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."
Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen during the final day of the NATO Summit in Washington DC, United States on July 11, 2024. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Ukraine's partners must continue to deliver support and scale up their own military capabilities, as compassion "will not protect Ukraine," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at the European Political Community Summit on July 18, attended by a Kyiv Independent reporter.
"Compassion is not a weapon. It will not protect Ukraine," Mette said at the first plenary session of the summit, which is being held in the U.K. at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. "We have to stop going about this task in front of us with a peacetime mindset."
Mette said she understands that Ukraine urgently needs air defense ammunition and more heavy weapons to push Russia outside of Ukraine's territory.
Denmark has "worked very hard to support the production of military equipment directly, internally in Ukraine," Mette said, adding that Ukraine "knows best what is needed at the battlefield."
The Danish Defense Ministry announced in April a new 2.2 billion kroner ($313 million) military aid package for Ukraine, including 200 million Danish kroner ($28.5 million) earmarked for purchases from Ukraine's defense industry.
The announcement made Denmark the first country to buy weapons and equipment for Ukraine's Armed Forces from a domestic manufacturer as part of a military aid package.
Ukraine's Strategic Industries Ministry described Copenhagen's move as "unprecedented" and "extremely important for both the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian economy."
"The production capability of our defense industry far exceeds the purchasing power of the state budget," the Strategic Industries Ministry said in April.
According to Mette, the weapons and equipment that Ukraine needs "can often be produced cheaper and more effectively in Ukraine."
"By joining forces and pooling resources, we can ensure that the flow of the needed military equipment corresponds to the needs of Ukraine," Mette said.
Elsa Court
