Trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, the United States and Turkey wrapped up in Istanbul with leaders discussing diplomatic pathways, prisoner exchanges, security cooperation and next steps toward ending the war. | empr.media

Jan Koum, born in Kyiv and raised in Fastiv before emigrating to the U.S. at 16, rose from humble beginnings to co-found WhatsApp — later sold to Facebook for ~$19B — transforming global messaging. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Europe’s largest nuclear plant — Zaporizhzhia NPP — has been relying on just one external power transmission line for over a week to run critical cooling and safety systems, raising serious concerns from the IAEA as infrastructure damage persists. ([turn0news8], [turn0news1])

On May 16, Ukraine and Russia held their first direct peace talks in years in Istanbul, agreeing to a 1,000‑for‑1,000 prisoner swap but failing to secure a ceasefire as Kyiv pressed Western allies for support. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Military analysts at Defense Express say Russia’s summer offensive won’t radically change the war’s direction because Ukrainian defenses have pinned down enemy forces, forcing costly attacks with limited gain and trapping them on key fronts. | empr.media

Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate has publicly revealed the advanced Magura V7 naval drone — a sea platform equipped with missiles that has already shot down Russian Su‑30 fighter jets, marking a historic first in unmanned warfare. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Ukrainian actor and TV presenter Maksym Nelipa was killed in combat on May 12 while serving with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Fans and colleagues across the nation are mourning the loss of the celebrated entertainer‑turned‑soldier. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says the Russian delegation has failed to use the peace opportunity offered by President Zelensky — sending low‑level negotiators and missing a historic chance to progress talks. Analysis at empr.media. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Ukrainian military sources say Russia’s 2025 summer offensive has effectively already begun, with forward troops massed and fighting intensifying across multiple directions as Moscow seeks tactical gains. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a bilateral meeting in Ankara about peace talks and diplomacy. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

On Day 1,177 of Russia’s large‑scale invasion, Ukraine reports 168 combat clashes, dozens of air strikes and Shahed drone waves across key sectors while Ukrainian troops push back enemy assaults. Ukrainian forces hit enemy positions and inflicted significant losses.:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

President Zelenskyy says that if Donald Trump attends peace talks in Istanbul, it could force Vladimir Putin to participate — and Putin’s absence would be seen as a complete diplomatic defeat for the Kremlin. | empr.media :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}