Politics & Economics

Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations if it helps to achieve a just peace, but we will not give Russia any chance to deceive. Head of the Presidential Office Andrii Yermak wrote about this in his Telegram channel, Ukrinform reports. “In an interview with Die Welt and Bild, he spoke about the upcoming meeting in Turkey,” he wrote. According to Andrii Yermak, Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations if it helps to achieve a just peace. “President Zelensky has clearly stated that he will go to Turkey, even if he has to talk directly to Putin.…

JSC Research and Production Association Practika and Spanish company Tecnova S.L. have agreed to collaborate on the production of specialized military equipment. Ukraine’s Minister for Strategic Industries Herman Smetanin announced the agreement on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. "Today in Madrid, PJSC Research and Production Association Practika and Spanish company Tecnova S.L. signed a memorandum of understanding, committing to combine their expertise in producing special and military equipment," the statement reads. According to Smetanin, the companies will jointly develop universal and specialized armored vehicles, as well as non-military armored vehicles. Additionally, they discussed future cooperation in expanding armored vehicle production in Spain.…

The Verkhovna Rada has endorsed in principle draft bill No. 13256 ‘On Amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine on Implementing the Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the United States’. The relevant statement was made by Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zhelezniak (from the parliamentary faction ‘Holos’) on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to Zhelezniak, a total of 286 Members of Parliament voted in favor of the above draft bill (with the deadline for submitting amendments being reduced). Pursuant to the document, Ukraine’s contribution will consist of half of the funds received after the Agreement comes…

On Friday, May 16, a high-level meeting of defense ministers from Poland, Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom will take place in Rome to discuss coordination of military support for Ukraine. According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the French newspaper Sud Ouest. A source in Italy’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto will host his counterparts from four other European military heavyweights — Germany, France, Poland, and the UK — on Friday. The agenda will focus on coordinating support for Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression. Following the meeting, the five defense ministers will hold…

The U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund will have a balanced governance structure with equal representation, and critical decisions will be made only by unanimous consent. Ukraine's Ministry of Economy told this to Ukrinform. "The Fund's leadership will include six managers — three from the Ukrainian side and three from the American side. They will form the Fund's Governing Board and serve on various committees," the ministry said. The Fund's structure will include four committees: Operations Management Committee and Audit Committee with equal representation (two members from each side), Project Sourcing Committee with a majority from the Ukrainian side, and Investment Decision…

Ukraine's Ministry of Economy has signed two additional agreements that will govern the launch of the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. The ministry told Ukrinform that these documents are expected to enable the Fund to begin operations within the next few weeks and to facilitate the attraction of international investment for Ukraine's reconstruction. Read also: Ukraine completes domestic procedures to launch US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund On May 1, Ukraine and the United States signed an agreement establishing the Reconstruction Investment Fund. On May 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law ratifying the agreement on the creation of the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment…

Poland is not considering sending its troops to Ukraine, neither now nor in the future. Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski reported this on social media platform X, according to Ukrinform. "There are no and will be no plans to send Polish troops to Ukraine. Poland shares responsibility for defending NATO's eastern flank and providing logistical support to its neighbor under attack," Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote. Sikorski, for his part, said he "confirms" Kosiniak-Kamysz's statement. Read also: Polish court bans protest at Ukraine border crossing U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to attend the inaugural Mass of newly elected Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Sunday, May 18, if his schedule allows. That is according to Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, Ukrinform reports, citing Reuters. Yermak said the Ukrainian president would be willing to hold talks with any other world leaders on the sidelines of the inauguration. He added that the new pontiff had told Zelensky in a telephone call on Monday that he was ready to facilitate such meetings and had promised to "do his best" to help bring about a just and…

Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Yulia Svyrydenko, has handed an official note to U.S. Charge d'Affaires a.i. Julie Davis, confirming that Ukraine has completed its internal procedures for the launch of the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine said this in a post on social media platform X, according to Ukrinform. "Today, I met with Yulia Svyrydenko. She delivered Ukraine's official note confirming completion of its internal procedures for the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. We welcome this important step and look forward to moving ahead together," the diplomat said. Read also: PM Shmyhal…

It is Putin who decides everything in Russia, and he is the one who must resolve the issue of war. This is his war. That is why the negotiations must be with him. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his nightly video address, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "Our team is actively preparing for a visit to Turkey. Today, we presented Ukraine's position in great detail to all our partners. I want to thank everyone for their support," Zelensky said. According to him, every signal calling for a ceasefire — a lasting and unconditional one — is very important.…