BM-21 Grad MLRS destruction in the Pokrovsk direction.

Ukraine's MFA Sybiiha on the Istanbul talks: once again, the core difference between Ukraine and Russia is clear.

"Ukraine looks forward—we want an immediate ceasefire and a real peace process. Russia is stuck in the past, rejecting peace and repeating absurd 2022 demands."

Ukrainian aviation continues precision strikes across all fronts. A hangar packed with Russian APCs, KamAZ trucks & troops was hit with a 4x GBU39 bomb drop after recon confirmed the target. Direct delivery—right on schedule

Using a fiber-optic guided FPV drone, the Signum unit of Ukraine’s 53rd Mechanized Brigade successfully destroyed a Russian T-72B3 tank along with a large cache of ammunition stored nearby.

On the southern front, Ukraine’s 40th Coastal Defense Brigade dismantled several Russian infantry units.

At the Istanbul talks, Russia demanded Ukraine surrender non-occupied territories, abandon its sovereignty, alliances, arms industry, and Western weapons — Zelensky's top advisor Podolyak told Rzeczpospolita. He added the Russian delegation acted arrogantly, just like in 2022.

“All Russian threats during the Istanbul talks were rejected. Ukraine insists on a full and unconditional ceasefire to save lives and provide a solid foundation for diplomacy. We are ready for a 30-day ceasefire, agreed with our partners, and open to extending it. We’re also prepared for direct talks at the leadership level. Ukraine is not afraid of negotiations with Russia — but it’s crucial that the Russian leadership stops dragging out the war,” — Zelensky.

❗️“Peace talks on Ukraine are at a dead end — we realize that,” said Vance. “It seems Putin doesn’t quite know how to get out of this war,” he added.

Today’s Trump–Putin call could shape the course of the conflict more than any battlefield gain. Kyiv fears Trump may buy into a “peace deal” cooked up with Moscow — and try to force it on Ukraine.

The European Union is set to propose to the G7 a reduction of the current $60 per barrel price cap on Russian seaborne oil to $50. This move, part of the EU's 18th sanctions package, aims to further limit Russia's oil revenues. The proposal will be discussed among G7 finance ministers this week.

"Any new sanctions against Russia are definitely still on the table. We won't get ahead on things, but this is definitely something the President is still looking into," White House press secretary Leavitt.

Peskov: Putin's conversation with Trump is only by phone so far. No meeting is being prepared. On Ukraine, "painstaking and lengthy work" lies ahead.

🇷🇴 Interim President Ilie Bolojan has signed into law the bill allowing the downing of drones that illegally enter Romania's airspace, as well as the law regulating military missions during peacetime.

The White House announces Trump is ready to meet with Putin and will make public statements after planned talks with both Putin and Zelensky. Meanwhile, Zelensky had a phone conversation with Trump, but no details have been released yet.

🇲🇩⚔️ Victoria Furtună, leader of the "Moldova Mare" party, calls for a review of Moldova’s border with Ukraine, demanding the return of Budjak.

She claims Moldova is entitled to reclaim lost territory based on self-determination and territorial integrity, arguing that the region’s loss was never internationally recognized.

📞 A telephone conversation between US President Trump and Putin has begun, AP reports.

Putin reappeared before loyal journalists, claiming Russia supports halting hostilities—but only if the “most effective path to peace” is found. He says Moscow is ready for a ceasefire memorandum and wants “compromises” with Ukraine.

He talks of reviving talks like in Istanbul 2022, showing Russia’s demands haven’t changed.

🇺🇦 For the first time, a Shahed drone was shot down by a Ukrainian drone mid-air. Using a Sting interceptor equipped with thermal vision, Ukraine’s "Wild Hornets" unit hunted the Shahed above the clouds and struck it from below.

⚡️On May 16, a strike hit Russian mil. unit 12676 (126th Coastal Defense Brigade). A building storing ammo was destroyed. Nearby container storage suggests it may have held foreign-supplied munitions. Given its proximity to the Angarsky and 126th brigade ranges, it likely housed Iranian or North Korean ammo.

🇺🇸 Trump will make a statement soon, a U.S. administration official told CNN.

I'll give you a preview: I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH PUTIN. HE MUST STOP THIS WAR - AND HE WANTS TO. I EXPECT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT 2 WEEKS. RUSSIA AND UKRAINE ALREADY LOST MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. THIS WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS PRESIDENT. SLEEPY JOE ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN. NOW UKRAINE MUST MAKE CONCESSIONS TOO. THIS MUST STOP. VOLODYMYR AND VLADIMIR, SOLVE THIS!