FORMER SOVIET STATES--PART II

 
UKRAINE

Trump Announces Three-day Truce Around Victory Day Weekend

President Donald Trump on May 8, 2026 bragged about how he had brought Ukraine and Russia to agree to a three-day [May 9-11, 2026] truce that would herald in "beginning of the end" of the war. The U.S. president added that in addition to a three-day ceasefire, there would be exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kremlin Foreign Affairs Adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed the agreement. 

Meanwhile, in a derogatory manner, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on May 8, 2026 issued a decree, giving permission to the Kremlin to hold annual "Victory Day" parade at the Red Square and assuring that there won't be any attack on the Red Square during the most celebrated Russian secular holiday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov shrugged off Zelenskyy's proclamation, calling it a silly joke.

Russia Pummels 20 Regions of Ukraine with Hundreds of Drones

After a tenuous, three-day ceasefire [May 9-11, 2026] barely held with allegations and complaints of violations by both sides, Russia was alleged to have launched the largest barrage of daytime attacks on May 13, 2026, targeting 20 regions with more than 800 drones. At least six people were killed.

Russia's Largest Barrage Kills at least Two Dozens

Russia extended the May 13, 2026, streak of day attacks with one of the largest barrage of missile strikes on May 14, 2026 that had taken a heavy toll on Kyiv, flattening a nine-story residential apartment complex and destroying other structures. At least 24 people were reported killed. On May 15, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy led a shocked nation in mourning over the loss of so many lives. 

Belarus Opposition Leader Visits a Day After Russia's Biggest Spree of Missile Attacks

Russia on May 24, 2026 launched this year's biggest barrage of missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities that had killed at least two and injured more than 91. The largest barrage of missile strikes of the year came after the May 22, 2026, deadly Ukrainian drone attack on a dormitory at Starobilsk in the Russia-occupied Luhansk. Ukraine claimed that the attack targeted Russian military assets. The May 22, 2026, drone strike on the Luhansk dorm killed 21 and injured an additional 42 people. Russian Defense Ministry called the May 22, 2026, dorm attack as the "final straw". In response, Russia on May 24, 2026 launched largest missile attack on Ukraine, including the usage of hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile. 

On May 25, 2026, exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited Kyiv as the emergency crewmembers were cleaning up the capital a day after Russia had launched the largest barrage of missile strikes of the year. The much touted visit came a day after May 24, 2026, phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, their first such talks since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. A terse statement was issued afterward by Belarusian president's office, clarifying that the call took place at the behest of French president and the discussion centered around the regional issues. 

Russian Barrage of Airstrikes Kill 22

Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles to pulverize Ukrainian regions overnight and stretching into late morning on June 2, 2026, killing 22 people and wounding 138 others. 

Ukrainian Drone Kills One in Russia

A Ukrainian drone killed one person in Krasnodar region in Russia, according to media reports on June 13, 2026. Ukraine's General Staff said that Ukrainian drones targeted Russian oil preparation and pumping station overnight. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in the recent days that Ukrainian drones are penetrating deeper into Russian territory on regular basis. 

11 People Reported Dead after Trump Talks with Zelenskyy, Putin

On June 14, 2026, President Donald Trump held separate phone conversations with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. After arriving at Evan-Les-Baines to attend G7 summit, Trump told reporters on June 15, 2026 that since Iran agreement had been achieved now, there would be now more focus on ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

Overnight through June 15, 2026, Russia launched barrage of drones and missiles, targeting Kyiv and Kharkiv, among others that killed 11 people. 

Ukraine Opens EU Accession Talks

Ukraine on June 15, 2026 opened talks with EU officials to become member of the European Union. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka led Kyiv's delegation to the accession talks in Luxemburg. It will take years for Kyiv to formally become part of EU, but the June 15, 2026 marked a notable milestone as part of that long journey.