"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.
Japan's ambassador to Kyiv, Masashi Nakagome (L), and Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko sign an agreement on Japan's loan to Ukraine as part of the G7's Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration program on April 18, 2025, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Finance Ministry)
Japan signed an agreement with Ukraine on April 18 to provide the country with a loan of 471.9 billion Japanese yen ($3 billion) covered by Russian assets.
The sum comes as part of the G7's Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration for Ukraine (ERA) program, which aims to provide Kyiv with $50 billion for reconstruction and defense needs.
The loan will be repaid by proceeds from some $300 billion in Russian sovereign assets immobilized on G7 members' accounts.
"Japan is a shining example of international solidarity, having become one of Ukraine's leading partners in our struggle for freedom and dignity," Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said after signing the agreement with Japan's ambassador to Kyiv, Masashi Nakagome.
"The signing of today's Agreement will not only help meet our urgent budgetary needs, but will also be another confirmation of Japan's sincere commitment to the common values that unite our countries."
Japan's funds will be disbursed over 30 years and directed toward budgetary needs and to support reconstruction and development.
The G7's loan is mostly shouldered by the EU and the U.S., with each providing roughly $20 billion. Japan, the U.K., and Canada provide the rest of the funds.
Japan has supported Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale war, transferring budget support of over $8.5 billion.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Tim Zadorozhnyy
