Residents of Russia’s Irkutsk region report multi-kilometer traffic jams caused by police inspections of trucks suspected of transporting drones.

❗️ President Zelensky expressed doubts about Russia’s readiness for productive talks in Istanbul. “Our team is preparing for the meeting. I’m not sure Russia will be ready for constructive discussions, but we must always hope for solutions,” he said after arriving in Vilnius.

"We have stronger tactical solutions, our operation 'Spiderweb' yesterday proved it. Russia must feel what these losses mean, that will push it towards diplomacy," Zelensky said in Vilnius.

"If Russia does not want a solution via diplomacy, new, strong sanctions are needed," he added.

🇺🇦🇩🇪🇬🇧🇮🇹 Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul met with representatives from Germany, Italy, and the UK, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Heorhii Tykhyi confirmed. First Deputy FM Serhiy Kyslytsya and delegate Oleksandr Bevz attended. Positions were aligned ahead of today’s talks with Russia.

Chelburda, occupied Kherson region: Russian forces engaged in reckless driving with military vehicles, resulting in collisions.

🇹🇷 Rumor: Turkish officials reportedly required journalists covering the Russia-Ukraine talks to hand over their mobile phones for safekeeping.

🔔 Second round of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul is about to start. Ukraine has already submitted its memorandum, while Russia remains vague and insists on discussing its memorandum behind closed doors.

🇩🇪 Annalena Baerbock to become President of the UN General Assembly on June 2, 2025, with ambitions to reform the organization. She aims to reduce redundancies, increase transparency, and strengthen the Assembly's role in selecting the UN Secretary-General. Russia, Belarus, and Serbia oppose her election, citing alleged bias.

🇩🇰 Danish PM Frederiksen: Ukraine's strikes on Russian airbases show it's successfully defending itself.

“Ukraine has the right to defend itself, and that sometimes includes counterattacks — which seem to have been effective.”

Bad days for Russian aviation. Russian aviation related channel Fighterbomber confirms: a massive drone strike hit the airbase in Borisoglebsk (Russia) overnight. Russia has confirmed casualties among personnel — fatalities are reported.

In St. Petersburg, a fire broke out at the local paint factory "Pigment." Residents reported hearing explosions prior to the blaze. Authorities have not yet commented on the cause.

Overnight drone strike targeted the Borisoglebsk Aviation Training Center in Voronezh region (Russia). Preliminary reports according to Russian channels say two military personnel were killed.

🇹🇷 In Istanbul, talks have begun between Ukrainian and Russian delegations, mediated by Turkey.

🇷🇺🇺🇦 In the second round of talks in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine will discuss a ceasefire, exchange of POWs and civilians, and a possible meeting between the two presidents — Turkish FM confirms.

💥 A Ukrainian Su-27 from Ukraine's 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade destroyed a Russian air defense system, reportedly using a U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missile. This would be the first confirmed video of a HARM destroying a Russian SAM.