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.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks to reporters on July 17, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington is looking for ways to help Ukraine export grain and other food products following Russia's announcement on July 17 that it is pulling out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Blinken said that Russia is using food "as a weapon in its war against Ukraine."
The grain deal, brokered by Turkey and the U.N. in July 2022, has been essential in mitigating a global surge in food pricespartially caused by Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine by allowing Ukraine to export its agricultural products via the Black Sea despite the ongoing invasion.
In a news conference on July 17, Blinken told reporters that the initiative has so far had a hugely positive impact but also that the deal's very existence "should never have been necessary in the first place," referring to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and blockade of Ukrainian ports by Russia.
"For years (Ukraine) has been the breadbasket of the world," Blinken said, adding that in roughly a year that the initiative has been in effect, Ukraine has exported the equivalent of 18 billion loaves of bread.
By refusing to extend the deal, Blinken stated that Russia is "weaponizing food" by denying food supplies to those who need it and making food prices worldwide rise. "I hope that every country is watching this very closely."
Echoing Blinken's concerns, U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly wrote on Twitter that "Putin is using food as a weapon."
"The U.K. strongly condemns Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This decision hurts the world’s poorest."
Blinken added that while Russia is attempting to block grain exports by sea, the U.S., together with Ukraine and other countries, will look at alternative routes for exports by road and rail.
However, his assessment was that "in terms of volumes necessary, it's hard to replace what is now lost" as a result of Russia's decision not to extend the deal.
Elsa Court is the audience development manager at the Kyiv Independence. She previously worked as a news editor at the Kyiv Independent and was previously an intern at the Kyiv Post. She has a Master’s in Conflict Studies and Human Rights from Utrecht University. Elsa is originally from the UK.
Kate Tsurkan
