"The EU on May 14 agreed on its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, a senior EUofficial speaking on condition of anonymity told the Kyiv Independent.
The measures target almost 200 ships of Russia's "shadow fleet," 30 companies involved in sanctions evasion, and 75 sanctions on entities and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex.
Russia has been using the shadow fleet to avoid Western sanctions and ship out its oil above the G7-imposed price cap. European countries have also linked the fleet to espionage and sabotage operations." KI
"U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will lift sanctions on Syria, reversing more than a decade of policy aimed at pressuring Damascus. He added that he hoped for a “fresh start” with the transitional government of Ahmed al-Sharaa." RT
"U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero if ongoing talks in Oman fail, which are aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. In 2018, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord that eased sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.
“If Iran’s leadership rejects this olive branch... we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure, drive Iranian oil exports to zero,” Trump said at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Saudi Arabia.
The U.S. president reminded the audience of the crippling sanctions he imposed in 2018, which he claimed left Iran’s economy on the brink of collapse. “They were a virtually bankrupt country because of what I did,” he claimed." RT
"The Israeli military has announced a major operation in Gaza, which has targeted Muhammad Sinwar, who took over as the head of Hamas in Gaza following the killing of his brother, the better known late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, in October.
Israeli jets targeted Sinwar during a major hospital strike in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday afternoon. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed in a statement that it hit senior leaders in an underground command center, described as below the European Hospital in Khan Younis.
The air raid saw at least nine bombs dropped, with the ground having utterly collapsed in the area of the strike, which suggests there will be high civilian casualties. The jets may have used large US-supplied bunker-busting bombs." ZH
"163 clashes were recorded on the frontline, with the most fighting occurring in the Pokrovsk, Novopavlivka, and Lyman sectors.
Airstrikes targeted the settlements of Doroshivka and Yuriieve in Sumy region, Poltavka and Rusyn Yar in Donetsk region, Novodarivka, Temyrivka, Huliaipole, Vysoke, Malynivka, Kamianske, and Pavlivka in Zaporizhzhia region.
In the Kharkiv sector, Russian forces launched four assaults near the settlements of Vovchansk, Topoli, and Petrivka.In the Kupiansk sector, two attacks were recorded. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled Russian assault actions near Pishchane and Zahryzove.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy attacked 29 times, attempting to advance near Novomykhailivka, Hrekivka, Tverdokhlibove, Novoserhiivka, Kolodiazi, Hryhorivka, and toward Ridkodub, Lypove, Zelena Dolyna, and Olhivka.
In the Siversk sector, the Ukrainian defenders repelled three Russian assaults toward Hryhorivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, eight engagements were reported near Chasiv Yar and toward Bila Hora.
In the Toretsk sector, the enemy carried out six attacks near Toretsk and toward Dyliivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Ukrainian defenders repelled 54 Russian assaults near the settlements of Lysivka, Malynivka, Yelyzavetivka, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Novoserhiivka, Udachne, Novooleksiivka, Novooleksandrivka, Zaporizhzhia, Andriivka, and toward Stara Mykolaivka, Muravka, Oleksiivka, Nova Poltavka, Yablunivka, Myroliubivka, Zoria, and Promin.
In the Novopavlivka sector, Ukrainian Defense Forces halted 30 attempts to break through defensive lines near Kostiantynivka, Skudne, Rivnopillia, Pryvilne, Vilne Pole, Shevchenko, Bahatyr, Novopil, Odradne, and toward Zelene Pole.
In the Huliaipole sector, there were no combat engagements.
In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy conducted three assaults toward Novodanylivka, Stepove, and Mala Tokmachka — all unsuccessful.
In the Prydniprovske sector, five Russian attempts to advance were repelled.
In the Kursk sector, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 12 enemy attacks. Additionally, the enemy launched 18 airstrikes using 34 guided aerial bombs and carried out 264 artillery attacks at Ukrainian positions and populated areas, including 11 with multiple launch rocket systems." Ukrin
