On Friday (May 3), the Kremlin in Russia called on Ukraine to clearly respond to President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire and criticized Ukraine for its vague response and historical inaccuracies.
Putin recently announced that as a tribute to the Soviet Union and its allies’ victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War 80 years ago, Russia will unilaterally implement a 72-hour ceasefire from May 8 to 10 to show respect and commemoration.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the proposal, stating that a brief ceasefire would have no substantive meaning and reiterated that only a ceasefire of at least 30 days could help advance the peace process. He also warned that due to the ongoing conflict, Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of any foreign dignitaries attending the May 9 military parade in Moscow.
In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Zelenskyy’s remarks constituted a “threat.” Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, further warned in a post on Telegram that if Ukraine launched an attack on Moscow on Victory Day, the safety of Kyiv could not be guaranteed. He wrote, ” (Zelenskyy) understands that if a real provocation occurs on Victory Day, no one can guarantee that Kyiv can hold out until May 10.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin’s proposal for a ceasefire was to test whether Ukraine truly intends to seek a peaceful solution. He emphasized, “Ukraine’s response to this initiative will be the basis for assessing its peace intentions. We look forward to a clear and unequivocal stance, rather than ambiguous statements. Especially during public holidays, sincerity and action to ease the conflict should be demonstrated.”
Additionally, Peskov expressed dissatisfaction with Ukrainian soldiers being invited to participate in the WWII commemoration event organized by the UK, accusing the West of “distorting history” and downplaying the Soviet Union’s contributions. Western countries, including the UK, emphasized that the event aims to commemorate all those who fought against fascist regimes and express support for Ukraine’s defense of freedom.
Currently, there are significant differences between Russia and Ukraine regarding the ceasefire and peace negotiations. Ukraine insists on Russia unconditionally ceasing all hostilities as a negotiation prerequisite, while Russia hopes to test Ukraine’s negotiation sincerity through a short-term ceasefire and advocates for direct dialogue without preconditions.
As Victory Day on May 9 approaches, the tug-of-war between the two sides over the ceasefire issue continues, with the international community closely monitoring the situation.
(This article referenced relevant reports from Reuters)