Beware unkempt tourists: Latvia tells citizens how to spot Russian spies Security agency warns people in Baltic state to be wary of nosy small talk and tourists with specialist equipment The Guardian - UK · May 15, 2025
Trump Downplays Putin Not Showing Up For Ukraine Talks: 'I Didn't Think It Was Possible If I'm Not There' Trump downplayed Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to not show up for peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey. Latin Times · May 15, 2025
Who are the diplomats Russia and Ukraine are sending to peace talks in Istanbul? The delegations – not due to include Zelenskyy or Putin – are comprised of a mix of high-profile Ukrainians and lesser-known Russians The Guardian - UK · May 15, 2025
‘Like a piece of a past life’: Shakhtar’s cup final win offers Ukraine hope The final against Dynamo Kyiv had edge, flares and burning Russian flags but some of the enmity has gone; as one fan says: ‘Aggression must stay in the war zone’ The Guardian - UK · May 15, 2025
Russia may use military force to protect shadow fleet, Estonia warns Moscow is using ageing vessels in an effort to dodge international sanctions on its oil exports. Euronews · May 15, 2025
Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa decries ‘nightmare’ of Putin-Trump alliance In Cannes to promote his Stalinist drama Two Prosecutors, the film-maker said he feared the US and Russia would soon ‘become equal’ The Guardian - UK · May 15, 2025
Nato ally casts serious doubt Starmer’s ‘coalition of the willing’ for Ukraine Zoltán Kovács, a senior Hungarian minister, said that his country – seen as being close to Russia – would play no part in EU efforts to support Ukraine The Independent UK · May 15, 2025
First Thing: Russia and Ukraine to begin first direct talks since 2022 Putin and Zelenskyy will not meet after the Russian president refused to travel to Istanbul for talks with his Ukrainian counterpart. Plus, the fitness influencers who fake their impossibly ripped physiques The Guardian - UK · May 15, 2025
Zelensky hits out at Putin after landing in Turkey for Ukraine and Russia peace talks Volodymr Zelensky hit out at Vladimir Putin as the Ukrainian president arrived in Turkey for Ukraine and Russia peace talks. The Independent UK · May 15, 2025
Poland’s presidential election: What to know about the candidates, issues and likely outcomes War in neighbouring Ukraine and Russian sabotage across the region are shaping the campaign trail The Independent UK · May 15, 2025
Ukraine to send its delegation to Istanbul talks with Russia, Zelenskyy not going Ukraine’s president confirmed that he has agreed to send the delegation to Istanbul for a lower-level talk with Russia’s representatives, but he will not be present there himself. Euronews · May 15, 2025
Estonia warns Russia may use military force to defend its shadow fleet of tankers dodging sanctions Estonia is warning that Russia appears willing to defend with military force its shadow fleet of aging tankers dodging international sanctions to keep oil revenue flowing The Independent UK · May 15, 2025
Latvia warns public that ‘unkempt tourists’ might actually be Russian spies It comes as NATO members Sweden and Finland have issued booklets with advice on how to survive a war The Independent UK · May 15, 2025
Russia grabs a bit more of Ukraine as it heads into peace talks On eve of Istanbul talks, Moscow ignored a call for a 30-day ceasefire and showed signs of preparing for new offensives. Al Jazeera · May 15, 2025
International Business Times · May 15, 2025 Vladimir Medinsky: Russia's History Hawk Leading Talks With Kyiv Russia's former culture minister and Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky took part in failed talks with Ukraine at the start of Moscow's invasion in 2022 and has built a career promoting an ultra-patriotic version of Russian history.
The Independent UK · May 15, 2025 Watch live: Zelensky holds press conference after Putin shuns Russia Ukraine peace talks in Turkey Watch live as Volodymyr Zelensky holds a press conference after Vladimir Putin shuned Russia Ukraine peace talks in Turkey on Thursday (15 May).
The Independent UK · May 15, 2025 Mapped: Frontline in Ukraine as Kyiv and Moscow set to begin first direct talks since 2022 Russia has rejected Ukraine’s repeated offer of a comprehensive, unconditional 30-day ceasefire which Mr Zelensky says would allow for proper peace negotiations to take place
The Independent UK · May 15, 2025 Watch live: Trump addresses troops at Qatari air base after skipping Ukraine Russia peace talks Watch live as Donald Trump speaks from a Qatari air base after skipping the Ukraine Russia peace talks in Turkey on Thursday (15 May).
The Independent UK · May 15, 2025 NATO weighs a US demand to massively hike defense spending as some struggle to meet the current goal NATO foreign ministers are debating a U.S. demand to massively ramp up defense investment to 5% of gross domestic product over the next 7 years
The Conversation · May 15, 2025 Trump is pushing the EU and China closer. Is this a full reset, or just strategic readjustment? The EU and China have, historically, had a complex relationship. This was encapsulated in the European Commission’s 2019 EU-China strategic outlook, which referred to China as both a “strategic partner”, but also an “economic competitor” and “systemic rival promoting alternative models of governance”.
The Independent UK · May 15, 2025 Zelensky tells Putin ‘I am waiting’ ahead of crunch Russia and Ukraine ceasefire talks Volodymyr Zelensky says he is “waiting” to see who from Russia will attend the Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul before deciding “which steps Ukraine will take.”
International Business Times · May 15, 2025 Russian Delegation, Without Putin, Arrives In Istanbul For Ukraine Talks Putin was not included on a list of Moscow's negotiating team published by the Kremlin late Wednesday, after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky challenged him to turn up in person to the talks.
The Independent UK · May 15, 2025 Malaysian PM raises downing of MH17 with Putin as captain’s son calls for justice Vladimir Putin dismisses claims Russia was reluctant to cooperate in the investigation with ‘impartial’ bodies
Evening Standard · May 15, 2025 Lammy: Russia sending ‘low-level’ officials to Ukraine talks as Putin stays away Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Nato allies would ‘stand by Ukraine’.
The Guardian - AU · May 15, 2025 Ukraine war: US secretary of state says ‘abundantly clear’ Trump and Putin needed for peace talks ‘breakthrough’ – as it happened Marco Rubio says US president may need to ‘directly engage’ to determine ‘once and for all what it is the Russian side wants and whether peace is possible’