"(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.
President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a New Year's Eve address to the nation on Dec. 31. (President's Office)
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin's words about an Orthodox Christmas ceasefire.
"Those who continued the terror against our country and sent their people to be slaughtered definitely do not value life and even more so do not seek peace," Zelensky said.
Furthermore, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksii Danilov said the proposed truce is a facade.
“Who will believe scum that kills children, bombards maternity hospitals, tortures prisoners? A ceasefire? Lies and hypocrisy,” Danilov tweeted. “Take the junk and go back to Russia," Danilov told the Ukrainska Pravda news outlet.
Mykhailo Podolyak, President's Office advisor, said that Russian troops “must leave the occupied territories.”
"Only then will it have a temporary truce," Podolyak tweeted.
“Russia is trying in every possible way to reduce the intensity of fighting and attacks on its logistics centers, at least for some time," Podolyak told Ukrainska Pravda.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia’s “unilateral ceasefire” can't be taken seriously.
“Russia has been ignoring (Ukraine's peace formula) and instead shelling Kherson on Christmas Eve, launching mass missile and drone strikes on New Year's,” Kuleba tweeted.
Putin said on Jan. 5 that he ordered Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to implement a temporary ceasefire along the 1,300 km (800 miles) front line in Ukraine from noon on Jan. 6 to midnight on Jan. 7, when Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas.
On Dec. 24 Christmas Eve, a Russian strike on central Kherson killed ten and injured 58 civilians.
In addition, on New Year’s Eve, Russia launched yet another mass missile attack on Ukrainian cities, killing one and injuring 28 civilians around the country.
We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.
