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."
The aftermath of one of the Russian attacks on Ukraine's eastern Donetsk Oblast on May 8-9, 2023. (Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko/Telegram)
In the last 24 hours, Russian attacks were reported in ten Ukrainian oblasts – Kyiv, Sumy, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Luhansk, and Donetsk.
According to local authorities, 17 civilians were injured.
Russia struck a total of 139 settlements using mortars, small arms, grenade launchers, tanks, artillery, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), anti-aircraft missile systems, drones, strategic and tactical aviation, Ukraine's Defense Ministry media center said on May 9. According to the report, 104 infrastructure facilities have been hit.
Russian forces launched a total of 25 Kalibr and Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles overnight on May 9, the Ukrainian Air Force said in its morning update. The Ukrainian air defense destroyed 23 missiles.
Missile debris damaged a household in Kyiv Oblast, according to the regional administration. Two cruise missiles hit Ukraine's central Cherkasy Oblast, damaging a communal facility, Governor Ihor Taburets reported. There were no casualties.
The aftermath of Russian attacks on Kyiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts on May 8-9, 2023. (Pavlo Kyrylenko, Andrii Nebytov, Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration)
A civilian was injured after missile remains fell on a four-story building in the city of Dnipro, said regional governor Serhii Lysak.
Russian attacks wounded one civilian in Bakhmut, according to Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Russia hit at least ten settlements and two communities in the region, damaging over 30 houses, seven high-rises, two industrial facilities, and two administration buildings, said Kyrylenko.
Russian forces struck Kherson Oblast 46 times, injuring 14 civilians, including a 9-year-old child, the regional administration said. The attacks reportedly hit residential buildings, a school, a clinic, a care home for seniors, and a village council.
Zaporizhzhia Oblast was targeted 68 times over the past 24 hours, according to the regional administration, which received 38 reports of damages to the civilian infrastructure. A 15-year-old child was wounded in one of the Russian attacks, local authorities said.
Dinara Khalilova is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a news editor. In the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she worked as a fixer and local producer for Sky News’ team in Ukraine. Dinara holds a BA in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Master’s degree in media and communication from the U.K.’s Bournemouth University.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
