"We have a plan B and a plan C. But our focus is plan A, the essence of which is to get everyone's support" for Ukraine's accession, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.
"(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.
Mykhailo Mudryk (L) plays for Chelsea at the League Cup matches on Sept. 27, 2023. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Three Ukrainian footballers had strong performances at the League Cup matches on Sept. 27 in the U.K., bringing further attention to the country’s sports potential, Channel 24 reports.
The League Cup, officially named EFL Cup or Carabao Cup following a recent sponsor change, is an elite competition based in England that brings together football's Premier League and is considered one of the most prestigious tournaments in sports.
Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk, a native of Kharkiv Oblast, played 68 minutes against Brighton, though his team lost at the end.
Kyiv's Illia Zabarnyi, center-back for Bournemouth, scored two goals leading to victory over Stoke City.
Everton left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko, originally from Cherkasy Oblast, also saw significant playing time in a match against Aston Villa.
On Sept. 9 the Ukrainian national football team tied with England 1-1 in a Euro 2024 qualifying match, largely considered a big upset.
Football has recently stirred political controversy as Ukraine vowed to boycott UEFA competitions involving Russia.
Lance Luo (Li P. Luo) is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. Previously, he worked at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Hromadske Television in Kyiv. He also spent three years in finance and strategy consulting. Mr. Luo graduated from the University of Southern California and serves as an arbitrator at FINRA.
Anastasiia Lapatina
