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."
A Shahed 136 drone at an exhibition showing remains of missiles and drones that Russia used to attack Kyiv on May 12, 2023, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Oleksii Samsonov /Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
A Russian drone shot down over Mykolaiv last night was made with parts from Western countries, Ukraine's Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak said on July 18. The drone was one of four shot down over Mykolaiv Oblast in the early hours of July 18.
Yermak posted on Telegram an image of the Iranian-made Shahed drone's engine with the words "Made in Ireland" clearly visible on the carburetor.
"Russians often erase serial numbers in foreign components," he added, posting a second image of the drone's internal components where the serial number had been removed.
A photo posted by Ukraine's Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak of a downed Russian Shahed drone's engine with the words "Made in Ireland" clearly visible on the carburetor. (Andrii Yermak/Telegram)
A photo posted by Ukraine's Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak of a downed Russian Shahed drone's engine with words scratched out on the carburetor. (Andrii Yermak/Telegram)
Yermak called for new sanctions and strengthened controls: "If the new 'Shaheds' and missiles now have Western or Asian components - there are not enough restrictions. The manufacturing companies also cannot accept that their components are present in weapons that kill people."
"Russia has been buying foreign technological products for many years, but now, when they are becoming instruments of killing people, terrorism and genocide, this cannot continue," he continued.
National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov previously reported on June 3 that the Ukrainian authorities found parts inside drones "that are not produced either in Iran or in Russia."
Danilov stressed that it is vital to look into how Western spare parts that Moscow could use for the drones are ending up in Russia or Iran despite the sanctions.
Igor Kossov
