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 Ukrainian T-64 main battle tank, pictured during drills at the Desna training ground on Sept. 7, 2020. (Defense Ministry)
Amid Russia's ongoing war, Ukraine in 2021 ended up getting a total of nearly $450 million in defense assistance, mainly from the United States, UK, Lithuania, and Latvia.
The shipments to help Ukraine defend itself from Russian aggression included weapons, vehicles, medical equipment, munitions, and many other items, according to Ukraine's military.
In particular, Kyiv received a total of 55 HMMWV vehicles (more commonly known as Humvees) provided for free by the U.S., along with 84 rigid inflatable boats sent to Ukraine's Special Operations Force.
The U.S. also shipped a new batch of 30 FGM-148 Javelin launch pads and 180 missiles and provided Ukraine's navy with two more Island-class patrol boats -- also at no costs upon Ukraine other than transportation fees.
The UK in 2021 sent 20 landmine rollers SPARK, according to the military.
Latvia in early 2021 contributed by providing Ukraine's Armed Forces medical branch with seven Land Rover Defender vehicles, while Lithuania sent as many as 450 military-grade armored vests for Ukrainian troops to use.
In late December, U.S. President Joe Biden signed into force a defense appropriations bill for the year 2022, allocating $300 million in military assistance to Ukraine. But according to Ukraine's ambassador Oksana Makarova, Kyiv is likely to get even more aid in 2022 from the U.S.
Illia Ponomarenko was a defense and security reporter at the Kyiv Independent in 2021-2023. He has reported about the war in eastern Ukraine since the conflict’s earliest days. He covers national security issues, as well as military technologies, production, and defense reforms in Ukraine. Besides, he gets deployed to the war zone of Donbas with Ukrainian combat formations. He has also had deployments to Palestine and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as an embedded reporter with UN peacekeeping forces. Illia won the Alfred Friendly Press Partners fellowship and was selected to work as USA Today's guest reporter at the U.S. Department of Defense.
