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.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12, 2023. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a phone call that Turkey is ready to host peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, the Turkish Presidency said on May 11.
His comments come as Russia pushes for the resumption of peace talks in Istanbul. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said earlier on May 11 that Moscow is ready to restart negotiations in Turkey, referencing the failed 2022 Istanbul talks and the current situation "on the ground."
Turkey, which hosted rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, has positioned itself as a mediator in the war while maintaining ties with both Moscow and Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Ukrainian officials to meet in Istanbul on May 15, following the expiration of a temporary Victory Day ceasefire that Moscow did not extend.
Ukraine has expressed openness to talks but insists that negotiations must begin with a "full, durable, and reliable" ceasefire, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 11. President Macron supported the idea.
"We made a clear proposal: an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday. President Zelensky committed without setting any condition. We now expect an equally clear response from Russia. There can be no negotiations while weapons are speaking," Macron wrote on X.
Erdogan told Macron that international cooperation is critical for initiating peace negotiations and the "sensitive implementation" of Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction processes, the Turkish Presidency reported.
"President Erdogan stated that a historic turning point has been reached towards the end of the war between Ukraine and Russia, that it is necessary to take advantage of this opportunity," the statement read.
The original Istanbul negotiations in March 2022 included harsh terms from Moscow, including demands that Ukraine drastically reduce its military size, surrender long-range strike capabilities, and recognize Russian control over occupied regions. Leaked documents suggest the proposed terms were essentially Ukrainian capitulation.
In recent weeks, Moscow has reiterated maximalist demands, including Ukraine’s formal recognition of the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, a permanent ban on NATO membership, demilitarization, and changes favoring the Russian language and religious organizations.
Despite saying it is ready to talk, the Kremlin continues offensive operations across Ukraine and has rejected Western-backed proposals for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.
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).
Lucy Pakhnyuk
