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.
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.
A Taurus long-range air-to-surface missile fired from a South Korean Air Force fighter jet during a training exercise in Taean-gun, South Korea, on Sept. 12, 2017. (South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images)
A joint decision with Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) on supplying long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine is increasingly possible, Johann Wadephul, deputy head of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, told Tagesschau on April 15.
"The Social Democrats also know – not least since the renewed Russian war crimes in Sumy – that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin must be dealt with differently," said Wadephul, referring to Russia's April 13 missile strike that killed at least 35 civilians.
The statement follows remarks by chancellor-in-waiting and CDU head Friedrich Merz, who on April 13 reiterated his position that Germany could supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine in coordination with partners.
"Merz has confirmed his willingness to use Taurus as a lever to change Russia's policy," Wadephul added, calling it "an important signal."
Although outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz has consistently blocked Taurus deliveries over fears of escalation, Merz has long criticized Scholz's restraint.
Now, with Merz expected to take office following the CDU/CSU's electoral victory in February, the missile issue could be revived — provided the future coalition partners in SPD agree.
Merz stressed he was not advocating for direct German involvement in combat but for empowering Ukraine to strike strategically.
He has called for coordination with European allies, a stance broadly consistent with earlier decisions by France, the U.K., and the U.S. to allow Kyiv to target Russian positions in Crimea and, in some cases, across the border.
Ukraine has already received U.S.-supplied ATACMS, French SCALP, and U.K. Storm Shadow cruise missiles — systems used in attacks against Russian logistics hubs and command posts.
The previous Biden administration also greenlit Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, particularly in Kursk and Bryansk oblasts, a policy opposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The potential delivery of Taurus missiles — with a range of 500 kilometers (300 miles) — would significantly enhance Ukraine's ability to degrade Russian supply lines and command centers deep behind the front lines.
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
