Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on May 10, President Volodymyr Zelensky rebuked the idea of a demilitarized zone in the war and emphasized the importance of first securing a ceasefire.
"We agreed that a full and unconditional ceasefire must begin on Monday, May 12, for at least 30 days. We jointly demand this from Russia, and we know we are supported in this by the United States," Zelensky said.
Ukrainian media outlet ZN.UA reported on May 10 that their law enforcement sources confirmed an ongoing probe by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau into suspected embezzlement, money laundering and bribery.
Iran is preparing to send Russia Fath-360 short-range ballistic missile launchers, Reuters reported on May 9, citing Western security and regional officials familiar with the matter.
"Ukraine and all allies are ready for a complete unconditional ceasefire on land, in the air, and at sea for at least 30 days, starting as early as Monday," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote.
U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged in private that Russia is difficult to negotiate with because they "want the whole thing," referring to Ukraine, the WSJ reported, citing sources familiar with the comments.
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."
Vladimir Kara-Murza, the recently freed Russian opposition politician, speaks during a press conference organized by the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign and the Centre for Finance and Security, at RUSI in central London, Sept. 20, 2024. (Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin "must not be allowed" to win the full-scale war against Ukraine, Russian opposition figure and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza said during a press conference at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London on Sept. 20.
Kara-Murza was released from a Russian penal colony on Aug. 1 as part of a historic prisoner exchangebetween the West and Russia. He had been sentenced to 25 years in prison in April 2023 for condemning Russia's all-out war in Ukraine.
"Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to win this war in Ukraine," Kara-Murza said at the press conference, organized jointly by RUSI and the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign.
"More than that, he must not be allowed to have a face-saving exit from this war."
Kara-Murza reportedly also met with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Sept. 20 to urge Western governments to provide stronger support for Ukraine's defense.
During the RUSI press conference, Kara-Murza went on to say that Western nations should prepare for the Russian Federation to transition to a democratic government after Putin eventually leaves office.
"None of us knows exactly when, exactly in what circumstances, but it's going to happen in the very foreseeable future. And next time, we must get this right."
Putin holds a high approval rating among the Russian population (over 80%, according to independent polls), though those numbers have fallen some as the full-scale war drags on. Ukraine's incursion into Kursk Oblast has also reportedly increased social discontent in Russia.
A September 2024 poll found that nearly half of Russians may support the withdrawal of troops from Ukraine, even if the Kremlin's military goals are not achieved.
Kara-Murza also advocated for the release of more Russian political prisoners.
"I wake up every morning and I go to sleep every night thinking about all the others who are still left behind," he said.
A dual Russian-British citizen, Kara-Murza was charged with "treason" and "spreading false information," among other crimes, after being arrested in April 2022.
While imprisoned, Kara-Murza won the Pulitzer Prize in May 2024 for the commentary he wrote from his prison cell.
Kara-Murza was released in a historic swap along with fellow Russian dissident Ilya Yashin, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, and Russian-American journalist Alsa Kurmashova.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
