"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.
French President Emmanuel Macron talks during the press conference with media at the end of EU Summit in Brussels on Feb. 01, 2024. (Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)
Ukraine's allies will "increase pressure on Russia" in the coming days to reach a ceasefire in Russia's war, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with the French outlet Paris Match, released on April 28.
"In the next eight to ten days, we will increase pressure on Russia. I remain cautious (of a ceasefire) because part of the equation depends on Moscow," Macron said.
As the U.S. intensifies efforts to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, Moscow has so far refused a full 30-day ceasefire. On April 26, U.S. President Donald Trump said "banking or secondary sanctions" should be imposed on Russia amid failed efforts to reach a peace deal.
"We must be united and dissuasive. I believe that we have succeeded, thanks to this meeting at the Vatican, in putting pressure back on Russia," Macron said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Trump in the Vatican on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral on April 26.
Macron denounced efforts to pressure Ukraine into accepting a peace deal heavy on concessions for Ukraine and not on Russia.
"That was the intended goal, because it was not right for the pressure to be exerted solely on Ukraine," Macron said.
The U.S. has reportedly weighed recognizing Russian control of Crimea, among other large concessions for Ukraine, including barring Kyiv from pursuing NATO membership. On April 27, Trump said he believes Zelensky is willing to cede control of Crimea to Russia.
"We must be prepared, with the Americans, to toughen our stance on Russia to obtain this ceasefire," Macron said.
"I believe I have convinced the Americans of the possibility of an escalation of threats, and potentially sanctions, to push the Russians to accept this ceasefire," Macron said.
On April 28, Putin announced a so-called "humanitarian" truce in Russia's war against Ukraine to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.
On May 9, Russia holds grandiose military parades in celebration of the end of World War II in Europe. Ukraine and most European nations mark May 8 as Victory in Europe Day.
Zelensky slammed Putin's proposal for a short-lived truce and pointed to Russia's strikes on civilian targets on April 28 as proof that Russia does not want to end its war against Ukraine.
"We value human lives, not parades. That’s why we believe — and the world believes — that there is no reason to wait until May 8," Zelensky said.
Ukraine has already agreed to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Russia has not.
Volodymyr Ivanyshyn is a news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He is pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto, majoring in political science with a minor in anthropology and human geography. Volodymyr holds a Certificate in Business Fundamentals from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto. He previously completed an internship with The Kyiv Independent.
Chris York
