Ukraine War Updates +++ 11:14 Diplomat Kiesewetter: Putin's Stunts
European legislators have endorsed the commission's plan.
Check out the latest happenings in the ongoing Ukraine conflict:
Putin's Peace Talks Ploy?
CDU foreign policy whiz, Roderich Kiesewetter, sees Putin's call for direct talks with Ukraine as a slippery move. The acid test for Putin, according to Kiesewetter, is whether he agrees to the demand for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. "Direct chats - what's the point? Bringing home abducted kids? Sorting out the folks in Russia-occupied zones?", he grills. The recent attacks on Kyiv and Pokrovsk have been vicious and relentless. "Putin's deeds should speak louder than his words."
Political Scientist: A Push and a Shove
Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't just nudging Trump's head, argues political scientist Klemens Fischer. The "G3 plus" ceasefire initiative surprisingly creates a situation that Ukraine hasn't seen in years, offering a chance for Zelensky that he previously lacked.
Politics: A Showdown Moment?
Critics view Russian President Putin's latest move as a diversionary tactic. The unconditional 30-day ceasefire demanded by Ukraine remains a sticking point. US President Trump suggests the possibility of an end to the fighting in the Ukraine war, expressing optimism on his Truth Social platform and extending his support to both Ukraine and Russia.
Ukrainian Military Casualties
Ukrainian army forces report 1,310 losses on Russia's side in the last 24 hours. Since the full-scale invasion, over 965,890 Russian troops have allegedly been wounded or killed. Additionally, two enemy tanks, six armored vehicles, an artillery system, a multiple rocket launcher, 55 tactical drones, and 117 vehicles were destroyed during the same period.
Macron and Friends: Enough is Enough
French President Emmanuel Macron dismisses Putin's proposal for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine as insufficient. A precondition for any negotiations is an unconditional ceasefire, Macron says while returning from his Kyiv visit with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The Sky's Lethal Dance
The city of Kupyansk in Donbass experiences multiple air attacks by the Russian army. Two civilians suffer injuries while rescue efforts continue. Air strikes also take place near the city.
Fighting Back with One Leg
Amidst the grim losses in the Ukraine fighting, soldiers like Nicolai refuse to back down. Despite surviving with a lost leg, he bravely returns to the battlefield.
The Front Lines: A Nightmarish Response
Engagements continue at the front, with 161 engagements reported since yesterday - 60 of them in the Pokrovsk sector. The Russian forces conducted 63 air strikes on Ukrainian positions and populated areas, launched 96 guided bombs, carried out over 4,000 shellings, including 85 with multiple rocket launchers, and used 2,470 kamikaze drones.
Russia Resumes Aerial Attacks
With the three-day ceasefire ended, Russia resumes its drone attacks on Ukraine, with Kyiv and several other regions experiencing increased alarms and drone attacks during the night and morning.
Trump's Negotiations with Russian Translators?
US President Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, allegedly relied on Kremlin translators during his meetings with Russia's President Putin, according to reports.
Fears Anew: Attacks on Kyiv
Kyiv's air defense systems work overtime as they attempt to repel an alleged Russian drone attack. The attack follows Putin's proposal for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine next week.
Battleground Kupyansk
Three civilians are injured in a fresh series of Russian air strikes on Kupiansk district, in the Kharkiv region.
Stronger Sanctions to Target Russia's Financial and Energy Sector
European and US leaders push Russia for a 30-day ceasefire and threaten sanctions on its banking sector and energy industry, over its refusal to agree to unconditional ceasefire demands.
The USA Approves Germany's Delivery of Long-Range Rockets and Patriot Missiles to Ukraine
The USA okays Germany's decision to send 125 long-range artillery rockets and 100 Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine after obtaining the necessary approval.
Putin Proposes Talks with Kyiv
Russian President Vladimir Putin suggests resuming direct talks with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul, making a commitment to "serious negotiations without preconditions." This comes after Ukraine and Western leaders insist on an immediate, unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
Putin's Three-Day Ceasefire Expires
Russia's unilaterally declared three-day ceasefire ends on Sunday midnight, as Ukraine continues to push for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.
Kyiv Calls for Soldiers
France considers supporting Ukraine militarily in its fight against Russia. U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, had previously suggested creating a demilitarized zone in Ukraine, which Ukrainian President Zelensky rejects.
Sources: ntv.de, gut/mau/dpa/rts/AFP
- Ukraine Crisis
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Military Conquest
- Armored Warfare
- Trump Administration
- US-Russia Relations
- Cyberwarfare
- Tactical Aerial Warfare
- Artillery Warfare
- Russian Military Strategy
- Ukrainian Soldiers
- European Union Sanctions
- US Military Aid to Ukraine
- Political Diplomacy
- NATO Expansion
- Geopolitics
Enrichment Data:
In the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, tensions remain high as Russia proposes direct talks with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul. While Western leaders push for an immediate unconditional 30-day ceasefire, Russia emphasizes the need to address its perceived grievances, such as "de-Nazifying" Ukraine, protecting Russian speakers, stopping NATO expansion, and preventing Ukraine's western alignment. The death toll continues to rise, as the Ukrainian military reports 1,310 losses on the Russian side since the full-scale invasion. With the expiry of Russia's three-day ceasefire, there is growing concern among Western allies about Russia's commitment to diplomacy and respecting Ukraine's sovereignty.
- Roderich Kiesewetter, a CDU foreign policy expert, questions the sincerity of Putin's call for direct talks with Ukraine, stating that the ultimate test lies in whether Putin agrees to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
- Political scientist Klemens Fischer argues that Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't just exerting pressure on Trump; the "G3 plus" ceasefire initiative creates an opportunity for Zelensky that he previously lacked.
- Critics view Putin's latest move to demand an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a diversionary tactic, despite US President Trump's optimism about ending the fighting.
- French President Emmanuel Macron, along with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, insists that any negotiations between Russia and Ukraine must be preceded by an unconditional ceasefire.
