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."
Tougher sanctions "should be applied to (Russia's) banking and energy sectors, targeting fossil fuels, oil, and the shadow fleet," the leaders of Ukraine, the U.K., France, Germany, and Poland said in a joint statement.
"Russia is ready for negotiations without any preconditions," Putin claimed in an address marking the end of the three-day Victory Day ceasefire. He invited Ukraine to begin talks in Istanbul on May 15.
A German-operated MIM-104 Patriot missile fires an interceptor missile during Operation Red Arrow exercise in Greece on October 15, 2008 (Peter Mueller/Bundeswehr)
Belgium and Germany have announced further military aid to Ukraine, including armored vehicles and Patriot missiles on June 16, after the 13th Ramstein-format summit in Brussels.
According to the public broadcaster RTBF, Belgium approved its 15th aid package worth 11 million euros ($12 million), including M113 Armored Personnel Carriers.
The vehicles will be restored to operational condition before their transfer as the Belgian military stopped using them ten years ago.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Berlin will "immediately" provide Ukraine with 64 guided missiles for Patriot air defense systems, the German channel n-tv reported.
Ukraine's partners have pledged billions in military aid at the 13th Ramstein summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
The United Kingdom announced it will allocate 60 million pounds ($77 million) to NATO's Ukraine fund in order to procure combat rations, medical supplies, armor, and other equipment.
The governments of the U.S., the U.K., Denmark, and the Netherlands promised to provide hundreds of air defense missiles, along with other pieces of necessary air defense equipment.
Denmark announced a separate military aid package of its own worth $2.6 billion to be delivered through 2024.
Earlier today, Copenhagen announced that it will supply Ukraine with 10,500 artillery shells in joint efforts with Norway.
Canada is to deliver its "largest tranche of military aid" to Ukraine, committing $500 million of defense funding.
Italy has reportedly announced a new tranche of aid including "highly critical capabilities that meet Ukraine's most urgent needs to defend itself," while Norway and Germany have pledged multi-year aid packages.
Earlier today, Sweden announced a 250 million Swedish krona ($23.5 million) aid package and confirmed the training of Ukrainian pilots on its JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets.
The UDCG, comprising around 50 nations, meets regularly in the so-called Ramstein-format summits to coordinate support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.
In his opening remarks for the ongoing 13th summit, Austin promised to deliver "urgent capabilities" Ukraine needs to defend against Russia.
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.
Francis Farrell
