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."
German Development Minister Svenja Schulze during a meeting with Ukraine's Energy Ministry in Kyiv on May 9, 2024. (Ministry of Energy of Ukraine)
Germany will provide Ukraine 45 million euros ($48 million) in the form of a grant for energy restoration, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry announced on May 9.
Moscow has recently intensified its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's critical infrastructure, destroying several thermal power plants across the country, including the Trypillia plant, the main electricity supplier to Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Cherkasy oblasts.
Russia carried out a large-scale attack on May 8 against Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, and Vinnytsia oblasts, mainly targeting energy infrastructure. At least two hydroelectric power plants were forcibly decommissioned as a result of the attack.
The grant will fund the project "Improving the efficiency of electricity transmission," which was officially established during a meeting between the Ukrainian Energy Minister and Germany's Development Minister Svenja Schulze.
"It is very important for us that the funds can be directed in different directions to restore and strengthen the stability of transmission system objects under enemy attacks," Halushchenko said.
Ukrenegro, Ukraine's state-owned energy operator, signed the grant in cooperation with the German Development Bank, KfW. According to the Ministry, the funds will purchase equipment for energy efficient modernization, automation, and reconstruction of Ukrenegro substations.
"Thanks to the support of the German Development Bank KfW during the Russian Federation's military aggression, NPC Ukrenergo has attracted more than 177 million euros ($190 million) in loans and grants to restore and develop the electricity transmission network," the Ministry said.
Earlier this week, Ukrenegro announced that imports from Europe will not be sufficient to completely cover Ukraine's energy deficit caused by the May 8 attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Three thermal power plants were damaged in the recent attacks, according to Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK.
Earlier on May 8, Ukrenergo said it would be limiting energy supplies for industrial and commercial users between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Kateryna Hodunova
