"If they speak to each other in Russian, he doesn't know what they are saying," one Western official told NBC News. ichael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, called Witkoff's approach "a very bad idea."
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.
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president (L), and US President Donald Trump, (R), during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, U, Feb. 28, 2025. (Jim Lo / Getty Images)
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the statements from U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Feb. 28 during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington that security guarantees for Ukraine would be Europe's responsibility.
"I know that France is going to (provide guarantees), I know the U.K. is going to… But we would have security in a different form. We would have workers there… digging," Trump said, as the two leaders prepared to sign a framework deal on Ukraine's natural resources.
Trump positioned himself as a neutral mediator in the negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
"I am in the middle; I am for both Ukraine and Russia. I want to get it (Russia's war against Ukraine) solved," he added.
Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized that security guarantees are essential to any agreement with Washington. The deal to be signed on Feb. 28 does not include explicit security commitments from the U.S., leaving those discussions for future negotiations.
The issue of security guarantees has been linked to the potential deployment of a European-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
Washington has backed the idea, with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saying on Feb. 12 that such a mission should exclude U.S. troops.
France, the U.K., and several other European nations have expressed support for deploying peacekeepers, though a consensus has not yet been reached.
The Washington Post reported on Feb. 17 that up to 30,000 European troops could be sent to Ukraine to monitor a ceasefire.
Zelensky's visit to Washington followed weeks of tense negotiations, during which Ukraine rejected two earlier U.S. draft proposals, arguing they placed one-sided obligations on Kyiv without security commitments from Washington.
The final agreement establishes a fund to which Ukraine will contribute 50% of proceeds from the future monetization of state-owned mineral resources, including oil, gas, and logistics infrastructure.
Trump had previously lashed out at Zelensky over his reluctance to sign the initial draft, accusing him of being a "dictator" and repeating Kremlin-backed narratives about his legitimacy.
As the U.S. and Ukrainian teams made progress on the deal, the final version of which was obtained by the Kyiv Independent, Trump softened his rhetoric, seemingly retracting his earlier statements.
"Did I say that? I can't believe I would say that," Trump said during a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Feb. 27 when asked by a journalist whether he still considers Zelensky a "dictator."
Tim Zadorozhnyy is a news editor at The Kyiv Independent. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations, focusing on European Studies. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa. After moving to Warsaw, he joined the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA, starting as a news anchor and later advancing to the position of managing editor.
Oleksiy Sorokin
