"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.
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.
A vehicle transports an RS-24 Yars strategic nuclear missile along a street during a Victory Day rehearsal in Moscow, Russia, on June 17, 2020. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg)
Russia recently carried out unsuccessful tests of its Yars and Bulava nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, pointing to serious issues with Moscow's nuclear weapons delivery capabilities, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said on Nov. 4.
During an RS-24 Yars missile launch test on Nov. 1, the projectile launched from a cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk Oblast toward Kamchatka went off course, the HUR said.
According to military intelligence, an earlier test of Yars on Oct. 25, presented by Moscow as successful, encountered similar problems.
The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Yars, with a range of up to 12,000 kilometers and capable of carrying several warheads, represent the main ground component of Russia's strategic nuclear forces.
The Oct. 25 test launch of an RSM-56 Bulava missile, which has a range of up to 10,000 kilometers, from a submarine was also unsuccessful, the HUR said, without elaborating on the nature of the reported failure.
The intelligence drew attention to repeated delays in the adoption of Sarmat, an ICBM with a reported range of up to 18,000 kilometers, which was adopted into service this year.
The HUR's analysis pointed out Sarmat's deficiencies in overcoming anti-missile defenses in comparison to its predecessor, ICBM RS-20 Voyevoda.
Russia also reportedly encountered challenges in modernizing the air-based component of its nuclear forces. The introduction of a new Tu-160M2, planned for 2023, has been postponed to a later date due to engine production issues, the HUR said.
The military intelligence concluded that Russia's difficulties in modernizing its nuclear capabilities stem from Western sanctions and shortcomings of the country's scientific, technological, and industrial capabilities.
The Kyiv Independent cannot verify these claims.
Earlier this week, Russia fully withdrew from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), reportedly to gain "equal footing" with the U.S., which has signed but not ratified the document.
The Kremlin and Russian state media often use veiled or overt threats of a nuclear strike against rival nations, including Ukraine or Western countries.
Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.
Steven Pifer
