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."
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.
Fake documents, phones and SIM cards were obtained by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) after they uncovered an international criminal network which sold fake documents to help legalize illegal migrants in Europe on Dec. 16, 2021. (ssu.gov.ua)
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on Dec. 16 that it had liquidated an international criminal network in Kyiv Oblast, which illegally legalized foreigners in the European Union.
The SBU uncovered a secret printing house that supplied fake documents used to stay in the EU to individuals from the Middle Eastern region, as well as Afghanistan, Somalia, and other countries.
“It was established that the members of the group produced fake European permanent residence permits, driver's licenses and ID-cards for their clients. Communication with customers of fake documents was maintained through an undercover call center,” the SBU said.
The criminal group had at least 1,000 foreign clients, according to the statement. Preliminary investigation estimates that the cost of printing and other tools used to forge documents is around Hr 40 million ($1.48 million).
During the searches, the SBU found fake documents prepared to be sent abroad, as well as the equipment for making those documents. They also found forms, seals and devices for holographic signs, means of communication with evidence of illegal activity, electronic client database, as well as money that was allegedly obtained through criminal means.
The SBU said the pre-trial investigation is underway, and they are currently working on issuing notices of suspicion and possibly detaining those who were involved in the group’s criminal activity.
Anastasiia Lapatina is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked in the same role at the Kyiv Post and has focused on politics and human rights in conflict zones and issues in Russia-occupied Crimea. She holds a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia in Canada.
