Donald Trump has announced a three-day ceasefire in the war between Ukraine and Russia, along with a prisoner swap that will see both countries hand over 1,000 prisoners each.
The ceasefire is set to begin on Saturday, and will “include a suspension of all kinetic activity”, the US president said.
“This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by president Vladimir Putin and president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought war,” he added.
The Ukrainian leader confirmed the announcement on social media, thanking Mr Trump. He said: “Today, within the framework of the negotiating process mediated by the American side, we received Russia’s agreement to conduct a prisoner exchange in the format of 1,000 for 1,000.”
It follows an announcement from Russia, which said it was carrying out enhanced radiation monitoring after fires broke out in the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on Friday.
The country’s public health agency said that enhanced radiation monitoring was being conducted and the situation was now “stable”.
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Key Points
- Trump announces three-day ceasefire and prisoner swap
- Moscow mayor says more than 50 drones intercepted by Russia
- Zelensky says Putin's war commemoration ceasefire shows 'strange and twisted logic'
- Ukraine's top negotiator in Miami to meet Trump's envoys for peace talks
- Putin's security tightened for Victory Day events, says Kremlin
Pictured: Forest fire burns in the Chernobyl exclusion zone
21:00 , James Reynolds
Recap: Alarm raised as two drones crash in Nato country after crossing from Russia
20:00 , James ReynoldsNato jets were summoned to Latvia after two drones entered from Russian territory and crashed into an oil storage facility, the country’s army said on Thursday morning.
The drones were probably launched by Ukraine against targets in Russia, Latvia's defence minister Andris Spruds told national broadcaster LSM.
Four empty oil tanks were damaged at a storage facility in Rezekne, about 40km (25 miles) from the Russian border, and possible debris of a crashed drone was found at the site, police and firefighters said.
Alarm raised as two drones crash in Nato country after crossing from Russia
Zelensky preparing to bring Ukrainians 'home from Russian captivity'
19:46 , Harriette BoucherTrump announces three-day ceasefire and prisoner swap
19:41 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump has announced a three-day ceasefire and prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine.
In a post on Truth Social, the US president said: “I am pleased to announce that there will be a THREE DAY CEASEFIRE (May 9th, 10th, and 11th) in the War between Russia and Ukraine.
“The Celebration in Russia is for Victory Day but, likewise, in Ukraine, because they were also a big part and factor of World War II.
“This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country.
“This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War. Talks are continuing on ending this Major Conflict, the biggest since World War II, and we are getting closer and closer every day.”
Watch: Russia answered ceasefire offer with ‘new strikes and attacks’, says Zelensky
19:00 , James ReynoldsIn full: Russia’s WWII victory celebrations are muted this year as Ukraine war weighs on Putin
18:00 , James ReynoldsTensions are high as Russia prepares to celebrate its most important secular holiday Saturday, with fears about security amid the war with Ukraine and signs of domestic discontent casting a shadow over annual celebrations in Moscow’s Red Square.
A unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine that Russia announced for Friday and Saturday quickly unraveled. Moscow and Kyiv blamed each other for the continued fighting, just as they did when Ukraine’s own unilateral ceasefire swiftly collapsed earlier in the week.
The accusations reflect the deep-seated lack of trust between the two sides more than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour. That has thwarted U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to find a peace settlement.
Russia’s WWII victory celebrations are muted this year as Ukraine war weighs on Putin
Greece investigating Ukrainian-made naval drone found in cave at island
17:15 , Maira ButtGreek authorities are conducting an investigation on a drone boat found by fishermen in a cave on the Ionian island of Lefkada, police and coast guard sources said on Friday.
It was not clear how the Ukrainian-made unmanned surface vehicle (USV) reached Greek waters, after fishermen located it late on Thursday.
Preliminary findings indicate the MAGURA V3-type sea drone was fitted with three detonators, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
One source said the vessel was loaded with explosives, though Greece's army could not confirm this.
Bomb disposal experts began dismantling the drone, removing its batteries, while divers were deployed at the scene. Security forces will lead the investigation to establish its technical characteristics and possible purpose, a military official told Reuters.
Investigators are examining whether the drone was intended to target ships carrying Russian oil in the wider Mediterranean, a coast guard source said.
A maritime security source said the vessel may have been part of a shipment of such drones or could have drifted off course after a signal failure.
Russia summons Armenia's envoy over Zelensky's comments on war commemoration
16:15 , Maira ButtThe Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday it summoned the Armenian ambassador over what it described as "terrorist threats against Russia" voiced by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Armenia.
A ministry statement said the ambassador was told it was "absolutely inadmissible" to provide the means, during an EU-sponsored gathering on Monday for "the ringleader of the Kyiv Nazi regime, V. Zelensky, to voice terrorist threats against Russia" in connection with Russia's Victory Day commemorations.
The statement said there was "justified indignation" in Moscow over Zelensky's "outrageous behaviour" and the absence of Armenian criticism.
Russia's Defence Ministry had earlier responded to what it saw as threats by Zelensky by saying Moscow's military would launch a retaliatory strike against Kyiv if Ukraine disrupted ceremonies marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova doubled down on that statement, telling diplomatic missions to take Moscow's warnings seriously and evacuate their staff in good time.
In his comments in Armenia, Zelensky noted that Moscow had said its commemorative parade would proceed without displays of military hardware, adding: "It will be the first time in many, many years they cannot afford military equipment and they fear drones may buzz over Red Square. This is telling."
Zelensky says he doesn't recommend foreign leaders attend Moscow parade
15:44 , Maira ButtVolodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine "doesn't recommend" that foreign representatives attend the parade in Moscow after Russia threatened retaliation if its unilateral ceasefire was violated.
"They want permission from Ukraine to hold their parade, so they can safely march onto the square for one hour once a year, and then go back to killing our people and waging war again," Zelensky said in his evening address.
He said some Russia-friendly countries reached out to Ukraine about their officials' plans to attend the 9 May parade in Moscow.
"An odd desire… these days. We don't recommend it," he added.
Ukraine's actions on May 9 depend on further situation today, Zelensky says
14:40 , Maira ButtUkraine's actions on May 9 will depend on how the situation will develop further on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, accusing Russia of violating its own ceasefire.
“Tomorrow depends on what we hear today,” he said in his daily address to the nation.
Russia said it will strike back if Kyiv violates the ceasefire and attacks Moscow, where a military parade to commemorate the Soviet Union victory in World War Two will take place on Saturday.
In pictures: Fire breaks out in exclusion zone around Chernobyl nuclear plant
14:09 , Maira Butt
Russia says radiation levels are normal after fires near Chernobyl
13:55 , Maira ButtRussia said on Friday that it was carrying out enhanced radiation monitoring after fires in the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine but that there was no excess radiation.
"The radiation situation in the Russian Federation remains stable," Russia's national public health agency said.
The 1986 Chernobyl disaster is considered to be the world's worst civil nuclear accident. The Chernobyl accident spread Iodine-131, Caesium-134 and Caesium-137 across parts of Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, northern and central Europe.
Russia’s WWII victory celebrations are muted this year as Ukraine war weighs on Putin
13:15 , Maira ButtTensions are high as Russia prepares to celebrate its most important secular holiday Saturday, with fears about security amid the war with Ukraine and signs of domestic discontent casting a shadow over annual celebrations in Moscow’s Red Square.
A unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine that Russia announced for Friday and Saturday quickly unraveled. Moscow and Kyiv blamed each other for the continued fighting, just as they did when Ukraine’s own unilateral ceasefire swiftly collapsed earlier in the week.
The accusations reflect the deep-seated lack of trust between the two sides more than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor. That has thwarted U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to find a peace settlement.
Russia’s WWII victory celebrations are muted this year as Ukraine war weighs on Putin
Russian small businesses feeling the pinch of Putin’s internet crackdown
12:48 , Maira ButtRussian dogwear entrepreneur Natalia Kukovinets constantly switches messaging apps, a direct consequence of the Kremlin’s widening internet crackdown.
Her struggle to reach customers highlights how web-dependent businesses are suffering as restrictions on Telegram, VPNs, and mobile internet shutdowns affect much of Russia this year.
These unpredictable outages pose a particular headache for small companies, with billions of dollars in digital sales at risk.
Small businesses feeling the pinch of Putin’s internet crackdown
EU purchases from Russia’s largest natural gas field hit record £3bn
12:18 , Maira ButtThe European Union bought a record amount of gas from Russia's largest natural gas project in the first four months of the year as the Iran war pushes Europe back towards the fuel it has been trying to phase out.
The EU received 91 cargoes from Russia's Yamal LNG project between January and April, totalling 6.69 million tonnes – the highest volume for that period since the project was launched in December 2017, according to new analysis of shipping data published on Thursday by environmental group Urgewald.
The bloc paid an estimated €3.88bn (£3.25bn) for the gas over the four months, based on benchmark market prices.
Stuti Mishra reports:
EU purchases from Russia’s largest natural gas field hit record £3bn
Watch: Russia answered ceasefire offer with ‘new strikes and attacks’, says Zelensky
11:44 , Maira ButtZelensky says Ukraine hit oil facility deep inside Russia
11:15 , Arpan RaiUkrainian forces have badly damaged an oil facility deep inside Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky said this morning.
“Yaroslavl, more than 700km from Ukraine’s state border. An oil sector facility that was of great importance for financing Russia’s war,” Zelensky said of the target in a post on his X account, sharing a nine-second close up video of the strike.
“I thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our military intelligence for this manifestation of justice. Ukraine’s long-range sanctions continued in response to Russian strikes on our cities and villages. Russia must choose genuine peace, and only strong pressure will ensure that,” he said.
Yaroslavl, more than 700 kilometers from Ukraine’s state border. An oil sector facility that was of great importance for financing Russia’s war.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 8, 2026
I thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our military intelligence for this manifestation of justice. Ukraine’s long-range sanctions… pic.twitter.com/42OeP0K44t
EU preparing for talks with Putin after receiving Zelensky's go-ahead
10:45 , Arpan RaiEuropean Council president Antonio Costa says EU leaders are preparing for direct talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“I’m talking with the EU’s 27 national leaders to see the best way to organise ourselves and to identify what we need effectively to discuss with Russia when it comes the right moment to do this,” Costa told the Financial Times.
He said there was “potential” for the EU to negotiate with Putin and that the bloc has clearance from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to do so after a summit of EU leaders in Cyprus last month.
Zelensky “invited us to be prepared to contribute positively for negotiation”, he said.
Putin’s scaled-back parade shows Ukraine war has depleted Russian military
10:30 , Arpan RaiSpeaking to the BBC, Russian officials have defended the decision to carry out this year's 9 May Victory Day parade in a slimmed-down form, without the usual display of weaponry such as tanks and missiles.
Officials said they need their war tanks to be on the battlefield, signalling that the Kremlin does not have enough weaponry to spare even for an hour's display.
"Our tanks are busy right now," Russian MP Yevgeny Popov told BBC.
"They are fighting. We need them more on the battlefield than on Red Square."
On being asked if the parade is being scaled back, he said: "What other choice do we have?"
"Nato countries, Ukraine and Great Britain's weapons, your king and your prime minister, are threatening us,” Popov told BBC’s Steve Rosenberg.
In recent years, Putin has used the occasion to rally Russians behind the war in Ukraine, portraying his modern-day soldiers as heroes following in the footsteps of those who defended the country in the Second World War.
Ukraine says Gripen fighter jet deal could be signed within months
10:05 , Arpan RaiUkraine's purchase of Saab-made Gripen fighter jets could be signed within months, the country's defence minister said yesterday as he visited his Swedish counterpart in Stockholm.
The countries last year signed a letter of intent that could see Sweden supply up to 150 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine.
With the first deliveries estimated at three years away from any deal being finalised, the planes are seen as a priority for Ukraine's post-war fighter fleet – but there have been questions about funding.
"We have our plan how to finance it," Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
"I think in a few months it will be good news for your country, for our country and bad news for Russians," he told a joint press conference.
Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson told Reuters after the press conference that negotiations were going well and did not rule out a deal this year for the Gripens, Saab's fourth generation fighter jet that is seen as a cost effective alternative to Lockheed Martin's F-35.
Zelensky says he doesn't recommend foreign leaders attend Moscow parade
09:55 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine "doesn't recommend" that foreign representatives attend the parade in Moscow after Russia threatened retaliation if its unilateral ceasefire was violated.
"They want permission from Ukraine to hold their parade, so they can safely march onto the square for one hour once a year, and then go back to killing our people and waging war again," Zelensky said in his evening address.
He said some Russia-friendly countries reached out to Ukraine about their officials' plans to attend the 9 May parade in Moscow.
"An odd desire… these days. We don't recommend it," he added.
Nato fighter jets scrambled as drones from Russia crashed into oil storage facility
09:35 , Arpan RaiTwo drones entered Nato member Latvia from Russian territory and crashed on Thursday morning, the Latvian army has confirmed.
Latvia's defence minister Andris Spruds told national broadcaster LSM that the drones were "probably launched by Ukraine against targets in Russia."
Military jets from the multinational Nato Baltic air policing mission were subsequently summoned to the site.
Four empty oil tanks were damaged on Thursday morning at a storage facility in Rezekne, about 40km (25 miles) from the Russian border. Possible debris of a crashed drone was found at the site, police and firefighters said.
The firefighters extinguished a smouldering area of around 30 square metres in one of the tanks.
Nato fighter jets scrambled as Russia drones crashed into oil depot
Russia summons Armenia's envoy over Zelensky's comments on war commemoration
09:15 , Arpan RaiThe Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday it summoned the Armenian ambassador over what it described as "terrorist threats against Russia" voiced by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Armenia.
A ministry statement said the ambassador was told it was "absolutely inadmissible" to provide the means, during an EU-sponsored gathering on Monday for "the ringleader of the Kyiv Nazi regime, V. Zelensky, to voice terrorist threats against Russia" in connection with Russia's Victory Day commemorations.
The statement said there was "justified indignation" in Moscow over Zelensky's "outrageous behaviour" and the absence of Armenian criticism.
Russia's Defence Ministry had earlier responded to what it saw as threats by Zelensky by saying Moscow's military would launch a retaliatory strike against Kyiv if Ukraine disrupted ceremonies marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova doubled down on that statement, telling diplomatic missions to take Moscow's warnings seriously and evacuate their staff in good time.
In his comments in Armenia, Zelensky noted that Moscow had said its commemorative parade would proceed without displays of military hardware, adding: "It will be the first time in many, many years they cannot afford military equipment and they fear drones may buzz over Red Square. This is telling."
Where have Ukraine peace talks been left?
08:55 , Arpan RaiPeace talks between Russia and Ukraine have been on hold since February, when the United States shifted focus to its new war in the Middle East.
Moscow and Kyiv walked away from talks in Geneva no closer to a deal, as Ukraine suggested the US was unfairly demanding Kyiv alone make concessions to end the war.
Volodymyr Zelensky said the last round of direct talks had been “difficult” and accused Russia of deliberately stalling, with the issue of territory still in dispute.
What does either side want?
Russia insists on its demands for Ukrainian territory and the withdrawal of forces from its borders.
Ukraine insists it needs clear security guarantees from allies to stop Russia reopening the conflict and says it cannot and will not give up territory sought by Russia.
The lands in the east include industry heavy regions and Ukraine’s belt of ‘fortress cities’ to protect against invasion.
Will talks start again?
Volodymyr Zelensky said late in April that he was keen to meet with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart, in an effort to restart negotiations.
While Ukraine claimed a string of wins on the ground, Zelensky warned that US attention on the war with Iran was soaking up resources and leaving Ukraine with critical shortages of air defences.
But the Kremlin said Putin would only meet Zelensky in Moscow for the purpose of finalising agreements on the conflict.
Turkey said it was making efforts to restart talks and bring together the leaders, after hosting delegations in July 2025.
Ukraine's top negotiator in Miami to meet Trump's envoys for peace talks
08:35 , Arpan RaiUkraine's top negotiator Rustem Umerov arrived in Miami for meetings with US negotiators yesterday on moving toward a peace accord.
Umerov left Ukraine for the US on Wednesday, an official told Politico.
“He will meet representatives of the US president to discuss diplomatic and security issues,” the official said, referring to US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and US president Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Zelensky said that achieving peace in Europe was the best way to honour those who fought against Nazi Germany.
"Just as 81 years ago, so now America can help peace with a just and strong stance against the aggressor," he said.
"And it is important that the American people now view Russia precisely in this way – as an aggressor."
Russia says 13 airports halt operations due to drone attack
08:23 , Arpan RaiRussia's transport ministry has suspended operations at 13 airports in the south of the country due to a drone attack.
“Operations at the regional centre in Rostov-on-Don, which manages air traffic in southern Russia, have been temporarily suspended after [a] Ukrainian drone struck the administrative building of the ‘Southern Russia Air Navigation’ branch," the ministry said.
There were no casualties, it added.
In photos: Security heightened at Red Square in Moscow ahead of Victory Parade
08:09 , Arpan Rai
Zelensky says Putin's war commemoration ceasefire shows 'strange and twisted logic'
08:02 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia's proclamation of a limited ceasefire for its Second World War commemorations exposed the "strange and twisted" logic of its leaders.
Speaking in his nightly video address in the final hours before the Russian ceasefire went into effect at midnight (2100 GMT), Zelensky said Moscow wanted "to hold their parade, to go out onto the square safely for an hour once a year, and then continue killing, killing our people and waging war".
“The Russians are already talking about strikes after 9 May. A strange and certainly twisted logic from the Russian leadership,” he said.
There were no reports of Russian strikes or other military activity after the deadline passed.
Air raid alerts had been announced for some Ukrainian regions in the final hours before it went into effect and the air force listed one brief alert for southeastern Ukraine after midnight.
Zelensky's comments appeared to have been prepared before Russia's defence ministry announced an expanded ceasefire – from midnight on 8 May until 10 May – to mark the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War.
The Russians want Ukraine’s permission to hold their parade – so they can safely take to the square for an hour once a year, and then go back to killing *our* people and waging war. The Russians are already talking about strikes after May 9. A strange and certainly twisted logic… pic.twitter.com/AGAdYIBwbE
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 7, 2026
Moscow says it is responding to Ukrainian ceasefire violations
07:36 , Arpan RaiRussia says Ukraine has repeatedly violated its ceasefire, a unilateral measure announced by Vladimir Putin that came into force at midnight and is due to run until the end of Sunday.
“Despite the declaration of a ceasefire, Ukrainian armed groups continued to launch attacks using drones and artillery against the positions of our troops, as well as against civilian targets in the border areas of the Belgorod and Kursk regions," a statement from the Russian defence ministry said.
It did not acknowledge Russia’s own violations of Ukraine’s ceasefire, which had been in effect since Wednesday.
"In these circumstances, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation responded in kind to the ceasefire violations. They launched retaliatory strikes against multiple launch rocket systems, artillery and mortar positions. They targeted command posts and UAV launch sites,” the ministry said.
Zelensky says Ukraine hit oil facility deep inside Russia
07:18 , Arpan RaiUkrainian forces have badly damaged an oil facility deep inside Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky said this morning.
“Yaroslavl, more than 700km from Ukraine’s state border. An oil sector facility that was of great importance for financing Russia’s war,” Zelensky said of the target in a post on his X account, sharing a nine-second close up video of the strike.
“I thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our military intelligence for this manifestation of justice. Ukraine’s long-range sanctions continued in response to Russian strikes on our cities and villages. Russia must choose genuine peace, and only strong pressure will ensure that,” he said.
Yaroslavl, more than 700 kilometers from Ukraine’s state border. An oil sector facility that was of great importance for financing Russia’s war.
I thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our military intelligence for this manifestation of justice. Ukraine’s long-range sanctions… pic.twitter.com/42OeP0K44t
EU preparing for talks with Putin after receiving Zelensky's go-ahead
07:09 , Arpan RaiEuropean Council president Antonio Costa says EU leaders are preparing for direct talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“I’m talking with the EU’s 27 national leaders to see the best way to organise ourselves and to identify what we need effectively to discuss with Russia when it comes the right moment to do this,” Costa told the Financial Times.
He said there was “potential” for the EU to negotiate with Putin and that the bloc has clearance from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to do so after a summit of EU leaders in Cyprus last month.
Zelensky “invited us to be prepared to contribute positively for negotiation”, he said.
Russia says Ukraine attacks country with drones
06:39 , Arpan RaiUkrainian drones attacked industrial facilities in Russia's Perm region, governor Dmitry Makhonin said this morning.
Russia has called for its own ceasefire for 8 May to 10 May, when it celebrates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany and holds a military parade in Moscow.
The Russian Defence Ministry said that at least 264 Ukrainian drones had been downed between midnight and 0700 Moscow time.
Putin's security tightened for Victory Day events, says Kremlin
06:04 , Arpan RaiExtra security measures are being put in place for Russian president Vladimir Putin in case of a Ukrainian attack on 9 May during celebrations marking the anniversary of victory in the Second World War.
"You know that on the eve of major holidays, and, of course, perhaps most importantly, Victory Day in our country, additional security measures are always taken by the relevant special services," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Peskov said such measures were especially necessary this year because of what he called the "terrorist threat" from Ukraine.
Asked whether Putin's own security was being tightened for the same reason, Peskov replied: "Of course."
Putin’s scaled-back parade shows Ukraine war has depleted Russian military
05:56 , Arpan RaiSpeaking to the BBC, Russian officials have defended the decision to carry out this year's 9 May Victory Day parade in a slimmed-down form, without the usual display of weaponry such as tanks and missiles.
Officials said they need their war tanks to be on the battlefield, signalling that the Kremlin does not have enough weaponry to spare even for an hour's display.
"Our tanks are busy right now," Russian MP Yevgeny Popov told BBC.
"They are fighting. We need them more on the battlefield than on Red Square."
On being asked if the parade is being scaled back, he said: "What other choice do we have?"
"Nato countries, Ukraine and Great Britain's weapons, your king and your prime minister, are threatening us,” Popov told BBC’s Steve Rosenberg.
In recent years, Putin has used the occasion to rally Russians behind the war in Ukraine, portraying his modern-day soldiers as heroes following in the footsteps of those who defended the country in the Second World War.
Zelensky says he doesn't recommend foreign leaders attend Moscow parade
05:45 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine "doesn't recommend" that foreign representatives attend the parade in Moscow after Russia threatened retaliation if its unilateral ceasefire was violated.
"They want permission from Ukraine to hold their parade, so they can safely march onto the square for one hour once a year, and then go back to killing our people and waging war again," Zelensky said in his evening address.
He said some Russia-friendly countries reached out to Ukraine about their officials' plans to attend the 9 May parade in Moscow.
"An odd desire… these days. We don't recommend it," he added.
Ukraine says Gripen fighter jet deal could be signed within months
05:34 , Arpan RaiUkraine's purchase of Saab-made Gripen fighter jets could be signed within months, the country's defence minister said yesterday as he visited his Swedish counterpart in Stockholm.
The countries last year signed a letter of intent that could see Sweden supply up to 150 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine.
With the first deliveries estimated at three years away from any deal being finalised, the planes are seen as a priority for Ukraine's post-war fighter fleet – but there have been questions about funding.
"We have our plan how to finance it," Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
"I think in a few months it will be good news for your country, for our country and bad news for Russians," he told a joint press conference.
Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson told Reuters after the press conference that negotiations were going well and did not rule out a deal this year for the Gripens, Saab's fourth generation fighter jet that is seen as a cost effective alternative to Lockheed Martin's F-35.
Watch: Zelensky warns foreign leaders against attending Moscow parade
05:09 , Arpan RaiRussia declares ceasefire with Ukraine to mark Second World War anniversary
05:07 , Arpan RaiRussia's defence ministry said on Thursday that Moscow had declared a ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine from midnight on 8 May until 10 May to mark the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
"During the celebration of the 81st anniversary of the Soviet people's victory in the Great Patriotic War, from midnight on 8 May to 10 May, the Russian side is declaring a ceasefire," the ministry said on Telegram.
Russian president Vladimir Putin had on Monday declared a two-day ceasefire would be observed.
Nato fighter jets scrambled as drones from Russia crashed into oil storage facility
04:41 , Arpan RaiTwo drones entered Nato member Latvia from Russian territory and crashed on Thursday morning, the Latvian army has confirmed.
Latvia's defence minister Andris Spruds told national broadcaster LSM that the drones were "probably launched by Ukraine against targets in Russia."
Military jets from the multinational Nato Baltic air policing mission were subsequently summoned to the site.
Four empty oil tanks were damaged on Thursday morning at a storage facility in Rezekne, about 40km (25 miles) from the Russian border. Possible debris of a crashed drone was found at the site, police and firefighters said.
The firefighters extinguished a smouldering area of around 30 square metres in one of the tanks.
Nato fighter jets scrambled as Russia drones crashed into oil depot
Russia summons Armenia's envoy over Zelensky's comments on war commemoration
04:37 , Arpan RaiThe Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday it summoned the Armenian ambassador over what it described as "terrorist threats against Russia" voiced by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Armenia.
A ministry statement said the ambassador was told it was "absolutely inadmissible" to provide the means, during an EU-sponsored gathering on Monday for "the ringleader of the Kyiv Nazi regime, V. Zelensky, to voice terrorist threats against Russia" in connection with Russia's Victory Day commemorations.
The statement said there was "justified indignation" in Moscow over Zelensky's "outrageous behaviour" and the absence of Armenian criticism.
Russia's Defence Ministry had earlier responded to what it saw as threats by Zelensky by saying Moscow's military would launch a retaliatory strike against Kyiv if Ukraine disrupted ceremonies marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova doubled down on that statement, telling diplomatic missions to take Moscow's warnings seriously and evacuate their staff in good time.
In his comments in Armenia, Zelensky noted that Moscow had said its commemorative parade would proceed without displays of military hardware, adding: "It will be the first time in many, many years they cannot afford military equipment and they fear drones may buzz over Red Square. This is telling."
Where have Ukraine peace talks been left?
04:35 , Arpan RaiPeace talks between Russia and Ukraine have been on hold since February, when the United States shifted focus to its new war in the Middle East.
Moscow and Kyiv walked away from talks in Geneva no closer to a deal, as Ukraine suggested the US was unfairly demanding Kyiv alone make concessions to end the war.
Volodymyr Zelensky said the last round of direct talks had been “difficult” and accused Russia of deliberately stalling, with the issue of territory still in dispute.
What does either side want?
Russia insists on its demands for Ukrainian territory and the withdrawal of forces from its borders.
Ukraine insists it needs clear security guarantees from allies to stop Russia reopening the conflict and says it cannot and will not give up territory sought by Russia.
The lands in the east include industry heavy regions and Ukraine’s belt of ‘fortress cities’ to protect against invasion.
Will talks start again?
Volodymyr Zelensky said late in April that he was keen to meet with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart, in an effort to restart negotiations.
While Ukraine claimed a string of wins on the ground, Zelensky warned that US attention on the war with Iran was soaking up resources and leaving Ukraine with critical shortages of air defences.
But the Kremlin said Putin would only meet Zelensky in Moscow for the purpose of finalising agreements on the conflict.
Turkey said it was making efforts to restart talks and bring together the leaders, after hosting delegations in July 2025.
Ukraine's top negotiator in Miami to meet Trump's envoys for peace talks
04:31 , Arpan RaiUkraine's top negotiator Rustem Umerov arrived in Miami for meetings with US negotiators yesterday on moving toward a peace accord.
Umerov left Ukraine for the US on Wednesday, an official told Politico.
“He will meet representatives of the US president to discuss diplomatic and security issues,” the official said, referring to US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and US president Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Zelensky said that achieving peace in Europe was the best way to honour those who fought against Nazi Germany.
"Just as 81 years ago, so now America can help peace with a just and strong stance against the aggressor," he said.
"And it is important that the American people now view Russia precisely in this way – as an aggressor."
Zelensky says Putin's war commemoration ceasefire shows 'strange and twisted logic'
04:22 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia's proclamation of a limited ceasefire for its Second World War commemorations exposed the "strange and twisted" logic of its leaders.
Speaking in his nightly video address in the final hours before the Russian ceasefire went into effect at midnight (2100 GMT), Zelensky said Moscow wanted "to hold their parade, to go out onto the square safely for an hour once a year, and then continue killing, killing our people and waging war".
“The Russians are already talking about strikes after 9 May. A strange and certainly twisted logic from the Russian leadership,” he said.
There were no reports of Russian strikes or other military activity after the deadline passed.
Air raid alerts had been announced for some Ukrainian regions in the final hours before it went into effect and the air force listed one brief alert for southeastern Ukraine after midnight.
Zelensky's comments appeared to have been prepared before Russia's defence ministry announced an expanded ceasefire – from midnight on 8 May until 10 May – to mark the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War.
The Russians want Ukraine’s permission to hold their parade – so they can safely take to the square for an hour once a year, and then go back to killing *our* people and waging war. The Russians are already talking about strikes after May 9. A strange and certainly twisted logic… pic.twitter.com/AGAdYIBwbE
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 7, 2026
Moscow mayor says more than 50 drones intercepted by Russia
04:16 , Arpan RaiRussian air defence units have intercepted more than 50 drones heading for Moscow over a period of about 15 hours, mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.
The running total of drones downed between about 11am (0800 GMT) on Thursday and 2am on Friday exceeded 50, Sobyanin said in a long series of dispatches on Telegram announcing the interception of drones throughout Thursday.
Russia's defence ministry said it would observe a three-day ceasefire starting at midnight on the night of 7 May to 8 May until 10 May in connection with commemorations of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
Emergency crews were examining debris on the ground, he said.
Russia's defence ministry, posting separately on Telegram, said 95 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted over a four-hour period ending at midnight in various regions of central and southern Russia.
Briefing: What we know on the 1,534th day of Ukraine war
04:09 , Arpan Rai- With hours to go for Russian president Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day parade in Moscow, Russian officials say more than 50 drones headed for the capital have been destroyed and nearly 100 drones attacked Russia till midnight
- Ukraine’s Zelensky calls out “strange and inappropriate” logic of Putin to hold his “parade, to go out onto the square safely for an hour once a year, and then continue killing, killing our people and waging war"
- Ukraine's top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, lands in Miami for meetings with US negotiators on moving toward a peace accord, Zelensky says