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."
Ukrainian soldiers of the 57th Motor Rifle Brigade are seen near the Bakhmut front line as Russia's full-scale war continues in Ukraine on June 28, 2023. (Photo by Ercin Erturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Ukrainian troops continue to advance south of Bakhmut in the Bila Hora-Andriivka sector, spokesperson of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Andrii Kovalov informed on July 14.
"There are successes in the Bila Hora-Andriivka sector, (troops) are solidifying newly taken positions," Kovalov commented.
Ukrainian forces continue to repel Russian attempts to advance at the Kupiansk, Lyman, Avdiivka, and Mariinka directions, he added.
As Kovalov specified, Moscow is deploying its reserves in these sectors and heavy fighting is underway.
Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar also reported on Ukrainian advances on Bakhmut's southern flank on July 13.
At the same time, offensive operations are underway on the southern front line in the directions of Melitopol and Berdiansk where Ukrainian forces aim to degrade Russian military capabilities, she added.
In the sectors of Novodanylivka-Balka Shyroka and Mala Tokmachka-Novopokrovka, Ukrainian troops have advanced and solidified new positions, Maliar informed.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Asami Terajima
