**Black Sea Security Talks Underway in Ankara, Zelensky Says**
In a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Odesa on April 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that negotiations on Black Sea security are underway in Ankara. These talks involve Ukraine, the UK, France, and Turkey, and are aimed at discussing the deployment of foreign military personnel to safeguard Black Sea waters.
“This is not about ending the war, this is about what will happen after the cease-fire – security guarantees,” Zelensky emphasized. He noted that Turkey could play a key role in future regional security guarantees and stressed the importance of a military presence to protect coastal cities like Odesa and Mykolaiv.
Turkey has been positioning itself as a potential mediator in Russia’s war against Ukraine by maintaining diplomatic and economic ties with both nations. By leveraging its strategic position and influence in the Black Sea region, Turkey has facilitated negotiations and grain exports, while expressing willingness to participate in ceasefire monitoring.
**Russia’s War Efforts**
Meanwhile, Russia’s military efforts continue to take a toll on Ukrainian cities. On April 13, a brutal double-tap attack on the northeastern city of Sumy killed at least 35 people, including two children. This attack has sparked international condemnation and raised concerns about Russia’s willingness to use deadly force.
In another development, Ukraine reported that its forces struck the base of Russia’s 448th Missile Brigade, which had carried out a deadly attack on Sumy earlier this month.
**Global Reaction**
The global community is closely watching the situation in Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Odesa on April 15 and visited a local military hospital alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Some U.S. officials have expressed concerns about the direction of the Trump administration’s diplomacy, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg urging President Donald Trump to resist territorial concessions to Moscow.
**Other Developments**
In other news, a 20-year-old Finnish volunteer soldier was killed in action while fighting for Ukraine. The Ukrainian documentary Militantropos has been selected for the “Directors’ Fortnight” program at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Russia will launch a new program called the Digoria Political Education Workshop to provide ideological training to personnel who work with youth, but details about the program remain scarce.
The EU sanctions against Russia consist of two documents adopted one after another: a decision and a regulation. While a regulation must be extended by all 27 members every six months, a decision remains in force until a qualified majority repeals it.
**What’s Next?**
As negotiations on Black Sea security continue, the international community is waiting with bated breath to see how these talks will shape the region’s post-war stability. Will Turkey play a key role in future regional security guarantees? And what impact will these developments have on Russia’s war efforts?
Only time will tell.
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