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 a Russian missile strike against Zaporizhzhia on Aug. 10, 2023. (Source: Anatolii Kurtiev/Telegram)
At least one person died and 11 others were injured in a Russian missile strike against Zaporizhzhia on Aug. 10, local officials reported.
One of the injured is in a serious condition, acting Mayor Anatolii Kurtiev said.
"Once again, the target of the Russian terrorist attack was a civilian infrastructure building," Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Yurii Malashko wrote on his Telegram channel.
"Again, no military targets," he added.
According to Kurtiev, medical and educational facilities, as well as two high-rise buildings sustained damage in the attack.
Russian forces launched a missile strike against the city also on Aug. 9. Yesterday's attack killed three residents, injured nine others, and damaged over a dozen buildings, including a church and high-rise structures.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Martin Fornusek
