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 Ukrainian Army self-propelled 122 mm howlitzer fires on a Russian position on Feb. 18, 2023, near Bakhmut in eastern Donetsk Oblast. (Getty Images)
There is a "realistic possibility" Russia has diverted troop resources around Donetsk city toward Bakhmut, the U.K. Defense Ministry wrote in its April 18 intelligence update.
Russian forces are continuing to make "creeping advances" in Bakhmut, according to the ministry.
Ukraine is holding Russian forces back in the south of Bakhmut by maintaining control along Korsunskovo Street, the main road leading west out of the town.
The ministry also noted that the specific order and timing of any major withdrawal of Ukrainian and Russian military units is becoming an important logistical issue.
Ukraine likely aims to redirect some of its military units deployed in Bakhmut for the planned counteroffensive, while Russia seeks to rebuild its operational reserves before redeploying them.
The battle of Bakhmut has been raging for the past nine months with the Russian military attempting to increase its grip over the entirety of the oblast, around half of which it currently occupies. Both sides have sustained heavy casualties.
As of mid-April, Ukrainian forces continue to hold parts of the city, west of the railway line, while Russian forces led by the Wagner Group have taken the administrative center.
We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.
Francis Farrell
