May 11, 2025
In a late-night statement on May 11, russian war criminal Vladimir Putin claimed he is ready for “direct talks” with Kyiv in Istanbul on Thursday, May 15.
So it appears that the ceasefire has not been extended by Putin, and the russian dictator is simply buying time. Most likely, they will resort to intimidation and escalate their attacks to gain leverage at the negotiating table.
Trusting the russians only leads to harm.
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The leaders of the free world – President Zelenskyy, French President Macron, British Prime Minister Starmer, Polish Prime Minister Tusk, and German Chancellor Merz – made a joint statement after the meeting in Kyiv.
They agreed that, starting Monday, May 12, there must be a full and unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days.
They agreed that, by definition, an unconditional ceasefire cannot be subject to any conditions. Should russia impose such conditions, this will be considered an attempt to prolong the war and undermine diplomacy.
They demanded that the ceasefire be comprehensive — in the air, at sea, and on land.
They emphasized that this requires effective monitoring, which can only be successfully implemented in close coordination with the United States.
They agreed that the ceasefire should last for at least 30 days to create space for diplomacy. During this period, diplomatic efforts should focus on defining the security, political, and humanitarian foundations of peace.
They welcomed the fact that the call for a ceasefire and meaningful negotiations is supported by both Europe and the United States.
They underlined the critical importance of strengthening Ukraine’s Defense and Security Forces as the primary guarantee of Ukraine’s sovereignty and security. A key component of Ukraine’s security guarantees must also include a guarantor force.
They agreed that if russia refuses a full and unconditional ceasefire, tougher sanctions should be imposed on its banking and energy sectors, targeting fossil fuels, oil, and the shadow fleet.
They agreed to adopt a robust 17th EU sanctions package and to coordinate it with the sanctions introduced by the United Kingdom, Norway, and the United States.
They also agreed to continue working on the effective use of frozen russian assets and to discuss this matter at the upcoming G7 summit.
They expressed their readiness to continue strengthening Ukraine’s defense, especially its army. This includes funding for defense resilience and investments in arms production both in Ukraine and in European countries as part of joint projects.
Source: President Zelenskyy
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The current state of the world affairs in one photo.
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The German government has begun withholding details of its military aid packages for Ukraine.
Under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the government regularly published detailed lists of weapons supplied to Ukraine — information that gave russia a potential military advantage.
Now, the government has adopted a policy of secrecy regarding the contents of its aid packages. This is intended to deny russia a strategic edge and reduce public debate over arms deliveries.
Source: Der Spiegel
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The tactics the U.S. is using against Greenland are strikingly similar to those russia used against Ukraine before its full-scale invasion.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. administration directed intelligence agencies to investigate Greenland’s independence movement and local sentiment toward American resource extraction.
It appears the Trump administration is trying to manufacture a pretext for intervention — and possibly even for acquiring Greenland.
This is exactly how russia began laying the groundwork before invading Crimea and Donbas.
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Donald Trump and his family have nearly doubled their wealth over the past six months.
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For a moment, the nation pauses to honor Ukrainian defenders; soldiers who gave their lives in a war that reached their doorstep. They sacrificed everything to stand against an enemy bent on destroying the very soul of Ukraine. Ukrainians will never forget their courage. Those who gave everything for freedom will live on forever in our hearts.
Source: United 24
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This is huge — the establishment of a “Tribunal for Putin.”
Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leading human rights advocate, has just shared this news:
“Today, representatives of around 40 countries publicly announced the creation of a special tribunal on the crime of aggression within the Council of Europe.
In May 2022, I left Kyiv for the first time since the full-scale invasion and embarked on an advocacy trip. That’s when I formulated one of our core demands: the creation of an international tribunal to prosecute Putin and his inner circle.
‘Tribunal for Putin’ is what we called our joint initiative with partners, documenting over 84,000 episodes of war crimes. Over the years, Ukrainian civil society organizations have promoted this idea across countless platforms, supporting the Ukrainian government’s efforts within the core group of nearly 40 nations.
As with the agreement on minerals, we have not yet seen the final text of the agreement with the Council of Europe. And yes, there may still be unresolved issues. But this remains a vital step toward justice.
For too long, the world has viewed russian aggression through the lens of the Nuremberg tribunal — where Nazi war criminals were punished only after the regime collapsed. But justice must not be the exclusive privilege of the victors. We live in a new century, and we don’t need to wait for the war to end. That’s why the special tribunal must happen now.”
P.S. Please, continue to support my cousin, Taras Horodetskyi who survived a brutal attack by a russian drone. Ways to donate:
- PayPal: paypal.com/donate/?business=6RYDTRE49BWDL
- GoFundMe: gofund.me/e551a869
- Monobank: 4441 1111 6264 3823
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Two facts to remember about the World War II in Europe: 1) more Ukrainian civilians were killed than russians; 2) more Ukrainian soldiers died fighting Nazis than Americans, British, and Frenchmen – taken together. Today, Ukraine continues to pay the price fighting russian fascism.
