The Financial Times has learned that the European Commission and the most influential EU member states are insisting on lowering the upper price cap on Russian oil to US$45 to strengthen sanctions against Russia.

German Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has stated that there have been no new agreements within the government coalition regarding a change of course on lifting restrictions on long-range strikes by Ukraine against Russian territory.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is visiting Moscow, where he is scheduled to hold talks, including on ending the war in Ukraine. He has already met with Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation at the Istanbul negotiations.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the United States and Europe to demonstrate strength towards Russia to force it to cease fire.

Ruben Brekelmans, Dutch Defence Minister, whose country is hosting the June NATO leaders' summit, has said the Netherlands is looking for ways to include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the programme of the Hague summit.

The final communiqué of the NATO summit to be held in The Hague in June will be significantly shortened, and Russia and Ukraine may not be mentioned.

Brussels is developing an alternative scenario for launching accession negotiations with Ukraine that would bypass Hungary.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that if the Russian delegation at the negotiations in Istanbul proves unable to deliver results in the form of a ceasefire, serious sanctions must be imposed on Russia.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday 16 May that he "may" call Russian leader Vladimir Putin to discuss ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

Talks between representatives of Ukraine, Türkiye and Russia have begun in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The new Pope Leo XIV proposes the Vatican as a platform for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia after it became clear that the talks in Istanbul would not lead to the desired result.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that the latest actions of Russian ruler Vladimir Putin demonstrate his unwillingness to pursue peace, and therefore sanctions against him must be tightened.

US representative Michael Anton will not participate in the meeting between Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye in Istanbul.

US President Donald Trump, commenting on the peace process in Ukraine, has hinted that the world would be safer "in 2–3 weeks", apparently expressing his belief that he could reach an agreement with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

US President Donald Trump has said that he will meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin as soon as it is possible to organise the meeting.