Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak voiced doubt about leading negotiations with anyone from Russia except President Vladimir Putin, implying only the Russian leader can make real decisions.
This includes at least seven people injured in drone attacks overnight on May 12, a date from which Kyiv and its allies put forward a demand for a 30-day unconditional truce, a step that Moscow continues to reject.
"When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs," the Elysee Palace reacted to a fake story pushed by Russia.
The comments came after Trump urged Ukraine to agree to direct negotiations with Russia, which has invited Kyiv to peace talks in Istanbul on May 15, without first agreeing to halt military operations.
A Russian drone hit a civilian freight train in Donetsk Oblast on May 12 and injured its driver, Ukrainian Railways said amid Kyiv's calls for a ceasefire.
Moscow and Hanoi agreed to negotiate and sign agreements to construct nuclear power plants in Vietnam, the two countries said in a joint statement on May 11.
The sanctions appear to be in response to Russia's rejection of a 30-day ceasefire that the U.K., alongside Ukraine, France, Germany, and Poland, demanded during a visit to Kyiv on May 10.
"We now know for sure that the great fire of the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw was caused by arson ordered by the Russian special services," Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X. "Some of the perpetrators have already been detained, all the others are identified and searched for."
The publications' latest report covers the period of February 24, 2022 to May 8, 2025. Since it was last updated at the end of April, 2,857 additional Russian military personnel have been confirmed killed.
Hungary cancelled a meeting planned for May 12 with a Ukrainian delegation on the rights of national minorities, Hungary's Deputy Foreign Minister said on May 11, amid a deepening spying scandal between the two countries.
Three were injured in Russia's Kursk Oblast when the town of Rylsk was allegedly struck by a missile attack on May 11, local governor Alexander Khinshtein claimed.
(From L) Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, First Lady Olena Zelenska, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, France's President Emmanuel Macron, and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz honor the memory of fallen Ukrainian and foreign soldiers at the Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) in Kyiv on May 10, 2025, ahead of a gathering of European leaders in the Ukrainian capital. (Photo: President's Office)
Russian president Vladimir Putin's proposal to resume peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul starting May 15 has been met with rejection by the United States and key European leaders, who insist that no negotiations can begin without a full and unconditional ceasefire, according to their statements from May 11.
In a press conference in the early hours of the day, Putin invited Ukraine to restart talks, which, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, Russia wishes to be based on the terms of the 2022 Istanbul discussions and the "current situation on the battlefield."
Putin's proposal came just a day after French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv to support a joint Western call for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.
Kyiv has said it is ready to talk but insists any negotiations must begin with a full cessation of hostilities.
That proposal, initially floated by U.S. President Donald Trump, is being finalized by the U.S. and European allies.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote: "In response to our appeal, the Russians have proposed peace talks starting May 15. The world, however, is waiting for a univocal decision on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Ukraine is ready. No more victims!"
U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg echoed these concerns, saying, "As President Trump has repeatedly said, stop the killing!! An unconditional 30-day ceasefire first and, during it, move into comprehensive peace discussions. Not the other way around."
"Yesterday in Kyiv, we and our partners called for a 30-day ceasefire to create space for negotiations. Ukraine agreed with no ifs or buts," German Chancellor Merz said in a statement on X. “We expect Moscow to now agree to a ceasefire. This is essential before beginning a genuine dialogue. Talks cannot begin until the weapons fall silent."
The Kremlin, meanwhile, has continued to reject any ceasefire proposal, saying that the talks must start first.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova emphasized that Putin "clearly said: first negotiate about the root causes, and then we can talk about a ceasefire."
Moscow's demands include the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four partially occupied regions, the formal recognition of their annexation, the recognition of Crimea, a ban on NATO membership, and changes reinstating the role of the Russian language and church.
Erdogan, in a May 11 call, reiterated Turkey's offer to host the talks and facilitate efforts toward "sustainable peace," according to the Kremlin's readout. Though the matter was not included in the Kremlin readout, Turkey's statement on the call also stressed the importance of a ceasefire before peace talks begin.
The Istanbul peace talks, first attempted in March 2022, ultimately collapsed. Leaked documents later revealed Moscow’s initial offer essentially meant a de facto Ukrainian surrender, including massive troop reductions, abandonment of advanced weapons, and recognition of Russian control over occupied territories.
Anna Fratsyvir is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent, with a background in broadcast journalism and international affairs. Previously, she worked as a TV journalist at Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne, covering global politics and international developments. Anna holds a Bachelor's degree in International Communications from Taras Shevchenko National University and is currently an MA candidate in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Andreas Umland
