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.
"Russia is ready for negotiations without any preconditions," Putin claimed in an address marking the end of the three-day Victory Day ceasefire. He invited Ukraine to begin talks in Istanbul on May 15.
While serving as a bishop in Peru, Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, called the full-scale war "a true invasion, imperialist in nature, where Russia seeks to conquer territory for reasons of power."
Speaking to CNN on May 10, Peskov commented on the latest ceasefire proposal from Ukraine and Europe, responding that Russia needs to "think about" it, but is "resistant" to pressure.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on May 10, President Volodymyr Zelensky rebuked the idea of a demilitarized zone in the war and emphasized the importance of first securing a ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a joint press conference with African leaders on June 16, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
After meeting Bulgarian leaders in Sofia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he's headed to Czechia to discuss defense assistance for Ukraine and the upcoming NATO summit, among other topics.
In Prague, Zelensky plans to meet with Czech President Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, other top officials, and parliament members.
The talks will also focus on Ukraine's path toward EU and NATO membership, the situation around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the Ukrainian peace formula, and the country's post-war recovery.
Zelensky didn't specify when he would arrive in Czechia, but Radio Prague International wrote that he was expected to show up at Prague Castle later the same day.
Ahead of the next NATO summit in Vilnius, Kyiv is actively trying to mobilize additional support for Ukraine's membership bid. Ukraine hopes to receive a "clear signal" from allies regarding its membership prospects at the summit, set to take place on July 11-12.
According to Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu, Zelensky's next stop is Istanbul, where he would reportedly meet Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan and Zelensky are set to discuss relations between the two countries, regional and international issues, the latest developments in Russia's war against Ukraine, and the Black Sea grain agreement, Anadolu wrote.
However, the news agency didn't specify from which sources it obtained the information on Zelensky's potential visit to Turkey.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by Turkey and the UN in July 2022, has been essential in mitigating a global surge in food prices. Russia's war initially prevented Ukraine from shipping agricultural products through its Black Sea ports.
The grain deal is set to expire on July 17. Moscow has threatened not to prolong the agreement unless the West eases its restrictions against Russia's grain and fertilizer exports.
Dinara Khalilova is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a news editor. In the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she worked as a fixer and local producer for Sky News’ team in Ukraine. Dinara holds a BA in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Master’s degree in media and communication from the U.K.’s Bournemouth University.
Mark Dietzen
