"(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.
Julie S. Davis, the new U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Ukraine, steps off a train upon arriving in Kyiv on May 5, 2025. (U.S. Embassy in Ukraine/Telegram).
Julie S. Davis, the new U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Ukraine, arrived in Kyiv, the U.S. Embassy announced on May 5.
Her arrival follows the resignation of Ambassador Bridget Brink, who had served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine since 2022. Diplomats in Kyiv said that Brink’s exit was primarily due to fundamental disagreements with the direction of U.S. policy under U.S. President Donald Trump.
Davis currently serves as U.S. ambassador to Cyprus and previously held posts as ambassador and special representative for Belarus, deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Europe and the European Union, and deputy permanent representative to NATO.
Davis will serve as Washington’s top diplomatic representative in Kyiv until a new ambassador is appointed.
In a statement, the embassy said Davis arrives "at a critical moment to advance President Trump’s policy focused on ending the war and securing lasting peace and prosperity for Ukraine."
During his 2024 election campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. While his administration has made efforts to bring Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table, progress has been limited. Trump's team has pressured Kyiv to make concessions to Russia, without applying visible pressure on Moscow to halt its aggression.
The U.S. has been Kyiv's leading military supporter throughout the full-scale war, though Trump has yet to approve any new aid packages. A possible exit from the peace efforts raises concerns that the U.S. might also cease all backing for Ukraine, including intelligence support.
Brink initially attempted to align with Trump’s shift in policy toward rapprochement with Russia, though her cautious messaging, especially after deadly Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih that killed 20 people, drew public criticism from Ukrainian officials, including President Zelensky.
Brink’s departure followed that of another embassy official, Foreign Service Officer Kraig Cook, who resigned in February in protest over what he called the administration’s "parroting of Kremlin talking points."
In his resignation letter, seen by the Kyiv Independent, Cook condemned the U.S. approach to Ukraine as predatory and accused embassy leadership of silence in the face of Russian aggression.
The statement also highlights the signing of a long-awaited agreement to establish a Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.
Ukraine and the U.S. on April 30 signed a minerals agreement that establishes a joint investment fund in Ukraine. The deal was negotiated over several months and led to a low point in bilateral relations following the infamous White House argument between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump on Feb. 28.
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).
Oleg Sukhov
