"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.
The announcement follows mounting fears that the two nuclear-armed countries were on the brink of engaging in another full-scale war.
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.
The visit marks Merz’s first trip to Ukraine, and the first time all four leaders have travelled there together.
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.
"As in the past, it is now for Russia to show its willingness to achieve peace," the EU's statement reads.
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."
The number includes 1,310 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
Updated: Ukraine hits fuel and bomb warehouses in Russia's Volgograd region airfield, source says
Editor's note: The article was updated with a statement by the Volgograd regional authorities, a report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and a statement from an SBU source.
Explosions were heard in the Russian town of Kalach-na-Donu in Volgograd Oblast overnight on Aug. 22, following what appears to be a drone attack, several Telegram monitoring channels reported.
The incident was reportedly followed by a fire at a nearby airfield. The Volgograd region is located some 900 kilometers (560 miles) southeast of Moscow.
The attack is believed to have targeted the Marinovka airbase in the village of Oktyabrsky, approximately 20 kilometers from Kalach-na-Donu.
A source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed that the agency carried out an attack against the Marinovka airbase together with special forces, hitting a fuel warehouse and a bomb storage.
"(Russia) actively uses the Marinovka airfield in the Volgograd region to bomb front lines in Ukraine," the source told the Kyiv Independent.
Witnesses from nearby areas reported hearing between six and 10 loud explosions during the attack, accompanied by the distinctive sounds of drones, according to several Russian Telegram channels.
Residents of Kalach-na-Donu began reporting explosions at around 3:30 a.m. local time. The Telegram channel Baza said that one of the drones was allegedly intercepted several kilometers from the airfield, while debris from the second drone fell on a nearby temporary structure, causing a fire.
Andrey Bocharov, the regional governor, claimed later in the day that most of the drones attacking the region near Marinovka had been intercepted.
"As a result of a drone crash, a fire broke out on the territory of a Defense Ministry facility," Bocharov said.
The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify the claims.
NASA imagery published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty appears to show several fires at the airfield during the night on Aug. 22. Satellite footage from Aug. 19 shows nearly 30 warplanes and eight trucks.
Ukrainian forces regularly conduct drone strikes and sabotage acts on Russian territory, targeting military assets, oil refineries, and industrial facilities.
The Kyiv Independent
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