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.
While serving as a bishop in Peru, Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, called the full-scale war "a true invasion, imperialist in nature, where Russia seeks to conquer territory for reasons of power."
Speaking to CNN on May 10, Peskov commented on the latest ceasefire proposal from Ukraine and Europe, responding that Russia needs to "think about" it, but is "resistant" to pressure.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on May 10, President Volodymyr Zelensky rebuked the idea of a demilitarized zone in the war and emphasized the importance of first securing a ceasefire.
The US President, Joe Biden, delivers a speech at the Royal Castle Arcades on February 21, 2023 in Warsaw, Poland. (Omar Marques via Getty Images)
U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a speech in Warsaw on Feb. 21 ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reiterating Washington's support for Kyiv.
"One year ago, the world was bracing for the fall of Kyiv. Well, I've just come from a visit to Kyiv, and I can report Kyiv stands strong. Kyiv stands proud, it stands tall and most important, it stands free," Biden said to 30,000 people gathered in front of the Royal Castle, as quoted by CNN.
Biden came to Warsaw to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda and other Eastern European nations a day after his surprise visit to Kyiv.
U.S. President emphasized that the West would not "get tired" of supporting Ukraine as NATO "is stronger than it's ever been."
"When Russia invaded, it was not just Ukraine being tested. The whole world faced a test for the ages," he said. "Europe was being tested. America was being tested. NATO was being tested."
"And the questions we faced were as simple as they were profound: Would we respond, or would we look the other way? Would we be strong, or would we be weak? Would we, all of our allies, be united or divided? One year later, we know the answer. We did respond, we would be strong, we would be united, and the world would not look the other way."
According to Biden, the U.S., and its Western allies are set to announce new sanctions against Russia this week to "bring to justice those responsible for this war."
U.S. President also reiterated the need to oppose Russia's aggression as "it is impossible to satisfy the aggressor's appetites."
"Autocrats only understand one word: No. No, no. No, you will not take my country. No, you will not take my freedom. No, you will not take my future," Biden said.
Biden said that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin made a mistake, getting into a war with "a man whose courage" is "forged with fire and steel," as he called President Volodymyr Zelensky.
His speech comes hours after Putin announced Russia's suspension of participation in a nuclear treaty with the U.S. in a speech to the Federal Assembly and members of the Russian political elite.
The U.S. Defense Department announced the allocation of another military assistance package to Ukraine worth $460 million on Feb. 20.
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.
