"(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.
US President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House after arriving on Marine One in Washington, DC, US, on Sunday, May 4, 2025 (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 4 European Union leaders have repeatedly urged him to call Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming the Kremlin leader has ignored their attempts at communication as the war in Ukraine continues.
"Do you know that the European Union leaders have asked me to call Putin so many times? Because he doesn’t return their phone call," Trump said in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press.
Trump's comments come, as his self-imposed 100-day deadline to broker a settlement between Russia and Ukraine came to an end with no result.
In the interview, Trump reiterated his claim that the war would not have occurred if he had remained in office and said he believes a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is possible. "We think we’re fairly close," he said.
Trump has reportedly grown frustrated with the slow progression of peace negotiations, claiming on April 26 that Putin may be "tapping me along," and that he may not be interested in ending the war.
Despite Trump’s claim that European leaders have been unable to reach Putin, at least one major call has taken place. Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Putin by phone on Nov. 15, 2024, marking their first conversation in nearly two years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the call on the same day, warning that it could open a "Pandora’s box" of further talks with Russia, potentially undermining Kyiv’s position.
Other European leaders have even held in-person talks with Russian president. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico have both visited Moscow and met with Putin in person.
Anna Fratsyvir is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent, with a background in broadcast journalism and international affairs. Previously, she worked as a TV journalist at Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne, covering global politics and international developments. Anna holds a Bachelor's degree in International Communications from Taras Shevchenko National University and is currently an MA candidate in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Volodymyr Ivanyshyn
