"We agreed that a full and unconditional ceasefire must begin on Monday, May 12, for at least 30 days. We jointly demand this from Russia, and we know we are supported in this by the United States," Zelensky said.
Ukrainian media outlet ZN.UA reported on May 10 that their law enforcement sources confirmed an ongoing probe by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau into suspected embezzlement, money laundering and bribery.
Iran is preparing to send Russia Fath-360 short-range ballistic missile launchers, Reuters reported on May 9, citing Western security and regional officials familiar with the matter.
"Ukraine and all allies are ready for a complete unconditional ceasefire on land, in the air, and at sea for at least 30 days, starting as early as Monday," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote.
U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged in private that Russia is difficult to negotiate with because they "want the whole thing," referring to Ukraine, the WSJ reported, citing sources familiar with the comments.
A notice about the airspace closure was published on the U.S. Defense Department's NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) website on May 10, as cited by Ukrainian defense news outlet Militarnyi.
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.
SVALBARD AND JAN MAYEN - JULY 07: Two Beluga whales swimming off of Norway's Svalbard archipelago on July 7, 2024. Photo for illustrative purposes. (Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A Beluga whale nicknamed Hvaldimir, which was suspected of being trained to conduct espionage for Russia, was found dead off the coast of Norway on Aug. 31.
Hvaldimir, whose name stems from a combination of the Norwegian word for whale, "hval," and Russian President Vladimir Putin, was first discovered in Norwegian waters in 2019 wearing a harness-mounted camera with the words "equipment of St. Petersburg."
Russia has never acknowledged that Hvaldimir, who became a local celebrity, may have been used to spy on Norway or other countries in the area.
The whale was just around 15 years old when it died, far short of the 60-year life span that Beluga whales can reach. Prior to its death, Hvaldimir was "healthy and had no sign of illness," said a volunteer from a local wildlife conservation organization, prompting some to believe the whale was struck by a boat.
There is a long history of training marine mammals for military purposes, which dates back to the 1950s and was practiced by both the Soviet Union and the U.S. According to the U.K. Defense Ministry, Russia has deployed military-trained dolphins to help protect the entrance to its naval base in Sevastopol, occupied Crimea.
Nate Ostiller is a former News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. He works on special projects as a researcher and writer for The Red Line Podcast, covering Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and focused primarily on digital misinformation, memory politics, and ethnic conflict. Nate has a Master’s degree in Russian and Eurasian Studies from the University of Glasgow, and spent two years studying abroad at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine. Originally from the USA, he is currently based in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Alessandra Hay
