President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has condemned Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine today and announced assistance to reinforce Ukraine’s air defense.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed two decrees imposing sanctions—one targeting Russians responsible for missile strikes on Ukraine, specifically on the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, and another targeting Russia’s naval logistics.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces, plans to discuss cooperation with Ukraine and the challenges that Belarusian citizens sometimes face in Ukraine during her visit to Kyiv.
On Saturday, May 23, Ukraine marks the Day of Heroes, a commemorative occasion established to honor Ukrainian defenders who fought and continue to fight for the country’s freedom and independence – from past generations to the present day.
The total combat losses of Russian forces in the war against Ukraine from February 24, 2022, to May 23, 2026, have reached approximately 1,354,810 personnel, including 950 troops killed over the past day.
The situation on the battlefield is improving for Ukraine, and continued assistance from the European Union could prompt Russian leader Vladimir Putin to reassess his expectations regarding the war.
The negotiation process led by the United States to resolve the war is currently on hold, so Ukraine is advocating for a renewed format of dialogue, specifically one that involves Europe.
Ukraine and Russia have agreed on the technical details of evacuating approximately 6,000 civilians from the area around Oleshky, including an estimated 200 children. Kyiv is now waiting for the Russian side to set a date for a ceasefire to begin the physical evacuation.
China is not interested in playing the role of mediator between Ukraine and Russia, and visits by either U.S. President Donald Trump or Russian leader Vladimir Putin to Beijing should not be expected to bring any meaningful progress toward ending the war.
France is reaffirming its defense commitments within NATO amid rising Russian threats and says that its strong role in the Alliance is fully compatible with efforts to build a "coalition of the willing" aimed at preparing future security guarantees for Ukraine.
Ukraine and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have signed a grant agreement worth approximately USD 40 million to support critical areas of recovery and resilience.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine will further strengthen its northern border amid threats from Russia's Bryansk region and Belarus, adding that sufficient funding has already been allocated for all defense measures on the Chernihiv-Kyiv axis.