"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.
The announcement follows mounting fears that the two nuclear-armed countries were on the brink of engaging in another full-scale war.
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.
The visit marks Merz’s first trip to Ukraine, and the first time all four leaders have travelled there together.
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.
"As in the past, it is now for Russia to show its willingness to achieve peace," the EU's statement reads.
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."
The number includes 1,310 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
Russian media: Alibaba stops accepting rubles, shipping to Russia
Chinese multinational Alibaba, the owner of the online shopping portal AliExpress, has stopped accepting payments in rubles and no longer allows the delivery of orders to Russia, Russian business newspaper Kommersant reported on May 28.
Citing its sources, Kommersant said that Alibaba has "tightened the conditions for Russian business," leading to a change in its payment and delivery policies.
Kommersant referred to a Russian economic expert, who "linked Alibaba's decision to fears of secondary sanctions, which have caused other problems with Russian payments in China."
Financial transactions between Russia and China have been increasingly complicated since the start of the year, as Chinese bank strengthen their compliance with Western sanctions announced in December 2023 that target financial institutions that support Russia's war effort.
Three of China's four largest banks reportedly stopped accepting payments from sanctioned Russian financial institutions at the start of the year.
China's Chouzhou Commercial Bank then notified its clients in Russia and Belarus in February that it would end operations with them due to payment issues.
Reports emerged in March that several Chinese banks had stopped accepting payments from Russia in Chinese yuan.
Ukraine's National Corruption Prevention Agency added Alibaba to its list of international sponsors of war in August 2023 for supporting Russia financially by paying taxes in the country and for allegedly facilitating the sale of copper exported from the occupied territories of Ukraine through its platforms.
Nate Ostiller
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