Key events from day 1,178 of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine are outlined below.
Here’s the current situation on Saturday, May 17:
Fighting
- Ukraine and Western military analysts report that Russia is gearing up for a new military campaign in Ukraine, as Russia’s Defence Minister Andrei Belousov met with Belarusian officials to discuss potential joint military exercises and arms delivery to Belarus in September.
- A drone attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk resulted in the death of a 55-year-old woman and the injury of four men, according to Oleh Syniehubov, the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration head.
- The Russian Ministry of Defence announced that its forces have captured six settlements in eastern Ukraine over the past week. Additionally, Tukiye’s Anadolu news agency mentioned that Russian troops advanced in the Donetsk region, seizing control of Torske, Kotlyarivka, Myrolyubivka, Mykhailivka, Novooleksandrivka, and Vilne Pole.
- In a video released by the Russian Defence Ministry, Russian forces were shown raising the Russian flag in the settlement of Mykhailivka.
- A court in the Luhansk region, under Russian occupation, sentenced Australian national Oscar Charles Augustus Jenkins to 13 years in a high-security penal colony for fighting on behalf of Ukraine.
Ceasefire
- Following the first direct Russia-Ukraine dialogue in three years on Friday, Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, reported positive outcomes, mentioning: 1. A major prisoner of war exchange, 2. Possible ceasefire options that may be effective, 3. A mutual understanding and continued dialogue, as stated on the social media platform X.
- Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation in talks that lasted 90 minutes in Istanbul, confirmed that there will be a prisoner exchange of approximately 1,000 individuals from each side “in the near future”, marking the largest exchange since the conflict began in 2022.
- Vladimir Medinsky, Putin’s adviser and the lead Russian negotiator, expressed satisfaction with the discussions and indicated Moscow’s readiness for further negotiations, including on a ceasefire. He added that all sides have agreed to present their views on a potential ceasefire in detail.
- A Ukrainian source indicated that Russia’s demands “were removed from reality and exceeded previous discussions”, posing ultimatums for Ukraine to retreat from its territory to secure a ceasefire “which included non-negotiable and obstructive conditions” according to Reuters.
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan facilitated the discussions in Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace by hosting both delegations and advocating for a swift end to the fighting.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed disappointment at the missed opportunity for peace, attributing it to Putin’s reluctance to visit Turkey for negotiations.
- Zelenskyy, who did not participate in the talks, stated that he was “ready for a direct meeting with Putin to address all key issues”, but “Putin refused to do so”.
- US President Donald Trump, advocating for an end to the conflict, offered to meet with Putin “as soon as possible” to advance peace talks, noting that “it’s time to take action”, during a press conference in Abu Dhabi at the conclusion of his Middle East trip.
- In Albania, Zelenskyy met with European leaders to discuss security, defense, and democratic norms amidst the conflict, holding phone calls with key European figures.
- European leaders affirmed their commitment to joint action against Russia in response to the lack of a ceasefire agreement in Turkey, according to Prime Minister Keir Starmer following consultations with President Trump.
- Starmer reported after the talks that the Russian stance was “clearly unaccepted” and that European unity, along with the US, is crucial in responding to this challenge.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled plans for additional sanctions against Russia following Putin’s non-attendance in Turkey for negotiations.
- US Senators reiterated calls for Congress to enact sanctions against Russia, although no votes were taken on recent legislative proposals aimed at pressuring Moscow into serious negotiations.
Regional security
- Russia and Belarus are planning joint military maneuvers, aiming to enhance security measures for the Union State, as announced by Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov in meetings with his Belarusian counterpart, Viktor Khrenin, in Minsk. The operation, named Zapad-2025, is set to be the main event for regional combat training, scheduled for mid-September.
Economy and trade
- Russia experienced a slowing economic growth of 1.4 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, marking the lowest quarterly figure in two years, as per data from the state statistics agency released on Friday.
- Economists have previously highlighted a slowdown in the Russian economy, attributed to declining oil prices, high-interest rates, and a downturn in manufacturing, despite strong economic growth in 2023 and 2014 driven by significant state defense spending on the conflict.
- The Council of the Baltic Sea States, composed of democratic nations bordering the Baltic Sea, called for stricter shipping rules to strengthen joint efforts against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
