"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.
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.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reacts as he meets with Defence Secretary John Healey at 10 Downing Street on July 16, 2024, in London, England. (Benjamin Cremel / Getty Images)
The U.K. is weighing plans to send British troops to Ukraine for up to five years as part of a broader European-led effort to rebuild Kyiv's military, the Telegraph reported on April 10.
Military planners in London and Paris believe such a deployment could discourage Russian President Vladimir Putin from launching future offensives.
The proposal, developed within a multinational "coalition of the willing" led by the U.K. and France, would involve sending allied troops into Ukraine to help train its Armed Forces and stabilize the country after any potential ceasefire or peace settlement.
The initiative was first introduced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a March 2 summit in London. The summit brought together leaders from several European countries and Canada to outline postwar military assistance for Ukraine.
At least 37 nations — including European, Commonwealth, and Asian countries — have joined the coalition discussions, with 15 reportedly prepared to commit troops.
The troop deployment plan foresees a phased withdrawal and will help with training Ukrainian forces. According to the Telegraph, it would also provide security assurances for Ukraine's airspace and territorial waters.
Royal Air Force fighter jets may also be sent to reinforce Ukraine's defenses as part of the proposed security guarantees.
French officials reportedly believe Russia is unlikely to attack Western forces stationed in Ukraine, given the Russian military's difficulty securing even modest gains on the battlefield.
While London and Paris have lobbied Washington to support the plan with airpower, intelligence, or surveillance capabilities, the Trump administration has yet to offer any commitments and has ruled out deploying ground troops.
U.S. President Donald Trump has also not offered any security guarantees to Ukraine and is reportedly preparing to scale back the U.S. military presence in Europe.
Without U.S. backing, the European reassurance force faces questions over its long-term viability. U.K. officials maintain that American participation remains critical.
Trump claimed on Feb. 24 that Putin would accept the presence of European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a settlement, though Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the suggestion.
Kremlin officials have repeatedly said that any foreign troop presence in Ukraine would be treated as direct involvement in the conflict.
Tim Zadorozhnyy is a news editor at The Kyiv Independent. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations, focusing on European Studies. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa. After moving to Warsaw, he joined the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA, starting as a news anchor and later advancing to the position of managing editor.
Chris York
