In an interview with French broadcaster TF1 on May 13, Macron discussed new Russia sanctions and stationing French nuclear weapons in other European countries as a deterrent against Russia.
Performing their song "Bird of Pray," Ukrainian band Ziferblat passed the Eurovision semi-finals on May 13, qualifying Ukraine for the grand final on May 17.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a Russian delegation will be in Istanbul on May 15 for direct peace talks with Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov will likely represent Russia.
The move follows Ukraine's ratification of the minerals agreement, deepening U.S.-Ukraine economic ties and signaling expanded U.S. involvement in Ukraine's long-term recovery.
"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.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that further concessions from Ukraine during negotiations would be unreasonable if Russia continues to attack civilian targets.
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 said he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but said both leaders are ready to fly to Istanbul if Russian President Vladimir Putin chooses to attend the talks there.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron in Kyiv on May 2, 2024. (Presidential Office)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron in Kyiv on May 2, the Presidential Office said.
The U.K.'s top diplomat visited Ukraine's capital only a week after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged 500 million pounds ($628 million) in defense aid for Ukraine, London's largest assistance package to date.
"The provision of this package, along with the crucial decision of the United States to provide assistance, is of great importance to us at this key moment," Zelensky said when thanking Cameron for the U.K.'s new pledge of support.
Ukraine's head of state informed Cameron about the situation on the front line and about the need to deliver military aid as soon as possible, namely armored vehicles, ammunition, and missiles.
Ukrainian officials and the British delegation also discussed preparations for the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy, the June peace summit in Switzerland, the NATO summit in Washington, and the Fourth European Political Community Summit in the U.K.
The U.K. has consistently voiced strong support for Ukraine. The country's government said it has pledged 12.5 billion pounds ($15.6 billion) in support to Ukraine since February 2022, of which 7.6 billion pounds ($9.5 billion) was for military assistance.
Olena Goncharova
