"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."
"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.
French Presidential diplomatic advisor Emmanuel Bonne (3rd L) poses with Ukraine's President chief of staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (2nd R), Defense Minister Rustem Umerov (2nd L), U.K. National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell (R), and German National Security Advisor Jens Plotner (L), on the door steps of the Elysee presidential palace, following their meeting in Paris on April 17, 2025. (Ludovic Marin/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Editor's note: The article was updated after Ukrainian and European delegates concluded their talks.
Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov arrived in Paris on April 17 to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and meet visiting U.S. officials.
"As part of the visit, a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings are planned with representatives of countries from the coalition of the willing and able to guarantee security — including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom," Yermak said on X.
The British- and French-led coalition of the willing, involving some 30 countries, was launched in March to provide security guarantees for Ukraine in case of a ceasefire. Six members of the coalition are reportedly ready to deploy their troops on the ground to monitor the truce.
Later in the day, after initial discussions, Yermak said that Ukrainian and European officials "exchanged views on the next steps toward achieving a just and lasting peace." These included implementing a ceasefire, a reassurance force, and an effective security architecture for Ukraine.
European delegates involved in the talks included French presidential diplomatic advisor Emmanuel Bonne, U.K. National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, and German National Security Advisor Jens Plotner.
"Meetings are also scheduled with representatives of the United States currently present in France," Yermak noted.
France is hosting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived in the country to "advance President (Donald) Trump’s goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war," the U.S. State Department said.
Kyiv and its European partners have been working to secure stronger security commitments from the U.S. to help deter any future Russian aggression. As Washington ruled out contributing its troops to the planned "reassurance force" in Ukraine, London seeks to sway Trump toward providing at least intelligence or airpower support — so far without success.
Instead, Trump is trying to hash out a ceasefire deal between Kyiv and Moscow, using a strategy seen by critics as favorable to Russian positions.
The U.S. president has temporarily paused military and intelligence aid for Ukraine to pressure it to the negotiating table, while his threats to impose additional tariffs and sanctions against Russia have yet to materialize.
Trump's efforts to broker a ceasefire have nevertheless stalled, as Russia continues to reject a full 30-day truce, and has violated a partial ceasefire on strikes against energy infrastructure.
This has reportedly led to a split within Trump's team, with some officials, like Rubio, urging a tougher stance toward the Kremlin, while Witkoff continues to push for a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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.
Nina L. Khrushcheva
