The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Ukrainian infantrymen from the 68th brigade undergo training on tactical combat medicine in Donetsk Oblast on May 12, 2025. (Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Upping pressure on Putin, Trump says ‘both leaders’ will be at Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul. “I believe both leaders are going to be there,” U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 12.
Ceasefire remains a ‘priority,’ Rubio says amid Trump’s call for immediate Ukraine-Russia talks. 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.
‘Ready for all options’ — Ukraine gears up for possible Zelensky, Putin talks. “We are ready for all options. But of course, we are separately waiting for a response on the ceasefire,” a source close to President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Kyiv Independent.
‘We are ready for direct negotiations with Putin,’ Zelensky says following phone call with Erdogan. “I am grateful for the support and the readiness at the highest level to promote diplomacy,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said of the phone conservation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “We share the same view on the need for a ceasefire.”
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EU to send extra $1 billion from frozen Russian asset profits for Ukraine’s defense. The new tranche brings total recent EU defense support for Ukraine to 3.3 billion euros ($3.6 billion), marking a significant expansion of European efforts to boost Kyiv’s defense industry.
Taiwan pledges $2 million for demining in Ukraine. 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.
Pope Leo XIV talks with Zelensky in his first known call with foreign leader. “I invited His Holiness to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine. Such a visit would bring real hope to all believers and to all our people,” Zelensky said.
International Civil Aviation Organization rules Russia responsible for downing MH17. 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.
Read our exclusives
Ukraine war latest: Trump says ‘both leaders’ will be at Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend peace talks in Istanbul on May 15, suggesting the meeting could yield “a good result.”
Photo: Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
Didn’t Zelensky impose a ban on talks with Putin? Not really
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s willingness to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in Istanbul sparked a question over whether such a move contradicts his earlier decree.
Photo: Vitalii Nosach / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
‘Truce proposals are being ignored’ — Russian drone hits freight train in Donetsk Oblast. 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.
Russia decreased but didn’t cease attacks during Victory Day truce, Ukraine’s Border Guard says. “Perhaps in some areas, the intensity decreased slightly to create an image of compliance with their own announcement. But in reality, (Russia) continued attacks every day, using all available weapons — including aircraft to drop guided bombs on Ukraine,” Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, said.
International response
‘Clock is ticking’ — Germany gives Russia until midnight to implement ceasefire, threatens sanctions. “The clock is ticking — we still have twelve hours until the end of this day,” German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius reportedly said.
Only Putin can make real decisions in peace talks with Ukraine, Zelensky’s chief of staff suggests. 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.
‘We support all efforts’ toward peace in Ukraine — China reacts to Kyiv, Europe’s call for 30-day ceasefire. Beijing supports all efforts toward achieving peace in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on May 12 when asked about Kyiv and Europe’s proposal for a 30-day truce.
Poland closing Russian consulate in Krakow after blaming Moscow for Warsaw mall arson. Previously, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused the Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a May 2024 arson attack on the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw.
Polish protesters to resume blockade at Ukraine’s border, Ukrainian Border Guard warns. Polish truckers plan to restrict freight traffic at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on the Ukrainian border, Ukraine’s State Border Guard said on May 12.
EU to unveil new sanctions against Russia on May 14, source says. The EU plans to unveil on May 14 its next package of sanctions imposed against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine, an EU official told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity.
Russia ignores May 12 ceasefire proposal, Ukraine tells allies at London meeting. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine and its allies discussed tougher sanctions against Russia’s banking sector, central bank, and energy industry.
Ukraine finalizes ratification of US minerals deal, paving way for joint investment fund. According to the Verkhovna Rada’s website, Ukraine completed the ratification of the U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement on May 12. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the deal.
6 Bulgarian nationals sentenced in the UK for spying for Russia. The convictions mark a significant development in Britain’s efforts to counter Russian intelligence operations amid heightened tensions stemming from Moscow’s war against Ukraine and repeated Kremlin threats toward Kyiv’s allies.
Russian, Turkish Foreign Ministers hold phone call as Moscow again rejects 30-day ceasefire. 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.”
Opinions and insights
‘Not what Putin was expecting’ — What we know (and don’t know) about Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul
Russian President Vladimir Putin may have gotten more than he bargained for when, on May 11, he rejected calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire and invited Ukraine to engage in direct talks in Istanbul later this week.
Photo: Contributor / Getty Images
‘Like a game of tennis’ — Russia, Ukraine court Trump to avoid being blamed for peace talks failure
In the middle of the night, Russian President Vladimir Putin gathered Russian state TV to inform them that he is ready to begin direct peace talks with Ukraine on May 15. The statements caught the attention of the main viewer — U.S. President Donald Trump.
Photo: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images
In other news
Russia brings in ‘top-level’ FSB Presidential Regiment to Chasiv Yar, Ukraine’s army says. “If the Russians are using this level of specialists in urban combat, they are probably facing some difficulties,” Ivan Petrychak, spokesperson for the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, said.
‘This is a tissue’ — Macron’s office mocks Russian fake story about drugs during Kyiv visit. “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.
Poland charges 2 Ukrainians with involvement in suspected Russian-ordered arson attacks in EU. Both men face charges related to terrorism and espionage. Daniil B. was detained in Lithuania, where he is in temporary custody, while Oleksandr V. remains at large in Russia.
Russia’s Belgorod governor accuses locals of faking war damage to receive compensation from the state. “I myself have heard relatives talking: our village is being attacked, let’s roll the car out of the garage, maybe they will shell it — at least we will get money. The car is old, we can’t sell it,” Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
Russia faces record 2.6 million worker shortage amid war recruitment. The deepening labor shortage reflects growing strain on Russia’s workforce as the Kremlin aggressively recruits men for its war against Ukraine.
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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Tymur Zadorozhnyy, Martin Fornusek, Oleksiy Sorokin, Anna Fratsyvir, Abbey Fenbert, and Dmytro Basmat.
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