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)
Zelensky to meet Erdogan in Turkey where both will wait for Putin ahead of peace talks. 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.
Putin’s refusal to join Istanbul talks would be ‘last signal‘ Russia doesn’t want peace, Zelensky’s chief of staff says. Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak said Ukraine is “ready to discuss anything,” but “only if a ceasefire is achieved.”
Kremlin confirms delegation will attend Istanbul peace talks — Lavrov, Ushakov will likely represent Russia. 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.
Trump’s envoys Witkoff, Kellogg to travel to Istanbul for potential Russia-Ukraine peace talks, Reuters reports. 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.
Rubio to attend Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul, Trump says. “Our people are going to be going there,” U.S. President Donald Trump said.
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Kremlin still refusing to say whether Putin will attend Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul. Russia will announce its representative for the expected talks in Istanbul once Putin “deems it necessary,” the Kremlin said.
Ukraine captures Uzbek citizen fighting for Russia in Donetsk Oblast.
A captive named Umit allegedly agreed to serve in the Russian army in exchange for Russian citizenship and a monetary reward of 2 million rubles ($25,000).
Russia intensifies assaults near Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border. Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a major industrial and logistical hub, remains untouched by ground incursions but is under growing threat.
Russia threatens to ‘neutralize‘ all NATO efforts against Moscow amid alliance drills in Lithuania. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko’s statement came as Strong Shield 5 exercises involving military personnel from other NATO countries began in Lithuania.
Former nuclear power plant employee arrested for allegedly helping Russia’s GRU target drone strikes. The suspect quit his job at the Rivne NPP before the full-scale war began. In the spring of 2025, a GRU liaison contacted him and offered cooperation in exchange for money.
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Ukraine war latest: Germany threatens ‘significant tightening’ of Russia sanctions ahead of peace talks
The European Union is prepared to significantly tighten sanctions against Russia if no progress is made in ending the war in Ukraine this week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 13, Reuters reported.
Photo: Alexander Kazakov / Pool / AFP
Russia killed Ukrainian author Victoria Amelina — but not her words or quest for justice
The book, which Amelina dubbed “a war and justice diary,” is partly a deeply personal chronicle of how Russia’s war led her to set aside her career as one of Ukraine’s most successful young writers to become a war crimes researcher.
Photo: Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images
As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putin’s next move
With just two days to go before Russian-proposed peace talks might begin in Istanbul, the Kremlin is still refusing to confirm whether or not President Vladimir Putin will attend the event.
Photo: Wolfgang Schwan / Anadolu via Getty Images
Romania heads to historic presidential runoff as pro and anti-Ukraine candidate are neck-and-neck
According to the latest poll by AtlasIntel, far-right George Simion and liberal pro-EU Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan are tied at 48.2%.
Photo: Mihai Barbu / AFP via Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 2, injure 7 over past day. Ukrainian air defenses shot down all 10 drones launched by Russia overnight, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.
General Staff: Russia has lost 968,130 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.
The number includes 1,070 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
International response
Macron promises new Russia sanctions, discusses French nuclear deterrent for Europe. 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.
Germany’s Merz threatens ‘significant tightening‘ of Russia sanctions ahead of Ukraine peace talks. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that further concessions from Ukraine during negotiations would be unreasonable if Russia continues to attack civilian targets.
After spying scandal erupts, Orban accuses Ukraine of meddling, cooperating with Hungarian opposition. “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.
In other news
Ukraine, US sign additional agreements for minerals deal, Economy Ministry says. 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.
Parliament backs amendments for implementing US minerals deal in 1st reading. “Amendments to the Budget Code are needed to implement the provisions on funding the U.S.-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund,” lawmaker Roksolana Pidlasa said.
Ukraine’s Ziferblat progresses to Eurovision 2025 grand finals. 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.
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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Martin Fornusek, Kateryna Hodunova, Chris York, Tymur Zadorozhnyy, Lucy Pakhnyuk, and Olena Goncharova.
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