"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.
"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.
Representative Victoria Spartz, a Republican from Indiana, arrives at a House Republican caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US, on Oct. 24, 2023. (Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has hit back at remarks from a Ukrainian-born U.S. lawmaker who said Kyiv should cede territory to Russia, and President Volodymyr Zelensky should resign.
In an interview with the Telegraph published on April 7, Victoria Spartz said Ukraine is not in a position to demand the return of all occupied territories.
"If they were winning the war, that would be very different," she said, adding the people of Ukraine should demand Zelensky's resignation.
"Unlike Victoria, all of our land has always been and will always remain Ukrainian," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi responded on X.
Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk also weighed in, accusing Spartz of echoing Kremlin narratives.
"One, born in Kyiv, became a representative of Putin. Another, from Chernihiv Oblast, discusses the 'expediency' of giving up Ukrainian territories, calling the Ukrainian people a faceless 'they,'" Stefanchuk said.
The remark referencing Kyiv-born Kirill Dmitriev comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed him special envoy for economic affairs, tasked with advancing proposals for a U.S.-Russia peace deal.
Spartz, who was born in Chernihiv Oblast and emigrated to the U.S. in 2000, has frequently spoken about the war in Ukraine in personal terms.
She was elected to Congress three times, in 2020, 2022, and 2024, and represents Indiana’s 5th District.
Spartz initially backed U.S. aid for Ukraine but has since become a vocal critic of both the Biden administration and President Volodymyr Zelensky's government.
Spartz, aligning herself with U.S. President Donald Trump's push for negotiations with Russia, accused Zelensky of disrespecting Trump during their March Oval Office clash.
She claimed the Ukrainian president "insulted the American president" and "did a disservice to the Ukrainian people," suggesting Ukrainians should vote him out of office.
"If they elect him, they're going to lose the rest of the country," Spartz told the Telegraph.
In recent months, Spartz has publicly distanced herself from Ukraine policy, citing "a lack of clear strategy" and expressing skepticism over continued military assistance.
She opposed the proposed $60 billion Ukraine aid package in 2024 and endorsed GOP calls for converting military assistance into loans.
Spartz has also faced scrutiny in Washington. Politico reported in June 2024 that she was under preliminary investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegedly mistreating staff and fostering a hostile work environment.
In a March 24 interview with Newsmax, Spartz said Trump was "a good negotiator" and criticized Zelensky as a leader who "took control of all Ukrainian media, prosecuted churches, businesses and volunteers."
Her remarks echoed disinformation frequently promoted by Russian officials to undermine Ukraine's democratic institutions.
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.
Tim Zadorozhnyy
