Ukraine and Russia Continue Fighting Despite US-Mediated Ceasefire

Despite a three-day ceasefire mediated by the United States under President Donald Trump, intense fighting persists between Russia and Ukraine along their extensive front line. The temporary halt in hostilities, agreed upon for May 9 to May 11, has been marred by mutual accusations of violations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that while large-scale aerial attacks ceased, Russian forces continued ground assaults and drone strikes, prompting Ukrainian defensive responses. Conversely, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed over 23,000 ceasefire violations by Ukraine, citing retaliatory strikes on military infrastructure. Casualties were reported in both countries, including deaths in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions and an attack in Russia’s Belgorod region. While President Vladimir Putin suggested the war might be ending and proposed negotiations with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, European Union foreign ministers rejected this overture, expressing deep skepticism about Russia’s sincerity. The breakdown of the truce highlights the fragility of current peace efforts after more than four years of conflict following Russia’s 2022 invasion.