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.
"Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending 'bloodbath' hopefully comes to an end... I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens."
The aftermath of the Russian latest missile attack on Odesa on July 23. (Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper/Telegram)
Ukraine downed four Russian Kalibr cruise missiles and five Iskander short-range missiles fired at Odesa Oblast overnight on July 23, the country’s Air Force reported.
According to the Air Force, Russia launched a total of 19 missiles from the Black Sea and occupied Crimea, killing one person and injuring 19, including four children.
In its deadly strike on Ukraine's southern region, Russia used, according to Ukraine's Air Force:
five Oniks cruise missiles;
three Kh-22 cruise missiles;
four Kalibr cruise missiles;
five Iskander-K;
two Iskander-M ballistic missiles.
As per usual, the Air Force didn't specify where the 10 missiles that weren't taken down hit.
Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said the attack destroyed or damaged six residential buildings, two architectural landmarks and dozens of cars.
The aftermath of the Russian latest missile attack on Odesa on July 23. (Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper/Telegram)
The attack also caused significant damage to Odesa's historic Transfiguration Cathedral.
The cathedral was founded in 1794. The original building was destroyed by Soviet forces in 1936, and the new cathedral was established in 2003.
This is the latest in a series of attacks on Odesa that Russian forces have launched this week, targeting critical port and grain infrastructure following Moscow's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Daria Shulzhenko is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent. She has been a lifestyle reporter at the Kyiv Post until November 2021. She graduated from Kyiv International University with a bachelor’s in linguistics, specializing in translation from English and German languages. She has previously worked as a freelance writer and researcher.
Anastasiia Lapatina
