Ukraine war live ticker: +++ 01:55 Great Britain takes action against shadow fleet: Sanctions against 100 tankers +++

The UK will impose sanctions on up to 100 oil tankers belonging to the so-called Russian shadow fleet. According to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office, this is the UK's largest package of measures against the shadow fleet to date. The ships in question have transported cargo worth over $24 billion since the beginning of last year and are suspected of being involved in damaging critical infrastructure. Starmer will announce the measures at a summit of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) security alliance in Oslo. Founded in 2014, the group of ten northern European states, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden, was established under British leadership and serves as a complement to broader cooperation within the NATO military alliance.

+++ 00:53 Ukrainian Parliament Ratifies Raw Materials Agreement +++ The Ukrainian parliament has ratified the agreement with the US to create a joint reconstruction fund. 338 members voted in favor of the bill, reports the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. 226 votes would have been needed. The fund also gives the United States access to natural resources. President Zelenskyy wrote on X that the agreement is "a truly historic document that opens up many opportunities for cooperation." Two more agreements with the technical details are to follow next week. "The US is ready to invest in our economy and our resources. Ukraine retains ownership of the natural resources," said Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, according to public broadcaster.

+++ 11:27 PM Trump wants 30-day ceasefire +++ US President Trump is demanding a 30-day unconditional ceasefire from Russia and Ukraine. Both states are responsible for compliance, Trump writes on his Truth Social page. "If the ceasefire is not observed, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions." Almost simultaneously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared in his evening video address that he had assured Trump in a phone call of his country's immediate readiness for such a ceasefire. The US mooted a 30-day ceasefire in March.

+++ 10:54 PM Foreign Minister Wadephul is in Ukraine +++ The new Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, has arrived for his first visit to Ukraine. The CDU politician will attend an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers tomorrow in Lviv, western Ukraine. His Ukrainian counterpart, Andrij Sybiha, is also expected to attend. Wadephul traveled from the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Warsaw to Berlin this morning for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in the Bundestag.

+++ 10:12 p.m. Merz assures Zelensky of Germany's solidarity +++ Chancellor Friedrich Merz has assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Germany's solidarity. Both sides agreed that Russia must agree to a ceasefire, government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius announced. Both acknowledged the mediation efforts of US President Donald Trump. Merz pointed to the solidarity with France, Great Britain, and other European partners in aiding Ukraine and the pressure on Russia.

+++ 9:40 p.m. Wirecard manager Marsalek spoke with spy about drones for Russia +++ According to British court documents, fugitive Wirecard manager Jan Marsalek is said to have spoken with Russian spies about arms deals and other deals. Marsalek discussed the procurement of drones for the war in Ukraine, the trade in blood diamonds, and the provision of mercenaries in Africa with the head of a UK-based spy ring, Orlin Roussev, according to documents at the trial in London on Thursday. In connection with wheat deliveries to Cameroon, Roussev reportedly stated that weapons could also be ordered. "We can organize pretty much anything they need, except nuclear weapons (...) even nuclear weapons, if they pay," Marsalek reportedly stated.

+++ 9:03 p.m. Ukraine allies want to give green light for special tribunal +++ Ukraine and its European allies want to give the green light on Friday for the establishment of a special tribunal to punish the crime of "aggression" against Ukraine in Russia's war of aggression. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Warsaw on Thursday that formal approval for the tribunal would be given during a visit by EU foreign ministers to the Ukrainian city of Lviv. The establishment of a special tribunal for the Ukraine war is being pushed forward by the European Union, the Council of Europe, Ukraine, and several other states. It is intended to punish the crime of "aggression" against Ukraine and hold those politically and militaryly responsible in Russia accountable. However, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague will remain responsible for punishing war crimes in the Ukraine war.

+++ 8:25 PM Putin and Zelensky congratulate Pope - Ukraine hopes for support +++ Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has congratulated the new Pope Leo XIV on his election. In the telegram published by the Kremlin, he expressed confidence that "the constructive dialogue and interaction between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop on the basis of the Christian values ​​that unite us." At the same time, he wished the new Pope "much success in fulfilling the high task entrusted to you, as well as health and well-being." The Russian head of state's short telegram to the Pontiff ended, "With respect, Vladimir Putin." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Leo XIV. "Ukraine highly appreciates the consistent stance of the Holy See in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federation's military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians," Zelensky wrote on X.

+++ 7:55 PM Zelenskyy calls Merz +++ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on his election by phone. "We rely on Germany to continue playing a key role in supporting Ukraine – both in protecting our people and in post-war reconstruction," Zelenskyy wrote on the X platform, referring to the war against Russia. There is "great potential" for a German-Ukrainian partnership, and therefore work on "many important issues" has been agreed upon, Zelenskyy emphasized. He did not provide details. Merz has pledged continued support for Ukraine. "That was important to hear, and I am grateful for it." Zelenskyy was one of the first foreign politicians to congratulate Merz on the X social network immediately after his election to the Bundestag on Tuesday.

+++ 7:30 p.m. European foreign ministers travel together to Ukraine +++ According to EU foreign minister Kaja Kallas, a meeting of European foreign ministers will take place in Ukraine this Friday. "Tomorrow we are traveling to Ukraine, and we will provide one billion euros for the Ukrainian defense industry," she said after an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Polish capital, Warsaw. This is another "very important signal" for Ukraine. In Russia, a large military parade on Moscow's Red Square this Friday will commemorate the victory over Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in 1945. The weapons display is also considered an important demonstration of Moscow's power.

+++ 7:01 PM EU disburses another billion-euro loan to Ukraine +++ The European Commission has disbursed the fourth tranche of its extraordinary macro-financial assistance (MFA) loan to Ukraine. "The EU continues to support Ukraine – politically, financially, economically, and militarily," said EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in a statement. "Today, we are disbursing another billion euros as part of the extraordinary G7 initiative of up to 45 billion euros."

You can read all previous developments here.