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.
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.
President Volodymyr Zelensky marks Ukrainian Air Force Day and the arrival of F-16 jets in Ukraine on Aug. 4, 2024. (President of Ukraine)
The U.S. State Department has approved up to $310.5 million in F-16 training and support services for Ukraine, signaling continued White House backing for Kyiv.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency confirmed the news in an official statement, noting that Ukraine had requested "equipment and services in support of its F-16 aircraft."
The equipment and services include "aircraft modifications and upgrades; personnel training related to operation, maintenance, and sustainment support; spare parts." The decision still needs a Congressional signoff.
The proposed sale will improve Ukraine's security, as it has been "a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe."
Additionally, the sale will improve "Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring its pilots are effectively trained" and contribute to the "overall modernization of Ukraine’s air force."
Ukraine most recently received a shipment of F-16 fighter jets in March 2025. In April, the U.S. also announced that more fighter jets were being prepared for transfer to Ukraine.
Several countries, including Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, have contributed F-16 fighter jets and training to bolster Ukraine's defense efforts.
F-16s are used in both offensive and defensive operations. The aircraft have been used for intercepting Russian missiles and drones during aerial strikes against Ukraine. They could also be deployed to launch missiles and bombs at Russian positions along the front line.
The Kyiv Independent news desk
