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."
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on Sept. 14, 2023. (Photo by Mikhail Metzel /POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a decree marking Sept. 30 a "reunification day" commemorating Russia's illegal annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, the Russian news outlet Interfax reported on Sept. 28.
On Sept. 30, 2022, Russia signed "treaties" with Moscow's proxies in the four occupied regions, declaring them part of the Russian Federation.
The signing followed a series of sham referendums in the regions.
Residents of the occupied regions reported that local authorities used intimidation tactics and threats of violence to force people to vote in the referendums.
This year, Putin recorded a video address congratulating residents of the occupied territories on the anniversary of "reunification."
"A year ago, on September 30, a defining, truly historic and life-changing event took place: agreements were signed on the accession of four new subjects to the Russian Federation," Putin said.
On Sept. 29, the Russian Defense Ministry announced it would begin enlisting residents of the occupied territories as part of its twice-yearly military conscription campaign.
Abbey Fenbert is a senior news editor at the Kyiv Independent. She is a freelance writer, editor, and playwright with an MFA from Boston University. Abbey served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine from 2008-2011.
Olena Makarenko
