Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced a ceasefire with Russia until Wednesday (6 May), after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a pause in hostilities on 8-9 May to mark the 81st anniversary of Soviet Russia’s victory over Nazi German in World War II.
Zelenskyy said the ceasefire would begin at midnight on Tuesday, adding that there had been no “official appeal” from Moscow to Kyiv about the 8-9 May ceasefire announced by the Russian Defence Ministry on Monday.
Writing on X, he said, “We believe that human life is far more valuable than any anniversary ‘celebration.’”
“It is time for Russian leaders to take real steps to end their war,” he added.
Earlier, the Russian Defence Ministry issued a statement on Telegram, saying Putin had declared a ceasefire between 8 May and 9 May due to the anniversary of Victory Day, Russia’s biggest public holiday.
“We expect the Ukrainian side to follow this example,” the Ministry added.
Last week, the Kremlin announced it would scale back Victory Day parades on Red Square because of a “terrorist threat” from Ukraine.
Speaking at the 8th European Political Community summit in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Monday, Zelenskyy said the development showed that Moscow was “no longer as strong” as it used to be.
He added that the Russian government was scared that "drones will fly over Red Square.”
In its statement on Telegram, the Russian Defence Ministry dubbed Zelenskyy’s comments as “threats,” warning that any attempt to disrupt the Victory Day celebrations by Ukraine would result in “a retaliatory, massive missile strike” on the centre of Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said on Monday that a Russian missile attack on the town of Merefa in Kharkiv region killed six people and wounded more than 30 others. In Moscow, a Ukrainian drone hit a building but resulted in no casualties.
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