"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.
Fire breaks out at major Russian refinery in Khabarovsk Krai
A fire broke out on April 10 at the Komsomolsk refinery in Russia’s Khabarovsk Krai, the country’s largest fuel supplier for the Far East, according to the Russian Telegram channel 112.
The blaze erupted in one of the facility's technological units after gasoline reportedly leaked from a column and ignited, sources told the channel. The fire covered an area of approximately 100 square meters, according to Russian emergency services cited by pro-government Interfax.
Authorities said the fire was localized, but the exact cause has not yet been determined.
The Komsomolsk refinery, operated by Russia's state-owned Rosneft, was launched in 1942 and has a production capacity of 8 million metric tons per year.
The refinery provides more than 60% of all petroleum products — including gasoline, diesel, and marine fuel — for the Far Eastern Federal District.
The incident comes a month and a half after another major Rosneft facility, the Ryazan refinery, halted operations following a Ukrainian drone strike on Feb. 24.
Ukraine has launched dozens of strikes against Russian refineries, oil depots, and defense industry sites since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022, targeting Moscow's logistics and war economy.
Kyiv agreed to a full 30-day ceasefire during U.S.-mediated talks in Jeddah on March 11, but Russia rejected the proposal unless it included limits on Ukraine's military capabilities and foreign aid.
A partial truce was reached, covering strikes on energy infrastructure and the Black Sea.
Just two days after the agreement, Ukraine accused Russian forces of violating the truce by striking power facilities in Kherson.
Moscow denied the attack and claimed Ukraine had hit the Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast — an allegation Kyiv dismissed as a pretext for further aggression.
Kateryna Denisova
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