"(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.
Flags of Ukraine and NATO on rally ‘Stand With Ukraine’ on July 10, 2024 in London, England. (Olha Kharchenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
NATO is entering its "3.0" version, and is returning back to its original role as a deterrent against threats "mainly from Russia," Finnish President Alexander Stubb said during a press conference on Oct. 8 in Brussels.
Created in 1949 in the early stages of the Cold War, the military alliance was formed to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.
"I firmly believe that we are now witnessing the creation of NATO 3.0," Stubb said, adding: "We are back to the original role of NATO as a deterrence and strong military alliance with a threat coming from the East, mainly from Russia."
Finland joined NATO early 2023 after ditching its longstanding neutral stance following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
"We have a very common understanding inside the alliance about our security challenges, and I think it is extremely important now that we work on both – deterrence and defense."
Earlier this month Mark Rutte took the helm as the new secretary general of NATO, stressing on his first day that the alliance has to ensure that Ukraine "prevails as a sovereign, independent, democratic nation."
Rutte added that NATO members have to "spend more" in order to "increase our collective defense," adding: "NATO’s partnerships… have to go wider, and deeper, given all the insecurities in the world."
Helsinki has sent 25 military packages to Ukraine as of September 2024 with the total amount of military aid Finland has provided Kyiv now standing at 2.3 billion euros ($2.5 billion), its Ministry of Defense said.
Finland will also host a new tactical battlegroup and new headquarters to lead NATO land operations in the region.
We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.
Julian McBride
