Russian military forces will observe a unilateral ceasefire on May 8 and 9 to coincide with “Victory Day”, the historic parade in Russia which celebrates the victory of Soviet forces over the Nazis during World War II. This is what Vladimir Putin decided, after fears related to the safety of the celebrations due to possible Ukrainian attacks, to which are added internal tensions, leaked in intelligence reports, about possible coups d’état. For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a ceasefire starting at midnight between May 5 and 6.
The “unilateral” truce: missile attack on the center of Kiev in case of violation
As confirmed by the Ministry of Defense: “In accordance with a decision of the Supreme Commander of the Military Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, a ceasefire has been decreed from May 8 to 9,” the ministry wrote in a post published on the instant messaging channel Max.
If Ukraine attempts to attack the Victory Day celebrations scheduled for May 9 in Moscow, Russia will launch a massive missile retaliation on central Kiev in violation of the announced unilateral truce. “If the Kiev regime attempts to implement its criminal plans to disrupt the celebrations of the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will launch a massive retaliatory missile attack on the center of Kiev,” the ministry said in a statement. “Despite its capabilities, Russia has refrained from such actions in the past for humanitarian reasons,” Moscow reminded.
“We warn the civilian population of Kiev and employees of foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the city immediately,” the statement read.
Zelensky: “Cynical and dishonest proposal”
For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this is a “cynical” and “dishonest” proposal. Speaking to journalists in Yerevan, where Giorgia Meloni was also present, Zelensky said that “this is Russia’s war against Ukraine. A one-day ceasefire, and before it killing our people, is, to put it mildly, dishonest. Today Merefa, yesterday Dnipro: dead, wounded, adults, children. After all this, saying: let’s stop for a day to have a parade is not serious,” Zelensky said, adding that Moscow has not yet officially informed Ukraine about the temporary ceasefire agreements. Zelensky added that there are no holidays in Ukraine and that after May 9 the Russians “will go back to killing”.
“To date – he writes on Russian leaders take concrete action to end the war, especially considering that the Russian Ministry of Defense believes it cannot organize a parade in Moscow without Ukraine’s benevolence.”