These are the key events on day 1,180 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Here is where things stand on Monday, May 19:
Fighting
- On the eve of a potential ceasefire discussion between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia unleashed its most significant drone strike on Ukraine since the war’s inception, claiming the lives of at least one woman and destroying multiple homes.
- Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched a staggering 273 drones towards Ukrainian cities, surpassing the previous record set by Moscow in February on the third anniversary of the conflict.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency aired concerns that Russia may conduct a combination “training and combat” launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, aiming to instill fear in Ukraine and the West amid ongoing ceasefire dialogues.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, Russian forces have commandeered the settlement of Bahatyr in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. Additionally, Russian forces are claimed to have shot down 75 Ukrainian drones on Sunday, as reported by Russia’s state news agency TASS.
Ceasefire talks
- The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, prior to Trump’s scheduled call with Putin, emphasized the necessity for imposing more sanctions on Russia. This stance was conveyed to Trump by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office.
- In a statement on Russian state television, Putin articulated his intention to “eliminate the causes that triggered” its invasion of Ukraine, aiming to “create the conditions for a lasting peace and guarantee Russia’s security.” This comes after initial direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow fell short of a ceasefire agreement.
- In Rome, during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held meetings with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the progress of ceasefire talks with Russia. Their first meeting since February’s contentious White House encounter.
- The newly inaugurated pope granted his first private audience to Zelenskyy, expressing his hopes for peace amid Ukraine’s suffering.
