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.
Ukrainian engineers dismantle the aftermath of a Russian missile strike on a Ukrenergo energy facility, some 200 kilometers west of Kyiv. (Alexander Khrebet/The Kyiv Independent)
Ukraine requires advanced air defense systems to safeguard its energy infrastructure from Russian missile and drone attacks, aiming to prevent power outages as electricity demand nears winter peak levels this summer, Energy Minister German Galushchenko said on April 6.
Russia has intensified its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's critical infrastructure, launching large-scale attacks on energy facilities across the country. Among Moscow's targets were the Kaniv Hydroelectric Power Plant in Cherkasy Oblast, the Dniester Hydroelectric Power Plant in Chernivtsi Oblast, and Zaporizhzhia's Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant.
“The destruction was significant in power generation and in electricity transmission. The situation is difficult,” Galushchenko told Bloomberg. “We still do not understand the scale of damage as many facilities are still in rubble, and we can’t reach them.”
In an interview with national television on April 6, President Volodymyr Zelensky called on international partners to provide Ukraine with modern air defense systems to defend against Russian attacks.
As Moscow increased its attacks, the shortage of air defense systems in Ukraine became more tangible, particularly in the territories near the front line.
“I will not tell you how many Patriot systems we have. I can say that, to cover Ukraine completely in the future, it is preferable to have 25 Patriot systems, with six to eight batteries each,” Zelensky said.
Official estimates for the total energy losses have not yet been determined, but the magnitude of the damage could potentially amount to billions of dollars, the minister said.
Russian attacks have damaged or completely destroyed 80% of the thermal generating capacity of Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK.
Ukraine is seeking energy equipment to replace its damaged machinery.
“Depending upon the situation in July and August, we will ask people to save as much as possible,” Galushchenko said. “The Russians can’t cause a repeat of the blackouts of 2022 and 2023. Even in the case of huge damage, we’ll have basic generation that covers 30% to 50% of our needs.”
Alexander Khrebet is a reporter with the Kyiv Independent. He covers Ukraine’s foreign policy, alleged abuse of power in the country’s military leadership, and reports on the Russian-occupied territories. Alexander is the European Press Prize 2023 winner, the #AllForJan Award 2023 winner and Ukraine's 2022 National Investigative Journalism Award finalist. His was published in the Washington Times and Atlantic Council.
Martin Fornusek
