The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
“A woman looks at the “The Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine,” a memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers, in Kyiv on May 14, 2025. (Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images)
Putin won’t attend peace talks in Turkey, Kremlin says. The Kremlin unveiled its delegation for Ukraine-Russia peace talks in a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 14. Putin was not on the list, nor were any other top-ranking Russian officials.
Trump will skip Ukraine-Russia peace talks as Putin evades negotiations, US official says. U.S. President Donald Trump will not attend Ukraine-Russia peace talks to be held on May 15, Reuters reported on May 14, citing an unnamed U.S. official.
Russia likely preparing major offensive in Ukraine despite peace efforts, FT reports. 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.
Trump needs to understand that Putin lies, blocks peace efforts, Zelensky says. “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.”
Zelensky’s trust rating rises to 74%, highest since 2023, poll shows. This marks Zelensky’s highest trust rating recorded by KIIS since December 2023, when he enjoyed the confidence of 77% of respondents.
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MPs appeal to Zelensky with request to award title of Hero of Ukraine to journalist Roshchyna. Viktoria Roshchyna, 27, disappeared in August 2023 while reporting from Ukraine’s Russian-occupied territories. Moscow admitted she was in Russian detention the following year.
Russian political, corporate interests seize thousands of Ukrainian businesses, assets in occupied Mariupol, research reveals. More than 1,000 Russian government entities and 1,200 private companies are involved in the economy of occupied Mariupol, a major southeastern city occupied by Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022, according to a research paper published on May 14.
Drone attacks in 2025 shut down Russian airports record number of times since start of full-scale war. From January to May 10, 2025, Russian airports suspended operations 217 times — more closures than in 2023 and 2024 combined.
Ukraine’s gas storage reserves fall to their lowest level in at least 11 years. Ukraine’s underground storage facilities are currently using 19.4% of their capacity. Almost 32%, or 2.79 bcm, less gas is available in the storages than in the previous year, according to the estimates.
As ceasefire talks loom, most Ukrainians oppose elections without full peace deal with Russia. The majority of Ukrainians, 71%, do not support holding elections before a full peace deal, even in the case of a ceasefire and security guarantees, according to a poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on May 14.
‘Key milestone’ — Ukraine takes step toward opening 1st EU negotiation cluster. The government has approved “reform roadmaps in the rule of law, public administration, and democratic institutions, as well as Ukraine’s negotiation position,” Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
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Exclusive: Ukraine eyes new sanctions on China, but Kyiv wary of peace talks fallout
Kyiv is currently considering imposing new sanctions against Chinese firms providing raw materials to Russia’s defense sector, a source close to the matter told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity. But doing so could risk pushing Beijing — an important economic partner for Kyiv — further from Ukraine and closer to Russia, the source said.
Photo: Nhac Nguyen / Pool / AFP via Getty Images
Despite the hype, EU’s latest Russia sanctions ‘not as strong as they should be’
The European Union’s 17th package of sanctions against Russia, agreed on May 14, is being hailed in Brussels as a symbol of steady resolve. But outside the EU bubble, critics see it as another incremental move that fails to match the urgency of the moment, and behind closed doors, even EU officials acknowledge the package was watered down during negotiations.
Photo: Contributor / Getty Images
From spy rings to arson — Russia’s sabotage across Europe continues unpunished
The Kyiv Independent has compiled a list of suspected sabotage incidents across Europe since February 2022, possibly involving Russia.
Photo: Attila Husejnow/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
‘Russians need to be taught a lesson’ – why foreign soldiers keep fighting for Ukraine amid growing uncertainty
“This is a war with a clear line of right and wrong,” says a volunteer soldier from the United Kingdom, who goes by the callsign “Oni.”
Photo: International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine/Facebook
Human cost of Russia’s war
3 killed, 9 injured in a Russian missile strike on city of Sumy. The air raid was announced at around 2:30 p.m. local time, while the explosion sounded around 2:50 p.m. The number of victims killed rose to three, Sumy Oblast Governor Oleh Hryhorov reported at 8:42 p.m.
Ukrainian actor Maksym Nelipa killed in action. Ukrainian actor and TV presenter Maksym Nelipa was killed in action on May 12, his friends and family reported on May 14. The details of his death have not been disclosed.
Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 4, injure 26 over past day. Ukraine’s air defense shot down 80 drones, while another 42 disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement.
General Staff: Russia has lost 969,370 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 1,240 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
Putin on trial? Dutch minister on EU-led tribunal
International response
Council of Europe backs special tribunal for Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Council of Europe on May 14 approved the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s top leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainian lawmaker Maria Mezentseva reported.
EU agrees on 17th package of Russia sanctions targeting ‘shadow fleet.’
The measures target almost 200 ships of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” 30 companies involved in sanctions evasion, 75 sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, and more.
Rubio arrives in Turkey ahead of Ukraine-Russia peace talks, meets with FM Sybiha. “We discussed in detail the logic of further steps and shared our approaches… It is critical that Russia reciprocate Ukraine’s constructive steps. So far, it has not. Moscow must understand that rejecting peace comes at a cost,” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
US, Europe urge Zelensky to commit to Istanbul peace talks whether or not Putin shows up, WP reports. European and U.S. officials, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, reportedly convinced Zelensky that attending the peace talks would reflect positively on Kyiv, diplomats told the Washington Post.
US reportedly opposes Zelensky’s invitation to June NATO summit in The Hague. If confirmed, the decision would mark the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion that President Volodymyr Zelensky is absent, either physically or virtually, from a NATO summit.
Polish protesters end blockade at Ukraine’s border after court ruling. The blockade ended at 10:30 p.m. local time. Truck traffic in both directions is now moving as usual, according to Ukraine’s State Border Guard’s statement.
EU to hike tariffs on Ukrainian imports amid Poland’s push, FT reports. The EU plans to significantly increase tariffs on Ukrainian goods after the current duty-free deal lapses on June 6, the Financial Times reported on May 14, citing undisclosed diplomatic sources.
Brazil’s Lula says he’d ask Putin to go to Turkey for Ukraine peace talks.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva claimed that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had appealed to his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, to ask Putin if he was willing to conclude a peace agreement.
In other news
NATO starts work on plan to increase defense spending after Trump criticism. Trump has long demanded that NATO allies increase their military spending, previously calling for the alliance to raise its benchmark from 2% to 5% of GDP.
Poland detects foreign-funded election ads amid fears of Russian interference.
The disclosure follows a warning from Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski, who on May 6 said Moscow was carrying out an “unprecedented” interference campaign.
Germany detains Ukrainians in alleged Russia-backed sabotage plot, media reports. Two of the suspects were reportedly detained over the weekend, and the third on May 13, during police raids in Germany and Switzerland.
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