Ukraine updates: Russia's temporary ceasefire begins

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to officially unveil the new sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet (see below) at a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Oslo, Norway, on Friday.

Founded in 2014, the British-led group of 10 northern European nations — including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Netherlands, and Sweden — is designed to supplement and deepen NATO cooperation.

The group is expected to announce further support for Ukraine, including intensive training exercises and efforts to counter disinformation, the UK government said, while Arctic security was also set to be on the agenda.

Furthermore, Norway and the United Kingdom are also set to sign a new memorandum of understanding on "space domain awareness" that will involve "tracking and sharing intelligence on satellites, space debris and other objects flying above Earth."

Norway is a top exporter of gas to continental Europe and the UK, delivered via its 8,800-kilometer (5,470-mile) North Sea pipeline network, which is protected by NATO navy patrols.

The United Kingdom is set to announced a raft of new sanctions targeting up to 100 oil tankers from Russia's so-called "shadow fleet."

The vessels, which are suspected of smuggling sanctioned cargo worth over $24 billion (€21.4 billion) since January 2024, and of damaging critical infrastructure such as underwater cables, are considered key to propping up the Russian economy.

"The threat from Russia to our national security cannot be underestimated," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement.

"We will do everything in our power to destroy [Russia's] shadow fleet operation, starve [its] war machine of oil revenues and protect the subsea infrastructure that we rely on for our everyday lives."

"Every step we take to increase pressure on Russia and achieve a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine is another step towards security and prosperity in the UK."

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has arrived in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. It's his first visit to Ukraine as minister.

In a video on X, he explained that he and his colleagues from other EU countries want to show on Friday, Europe Day, that they are on the side of Ukraine.

He also stressed that Germany will support Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

US President Donald Trump called for a month-long unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, with any violations punishable by sanctions.

"Talks with Russia/Ukraine continue. The US calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire," Trump said on his Truth Social platform shortly after speaking with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"If the ceasefire is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions," Trump added.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said he told Trump in a telephone call that Kyiv was ready for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia "starting even today."

"I also reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to engage in talks in any format. But for that, Russia must demonstrate the seriousness of its intentions to end the war, starting with a full unconditional ceasefire," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

Trump and other top US officials have stepped up warnings in recent weeks that Washington is prepared to walk away from its role as mediator in the war between Russia and Ukraine if progress is not made soon.

Later, Zelenskyy posted a video on X, along with a video address, where he said: "Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire starting right now, from this very moment — a 30-day silence. But it must be real. No missile or drone strikes, no hundreds of assaults on the front."

"The Russians must respond appropriately — by supporting the ceasefire. They must prove their willingness to end the war."

"Thirty days that could become the beginning of years of peace. A ceasefire, lasting and reliable, will be a real indicator of movement toward peace. America can help with this. The world needs America now just as it did 80 years ago."

Germany's new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, spoke by telephone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledged continued support for Ukraine in its war "against Russian aggression," a spokesman said.

"The chancellor reaffirmed Germany's solidarity with Ukraine, which can rely on the support of the new German government," said government spokesman Stefan Kornelius.

According to the statement, both leaders agreed that "Russia must agree to a ceasefire" and "appreciated the mediation efforts of the US president."

Merz stressed that Germany supports these efforts in close cooperation with France, the United Kingdom and European partners.

"This includes helping Ukraine effectively defend itself against Russian aggression and exerting pressure on Russia," the statement said.

Both leaders "agreed to maintain close contact," added Kornelius.

The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, announced an additional €1 billion ($1.1 billion) for Ukraine's defense industry ahead of a symbolic trip to Ukraine.

The new military aid is a "very important sign for Ukraine," Kallas said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Warsaw.

The announcement comes on the eve of a visit by Kallas and several foreign ministers to the Ukrainian city of Lviv to show solidarity with the country, as Russia prepares to hold its annual Victory Day military parade.

In addition to new military aid, Kallas will give his political backing in Lviv to the establishment of a special tribunal for war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.

"There will be no impunity. There will be accountability for the crimes committed," she said.

The tribunal will be set up by the Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights watchdog, which was founded after World War II to uphold rights and the rule of law.

The European Union disbursed €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in budget support to Ukraine as part of a larger economic assistance program.

The money is part of $45 billion in loans provided by the Group of Seven (G7) economically developed Western democracies and the European Union.

The loans are to be repaid with proceeds from frozen Russian assets in the EU. 

"Russia will pay for the destruction it has caused to Ukraine," said Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis.

"The EU continues to support Ukraine — politically, financially, economically and militarily," he added.

The bloc has pledged to lend Ukraine a total of €18.1 billion under the program.

On the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a sharp reminder of Ukraine's role in defeating Nazi Germany.

In a video message from Kyiv, Zelensky said 8 million Ukrainians died in the war and drew a direct line between that struggle and Ukraine’s current fight against Russia.

If Russia refuses to change, he warned, it too will need "de-Nazification and demilitarization" — a pointed echo of language Russian President Vladimir Putin uses to justify his war on Ukraine.

Ukraine has long accused Moscow of hijacking the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany for political gain. 

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine marks this day together with the rest of the world, despite the fact that "evil repeated itself" three years ago at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The president and his wife, Olena Zelenska, also marked Victory in Europe Day by laying flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Kyiv.

Meanwhile, Russia is preparing a major military parade for May 9, its annual Victory Day celebration. The Soviet Union suffered an estimated 27 million deaths during the war.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that despite the 3-day ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian forces continue to attack across the front line in Ukraine.

"From midnight to midday, Russia committed 734 ceasefire violations and 63 assault operations, 23 of which are still ongoing; 586 attacks on our troops' positions, 464 of which used heavy weapons; 176 strikes by FPV-drones; and 10 air strikes using 16 guided aerial bombs," he wrote on X, calling the ceasefire a "farce."

Sybiha said Kyiv was notifying the United States, European and other states about Russia's actions. He also added that Ukraine remains ready for a full ceasefire of at least 30 days.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry, in turn, said Ukraine carried out 488 attacks on Russian targets and twice tried to break through the border in the Kursk region.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has criticized Russia's "historical lies" over the Ukraine war, as he commemorated the Nazi defeat that marked the end of World War II in Europe 80 years ago.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has tried to frame its three-year invasion of Ukraine as a battle against "neo-Nazis," invoking its World War II legacy to justify the war.

But Steinmeier was blunt: "The war against Ukraine is not a continuation of the fight against fascism."

"Putin's war of aggression, his campaign against a free, democratic country, has nothing in common with the fight against Nazi tyranny in World War II."

In a speech to the Bundestag, Steinmeier also honored the Allied forces and resistance fighters who, "with all their strength and at great sacrifice," brought down Hitler's regime. 

He also paid tribute to the Soviet Red Army — which included both Russian and Ukrainian soldiers — for its key role in the Nazi defeat, including the liberation of Auschwitz.

"We do not forget this," he said during the somber May 8 commemoration of Germany's unconditional surrender. "But precisely because of this, we firmly oppose the Kremlin's historical lies today."

Read more about news from Germany in our updates here. To follow our blog on VE Day commemorations, click here.

Ukraine's parliament has voted to ratify a resources deal with Washington that Kyiv hopes will open up a path to further military support from the United States.

The deal was signed last week in Washington and will see the two countries jointly develop Ukraine's natural resources and minerals.

Securing a revised agreement was seen as a diplomatic success for Kyiv after a White House clash between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That incident derailed an original deal that had been ready to be signed.

Washington, which has been Kyiv's biggest single supporter in terms of providing weapons and other equipment had signaled the deal was essential if Ukraine wanted to carry on getting such support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized World War II Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, where Russian leader Vladimir Putin is hosting 20 world leaders for a grand military parade.

"It will be a parade of cynicism. There is just no other way to describe it. A parade of bile and lies," Zelensky said, as his country fends off Russia's invasion, now well into its fourth year.

The Ukrainian leader also used the occasion to call for allies to unite to fight Moscow's aggression. 

"Just as it did 80 years ago, when it finally became clear to everyone: evil cannot be appeased. It must be fought. Together. Resolutely. With force. With pressure," Zelenskyy said in an address.

Follow our coverage for the latest on VE Day celebrations across most of Europe on Thursday, May 8. Russia celebrates the end of World War II in Europe a day later, on May 9.

Russia's army has said it is observing a unilateral three-day truce with Ukraine ordered by President Vladimir Putin, but that it was simultaneously "responding" to attacks from Ukraine.

Kyiv never agreed to the proposal but has unilaterally backed a 30-day truce proposed by the United States and rejected by Russia.

"Despite the announcement of the ceasefire, Ukrainian army units have not ceased hostilities against Russian troops. The Russian army is responding in kind to violations of the ceasefire by the army of Ukraine," the Russian defense ministry said.

Ukraine has said that Russia is attacking across the "entire front" despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's order for a ceasefire around Russia's annual Victory Day celebrations on May 9.

Most of the rest of Europe observes the day marking the end of World War II in Europe on May 8 . Follow our blog on the commemoration and other related events here. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to hold talks in Moscow on Thursday, ahead of Russia's annual military parade commemorating the end of World War II in Europe.

Xi is the most powerful world leader expected at the military parade, among a host of others.

The Chinese president arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for a four-day visit.

Ahead of their closed-door talks, Xi hailed "the political mutual trust between China and Russia," saying it was "becoming deeper, and the ties for pragmatic cooperation are becoming stronger."

He also criticized Western "unilateralism" and "bullying" saying that Beijing and Moscow had to protect the United Nations.

The meeting between Xi and Putin is reported to focus on a second gas pipeline to China, as well as global issues such as the war in Ukraine and United States-Russia talks.

Several agreements between Russia and China are expected to be signed during the visit.

Both leaders are expected to present a united front against US global dominance, advocating for a more multipolar world order.

Xi's visit also comes at a time when China is caught in a tariff war with the US.

 

Ukraine reported fresh Russian bombings early on Thursday in the northern Sumy region, hours after a unilateral ceasefire declared by President Vladimir Putin came into effect.

Ukraine's air force posted on Telegram that Russian aircraft launched the guided bombs twice within two hours over the Sumy region.

The strikes reportedly occurred after the ceasefire had begun. There were no immediate reports of damage and casualties.

Meanwhile, drone alerts and attacks were also reported in Russia's western Lipetsk region, according to regional governor Igor Artamonov.