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."
U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce called for "concrete proposals from both sides" in order for Washington to "move forward" in peace negotiations.
Ukrainian soldiers train on a Leopard battle tank in May, 2023. (Photo by Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Ukrainian officials informed Washington about the start of a new phase of the counteroffensive and its main focus, the New York Times reportedon July 26.
Two Pentagon officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Times that the "main thrust" of Ukraine's ongoing counteroffensive is currently in the southeast, and that Ukraine will now deploy thousands of Western-trained reinforcements previously held in reserve.
Kremlin appointees in occupied territories supported this account, reporting constant assaults along the southern front and intense battles with Western-trained Ukrainian troops equipped with Leopard tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
Yevgeny Balitsky, a Russian-installed proxy in Zaporizhzhia, claimed that Ukrainian soldiers increased shelling in the occupied portion of the oblast.
Ukrainian officials have informed their U.S. counterparts that the increased force is planning a southern advance, aiming to navigate through Russia's minefields and fortifications en route to the city of Tokmak. If successful, their next objective would be Melitopol, located near the coast, sources told the Times.
"This is the big test," said one top U.S. official.
The objective is to cut off the land bridge between Russian-occupied Ukraine and occupied Crimea, or at least make enough progress to bring the strategically significant peninsula within Ukraine's firing range.
The estimated timeline, as conveyed by Ukrainian officials to officials in Washington, suggests the new operation might last one to three weeks.
Nathan M. Greenfield
