May 27, 2025

Ruslan Bortnik, Research Fello w, HIIA

B ATTLE OF PRESIDENTS: VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY VS. PETRO POROSHENKO

            The past week has shown that the war in Ukraine is entering an especially tense phase — not only on the battlefield but also in the diplomatic sphere. On one hand, there is an escalation in both Ukrainian-Russian and Russian-American relations. However, none of the parties are withdrawing from the negotiation process — on the contrary, they are striving to continue it.

The United States opposes the inclusion of a clause on further support for Ukraine in the statement following the meeting of G7 finance ministers in Canada, Politico writes.

1. The process of peace negotiations: negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation are scheduled for May 15, 2025 in Istanbul.

Formally, the United States does not participate in the negotiations. But if US President Donald Trump does appear in Istanbul  on May 15, when negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are scheduled,

On May 8, 2025, white smoke over the Sistine Chapel announced the election of the 268th Pope. After the death of Pope Francis, a conclave of cardinals met in the Vatican to choose his successor. The choice turned out to be historic: for the first time in the almost two-thousand-year history of the Catholic Church, a US citizen, Cardinal Robert Francis Prévost,  ascended the throne of St.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at an official reception in Moscow. Xi's visit in May 2025 underscored the special nature of China-Russia relations.

Political objectives of the visit and agenda of the talks

Introduction