Russia is closing airports, and the EU is preparing for talks with Putin?

For now, the airports are closed until May 12, although the Russian aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, has stated that flights may resume earlier. The Ukrainian attack occurred on the morning of May 8. Flight restrictions are also in effect at airports in Moscow. Vnukovo Airport suspended operations, while flights at Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo airports were delayed or canceled. Ukrainian drones reportedly also struck targets in Grozny, Perm, and Yaroslavl, located about 700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The Kremlin unilaterally declared a ceasefire from May 8 to 10 to ensure security during the May 9 Victory Day parade. In response, the Ukrainian side proposed a ceasefire starting at midnight between May 5 and 6, which Russia reportedly rejected. President Zelenskyy suggested that Ukrainian drones might appear over Red Square in Moscow during the parade.

The Ukrainian offensive continues. Almost daily, reports emerge of new Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory. It is possible that the mood within the Kremlin is also shifting. In today’s conversation with journalists, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed Russia’s readiness for dialogue with European countries but stated that Moscow does not intend to initiate it. “Putin is ready to talk to anyone. He has said this many times,” Peskov told reporters. His remarks were a response to an article in the Financial Times, which reported on Thursday that European Council President António Costa announced that the European Union is preparing for potential peace talks with Vladimir Putin. Europe’s decision is linked to the deadlock in peace negotiations within the Ukraine–U.S.–Russia format. Talks conducted without the EU’s participation could lead to its marginalisation—an outcome that would be highly disproportionate given Europe’s significant involvement in the war in Ukraine.