Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected the idea of a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, claiming in an interview with ABC News on May 10 that it would be "an advantage" for Ukraine.
"Our involvement in the war was justifiable, and this belongs to our sovereign rights," North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un said. "I regard this as part of the sacred mission we must execute for our brothers and comrades-in-arms."
"We have a plan B and a plan C. But our focus is plan A, the essence of which is to get everyone's support" for Ukraine's accession, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.
"(T)he presence at the Victory Parade of a country that bombs cities, hospitals, and daycares, and which has caused the deaths and injuries of over a million people over three years, is a shame," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
"According to the participants of the performances, their goal is to remind the civilized world of the barbaric actions of Moscow, which for many years and decades has systematically violated international law," a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.
"I have great hope that an agreement for a ceasefire in Ukraine will be reached this weekend," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 9, shortly before traveling to Kyiv alongside the leaders of France, Poland, and the U.K.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will arrive in Kyiv early on May 10.
The United States embassy in Kyiv on May 9 issued a warning that Russia could launch "a potentially significant" attack in the coming days, despite Putin's self-declared Victory Day "truce."
The sanctioned oil tankers have transported over $24 billion in cargo since 2024, according to Downing Street. The U.K. has now sanctioned more shadow fleet vessels than any other country.
Supporters of Ukraine celebrate after the House of Representatives passes bills, including aid to Ukraine and Israel, in Washington, DC, United States, on April 20, 2024. (Celal Gunes / Getty Images)
Republican voters are increasingly opposed to sending military aid to Ukraine, according to a Wall Street Journal poll published April 6, highlighting a growing divide in the U.S. along party lines.
The poll found 83% of Democratic voters support continued U.S. financial aid to Ukraine, compared to 79% of Republicans who oppose it. Among all voters surveyed, 49% favored continued assistance to Kyiv, while 44% were against it.
Throughout 2023 and into 2024, Democrats became more supportive of increasing aid to Kyiv, while Republican sentiment shifted in the opposite direction, with many saying the U.S. was already doing too much.
The data also showed broader disagreement over America's global role. Some 81% of Republican respondents said U.S. allies are not doing enough to defend themselves and that Washington should stop spending taxpayer money to protect them.
In contrast, 83% of Democrats said international alliances are a strength and deserve financial support.
The gap reflects years of growing Republican skepticism toward global engagement, influenced by President Donald Trump's "America First" doctrine. Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO allies for low defense spending and questioned the value of U.S. security commitments abroad.
Trump has long demanded that NATO allies increase their military spending. He previously called for the alliance to raise its benchmark from 2% to 5% of the GDP.
During a Feb. 28 meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, Trump said security guarantees for Ukraine should be Europe's responsibility and cast himself as a neutral figure in the war, offering to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow.
Trump's stance underscores a broader shift from traditional American leadership in global affairs toward an inward-focused foreign policy platform that resonates with many in the Republican base.
The Wall Street Journal conducted the poll by phone from March 27 through April 1, surveying 1,500 registered voters, with some respondents contacted via text to complete the survey online.
Tim Zadorozhnyy is a news editor at The Kyiv Independent. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations, focusing on European Studies. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa. After moving to Warsaw, he joined the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA, starting as a news anchor and later advancing to the position of managing editor.
Olena Goncharova
