May 11, 2025 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

President of France Emmanuel Macron, Prime Ministers of Poland Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer, and Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz called on russia to agree to a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire and assured of increased support for Ukraine. “We reiterate our backing for President Trump’s calls for a peace deal and call on russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace,” the joint statement reads. Also at the summit of the Coalition of the Willing, the participants agreed to use the threat of new sanctions as a tool to force russia to agree to a truce.

“We join Ukraine and international partners, including the United States, in calling for a full and unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days,” says the EU statement.

Chancellor of the FRG Friedrich Merz has pointed out that partner countries, in particular Germany, are ready to provide support to strengthen Ukraine’s Army as the main security guarantee of the state and to increase pressure on russia if it continues to delay peace talks.

Germany will significantly limit the information about the weapons it supplies to Ukraine. The main goal is “not to give the aggressor a military advantage in the war in Ukraine”.

“Solidarity means willingness to sacrifice. We are also here (in Kyiv) to demonstrate that Europe, our countries, are always ready to sacrifice a lot to support you. Because your struggle is our struggle. Because Ukraine, its soldiers and the entire state are fighting not only for their freedom, independence and integrity, but also for our countries – for Poland, for Germany, for the UK, for France – for Europe. And I am truly convinced of what I have just said,” said Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that the thirty-day ceasefire should be unconditional, and that any additional conditions from russia should be rejected, or new sanctions would be imposed on russia.

President of France Emmanuel Macron has said that proposals for the formation of a contingent for Ukraine to monitor the disengagement of forces on the demarcation line are being worked on daily. Emmanuel Macron also pointed out that his country is ready to help initiate direct negotiations between russia and Ukraine if a 30-day ceasefire is reached.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has endorsed the call by the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing for a 30-day ceasefire that could pave the way for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

“Within NATO, we have jointly agreed that Ukraine is on the path toward joining the defense Alliance, and that path is irreversible. Germany stands by this decision,” emphasized Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Johann Wadephul.

Special Envoy of the US President Keith Kellogg believes that a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire will begin the process of ending russia’s war against Ukraine.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has said that the European Union hopes that the United States will join the Coalition for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Ukraine and the Netherlands have signed a memorandum of understanding on the protection of critical infrastructure. “Critical infrastructure includes power plants, water supply systems and other vital facilities. Ukraine has been living under the pressure of attacks for many years, and today it is an example of resilience from which we can learn a lot,” said Minister of Justice and Security of the Netherlands David van Weel.

The Estonian Association of Rescuers has donated machinery, equipment and other gear for the psychological units of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has said that the EU is ready to impose tough sanctions against russia in case of violation of the ceasefire during a potential truce. “We support the proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire. It must be implemented without preconditions to pave the way for meaningful peace negotiations. The ball is now in russia’s court,” said the President of the European Commission.

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom  Keir Starmer has  announced the joint decision of the West not to ease sanctions against russia until the end of the negotiation process.

Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba has called on russia to take steps to establish a comprehensive ceasefire and achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Prime Minister of Denmark  Mette Frederiksen has once again called on putin to stop the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and not to threaten the security of Europe.

“The presence at the victory parade of a country (russia) that bombs cities, hospitals and kindergartens, and that has caused more than a million deaths and injuries over the past three years, is a shame,”  emphasized Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk.

President of France Emmanuel Macron has said that in case  of russia’s armed aggression against Poland, France would be able to deploy its troops on Polish territory within days.

President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda has said that the military exercise of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) called Tarassis25, which will be held simultaneously with the russian exercise “Zapad” (“West” – Transl.)  will be the largest in the history of this formation. The President of Lithuania has emphasized that the availability and demonstration of military capabilities in a unified format is the most effective deterrent to  russia. “The best deterrent to russia is the exercise, military determination, defense spending and unity,” he said.

Latvia’s police have opened 67 administrative proceedings and detained eight people for May 9 violations.

For the first time in the history of the runet, russian authorities practiced “a broad localized shutdown of mobile communications” due to a mass event.  From May 5 to May 9, users in 40 regions complained of problems with mobile internet, ranging from slow speeds to complete disconnections. There were also failures in geolocation services, and in some regions the location of users was not determined at all.

Starting May 12, “lada” cars in the rf will rise in price by an average of 35 thousand rubles. The reason for the price increase is inflation and rising production costs. This is the second price increase this year.

Authorities of Pakistan are discussing the possibility of labor migration to belarus. The Minister for  the Pakistani Affairs Abroad has said that citizens of Pakistan can   count on 198,000 vacancies in the rb, particularly in industry, agriculture and construction.

The Special Tribunal for  the crime of russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which is being prepared for putin and his associates, may also affect lukashenko and his subordinates.

In a resolution, MEPs condemned the “genocidal strategy” which is being  implemented by russia with the support of belarus against Ukrainian children. This strategy is aimed “at erasing the Ukrainian identity”, the document says. It is pointed out that “the forced transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children, their illegal adoption, killings, forced russification and militarization must end.”

Since the beginning of the year, EU countries have stopped more than 10 thousand attempts by migrants to illegally cross the border from belarus.

Lithuania is ready to refuse to host the European Futsal Championship in 2026 because of belarus’ participation. This position was voiced by Head of the Football Federation of Lithuania  Edgaras Stankevičius during his meeting with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.

Last year, the kgb of the rb  added at least seven educational projects to the list of extremist groups. Some of them had nothing to do with politics. The pressure on independent educational projects in belarus is not so much related to education itself as to the prohibition of any structures around which people can unite.