Germany to help finance Ukrainian-made long-range systems, Merz says

Despite Russia’s claims, sanctions are working — Ukraine just needs Trump to impose more

Ukraine’s allies have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia and its supporters over the full-scale war, but experts say there’s room for more.

Germany to do ‘everything’ to prevent Nord Stream 2 restart, Merz says.

The German government will “do everything to ensure that Nord Stream 2 cannot be put back into operation,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 28.

Zelensky confirms his participation in G7 summit in June.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Zelensky in March to attend the summit, shortly after he took office.

Germany to help finance Ukrainian-made long-range systems — but no word on Taurus.

Germany and Ukraine will sign a memorandum on the joint purchase of “long-range fires” manufactured by Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on May 28.

Russia to ‘strongly’ feel Western sanctions impact by mid-2026, Zelensky says.

President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes that in June 2026, there will be no more war in Ukraine, but Russia will still feel the pressure of sanctions.

Lithuania demands Belarus compensate $227 million for migrant crisis.

The demand comes after Lithuania instituted legal proceedings against Belarus in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on May 19.

Putin-Zelensky meeting possible after ‘specific agreements,’ Russia says.

“Our position on the fundamental possibility of such a meeting has not changed,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

Ban on NATO’s eastward expansion, easing sanctions — Reuters lists Putin’s Ukraine peace demands.

One senior Russian source told Reuters that Putin is ready for a peace agreement, but “not at any price.”

Zelensky arrives in Germany for talks with Merz amid Taurus missile speculation.

The two leaders are expected to discuss Germany’s military assistance and ceasefire efforts, a German government spokesperson said.

Belarus to scale down Zapad military drills to ‘reduce tensions,’ Minsk claims.

Belarus will reduce the parameters of the upcoming Zapad-2025 military drills and move maneuvers inland from the western border to reduce tensions in the region, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin claimed on May 28.

Russia aims to produce 500 drones per day, Zelensky says.

President Volodymyr Zelensky also recalled a recent successful operation by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which used 400 small drones simultaneously and destroyed 40 pieces of Russian military hardware.

US won’t support Russia’s demand for Ukraine’s withdrawal from 4 regions, Zelensky says.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 27 that he does not believe the U.S. would support a full Ukrainian withdrawal from four of its partially occupied regions, a demand repeatedly raised by Russia, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

Russia mobilizes 40,000-45,000 troops per month, Ukraine 25,000-27,000, Zelensky says.

“When the U.S. sends signals that it wants to do something positive with Russia, then Russia ramps up its mobilization,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Zelensky ready for trilateral meeting with Trump, Putin.

“We are ready for the ‘Trump, Putin, and me’ format, and we are ready for the Trump-Putin, Trump-Zelensky format, and then the three of us,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Russia massing 50,000 troops near border of Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast, Zelensky says.

Russian forces are accumulating 50,000 troops near Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast, seeking to create a 10-kilometer buffer zone in the area, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a press briefing on May 27.

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 1, injure 46 over past day.

Russia launched five Iskander-M or KN-23 ballistic missiles against Ukraine overnight, as well as 88 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones, the Air Force said.

Trump’s patience wears thin as Russia delays Ukraine peace memo, CNN reports.

During a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, Trump was told that a “memorandum of peace” outlining conditions for a ceasefire would be delivered shortly. As of May 27, no such document has been received.

General Staff: Russia has lost 983,890 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,050 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

Kellogg criticizes Medvedev’s ‘reckless’ threats, demands Russian peace memorandum.

“President (Donald) Trump… is working to stop this war and end the killing. We await receipt of (the Russian) Memorandum… that you promised a week ago. Cease fire now,” U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said.

Russia should think less about Trump’s statements, more about stopping war, State Department says.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on May 27 urged Russia to focus less on President Donald Trump’s social media posts and more on ending its war in Ukraine, saying that if Moscow truly cared about peace efforts, it would prioritize stopping “the carnage and the slaughter that’s happening right now.”

Ukraine to ramp up arms production for symmetrical response to Russia, Zelensky says.

Volodymyr Zelensky said the government is fully mobilizing “entrepreneurial capacity for weapons production” and plans to sign new agreements with European partners to attract investment.

As peace efforts falter, Russia eyes major summer push in Donetsk Oblast.

U.S. experts believe President Vladimir Putin remains convinced that a military victory is still possible, although continued sanctions and battlefield losses have strained Russia’s capabilities, according to the Washington Post.

Bracing for more Russian attacks, an anxious Ukraine waits for Trump to do… something

Despite Kremlin claims, 82% of Russian-speaking Ukrainians view Russia negatively, poll shows.

The results come as Russia continues to invoke the supposed plight of Russian-speaking communities to justify its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.