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."
President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa during a joint press conference with the President of Ukraine on June 16, 2023, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo credit: Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said that the Russian missiles that struck Kyiv on June 16 are not helping the peace efforts, Ukrinform wroteon June 16.
"Today, during our visit, we heard missile strikes. Such activities do not work very well to establish peace, that is why we are talking about the need for de-escalation on both sides so that peace can come and the problems can be settled," Ramaphosa said at a joint press conference of the African delegation and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ramaphosa and other African leaders arrived in Kyiv today on June 16 under the African Peace Mission.
While the group was visiting the mass grave of civilians killed in Bucha, Russian forces launched an air strike against the capital and Kyiv Oblast. All six Kinzhal and six Kalibr missiles were shot down but the debris injured at least four people.
At the press conference, Zelensky said that the attack showed Russia's "disdain for peace efforts and for all world leaders who are trying to protect the world from aggression."
"Russia is the only source of war and the only reason why the consequences of this war harm the whole world - different peoples on all continents," he said.
Earlier today, the EU commented that the strike should make the African leaders realize who is the aggressor.
According to Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Russia was sending a message that it wants "more war, not peace."
Ramaphosa's spokespersontweeted that the delegation "didn't hear the sirens or explosions" and that the "program is proceeding as planned."
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.
Alexander Khrebet
