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.
The main entrance into the Odesa International Airport seen in a photo published by the airport's press service on Feb. 14, 2020.
Ukrainian law enforcement has discovered a scheme where local officials and businessmen misappropriated the property and income of the Odesa International Airport.
The scheme caused Hr 2.5 billion ($67 million) damage to the city budget, according to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU).
The investigation revealed that two well-known Odesa businessmen had registered a limited liability company (LTD) in 2011 to establish a joint venture with the Odesa City Council, distributing 75% and 25% of shares, respectively. Their goal was to obtain ownership of the airport's property worth around Hr 118 million ($3 million), the NABU wrote.
According to the Ukrainian media outlet Ukrainska Pravda, citing its sources, the suspects are Borys Kaufman and Oleksandr Borukhovych (Hranovskyi).
A former Odesa mayor reportedly ensured the consent of the city council deputies to create the venture. He also committed a forgery, allowing the controlled LTD to form a joint company with the council, bypassing the competition, reads the report. Sources told Ukrainska Pravda it was Oleksii Kostusiev.
"It is important that the airport's property received for joint use was not subject to privatization, as it was of national importance and ensured the performance of border and customs control functions," the NABU added.
"Moreover, 535 units of fixed assets out of 2,488 transferred were airfield facilities that ensure flight safety and could not be alienated in principle."
Except for Kaufman, Borukhovych, and Kostusiev, the NABU charged the Odesa ex-deputy mayor and the LTD director.
If convicted, they may face up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property and a ban on holding certain positions.
Dinara Khalilova is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a news editor. In the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she worked as a fixer and local producer for Sky News’ team in Ukraine. Dinara holds a BA in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Master’s degree in media and communication from the U.K.’s Bournemouth University.
Oleksiy Sorokin
