Macron, Tusk, and Merz visited Kyiv

Today, May 10, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, along with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, visited Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This marked the first joint visit by these four European leaders to Ukraine. They expressed solidarity against Russia’s invasion, urging a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting May 12, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The leaders warned of “massive” sanctions on Russia’s banking and energy sectors if the ceasefire was rejected. They also discussed a “coalition of the willing” to provide peacekeeping troops and security guarantees for Ukraine. The group visited Independence Square to honor fallen soldiers and held a virtual meeting to update other leaders on a potential European force to support Ukraine post-ceasefire.

The demilitarized zone idea is dead - Zelensky

At a press conference in Kyiv on May 10, President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected the idea of establishing a demilitarized zone as a potential solution to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. He said the proposal was no longer relevant and stressed that the primary focus should be on securing a real ceasefire.

The idea of a demilitarized zone had been floated earlier by U.S. special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, who claimed during a Fox News interview on May 7 that Ukraine had suggested creating a buffer zone jointly controlled by Kyiv and Moscow. According to Kellogg, this would involve both sides pulling back 15 kilometers to create a 30-kilometer zone monitored by international observers.

Zelensky, however, contradicted Kellogg’s statements, saying Ukraine had not officially received such a proposal. He said he had heard of the concept from the media and various sources, including intelligence agencies, but clarified that it had never been formally presented to Kyiv. He added that "everyone is looking for opportunities to conduct experiments on us," referring to foreign suggestions made without Ukraine’s consent.

The Ukrainian president also questioned the feasibility of the proposal, raising concerns about its implications for national security. He asked from which line such a zone would be measured — the international border or the current line of contact — and what impact a 15-kilometer withdrawal would have on key Ukrainian cities. Zelensky warned that if Ukrainian forces withdrew from cities like Kherson as part of a demilitarized zone, the country would effectively lose control of them. He argued that even in the absence of troops, those cities would remain under threat from Russian artillery.

Zelensky concluded that while some might see the creation of a buffer zone as a step toward peace, it would in reality allow the war to continue in vulnerable urban areas. He said the idea was premature and had no practical basis at present.

During the same press conference, Zelensky joined European leaders in calling for Russia to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting May 12. However, the Kremlin dismissed the proposal, stating that it would not consider a ceasefire as long as Ukraine continued receiving military support from Western allies.

Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast is levelled to the ground - soldiers report

Soldiers from the 34th Separate Motorised Infantry Battalion “Vovkodavy,” part of the 57th Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade, have published photos from the city of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast—marking exactly one year since the Russian offensive began in the area.

The battalion reported that they were initially deployed to the village of Tykhe, situated on the eastern outskirts of Vovchansk. From there, they managed to halt the enemy’s advance and even carried out limited offensive operations. Later, a decision was made to redeploy the unit directly into the city, where they have now held their positions for over 10 months.

According to the soldiers, the city has been almost completely reduced to rubble during the year of combat. Urban warfare has become increasingly difficult, forcing the battalion to defend their positions among the ruins. Despite the harsh conditions, they emphasized that they have not lost ground and continue to maintain control over their assigned defensive zone.

One of the key operations mentioned by the battalion was the large-scale effort to liberate the Vovchansk Aggregate Plant. After retaking the facility, the unit carried out a mop-up operation and assumed responsibility for holding it.

The soldiers described the city as being in ruins, noting that little remained of the houses—just piles of bricks and concrete debris. Beneath the destruction lie tunnels, which have become the primary battleground. They said the fighting is now largely underground, with both Ukrainian and Russian troops maneuvering through the tunnels. Enemy infantry units occasionally emerge, at which point Ukrainian forces engage them in close-range combat. This tactic, they said, is both simple and extremely difficult.

They also highlighted that no heavy equipment is currently entering the city, and artillery usage is limited. Russian forces continue to launch daily assaults, but according to the battalion, Vovchansk has turned into a “meat grinder” for the Russians—one into which they relentlessly send fresh troops with little regard for losses.