"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.
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Vladimir Putin and Mongolia's President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh shake hands during an official welcoming ceremony in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Sep. 3, 2024. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev /Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
On Sept. 12, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry issued a formal diplomatic note, also known as a demarche, to Mongolia during a meeting with a high-ranking Mongolian diplomat in Kyiv.
The ministry expressed deep disappointment that Mongolia, a signatory to the Rome Statute, did not arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin during his recent visit.
Putin visited Mongolia in early September at the invitation of Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, which marked Putin’s first trip to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member country since the court issued an arrest warrant for him.
Putin's visit came six months after Mongolia appointed its first judge to the ICC.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023 for the forcible transfer of children from Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.
“Ukraine will not leave these actions without an appropriate response. Mongolia's decision will be considered in Ukraine's future policies regarding bilateral relations with Mongolia and in shaping Ukraine's stance on supporting Mongolia in international forums,” the ministry’s press service said.
However, the statement also expressed hope that Mongolia will take steps to restore friendly relations, which benefit both nations.
Mongolian officials cited energy dependence as a reason for not executing the warrant, implying that their hands were tied.
"Mongolia imports 95% of its petroleum products and over 20% of electricity from our immediate neighborhood (Russia), which has previously suffered interruption for technical reasons. This supply is critical to ensure our existence and that of our people," Mongolian government representatives said following Putin’s visit.
Mongolia has not actively supported Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine but has also refrained from voting to condemn it at the United Nations.
Sonya Bandouil is a North American news editor for The Kyiv Independent. She previously worked in the fields of cybersecurity and translating, and she also edited for various journals in NYC.
Sonya has a Master’s degree in Global Affairs from New York University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Houston, in Texas.
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