Putin skipping Turkey talks would be ‘final signal’ of Moscow intent, Zelenskyy’s top aide says
“If Vladimir Putin refuses to come to Turkey, it will be the final signal that Russia does not want to end this war, that Russia is not willing and not ready for any negotiations,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said in a statement reported by AFP.
Key events
China, Brazil back direct Ukraine-Russia talks
The leaders of China and Brazil, members with Russia of the BRICS grouping of big emerging economies, said in a joint statement they hoped direct dialogue could begin as soon as possible and that they welcomed Putin’s proposal to open negotiations, Reuters reported.
Germany’s Merz hosts Greece’s Mitsotakis for talks on Europe, international affairs
German chancellor Friedrich Merz is hosting Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Berlin today for talks on European and international affairs.
Their press conference should start soon and you can follow it in our live stream below. If there are any strong news lines, I will let you know.
Putin skipping Turkey talks would be ‘final signal’ of Moscow intent, Zelenskyy’s top aide says
“If Vladimir Putin refuses to come to Turkey, it will be the final signal that Russia does not want to end this war, that Russia is not willing and not ready for any negotiations,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said in a statement reported by AFP.
Kremlin says no comment on Turkey talks
Let me take you back to Ukraine for a moment as the Kremlin has just declined to comment when asked about Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for Vladimir Putin to attend peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday.
“The Russian side continues to prepare for the talks scheduled for Thursday. That is all we can say at this point. We do not intend to comment further at this time,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters as quoted by AFP.
Depardieu was not in court this morning, and AFP noted that his whereabouts were not immediately clear.
He had in April been working in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores on a new film directed by his friend, actor Fanny Ardant, who has been outspoken in supporting him.
As part of the sentence, Depardieu will be also put on the sex offender register (fichier judiciaire automatisé des auteurs d’infractions sexuelles ou violentes).
Depardieu to appeal today’s verdict, lawyer says
Meanwhile, Depardieu’s lawyer Jérémie Assous said in a brief statement that his client would “of course” appeal today’s ruling as he heavily criticised the verdict, alleging issues with the testimony given to court and claiming that the actor was denied his right to defend himself.
In previous hearings Assous called the two women “liars” and “hysterical”, arguing they were working for the cause of “rabid feminism”.
Depardieu verdict marks end of impunity of artists in film industry, victim’s lawyers says
Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, representing one of the victims, told reporters it was “a beautiful decision,” and a “victory for the two women, but also for all the women behind this trial.”
She praised the courage of the victims to bring this action and tell their stories, despite their traumatic experiences.
She said she hoped the verdict would mark the end of impunity in the film industry and noted that it comes on the same day as the Cannes film festival is set to start.
One of the victims, known only as Amélie, added she was “very moved” by the decision, as she hailed the decision as “a real victory and a great step forward.”
Depardieu given 18-month suspended jail sentence for sexual assault
We are now getting reports that Depardieu was given 18-month suspended prison sentence after he was convicted of sexual assault against two women.
This appears to be in line with what was requested by the prosecutor.
Depardieu found guilty of sexually assaulting two women
Angelique Chrisafis
Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women during a film shoot in 2021.
Depardieu, France’s biggest film star, who has made more than 200 films and TV series, is the highest-profile figure in the French film industry to be convicted of sexual assault since the #MeToo movement.
The 76-year-old, who was not in court for the verdict, was convicted of sexually assaulting a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director during the shooting of the feature film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in Paris in September 2021.
The court heard that Depardieu trapped the set decorator, identified only as Amélie, between his legs on the film set and grabbed her buttocks, pubis and chest. She said he trapped her with force, used obscene language and had to be pulled off her.
Depardieu targeted Amélie on set when she was making phone calls to track down parasols for the film. He allegedly said: “Come and touch my big parasol. I’ll stick it in your pussy.”
Amélie told the court that he then grabbed her hips, pulled her towards him and trapped her between his thighs with great force, and grabbed her body, including her pubis, waist and chest.
Depardieu was also convicted of sexually assaulting an assistant director on the same film, touching her breasts or buttocks on three separate occasions. The woman, who was not named in the media, was tasked with accompanying Depardieu from his dressing room on to the set during the filming. She said the assaults left her “petrified”.
Depardieu denied sexual assault. He told the trial that the media had used allegations against him to damage his reputation.
Depardieu found guilty of sexual assault in second case
That’s the latest from the Paris courtroom.
A BFMTV reporter inside the court says the reading of the judgment continues as we await the verdict in the second case.
Depardieu found guilty of sexual assault charges in first case
This is coming from Reuters news agency.
I will bring you more when we have it.
Macron’s planned state visit to UK – snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
Given close relations between Britain and France – playing a leading role on European security and Ukraine, among others – these plans are perhaps not that surprising.
But there are two significant symbolic elements here.
Firstly, it will be Emmanuel Macron’s first state visit to the UK after eight years in office and a clear signal of political intent amid a broader post-Brexit reset under the Labour government.
We are likely to see first practical effects of that reset at the EU-UK summit in London next week, but this visit takes it that bit further.
The increasingly volatile and dangerous outlook – from trade to security and defence – makes it too costly for European partners to still think of their policy towards Britain merely through the prism of the 2016 decision.
Secondly, Macron’s visit will come before the much-trumpeted second state visit by US president Donald Trump, which is expected later this year.
And this will be noted.
Macron to make state visit to UK in July
And as we’re on France …
French president Emmanuel Macron will visit the UK on a state visit in July, the royal family has just confirmed.
This will be the first state visit of a French president since 2008 and Nicolas Sarkozy.
During the trip, Macron will also meet with prime minister, Keir Starmer.
Depardieu to hear verdict in trial for alleged sexual assaults
Elsewhere, Gérard Depardieu will appear in court in the next few minutes to hear the verdict in his trial for allegedly sexually assaulting two women during a film shoot in 2021.
As our Paris correspondent Angelique Chrisafis explains:
Depardieu, 76, is the highest-profile figure in the French film industry to face allegations of sexual assault since the #MeToo movement. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of €75,000 (£63,000).
Depardieu is charged with the sexual assault of a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director during the shooting of the feature film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in Paris in 2021. He denied all the charges, telling the court he had been “dragged through the mud by calumny and lies”.
I will keep an eye on news lines coming out from the court.
And this morning a senior Ukrainian presidential adviser told Reuters that Zelenskyy will only meet Russia’s president Vladimir Putin for talks in Turkey on Thursday, not other members of the Russian delegation.
Russia has not clarified if it plans to attend the talks and at what level.
Zelenskyy calls out ‘very strange silence’ from Russia on Turkey talks
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy called out Russia’s “very strange silence” in a post last night, as he sought to put more pressure on Vladimir Putin.
He insisted that “Ukraine has always supported diplomacy,” and repeated his offer to personally attend the talks in Turkey.
“One way or another, Russia will have to end this war — and the sooner, the better,” he said.
He also said it was “important” that Trump supported the meeting, adding: “We would like him to find an opportunity to come”.
Morning opening: Something afoot?
Jakub Krupa
European leaders had demanded that Russia commit to a ceasefire by midnight last night, warning of further sanctions if it failed to comply.
The deadline has passed without action, and Moscow continues to stall, raising doubts about whether Thursday’s scheduled talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey will even take place.
But curiously, Ukraine’s air force reported just ten Russian drones launched overnight, the lowest numbers in several weeks, Reuters noted.
Could it mean that there is something afoot?
On Monday Donald Trump suggested Vladimir Putin would attend the meeting on Thursday and that he himself might take part.
“You may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey … and I believe the two leaders are going to be there. I was thinking about flying over.
I don’t know where I am going be on Thursday, I’ve got so many meetings …
There’s a possibility there I guess if I think things can happen.”
The US president starts his Gulf trip today with a visit to Saudi Arabia, but will no doubt keep an eye on developments in discussions between Kyiv and Moscow.
One to watch.
I will bring you all the key updates throughout the day.
It’s Tuesday, 13 May 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
