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."
The 35th Separate Marine Brigade soldiers announce the liberation of Urozhaine, Donetsk Oblast on Aug. 16, 2023. (Source: 35th Separate Marine Brigade/Facebook)
Russian forces launched unsuccessful counterattacks against the recently liberated village of Urozhaine in Donetsk Oblast, Colonel Mykola Urshalovych said on Aug. 17.
"Currently, (the units of National Guard of Ukraine) have entrenched themselves at the taken positions and repel counterattacks by enemy assault groups, which attempt to regain the lost ground," the National Guard officer said during a press briefing at the Military Media Center.
Kyiv announced the liberation of Urozhaine in the southwestern part of Donetsk Oblast on Aug. 16. The day later, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on successful advances south of the village.
The settlement was retaken by soldiers of the 35th Separate Marine Brigade, as well as of other units of Ukraine's defense forces.
According to Urshalovych, the National Guard forces have begun demining work in Urozhaine upon its liberation.
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.
Daria Shulzhenko
