A statement by Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov on May 10, 2025, in an interview with ABC News highlights the Kremlin's reluctance to compromise on peace without meeting its demands, complicating the prospects for a diplomatic solution to the conflict. A visit by European leaders to Kyiv and calls for peace from the West are being met with a tough Russian stance, threatening further escalation.

A ceasefire without halting military aid to Ukraine would give Kyiv a strategic advantage, allowing it to mobilize, train new troops and give active units a rest, Peskov said. He added that President Vladimir Putin was committed to a peaceful settlement.

The day before, the head of the Ukrainian President's Office, Andriy Yermak, reported on his Telegram channel about talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and representatives of the US presidential administration. The main focus was on the possibility of a ceasefire and prospects for a peaceful settlement. Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, has already expressed its readiness for a 30-day truce proposed by former US President Donald Trump. Trump, as reported by CNN, threatened sanctions in the event of non-compliance with the truce, but Moscow's tough stance puts the initiative at risk.

The visit to Kyiv by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on May 10 was a show of European solidarity. According to The Guardian, the leaders will discuss with Zelenskyy increased military support, including the supply of British Storm Shadow and French SCALP missiles, as well as economic aid to rebuild infrastructure. Germany, according to Politico, has allocated €10 billion for humanitarian needs, while Poland has proposed the concept of a NATO-led peacekeeping mission after a ceasefire.