We need to push Russia to stick to ceasefire, Estonian ambassador says

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Ukrainian defense firms urge Zelensky to lift drone export restrictions in open letter.

The open letter, signed by leading representatives of Ukraine's defense-industrial sector, highlights the strategic potential of the country's homegrown military technologies, from drones to electronic warfare systems, and calls for decisive political action to authorize the controlled export of surplus weaponry to allied nations.

We need to push Russia to stick to ceasefire, Estonian ambassador says.

The Kyiv Independent’s Asami Terajima sits down with Estonian ambassador to Ukraine Annely Kolk to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and why there’s little trust in Russia honoring any ceasefire agreements.

EU parliament backs tariffs on fertilizers from Russia, Belarus.

"The regulation gradually increasing customs duties for products from Russia and Belarus will help to prevent Russia from using the EU market to finance its war machine," said Inese Vaidere, Latvian Member of the European Parliament.

Mass Ukrainian drone strike targets Moscow, Russia claims, multiple airports closed.

All four Moscow airports — Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky — as well as airports in Tambov and Vladimir were temporarily closed.

Romania's top court rejects far-right candidate Simion's bid to annul presidential election results.

Days before, George Simion, leader of Romania's far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), appealed the results despite conceding defeat to pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan on May 18.

North Korea's Kim reportedly lashes out after failed warship launch, calls it 'criminal act'.

North Korean Leader leader Kim Jong Un condemned the failed launch as a "criminal act" and placed blame on several state institutions, accusing relevant officials of "irresponsibility" which "could not be tolerated."

Controversial Ukrainian ex-official Portnov shot dead in Madrid, source says.

Andriy Portnov, a former top official in Ukraine's ex-President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration, was shot dead by an unidentified attacker or attackers outside the American School in Madrid, Reuters reported on May 21, citing a source close to the investigation.

Trump tells European leaders Putin doesn’t want peace because he believes Russia winning war in Ukraine, WSJ reports.

U.S. Donald Trump's reported statement marked the first time he acknowledged to European leaders the thing they and Kyiv have long maintained — the Kremlin has no intention of ending its full-scale war against Ukraine.

Finland expecting further Russian military build-up at border after Ukraine war ends.

Finland shares a 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) border with Russia and joined NATO in 2023.

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 2, injure 27 over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 74 out of the 128 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, and an Iskander-M ballistic missiles launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Thirty-eight drones disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement.

4 Chechen officers killed in car bombing in Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast, Ukraine's HUR claims.

The first blast was followed by more explosions, as the officers were allegedly transporting ammunition that detonated.

'Suspicious' Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker spotted near undersea power cable sparks Polish military intervention.

"After the effective intervention of our military, the ship sailed to one of the Russian ports," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X.

General Staff: Russia has lost 977,650 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 870 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Ukraine to pitch harsher Russian sanctions to EU next week as US sanctions fall through, Reuters reports.

Reuters reported on May 21 that Ukraine will propose to the EU that the bloc speed up the seizure of frozen Russian assets to provide to Kyiv. The additional proposed sanctions would also target foreign companies that assist Russia through the use of technology, and "the introduction of secondary sanctions on purchasers of Russian oil".

UK accuses Russian GRU of carrying out cyberattacks targeting logistics, technology organizations.

The United Kingdom has exposed a cyber campaign orchestrated by Russian military intelligence (GRU) targeting Western logistics and technology organizations involved in delivering foreign assistance to Ukraine, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NSCS) announced on May 21.

'War crimes have been committed' — Rubio admits Russia is an aggressor, declines to label Putin as a war criminal.

"War crimes have been committed, no doubt, and who is responsible for that, there will be a time and place for that accountability, but right now the job is to end the war," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Ukraine working on 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia, Zelensky says.

"We have to release all our people, unconditionally. We are trying to do the maximum we can. We are trying very hard," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Russian semiconductor plant making missile, jet parts hit in Ukrainian attack, military says.

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck Russia's Bolkhov semiconductor plant in Oryol Oblast, which is producing parts for Sukhoi warplanes and Iskander and Kinzhal missiles, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on May 21.

Ukrainian officials deny Russian troop presence in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Serhii Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, called the online claims "fake" and said that the accompanying photograph allegedly showing Russian troops in the area was also fabricated.

Iran's parliament ratifies 20-year strategic agreement with Russia.

While the pact does not include a mutual defense clause, it outlines commitments for both countries to cooperate against common military threats, enhance military-technical collaboration, and participate in joint military exercises, according to Reuters.