Ukraine says Russia is 'completely ignoring' ceasefire call
· France 24
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13/05/2025 - 03:03
Turkish, Russian diplomats discuss Ukraine-Russia peace talks, Russian ministry says
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan spoke on Monday to discuss Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's proposal to hold direct Russian-Ukrainian talks this week in Turkey, the Russian ministry said.
"The heads of the two ministries discussed issues linked with the initiative by Russian Federation President V.V. Putin about beginning direct talks on a Ukrainian settlement on 15th
May in Istanbul," the ministry said in a statement.
A Turkish diplomatic source earlier said the two ministers had spoken, but gave no further details.
13/05/2025 - 03:00
Rubio discusses way forward on Ukraine ceasefire with European counterparts
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the "way forward for a ceasefire" in Ukraine with
European counterparts, including the foreign ministers of Britain and France, and the EU's foreign policy chief, the State Department said on Monday.
Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha and his German and Polish counterparts were also on the call, according to the readout.
12/05/2025 - 18:04
Zelensky says he wants Trump to attend peace talks with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he wanted Donald Trump to attend direct peace talks with Russia in Istanbul, after the US leader said he was "thinking" of going.
"Of course, all of us in Ukraine would appreciate it if President Trump could be there with us at this meeting," Zelensky said in a post on X.
12/05/2025 - 17:55
Trump says he is 'thinking' of flying to Turkey for Ukraine-Russia talks
US President Donald Trump said he is "thinking" of flying to Turkey Thursday for possible talks between Ukraine and Russia on the more than three-year war sparked by Moscow's invasion of its neighbour.
"I was thinking about actually flying over there. There's a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen," Trump told journalists at the White House prior to departing for a trip to the Middle East.
"I think you may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine, and I believe the two leaders were going to be there," he said.
Asked if he would sanction Russia if President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a 30-day ceasefire, Trump said: "I have a feeling they're going to agree. I do. I have a feeling."
12/05/2025 - 16:09
Trump says good things can come out of Russia-Ukraine meeting
President Donald Trump on Monday welcomed the news of a meeting between Russia and Ukraine on Thursday.
"I think good things can come out of that meeting," he said at a White House event.
12/05/2025 - 16:07
UK, European foreign ministers discuss further support for Ukraine
Britain and foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain plus an EU representative discussed how to further support Ukraine against Russia at a meeting in London, according to a joint statement on Monday.
"We discussed how we would further step up European efforts to support Ukraine in its ongoing defence against Russia’s war of aggression," the joint statement for the Weimar+ group said.
"Ukraine should be confident in its ability to continue to resist successfully Russian aggression with our support."
12/05/2025 - 16:06
Poland to close Russian consulate in Krakow, citing arson attack
Poland summoned the Russian ambassador and said it would close the Russian consulate in Krakow after evidence showed Moscow was responsible for a huge fire that almost completely destroyed a Warsaw shopping centre in 2024.
Russia denied any involvement in the arson attack and accused Poland of Russophobia.
Already tense relations between Warsaw and Moscow have hit new lows since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. NATO member Poland says its own role as a hub for aid for Kyiv has made it a target of Russian sabotage, cyberattacks and disinformation.
"The ambassador was invited to the ministry at 1500 (CET)," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pawel Wronski said on Monday.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland knew "for sure" that Russian secret services were behind last year's fire.
12/05/2025 - 15:17
Kremlin says Putin is serious about Ukraine peace talks but says no more
The Kremlin said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin was serious about trying to find peace at talks he has proposed in Turkey but his spokesman said he could say no more about the talks after Ukraine demanded the Kremlin chief attend.
12/05/2025 - 13:59
'There's very little trust in the will of Russia' to honour ceasefire, FRANCE 24 correspondent says
12/05/2025 - 13:54
Europe prepares fresh sanctions against Russia in ceasefire ultimatum
12/05/2025 - 13:48
Russia launches several attacks on front in eastern Ukraine
Ukraine's military said Russia had conducted dozens of attacks along the front in eastern Ukraine on Monday as well as an overnight assault using more than 100 drones, despite the ceasefire proposal by Europe and Kyiv.
12/05/2025 - 13:46
'Get serious about peace,' UK foreign minister warns Putin
The UK's foreign minister called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to "get serious about peace" in Ukraine on Monday, as he hosted key London talks backing calls for a swift ceasefire.
Ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the EU joined the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy for a meeting of the so-called "Weimar+" group.
The meeting follows Saturday's visit by the leaders of France, Germany, Poland and the UK to Kyiv, where they called for "a full, lasting and reliable" 30-day ceasefire from Monday, as a condition for opening direct talks.
"This is the time for Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace in Europe, to get serious about a ceasefire and to get serious about talks," Lammy said on Monday.
He warned that European countries must "be prepared if this is not the moment of seriousness from Putin and we do not get that peace".
12/05/2025 - 13:39
Ukraine FM engages allies on fresh defence aid, sanctions against Russia
Russia is "completely ignoring" a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukraine and European powers that was to have begun on Monday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
Writing on X, Sybiha said he had spoken to European ministers meeting in London, and they had discussed steps that could be taken against Russia, including new sanctions against the Russian banking and energy sectors and the Russian central bank.
He said they had also discussed new defence assistance packages for Ukraine.
12/05/2025 - 13:36
Russia is 'completely ignoring' 30-day ceasefire offer, Ukraine FM says
12/05/2025 - 13:03
Berlin warns 'clock is ticking' on Ukraine ceasefire ultimatum
Germany warned the "clock is ticking" for Russia to agree by the end of Monday to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine or face potential new sanctions.
If Moscow does not accept the demand, "preparations will be set in motion" for fresh sanctions, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said, after European leaders demanded during a weekend visit to Kyiv that Russia agree to the ceasefire.
12/05/2025 - 12:10
FRANCE 24's Douglas Herbert on Zelensky's invitation to meet Putin
12/05/2025 - 11:43
Zelensky thanks pope for 'substantive' first conversation
12/05/2025 - 11:41
Poland summons Russian ambassador, foreign minister says
Poland has summoned the Russian ambassador, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, after it found evidence Russia was responsible for a huge fire in a Warsaw shopping centre in 2024.
12/05/2025 - 11:40
German President Steinmeier calls for immediate resumption of Gaza aid
12/05/2025 - 11:39
Zelensky speaks to new pope about children abducted by Russia
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke by phone with newly elected Pope Leo XIV on Monday and said they discussed Ukrainian children abducted by Russia and a proposal from allies for a 30-day ceasefire which Moscow has so far not accepted.
Zelenky said on the Telegram app that his first conversation with the new pontiff was "very warm and truly substantive", and that he had invited the pope to visit Ukraine.