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."
U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce called for "concrete proposals from both sides" in order for Washington to "move forward" in peace negotiations.
"If they speak to each other in Russian, he doesn't know what they are saying," one Western official told NBC News. Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, called Witkoff's approach "a very bad idea."
Ukrainian artillerymen of the Aidar battalion work with artillery shells on a front line position near Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, on April 22, 2023, amid the Russian invasion on Ukraine. (Photo by Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images)
The Biden administration is expected to disclose its appeal for billions of dollars in extra funds intended for weaponry and other forms of assistance to Ukraine on Thursday, Aug. 10, Politico reports.
According to two undisclosed sources, the emergency funding request is likely to incorporate aid for Taiwan and resources to renew swiftly diminishing disaster relief funds. Neither of these individuals elaborated on the exact sum of the appeal or its specific intended goals.
The appeal for increased funding to aid Ukraine during its counteroffensive is certain to add to the already intense clash over government funding on Capitol Hill. Conservatives there are skeptical about procuring further aid packages without a comprehensive account of how previous assistance has been allocated.
Government funding will stop on Sept. 30, and and both the House and Senate budget committees are envisioning the incorporation of funds for Ukraine, Taiwan, and disaster relief in a short-term spending plan.
Achieving this plan might be challenging however, without substantial bipartisan cooperation. This is especially true in the House, where Republicans hold a slim majority and some conservatives remain opposed to any temporary funding solution that lacks significant spending cuts or GOP policy priorities.
A day ago, spokesperson of the U.S. State Department Matthew Miller reported that the U.S. will announce a new military aid package for Ukraine. Additionally, Miller mentioned that the U.S. is thinking about sending new missiles and defense systems.
Doug Klain
