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2 days ago | 
eurointegration.com.ua | Ian Bremmer |Ivan Horodysky
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will not take part in potential talks with Ukraine that may take place in Türkiye on 15 May. As reported by Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing unnamed sources, previously, a "senior former Kremlin official" told The Washington Post that Lavrov and Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov were expected to join the Russian delegation in Istanbul. However, Kommersant’s sources now say the Russian foreign minister will not be among the delegation.
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2 days ago | 
eurointegration.com.ua | Ian Bremmer |Ivan Horodysky
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has said he does not believe Russia will agree to a ceasefire and emphasised Europe’s determination to ramp up pressure on Moscow. Pistorius said in an interview with German TV channel ZDF that European leaders, including Germany, have clearly stated that sanctions against Russia will be strengthened if Russian ruler Vladimir Putin "does not agree to a ceasefire or even begin to implement one".
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2 days ago | 
eurointegration.com.ua | Khrystyna Bondarieva |Ian Bremmer |Ivan Horodysky
France has pledged €10 million to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to finance repairs to the protective shelter over Unit No 4 at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), damaged by a Russian drone. As reported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance press service, French representatives announced the contribution during a meeting of the Donor Assembly of the International Chernobyl Cooperation Account.
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2 days ago | 
eurointegration.com.ua | Ian Bremmer |Ivan Horodysky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken about the special relationship he has developed with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy noted in an interview with German newspaper Spiegel that he and Macron have "a good relationship" and communicate frequently. "It began during the war, and it was the same with some other heads of state and government. But not many – two or three with whom I spoke constantly on the phone.
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2 days ago | 
eurointegration.com.ua | Ian Bremmer |Ivan Horodysky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated he does not believe that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin would come to Istanbul for direct negotiations with him, although he does not completely rule out the possibility. The Ukrainian president spoke about a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during which they discussed Zelenskyy’s upcoming visit to Ankara. From there, both leaders would be ready to proceed to Istanbul if Putin arrives.
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2 days ago | 
eurointegration.com.ua | Ian Bremmer |Ivan Horodysky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concerns about communication issues with Steve Witkoff, US President's Special Envoy for the Middle East. Zelenskyy noted in an interview with German newspaper Spiegel that he has never spoken directly with Trump’s envoy. "I invited all the security advisers, and they were all ready to engage–but it seems something went wrong with Witkoff. I haven’t spoken to Witkoff on the phone.
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2 days ago | 
eurointegration.com.ua | Ulyana Krychkovska |Ian Bremmer |Ivan Horodysky
US President Donald Trump has stated he is uncertain whether Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin will attend negotiations aimed at resolving the war in Ukraine, scheduled to take place in Türkiye. As reported by Reuters, speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One en route to Qatar on 14 May, Trump said he was unaware if Putin would participate in the talks on the Ukraine war, set for Thursday 15 May, in Istanbul. "He'd like me to be there, and that's a possibility. ...
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2 days ago | 
eurointegration.com.ua | Anton Filippov |Ian Bremmer |Ivan Horodysky
It it highly likely that Rafał Trzaskowski – the Mayor of Warsaw and the clear front-runner – will become Poland’s next president. The first round of Poland’s presidential election is set to be held this Sunday. For Ukraine, Trzaskowski’s victory would be a positive scenario, considering that his main rivals – Karol Nawrocki and Sławomir Mentzen – are openly anti-Ukrainian in both rhetoric and actions.
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2 days ago | 
eurointegration.com.ua | Ulyana Krychkovska |Ian Bremmer |Ivan Horodysky
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has said that there are no plans to send Polish soldiers to Ukraine, following a statement by US President Donald Trump's special envoy on Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. As reported b y Polish news magazine Wprost, on Tuesday 13 May, Kellogg noted that the deployment of foreign forces, including Polish troops, west of the Dnipro River is being discussed as part of a potential settlement following the end of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
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2 days ago | 
eurointegration.com.ua | Khrystyna Bondarieva |Ian Bremmer |Ivan Horodysky
Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, has outlined the next steps on Kyiv's path to EU membership after the country completed internal procedures needed to open the first cluster in accession negotiations. On 14 May, the Ukrainian government reportedly approved roadmaps required to open the first negotiation cluster between Ukraine and the EU, thus completing all domestic procedures for its launch.
