"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.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink is seen in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 14, 2024. (STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink intends to resign from her post early, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on April 10.
"Ambassador Brink is stepping down after three years in Ukraine," Bruce said.
Bruce praised Brink's diplomatic work but did not provide any details on the cause of the resignation.
"For those three years, an extraordinary performance there, and we wish her well," she said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had initially declined Brink's resignation in January, which she submitted as part of the routine turnover process between U.S. administrations.
The ambassador's renewed decision to step down now comes during a critical moment in the U.S.-Ukraine relations.
After taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Ukraine, suspending over $1 billion in military aid and halting weapons shipments already en route in early March. The move followed a tense Oval Office meeting in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky for pressing the U.S. on security guarantees.
Zelensky was dismissed from the White House without signing a key minerals deal, and Trump later declared him "not ready for peace."
Since the meeting, some U.S. officials and Republican lawmakers have escalated their criticism of Zelensky, with some even suggesting he should resign.
Trump has also voiced skepticism over continued U.S. support, comparing aid to Ukraine to "taking candy from a baby" and expressing frustration with Europe for — according to Trump — providing less aid than Washington. This claim was false.
While repeatedly calling for an end to the war, Trump has omitted any reference to sanctions on Russia or meaningful security commitments for Ukraine. The Kremlin has welcomed Trump's posture, saying it "largely aligns" with Russian interests.
Trump's recent attempts to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia have stalled, as Moscow rejected a full 30-day truce agreed upon by Kyiv and Washington and reportedly violated a partial ceasefire regarding strikes on energy infrastructure.
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).
Anna Fratsyvir
