Update on the situation, Sunday, May 18, at 9 p.m.
US vice-president JD Vance received Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome. The two men spoke “The situation on the front, preparations for the exchange of Monday [entre Trump et Poutine]the possibility of sanctions against Russia in the absence of results, a ceasefire ”according to a source close to the Ukrainian presidency.
The Ukrainian President was also received by Pope Léon XIV. “Ukraine finally awaits negotiations for just and lasting peace”said the new pope, earlier, after mass marking the start of his pontificate.
Vladimir Putin repeated his willingness to “eliminate” the “causes” of the conflict in Ukrainetwo days after the first talks with kyiv since 2022, who have not led to a truce.
The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, announced that with Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, he wanted to speak with Donald Trump, before the interview of the American president with Vladimir Putinin order to ” prepare “ This telephone exchange, scheduled for tomorrow.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported on Sunday morning 273 Russian attacks, since Saturday afternoon, carried out using Shahed type drones and “Imitative drones” (lures) And said that he had shot down 88. The Russian Defense Ministry, for his part, said he destroyed 25 Ukrainian drones above his territory.
Source: Lemonde