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 aftermath of a Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast. (Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko/Telegram)
Over the past 24 hours, Russia launched attacks against Kherson, Kharkiv, and Donetsk oblasts, resulting in at least three deaths and 10 injuries.
Russia forces shelled Kherson Oblast 66 times over the past 24 hours, Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on March 21.
The city of Kherson was shelled three times. Fourteen shells hit the city's residential homes, apartment complexes, and private buildings.
According to the governor, one person died, and seven others, including a child, were injured.
Forty-one people were also evacuated from liberated territory in Kherson Oblast, although the governor did not specify exactly from where.
Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that 14 settlements, including Kupiansk, Vovchansk, Dvorichna, and Strilecha, came under fire from artillery, tanks, and mortars.
The governor said that Russia targeted populated areas in Kupiansk located near combat lines with mortar fire. However, despite their efforts, they were unable to break through Ukrainian defenses.
The village of Basove, located in the north part of Kharkiv Oblast along the border with Russia, was targeted with mortars at least 20 times. According to the governor, there were no casualties, but power lines were damaged.
One person died, and two people were injured in Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast after the city was hit by two artillery shells and a rocket attack, Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said.
According to the governor, four houses, the territory of the Avdiivka Coke Plant, and a food enterprise were damaged.
Another person was killed near Horlivka, and another was injured in Bakhmut. In Kostiantynivka, three private houses, a kindergarten, a gas pipeline, and a water pipeline were damaged by Russian attacks.
Multiple other settlements endured "chaotic" shelling, the governor said.
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