Ukraine war latest: Zelensky mocks Vladimir Putin as face-to-face talks at risk

Volodymyr Zelensky has branded Vladimir Putin "scared" to meet with him in Istanbul on Thursday.

Addressing the prospect of the Russian leader meeting him in Turkey, he said: “If he takes the step to say he is ready for a ceasefire then it opens the way to discussing all the elements to end the war.”

“I’m not even mentioning that he is scared of direct talks with me,” he added.

Vladimir Putin has a terrifying new missile in his arsenal, according to Ukraine.

Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) has identified the Russian weapon as the S8000 “Banderol” – translated as small parcel – which is made of components sourced from around the world.

According to OSINTWarfare, the weapon can travel at 404mph and can travel a range of 341 miles.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will be waiting for Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks in Ankara on Thursday.

Putin has not yet confirmed whether he will make an appearance in what would be the first direct talks between the leaders in years.

China and Brazil, members of the BRICS coalition and close allies of Russia, said in a joint statement they hoped direct talks between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin could take place as soon as possible.

Ukraine's Special Operations Forces attack drones have reportedly destroyed a Russian Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system and a Uragan-1 multiple launch rocket system (MLSR).

The country's military said earlier today that Special Operations Forces' operators spotted the Buk-M3 and the Uragan-1 on combat duty.

Ukrainian forces launched drones which hit both targets, destroying the Buk-M3 system along with its ammunition.

European Council President António Costa has criticised Serbia's president Aleksandar Vucic for attending Russia's Victory Day ceremonies last week.

Mr Costa said in Belgrade that a lot of people asked him not to go to Serbia, but he said he decided to visit and wanted to "clarify" Mr Vucic's visit to Moscow.

The Council president said Mr Vucic told him it was a moment to celebrate an event from the past.

Mr Costa said: "We cannot rewrite history and fully understand that Serbia celebrates (its) liberation by Soviet troops.

He then turned to the Russia-Ukraine war, saying: "But we cannot celebrate the liberation 80 years ago and don’t (sic) condemn an invasion of another country today."

Mr Costa urged Mr Vucic to publicly reaffirm that he is fully committed to the European Union and the path to accession.

Vucic has maintained close relations with both Russia and China while formally saying he wants Serbia to join the EU.

The Serbian leader has said his decision to attend the military parade marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany was part of efforts to maintain "traditional friendships" while seeking EU entry.

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said Vladimir Putin is "prevaricating" over possible peace talks with Ukraine.

Tory former foreign secretary James Cleverly asked in the Commons what steps Mr Lammy, his ministers and officials are taking to ensure Donald Trump remains committed to defending the territorial integrity of all nations.

Mr Lammy replied: "(Mr Cleverly) will have seen that the Prime Minister was with President Zelensky and other European partners, he will have noted that they engaged with President Trump.

"We welcome the desires to get an enduring peace, but there must be a ceasefire in order to engage in those talks it seems to me, and it is Putin that is prevaricating, it is Putin that is obfuscating and we must call that out with our long experience of scrutinising that particular individual."

The Kremlin has yet to confirm if Putin will join possible peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday. Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is only prepared to meet his Russian counterpart.

Ukraine's parliament has backed changes to the country's budget rules needed to implement a minerals agreement between Kyiv and Washington, according to reports.

Amendments to Ukraine's Budget Code passed at the first reading, according to remarks attributed to Ukrainian politician, Yaroslav Zhelezniak.

The minerals deal was signed on April 30 and ratified by Ukraine on May 8. It sets up a joint investment fund managed by Kyiv and Washington. The deal grants the US access to Ukraine's deposits of critical minerals, including lithium and titanium.

Roksolana Pidlasa, who chairs Ukraine's budget committee, explained: "Amendments to the budget code are needed to implement the provisions on funding the US-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund."

Military analysts have said both sides are preparing a spring-summer campaign on the battlefield.

This includes the Institute for the Study of War thinktank saying Russia is "quickly replenishing front-line units with new recruits to maintain the battlefield initiative".

So far Russia and Ukraine's war of attrition has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides along a roughly 620-mile front line.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said Russia will announce its representative for the possible peace talks in Istanbul when Vladimir Putin "deems it necessary".

Volodymyr Zelensky invited Putin to meet on Thursday (May 15) to kickstart the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022.

However, the Kremlin has yet to say whether Putin will attend. Mr Zelensky has said he is only willing to meet his Russian counterpart.

Mr Peskov said that "the Russian side continues to prepare for the talks in Istanbul", according to remarks quoted by The Kyiv Independent.

Russia launched 10 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine in overnight attacks, the Ukrainian air force has said.

It was the smallest aerial bombardment this year and came as the warring countries prepare for possible peace talks in Istanbul.

Russian officials appear to be setting up conditions for Vladimir Putin to reject Volodymyr Zelensky's invitation to meet in Istanbul for ceasefire negotiations, according to a US thinktank.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Russian Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev claimed Ukraine's invitation is "pure spectacle" and "comedy".

ISW said Kosachev claimed high-level meetings were not organised in "such a difficult situation" and accused Mr Zelensky of trying to blame Russia for what he claimed was Ukraine's disinterest in negotiations.

Russian Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik also questioned the intentions behind Mr Zelensky's invitation, according to the thinktank, according to ISW.

Alexei Chepa, Deputy Chairperson of Russia's State Duma Committee on International Affairs, is also said to have expressed doubts Putin will travel to Istanbul.

NSW said: "Chepa insinuated that Russia cannot trust Ukraine in any negotiations because Ukraine has violated previous agreements and unilaterally imposed Russian ceasefires."

The EU could impose capital controls and tariffs on Russia if Hungary blocks fresh sanctions on Moscow, according to the Financial Times.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly blocked EU sanctions against Russia and has threatened to veto the extension of measures targeting imports and price caps on sectors including energy.

Unless all 27 members of the EU agree to extend them, some sanctions will expire at the end of July.

Sources told the FT that Brussels is mulling ways to bypass Hungary's veto, including by stopping cash flows to Russia and tariffs.

Emmanuel Macron's office has pushed back against claims he had a bag of cocaine during a trip to Ukraine. Rumours spread on social media after the French president was filmed removing a crumpled, white item from a table as he met with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz on a train on Saturday.

The Elysée Palace insisted the item was a tissue in a post on its official X account. It said: "When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs. This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation."

Sources have told Bloomberg European leaders are prepared to wait until after the possible meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin before calling on the US to announce fresh sanctions against Russia.

People familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified, told the publication on Monday night that the US wanted to allow an opportunity for talks between Russia and Ukraine to take place on Thursday before ramping up pressure on Putin.

President Volodymyr Zelensky's advisor Mykhailo Podolyak has said Ukraine's leader will only agree to meet Vladimir Putin in Istanbul this week.

Asked whether Mr Zelensky would meet anyone other than Putin, Mr Podolyak said: "No, of course (not). Well, this is not the format."

Moscow has said Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan spoke on Monday to discuss Vladimir Putin's proposal to hold direct Russian-Ukrainian talks on Thursday in Turkey.

The ministry said in a statement that the heads of the two ministries discussed issues linked with the "initiative" from Putin about beginning direct talks on a Ukrainian settlement on May 15 in Istanbul.

A Turkish diplomatic source had said previously that the two ministers had spoken, but didn't give any more details.

Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has repeated a threat the US could pull out of efforts to end the war.

Mr Witkoff said a peace summit between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin was "entirely possible".

He told Breitbart News: "I think if the US pulls back from this conflict... I think that’s a bad result for everybody. It’s bad for the Europeans, it’s bad for the Ukrainians, and I don’t think it’s good for the Russians."

Mr Witkoff said he believes the Russians want a peaceful settlement and both sides are trying to figure out what that would mean.

He added: "Our job is to put them in a room together and show them that the alternatives to a peaceful resolution here are bad for everybody. That’s our job."

Volodymyr Zelensky has said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has "expressed full readiness" to host the meeting between Ukraine and Russia on Thursday.

In his nightly address, Mr Zelensky added: "It is important that President Trump fully supports the meeting, and we would like him to find an opportunity to come to Türkiye."

The United Nation's aviation council has ruled Russia was responsible for the downing of a Malaysian aeroplane over Ukraine.

Flight MH17 was heading to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam when it was shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile while flying over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

The strike killed all 298 passengers and crew. Among the victims were 196 Dutch citizens as well as 38 Australian nationals and residents.

Australia and The Netherlands said the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will consider what form of reparation is now in order.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: "We call upon Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct, as required under international law."

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said: "This decision also sends a clear message to the international community: states cannot violate international law with impunity."

The ICAO said in a statement on Monday evening: "The Russian Federation failed to uphold its obligations under international air law in the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17."

Russia attacked Ukraine with drones and guided bombs overnight, targeting a number of regions after the May 12 deadline for an unconditional ceasefire expired.

Despite Ukraine and its European allies demanding Russia accept a full, unconditional ceasefire for 30 days or face new sanctions, Russia proceeded to target Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia and Odesa oblasts with drones, according to The Kyiv Independent, citing Ukraine's Air Force.

Moscow also launched KAB guided bombs at Sumy Oblast in the northeast.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he feels optimistic about potential talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey.

He said in Washington that there is "the potential for a good meeting" between Putin and Zelensky, adding he was thinking about flying over to join the talks from his visit to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Zelensky supported the prospect of Mr Trump attending the negotiations. He said: "I supported President Trump with the idea of direct talks with Putin. I have openly expressed my readiness to meet... And of course, all of us in Ukraine would appreciate it if President Trump could be there with us at this meeting in Turkey."

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war. We'll be bringing you all the latest updates throughout the day from here in London.