"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.
Washington and its partners are considering additional sanctions if the parties do not observe a ceasefire, with political and technical negotiations between Europe and the U.S. intensifying since last week, Reuters' source said.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) meets German chancellor candidate of the CDU/CSU alliance Friedrich Merz in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 9, 2024. (Presidential Office)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to visit Ukraine soon as part of efforts to promote a long-term ceasefire with Russia, German broadcaster Tagesschau reported on May 7.
Speaking during a visit to Paris, Merz said the trip is currently being coordinated and emphasized that the European Union must do "everything possible" to help secure a lasting cessation of hostilities beyond the upcoming weekend.
"The key question is whether Russia is prepared for a 30-day ceasefire," Merz said, according to Tagesschau. He also linked the prospect of German security guarantees for Ukraine to the establishment of a sustainable truce, which he said should pave the way for a future peace agreement with Moscow.
Merz's remarks come as Russia prepares for a unilateral ceasefire, announced around the time of its annual Victory Day celebrations. The Kremlin declared a "humanitarian truce" from May 8 to May 11, claiming it would halt military operations during the period.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the move as a "theatrical performance" meant to reduce Russia's international isolation. Experts have also questioned the legitimacy of the ceasefire, warning that it lacks mutually agreed terms or monitoring mechanisms.
The Victory Day ceasefire is the latest in a series of truce initiatives announced by Moscow, all of which Russia has violated.
In April, Russia declared a ceasefire over the Easter holiday. Ukraine accused Moscow of nearly 3,000 violations between April 19 and April 21.
Ukraine has also said that Russian forces repeatedly breached a partial truce on attacks against energy facilities brokered on March 25.
Russia has repeatedly proclaimed its supposed readiness for peace talks while simultaneously pushing for maximalist demands. Kyiv has dismissed these declarations as a propaganda stunt, noting that Russian forces have only intensified their attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns.
Ukraine accepted a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire more than 50 days ago, but Moscow rejected the offer, demanding a halt to Western military aid to Ukraine.
Anna Fratsyvir is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent, with a background in broadcast journalism and international affairs. Previously, she worked as a TV journalist at Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne, covering global politics and international developments. Anna holds a Bachelor's degree in International Communications from Taras Shevchenko National University and is currently an MA candidate in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Chris York
