefire or not," Pistorius said.
The defense minister called for Europe to have a seat at peace negotiations, but noted he did not expect the U.S. to include Ukraine's European allies in the talks.
"I would hope so, but I don't believe it for the moment. There is no signal visible or to hear about in Washington that they are willing to let us on the table. And I'm afraid that could remain like that," Pistorius said.
On March 19, Pistorius criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's phone call to Russian President Vladimir on March 18.
"So Putin is playing a game here, and I'm sure the American president won't be able to stand by and watch for long without reacting," Pistorius said.
Volodymyr Ivanyshyn is a news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He is pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto, majoring in political science with a minor in anthropology and human geography. Volodymyr holds a Certificate in Business Fundamentals from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto. He previously completed an internship with The Kyiv Independent.
Natalia Yermak
