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 Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba speaks during a common press conference with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell (not pictured) on Oct. 2, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
If the European Council does not vote to approve the beginning of official negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU there will be "devastating consequences" for the country, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Dec. 11.
It would also be a sign that the EU cannot deliver on historical commitments, he said.
The vote is scheduled to take place at an upcoming summit on Dec. 14-15, where the alliance will also decide on a 50 billion euro package of economic support for Ukraine.
The EU's executive arm recommended on Nov. 8 to formally launch membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova. Kyiv, which submitted its EU application in February 2022, has fulfilled four of the seven criteria needed to open the negotiations, Brussels said.
In order to move to the next step of the process, the official membership negotiations, a unanimous approval of all 27 members is required.
There have been concerns that Hungary may prevent Ukraine from beginning the negotiations.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Nov. 18 he believes that talks between the EU and Ukraine on its accession would be a mistake because Ukraine is "light years away" from being ready for membership.
He previously said that the EU "must not start membership talks with Ukraine."
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has repeatedly obstructed EU funds for Kyiv while opposing sanctions against Russia. Orban, who maintains close ties with the Kremlin, has refused to provide military aid to Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to Orban in a sideline conversation on Dec. 10 as the two leaders attended the inauguration of Argentine President Javier Milei. A video surfaced online showing the men having what appeared to be a heated discussion, but the details of what they spoke about are unknown.
Kuleba was also set to meet his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto in person on Dec. 11 for the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Martin Fornusek
