Tougher sanctions "should be applied to (Russia's) banking and energy sectors, targeting fossil fuels, oil, and the shadow fleet," the leaders of Ukraine, the U.K., France, Germany, and Poland said in a joint statement.
"Russia is ready for negotiations without any preconditions," Putin claimed in an address marking the end of the three-day Victory Day ceasefire. He invited Ukraine to begin talks in Istanbul on May 15.
While serving as a bishop in Peru, Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, called the full-scale war "a true invasion, imperialist in nature, where Russia seeks to conquer territory for reasons of power.”
Speaking to CNN on May 10, Peskov commented on the latest ceasefire proposal from Ukraine and Europe, responding that Russia needs to "think about" it, but is "resistant" to pressure.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on May 10, President Volodymyr Zelensky rebuked the idea of a demilitarized zone in the war and emphasized the importance of first securing a ceasefire.
"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.
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.
Former chairman of the management board of the National Power Company Ukrenergo, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, in Kyiv, Ukraine on July 26, 2024. (Kirill Chubotin / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
G7 ambassadors called on Ukraine on Sept. 9 to appoint new independent experts to the supervisory board of Ukrenergo, a state-owned energy grid operator, following a series of dismissals in the company.
"G7 ambassadors underscore the importance of quickly organizing an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development-standard process to identify competent, professional, and independent experts for the supervisory board," the G7's statement read.
"This is critical for Ukraine's energy security and the confidence of international partners."
Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, who has served as head of Ukrenergo since 2020, was dismissed on Sept. 2.
The grounds for his dismissal was a purported failure to protect Ukraine's energy infrastructure amid Russian aerial strikes, according to a statement from the company's supervisory board chairman Daniel Dobbeni and board member Peder Andreasen.
Dobenni and Andreasen also said they were stepping down from their positions in protest of what they described as a "politically motivated" decision.
Russia has repeatedly used mass attacks against Ukraine's energy grid to break the country's ability and resolve to fight off the invasion, first during the autumn-winter period of 2022-2023 and then again in the spring of 2024.
After a relative lull over the summer that gave Ukraine a chance to restore some of its capacity, Russia launched fresh attacks in the past few weeks, again necessitating restrictions on energy consumption.
The largest-ever aerial strike against Ukraine took place on Aug. 26, with Russia firing over 230 missiles and drones and yet again targeting energy infrastructure.
Andrea Januta
