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."
A COFCO facility in the north of Romania, where grain arrives from Ukraine by train. (Photo credit: RISE Romania)
Romania will extend the ban on Ukrainian grain imports by another 30 days if the import requests rise, French broadcaster RFI reported on Sept. 18, citing the country's Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
However, the decision has not yet been finalized and Bucharest is waiting for proposals from the Ukrainian government on licensing of grain exports.
"The Ukrainian Prime Minister (Denys Shmyhal) promised to send the export licensing proposal today, which we will discuss," Ciolacu said on Sept. 18.
"If there will be export requests to Romania I will ask the agriculture and economy ministers to draft an order extending the ban for a period of 30 days until things are clarified," the prime minister said, stressing that he wants to avoid negative impacts on Romanian farmers.
Ciolacu noted that "not a single kilogram" of wheat has been imported into Romania from Ukraine since the European Commission decided not to prolong the ban.
In May, the Commission imposed a ban on sales of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower seed in five EU countries: Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria. The nations requested the measure due to fears from local farmers that cheap Ukrainian imports would drive down agriculture prices.
While the Commission decided not to extend the ban after Sept. 15, citing data indicating that Ukrainian imports would no longer negatively impact local markets, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary decided to continue to restrict imports of Ukrainian agricultural products.
Although Bulgaria was not among the countries prolonging the ban, Sofia's decision against the extension revived fears among Bulgarian farmers. Local agricultural workers have blocked main roads across the country in a nationwide protest against Ukrainian imports.
Several EU members have criticized the unilateral bans on Ukrainian grain, with Spain deeming the steps "illegal" and France saying it puts the "European project at risk."
Berlin also denounced the restrictions, accusing Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia of "part-time solidarity" with Ukraine.
"When it suits you, you are in solidarity and when it doesn't suit you, you are not," German Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir said.
The restriction does not apply to transiting Ukrainian grain. Romania said earlier that it aims to transport 60% of Ukrainian agricultural products through its territory.
Martin Fornusek
