This week, the world watched in anticipation for Russia’s Victory Day parade after President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that he could not guarantee the safety of those attending. Meanwhile, the European Union moves one step forward to banning Russian gas from the European continent. It is also revealed this week that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has fallen out of step with the White House.
"(Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin... doesn't want to have a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the bloodbath. Ukraine should agree to this, immediately," U.S. President Donald Trump said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to to Antalya, Turkey, for a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting from May 14–16, where he is expected to address the war in Ukraine and push for stronger Allied defense commitments.
The Kremlin said the leaders held a detailed discussion about the Russian initiative and Erdogan expressed full support, reiterating Turkey’s readiness to provide a venue and assist in organizing the negotiations.
Erdogan told Macron that international cooperation is critical for initiating peace negotiations and the "sensitive implementation" of Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction processes, the Turkish Presidency reported.
The assault began around 2 a.m. on May 11, with Russian forces deploying 108 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy UAVs from multiple directions, Ukraine’s Air Force said.
Ukrainian prisoners of war released from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange on April 26, 2023. (Ukraine's Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak/Telegram)
Forty-two Ukrainian military personnel and two civilians have returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity in another prisoner swap, Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak reported on April 26.
The Ukrainian prisoners of war who were released included soldiers, navy personnel, border guards, and national guardsmen, said Yermak. Among them were 36 privates and sergeants, as well as six officers.
According to the report, the former POWs took part in Ukraine’s defense of Mariupol, including the Azovstal plant, and fought against Russian troops in Kherson Oblast and the east.
Some of the exchanged POWs were wounded and tortured by Russia in captivity, added the official. Among them were also two men whose wives had been previously released from Russian captivity.
In the previous prisoner exchange, 100 Ukrainian POWs were released on April 10.
According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, more than 2,000 Ukrainians have returned home from Russian captivity.
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Daria Shulzhenko
