You missed the latest events on the war in Ukraine? 20 Minutes provides the summary for you every evening. Here is the essential news of Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the 1,539th day of the conflict.
The fact of the day
Despite Vladimir Putin’s remarks last Saturday suggesting an imminent “end” to the war, the Kremlin on Tuesday considered it premature to discuss the “specific details” of the peace process between Russia and Ukraine. The Russian president’s spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, stated, “All the gains in terms of the peace process allow us to say that the end is truly approaching. But, in this context, it is not possible at the moment to go into specific details.”
Russian President had surprised by stating that the conflict in Ukraine was “approaching its end” during a press conference on the day of the Soviet victory celebrations over Nazi Germany. “The President said that Russia remains open for contact and that work has been done in a trilateral format. He said he will welcome the efforts that will follow from the United States,” added Dmitri Peskov.
The figure of the day
216. This is the number of drones that Russia launched on Monday night against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In the eastern part of the country, Russian strikes resulted in at least one death and four injuries.
The Kremlin confirmed on Tuesday that the Russian army had resumed its offensive in Ukraine after the end of the three-day ceasefire that expired at midnight on Monday.
The trend
Russia announced on Tuesday that it had successfully tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and stated that it would be “operational for combat” by the end of this year. The missile has been named “Satan II” by Western countries and is considered the most powerful missile system in the world.
Quote of the day
“We now have certainty that it is Ukrainian,” said Greek Minister of Defense Nikos Dendias on Tuesday, referring to the military drone found last Thursday in the Ionian Sea off the coast of Greece.
It is “an extremely serious issue that affects freedom and navigation security,” emphasized the minister. He informed his European counterparts as well as the Ukrainian Minister of Defense participating via video conference in the European Council.
The military drone was found in a cave off the coast of Leucade Island in the Ionian Sea by fishermen, and the Greek Ministry of Defense opened an investigation afterwards.
