"If they speak to each other in Russian, he doesn't know what they are saying," one Western official told NBC News. Michael 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.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance (C), with Secretary of Energy Chris Wright (L) and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (R), speaks at the US military's Pituffik Space Base on March 28, 2025, in Pituffik, Greenland. (Jim Watson - Pool / Getty Images)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance indicated on March 28 that a ban on strikes against Ukrainian and Russian energy facilities is in force, despite Kyiv accusing Moscow of repeated violations.
"We've obviously got this energy infrastructure ceasefire. We've got a Black Sea commercial ceasefire that I think is almost done," Vance told reporters during a visit to Greenland.
"And once we get there, we'll work on the next stage of the ceasefire."
The U.S. helped broker a partial ceasefire covering strikes against energy facilities and military operations in the Black Sea on March 25 following several rounds of talks with Ukraine and Russia in Riyadh.
Only two days later, President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russian forces attacked energy infrastructure in the city of Kherson, adding that "there should be a reaction from the United States."
Kyiv also accused Russia of attacking energy infrastructure in Poltava Oblast. Naftogaz, Ukraine's state-owned energy company, reported that Moscow struck its infrastructure on March 28.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed Russia adheres to the energy ceasefire but "reserves the right" to abandon it in case of violations on Ukraine's side. Moscow has blamed Ukraine for an attack against the Sudzha gas metering station, an accusation Kyiv rejected, presenting it as an attempt to frame Ukraine.
The U.S. is yet to respond to reported violations of the ceasefire.
Moscow maintains it has upheld the ceasefire since March 18, following a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.
"The date, March 18, is purely invented by the Russian side, as Russian propaganda," Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said on March 27.
Russia has conducted large-scale attacks on Ukraine's power grid throughout the war, while Ukraine has targeted Russian oil and gas facilities with long-range drones.
Kyiv had agreed to a full 30-day ceasefire in talks with the U.S. in Jeddah on March 11, but Russia refused unless it included conditions limiting Ukraine's military capabilities, including an end to foreign military aid.
Kateryna Denisova
