Abbey Fenbert

4 days ago | kyivindependent.com | Abbey Fenbert

U.S. President Donald Trump "will continue to work with both sides" to end Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Trump said in a social media post on May 11. Trump's comments come shortly after Ukraine and Europe put forth a proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire beginning May 12. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not agreed to the plan, but has invited Kyiv to resume direct talks in Istanbul on May 15.

4 days ago | kyivindependent.com | Abbey Fenbert

Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for direct peace talks with Ukraine is "a first step, but not enough," French President Emmanuel Macron said on May 11. Putin earlier extended an invitation to hold direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, saying "Russia is ready for negotiations without any preconditions." "An unconditional ceasefire is not preceded by negotiations," Macron told reporters at the Polish-Ukrainian border, according to Agence France Presse (AFP).

4 days ago | kyivindependent.com | Abbey Fenbert

Russia and Ukraine must come to a ceasefire agreement in order for the U.S. to "move forward" in negotiating an end to the full-scale war, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on May 10. Bruce's comments come as Ukraine and European allies demand Moscow accept their proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire beginning May 12. "We'll judge Russia by actions, not words," Bruce wrote on X. "We've struck a deal with Ukraine for critical minerals and energy to fund their rebuilding.

4 days ago | kyivindependent.com | Abbey Fenbert

U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, relied on translators from the Kremlin in his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, NBC News reported on May 10, citing a U.S. official and two Western officials with knowledge of the talks. Witkoff, who has emerged as Trump's de facto personal envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has met with the Russian president several times in recent months.

4 days ago | kyivindependent.com | Abbey Fenbert

President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland agreed on May 10 to impose additional sanctions against Russia if the Kremlin does not accept their proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Zelensky in Kyiv on May 10.