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 launcher of a Patriot air defense system is set up during the "Resilient Guard 2020" air defense exercise on Oct. 14, 2020 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. (Thomas Frey/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Western partners leased Ukraine air defense systems for the cold months ahead, Yuri Ihnat, the Air Force's spokesperson, told national television on Oct. 15.
"The fact that Ukraine can have these systems for use during the heating season is a significant and positive sign," he said.
The heating season in Ukraine lasts from mid-October till mid-April.
An Air Force spokesperson hasn’t mentioned the types of air defense systems and the countries that already have provided Ukraine with leased systems, saying it is a “sensitive topic.”
Russian forces intensified their attacks last year against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure as winter rapidly approached.
In mid-October last year, just as Ukraine’s heating season began, Russia launched a series of massive attacks with over 1,200 missiles and kamikaze drones against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leading to civilian casualties and blackouts amid freezing temperatures and electricity rationing.
Some 250 missiles and drones hit Ukrenergo sites alone, causing an energy deficit in the country, the company said.
Compared to the last heating season, Ukraine increased its air defense arsenal to protect the grids.
Alexander Khrebet is a reporter with the Kyiv Independent. He covers Ukraine’s foreign policy, alleged abuse of power in the country’s military leadership, and reports on the Russian-occupied territories. Alexander is the European Press Prize 2023 winner, the #AllForJan Award 2023 winner and Ukraine's 2022 National Investigative Journalism Award finalist. His was published in the Washington Times and Atlantic Council.
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