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Morning Headlines
FT: Brussels is preparing to use capital controls and tariffs against Russia in case Hungary blocks the extension of the EU’s economic sanctions imposed on Moscow in response to its war in Ukraine (archive).
The Kyiv Independent: A portion of the 800 billion euros for the ReArm Europe program will be used to provide military support to Ukraine, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said.
Reuters: U.S. and European diplomats went on a flurry of calls in the hours after Trump offered on Monday to join prospective Ukraine-Russia talks later this week, trying to find a path that would bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
The Kyiv Independent: Russia attacked Ukraine with drones and guided bombs during the night, continuing to launch weapons at various regions after the May 12 deadline for an unconditional ceasefire expired.
ISW: Russian officials appear to be setting conditions for Putin to reject Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's invitation to meet on May 15 in Istanbul for bilateral ceasefire negotiations.
More News
Reuters: The U.N. aviation council on Monday ruled that Russia was responsible for the downing of a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine that killed all 298 passengers and crew, including 196 Dutch citizens and 38 Australian citizens or residents, the Dutch and Australian governments said in separate statements. Both governments said the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization would in the coming weeks consider what form of reparation was in order.
The Kyiv Independent: Russian companies ended 2024 short of 2.6 million employees, a record high, the pro-state publication Izvestia reported on May 12, citing an analysis by Russia's Higher School of Economics. The deepening labor shortage reflects growing strain on Russia's workforce as the Kremlin aggressively recruits men for its war against Ukraine.
Reuters: Eni delivered gas last year from Russia to Turkey, documents posted on the Italian energy group's website showed on Monday, confirming the company was still dealing in Russian gas despite suspending supplies within Europe.
Novaya-Europe: Aerospace giants Boeing and Rolls-Royce have hired lobbyists to try to prevent the US Congress from introducing further sanctions against Russia, Novaya Gazeta Europe has discovered after analysing the information published on the US House of Representatives’ lobbying disclosure website.
AP News: Six Bulgarians convicted of carrying out a sophisticated spying operation for Russia were sentenced by a London judge Monday to prison terms up to nearly 11 years.
The Kyiv Independent: The EU will allocate 900 million euros from profits generated by frozen Russian assets to fund weapons and ammunition for Ukraine, EU Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defense Charles Fries said on May 12.
Reuters: 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.
AFP: European ministers urged Moscow on Monday to make progress on Ukraine peace talks "without delay," as they again backed calls for an "unconditional" 30-day ceasefire.
Reuters: The Kremlin said on Monday that 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.
The Kyiv Independent: Polish truckers plan to restrict freight traffic at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on the Ukrainian border, Ukraine's State Border Guard said on May 12.
Reuters: A Russian prosecutor on Monday requested six years in prison for Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of an independent monitoring group that has criticised the conduct of Russian elections.
The Kyiv Independent: Russia did not fully halt its attacks on Ukraine during a self-declared Victory Day ceasefire, continuing daily strikes with various weapons, Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, said on air on May 12.
Reuters: European Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius on Monday called for more integration between the European and Ukrainian defence industries. "To stop Putin, we need to produce more, we need to innovate more, and we need to do that together in the European Union and with Ukraine," Kubilius said.
The Kyiv Independent: The EU plans to unveil on May 14 its next package of sanctions imposed against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine, an EU official told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity.
AP News: Russia launched more than 100 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine in nighttime attacks, the Ukrainian air force said Monday, after the Kremlin effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in the more than three-year war, but reiterated that it would take part in possible peace talks later this week without preconditions.
The Kyiv Independent: Russian forces attempting to take the Ukrainian city of Chasiv Yar have been bolstered by the elite FSB Presidential Regiment, Suspilne media reported on May 11.
AP News: Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said Monday that he was ordering the closure of Russia’s consulate in the southern city of Krakow after Polish authorities said Russia was responsible for a fire that destroyed a shopping center in Warsaw last year.
worth mentioning
Russian Occupation Update, May 12, 2025 - ISW
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