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.
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."
A woman rides a bicycle past the NATO and Lithuanian flags on July 9, 2023, in Vilnius, Lithuania. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Almost 56% of Lithuanian respondents said they were opposed to any kind of military deployment to Ukraine, according to a Vilmorus poll released by the Baltic News Service (BNS) on April 2.
There has been widespread debate about the prospect of sending Western troops to Ukraine since French President Emmanuel Macron said in February that the notion should not be taken off the table. While some countries, such as Finland, similarly said that it should not be ruled out, it has found little support elsewhere in the West.
According to the poll, only 15% of respondents were in favor of sending troops to Ukraine, but on the condition that other Western allies do so as well. Another 15% approved of sending troops to do training exercises with the Ukrainian military.
Only 3.5% approved of the Lithuanian military actively participating in combat.
Lithuania, along with its Baltic neighbors Latvia and Estonia, rank among the top supporters of Ukraine as a percentage of GDP.
Lithuania has a small Russian minority, around 5% of the population, but the country has also seen an influx of Russians and Belarusians since the beginning of the full-scale war, prompting some signs of discontent among the local population.
Chris York
