Pistorius aims to develop new weapon systems with Ukraine

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has arrived in Ukraine for talks to strengthen the German-Ukrainian partnership, focusing on the development of unmanned weapon systems.
Ukraine news on the war, society, politics and consequences for Germany, Europe and the Ukrainian diaspora.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has arrived in Ukraine for talks to strengthen the German-Ukrainian partnership, focusing on the development of unmanned weapon systems.

The EU's Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas has firmly rejected Vladimir Putin's proposal to appoint Schröder as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing his close ties to Russia.

Russia's Putin has suggested former German Gerhard Schröder as a potential mediator in the Ukraine war, a proposal met with skepticism in Berlin.

Ukraine is developing a new military contract system with set service periods and risk payments, according to UNIAN. The project includes three types of contracts for active soldiers and newcomers.

Greek authorities have launched an investigation after a Ukrainian drone with explosives was found in waters near Lefkada. According to Ukrainska Pravda, the drone was detonated by explosives specialists in the sea.

During a visit to Kyiv, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius dismissed recent statements by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin regarding a possible end to the Ukraine war as deceptive maneuvers. He characterized Putin's approach as part of his hybrid warfare strategy.

The European Union plans to intensify pressure on Russia regarding the deportation of Ukrainian children. This issue is set to be discussed at the upcoming foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, according to Deutschlandfunk.

Boris Pistorius arrived in Kyiv on Monday, May 11, 2026, for an unannounced visit to discuss the development of a new weapon system with Ukraine. According to Deutsche Welle, this visit could play a significant role in military cooperation between Germany and Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the war in Ukraine could be entering its final phase. This remark came during the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, according to Euronews.

Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that Russia is prepared to engage in serious negotiations, despite ongoing intense attacks at the front.

The three-day ceasefire in the Ukraine war appears fragile, with ongoing fighting in the region, according to Deutschlandfunk.

Ukrainian heirs will need to present specific documents starting in 2026 to receive an inheritance, including proof of kinship and a will, as reported by 24tv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the war in Ukraine could soon end. However, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) indicates there are no signs that Russia actually plans to conclude the conflict.

The Ukrainian An-28, modified for drone combat, has reportedly destroyed 213 Russian drones, according to UNIAN. These successes are attributed to the aircraft's innovative equipment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that no massive attacks on Ukraine occurred on May 10. However, Russian forces continued their offensive at the front.

The Kremlin expects US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to arrive in Moscow soon, according to Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's representative for negotiations, speaking to Russian state television.

Russian media report an alleged hantavirus epidemic among Ukrainian military personnel. However, the Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security states that these claims are unfounded.

European countries are ramping up drone mass production, significantly impacting the war in Ukraine. According to The Guardian, nations and companies are investing billions in modern defense technologies.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha stated that the incident involving Ukrainian drones in Latvia was caused by Russian electronic warfare. This was revealed during his discussions with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin is "finally ready for real talks." Zelensky made this remark in a speech on Sunday evening.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, Russian troops carried out 780 attacks on 33 locations in the Zaporizhzhia region within a single day, resulting in one death and three injuries.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia has suffered territorial losses in Ukraine for the first time since 2024 in May 2026. This development could impact the Kremlin's military ambitions in the ongoing war.

Luboš Veselyi, the Czech Ambassador to Ukraine, emphasized at the "Dialogues on Europe" forum that support for Ukraine will continue, despite less communication from the new government.

The Kremlin has sharply criticized a statement made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the Russian military parade on May 9. Zelensky referred to the parade as 'approved' in advance, which sparked outrage in Moscow.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, two Russian publications have estimated the number of fallen soldiers at 352,000 since 2022. This figure includes both officially recognized dead and missing soldiers without remains.

The Victory Day parade on Red Square was held in a sharply shortened format without the usual military vehicles or ballistic missiles, a departure that international media say carries symbolic weight for Vladimir Putin.

A three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine has started, pausing all “kinetic activities” and providing for the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side, The Guardian reports. The deal was first announced on social media by former U.S. Donald Trump and later confirmed by both parties.

Several EU member states have submitted formal requests to the European Commission seeking reimbursement for military equipment they provided to Ukraine, according to 24tv. The move could affect how support for Kyiv is funded across the bloc.

According to Liga.net, the European Union plans to adopt further sanctions targeting Russia in response to the removal of Ukrainian children to Russian territory; member states are reportedly aiming to agree as early as next Monday.

Ukraine’s gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.5% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, the preliminary data show, a decline attributed to Russian bombardments during the winter.

The United States has said it is willing to mediate talks between Russia and Ukraine, but only if those talks produce verifiable, concrete progress; at the same time, US officials criticized the lack of “fruitful results” so far in the peace process, Ukrainska Pravda reports.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, former judge Oleksij Tandyr has been accused under Part 2 of Article 255 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code of participating in a criminal organization; investigators say the charges relate to the illegal seizure of apartments in Kyiv and Odesa.

According to 24tv, Commander-in‑Chief Syrskyj has signed a decree requiring troops at the front to be rotated after up to two months in position; an officer expressed doubts about whether there will be enough personnel to carry it out.

Russian forces struck Kryvyi Rih and its surroundings on the morning of 6 May, damaging infrastructure, while the number of wounded from the 5 May attack on Dnipro has risen to 19, according to Ukrainska Pravda.

The death and injury toll from Russian attacks across multiple locations rose, with at least 22 killed and about 100 wounded, the BBC reports. The strikes affected cities including Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro and Kramatorsk and caused damage to civilian infrastructure.

According to Deutsche Welle, Russian rocket and drone attacks across several cities in eastern Ukraine killed and injured dozens of people just hours before a unilateral ceasefire proposed by Kyiv was due to take effect.

The first night and morning after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared a unilateral ceasefire saw a reduction in attacks, though rocket and drone strikes did not stop entirely, according to Abendzeitung München.

Six years after the UK's exit from the EU, Germany and the UK are striving for closer economic cooperation.

Ukraine has called on the United Nations to immediately demand an end to military actions near a nuclear power plant, citing the risk of a nuclear disaster.

Ukraine and Russia have again attacked each other with drones and missiles. The cities of Zaporizhzhia and Odesa were the focal points of the strikes.