Conflicting information about Bakhmut

Reuters quoted Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar as saying that Ukrainian units still surrounded part of Bakhmut, along both flanks of the city, and continued to control some areas of Bakhmut.

Specifically, Ms. Maliar said that the Ukrainian army continued to advance along the city's outskirts and captured high-altitude positions overlooking Bakhmut.

“Our forces surrounded half of the city, giving us the opportunity to crush the enemy,” the deputy minister wrote on her Telegram account. “As a result, the enemy was forced into a defensive position in the part of the city they controlled,” she said.

Ms. Maliar added that Ukrainian soldiers continue to protect industrial plants and infrastructure, as well as the private sector in the city.

Hours before Maliar updated her Telegram, media reports about the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, quoted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, seemingly confirming that he had lost control of the city of Bakhmut to Russia.

However, immediately after the media reported the above news, Mr. Zelensky's spokesman, Sergii Nykyforov, wrote on Facebook that the leader did not confirm that Russia had taken control of the city.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin posted a statement in which Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Wagner mercenaries for successfully taking control of Bakhmut, according to TASS.

On the same day, Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-appointed official in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, said Kyiv troops fired Storm Shadow cruise missiles provided by Britain at the Russian-controlled city of Berdyansk.

According to Mr. Rogov, a total of 7 missiles were launched towards the city, 4 of which were Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Russian air defense forces shot down 6 of them, while 1 fell on the edge of the city but caused no casualties.

Ukraine has not commented on this information.

F-16s are a topic of discussion at US-Ukraine meeting

At a meeting with President Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 summit, Mr. Biden said he had received assurances from his Ukrainian counterpart that Kyiv would not use F-16 fighters if the West provided aid to attack targets on Russian territory. However, the fighter jets could be used for any location where Russian troops are stationed in Ukraine and the region.

For his part, Mr. Zelensky expressed confidence that Kyiv would receive F-16 fighters from the West, but was uncertain about the quantity.

At the meeting, President Biden also announced the next military aid package for Kyiv, including ammunition, armored vehicles, mortars, etc. The total value of this aid is 375 million USD.

Zelensky later said there was no evidence that Brazil, China and India were sending weapons to Russia. The Ukrainian leader also asked countries to support Kyiv’s peace demands, saying he had met with almost all the leaders of the G7 group.

Pope Francis appoints special peace envoy for Ukraine

In a notable move to boost efforts to bring a solution to the war, Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church has appointed Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Bishops' Conference, to lead a mission to find peace in Ukraine.

The Holy See Press Office confirmed the development on May 20, emphasizing the Pope's commitment to easing tensions in the region.

Vatican News reported that Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, told journalists: “I can confirm that Pope Francis has entrusted Cardinal Matteo Zuppi with the responsibility of leading this mission.”

The Vatican is counting on Cardinal Zuppi's diplomatic skills and his extensive network of contacts to help ease tensions and pave the way for a lasting solution in Ukraine.

President Zelensky met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on May 13, and had a 40-minute private meeting with the Pope, marking the first time Zelensky met the Pope since 2020.

According to Vatican News , the Pope gave a bronze olive branch statue to Mr. Zelensky, while the Ukrainian President's gift to the Holy Father was a painting of the Virgin Mary on a piece of armor.