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."
President Volodymyr Zelensky during an interview with journalists from Latin America, Aug. 8, 2023. (Source: Presidential office)
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the peace formula he proposed to bring the end to Russia's war against Ukraine could be used as a basis for other conflicts.
"The peace formula today is about Ukraine. But if international institutions do not provide an opportunity to end the war, and our example speaks eloquently of this, then the peace formula can become such a foundation," Zelensky told Latin American journalists.
Zelensky presented the 10-point peace formula, supported by many Western allies, in November last year. It includes the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, and the release of all prisoners of war and deportees.
The proposals also call for punishing those responsible for war crimes, preventing ecocide in Ukraine, and ensuring energy and food security as well as nuclear safety.
A Ukrainian delegation discussed the peace plan during the international talks held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between Aug. 5-6. Andriy Yermak, the head of the President's Office, said that the meeting of delegations from 42 countries – excluding Russia – focused only on the Ukrainian peace formula.
In his Aug. 8 interview, cited by Presidential Office, Zelensky said his peace plan was the only diplomatic way to achieve peace in Ukraine.
Elsa Court
