Context: The article provides a summary of the latest events in the war in Ukraine as of May 13, 2026, highlighting key developments and quotes from officials involved in the conflict.
Fact Check: The content discusses ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the involvement of other countries and the impact of the conflict on energy imports in the European Union.
You missed the latest events in the war in Ukraine? 20 Minutes summarizes it for you every evening. Here is the essential news for this Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the 1,540th day of the conflict.
The Kremlin has made it clear on Wednesday that there will be no real peace talks with Kiev until the Ukrainian army leaves the eastern region of Donbass, which is partially controlled by Moscow. According to the Russian presidential spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, Ukrainian President Zelensky must order the Ukrainian forces to cease fire and leave the Donbass region for a truce to be established and real peace talks to begin.
These statements follow Vladimir Putin’s recent claim that the conflict in Ukraine was nearing its end. Negotiations between the two parties have been on hold since the war started in late February.
Ukrainian President Zelensky accused Russia of launching at least “800 drones” on Ukraine, resulting in at least six deaths. Zelensky called for pressure on Moscow to end the attacks, especially on the day of US President Donald Trump’s arrival in China.
The European Union saw a 16% increase in the import of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 6.9 billion cubic meters, a record high. The EU is trying to reduce its historical dependence on Russian gas, but Russia remains a major supplier of LNG, despite the EU’s decision to ban all Russian gas imports by the fall of 2027.
The Prime Minister of Latvia, Evika Silina, lost support from a key party in her coalition on Wednesday after the resignation of her Defense Minister due to the inability to prevent foreign drones from entering Latvian airspace. The center-right government coalition, in power since 2023, was on the brink of collapse as the Progressive Party withdrew its support.
Recent incidents involving Ukrainian drones in Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia have heightened tensions in the region, complicating the situation further.
