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.
Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine Natalka Cmoc and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Oct. 27, 2023. (Denys Shmyhal / Telegram)
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held a meeting with Natalka Cmoc, the recently-appointed ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, Shmyhal shared on social media on Oct. 27.
The two discussed strengthening economic cooperation and investment from Canada, Shmyhal said, and "agreed to organize a visit of a Canadian business delegation to Ukraine."
Cmoc was appointed as ambassador in August 2023 and officially began her duties after she presented credentials to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi on Sept. 27.
"We continue to strengthen and develop close and friendly relations between our countries," Shmyhal said.
He thanked Canada for its support to Ukraine in matters of defense, finance, and the confiscation of Russian assets.
Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said on Oct. 11 that the country will provide a new $19 million aid package for Ukraine, which will include munitions and winter equipment.
Between February 2022 and September 2023, Canada provided Ukraine with $1.8 billion in military support.
Rachel Amran
