"We agreed that a full and unconditional ceasefire must begin on Monday, May 12, for at least 30 days. We jointly demand this from Russia, and we know we are supported in this by the United States," Zelensky said.
The announcement follows mounting fears that the two nuclear-armed countries were on the brink of engaging in another full-scale war.
Ukrainian media outlet ZN.UA reported on May 10 that their law enforcement sources confirmed an ongoing probe by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau into suspected embezzlement, money laundering and bribery.
Iran is preparing to send Russia Fath-360 short-range ballistic missile launchers, Reuters reported on May 9, citing Western security and regional officials familiar with the matter.
"Ukraine and all allies are ready for a complete unconditional ceasefire on land, in the air, and at sea for at least 30 days, starting as early as Monday," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote.
U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged in private that Russia is difficult to negotiate with because they "want the whole thing," referring to Ukraine, the WSJ reported, citing sources familiar with the comments.
The visit marks Merz’s first trip to Ukraine, and the first time all four leaders have travelled there together.
A notice about the airspace closure was published on the U.S. Defense Department's NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) website on May 10, as cited by Ukrainian defense news outlet Militarnyi.
"As in the past, it is now for Russia to show its willingness to achieve peace," the EU's statement reads.
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."
The number includes 1,310 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
Ukraine evacuates children from 8 Donetsk Oblast settlements
Ukrainian authorities had ordered a mandatory evacuation of around 250 children from eight settlements in Donetsk Oblast due to a "critical security situation," the Reintegration Ministry announced on Oct. 23.
Children, as well as their parents and legal guardians, are to leave Toretsk, Shcherbynivka, Petrivka, Nelipivka, and Pivnichne in the Bakhmut district and Ocheretyne, Katerynivka, and Yelizavetivka in the Pokrovsk district, the regional military administration reported.
All the evacuated civilians will be transported to a humanitarian hub before the onset of the cold weather. Subsequently, they will be taken to Zhytomyr Oblast and provided with shelter and other aid, the ministry said.
According to the report, 41 children have already been taken to safety.
Over 500 Ukrainian children have been killed and almost 1,200 wounded since the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, according to the Children of War database.
Russian forces have recently intensified their attacks along the eastern front. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported heavy attacks in the Bakhmut, Mariinka, Avdiivka, and other directions.
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