The war continues. Zelensky promised that similar strikes will be made in response to Russian strikes. This means that the May 9 parade may also be in jeopardy.
Viacheslav Madiievskyi / Ukrinform / SIPA / Scanpix / LETA
Russia and Ukraine announced a temporary ceasefire on May 4 – but they could not agree on their decision. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced that there will be a “truce in honor of the Victory Day” on May 8-9. In response, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine will start the “mode of silence” earlier – on the night of May 6. The hostilities did not stop. Ukraine accused Russia of violating the “regime of silence” and announced that there would be no ceasefire on May 9. Below is a look at how things unfolded.
April 29
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Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump spoke by phone. According to the Kremlin’s version, the President of the Russian Federation proposed a ceasefire during the Victory Day celebrations. According to Trump’s version, he actually offered Putin a “short-term truce.”
April 30
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Volodymyr Zelensky instructed his representatives to contact Trump’s team and find out “what exactly is going on.” Ukraine’s proposal was a “long-term ceasefire”.
April 30
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The Kremlin has announced that Russia intends to cease firing on Victory Day, regardless of whether Ukraine agrees to do the same.
May 4
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The message of the Ministry of Defense of Russia stated that by Putin’s decision, Russia is declaring a ceasefire lasting for two days – May 8 and 9. The ministry stated that if Ukraine tries to disrupt the Victory Day celebration, Russian troops will “strike the center of Kyiv with missiles.”
May 4
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Zelensky announced a “mode of silence” starting on the night of May 6. “From the appointed time, we will act in the same way,” said the President of Ukraine. People in Moscow did not react to this.
May 6
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The “regime of silence” announced by Zelensky has come into force. Ukraine’s armed forces reported that Russia attacked Ukraine with three missiles and 108 drones. Kiev accused Moscow of violating the “regime of silence”. In turn, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the air defense forces repelled 53 Ukrainian drone attacks in the regions of Russia and the Black Sea region at night.
The second half of May 6
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Zelensky said that Russia refused to “keep silence and save human lives”.
May 6 evening
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The Kyiv Independent, citing a senior Ukrainian official, reported that Ukraine “sees no sense” in following the Victory Day ceasefire. Sources in the Ukrainian government told the BBC that Zelensky “has not yet made a decision about May 9”: “He (Zelensky) decides day by day in such conditions, that is, if they attack today, then we will attack tomorrow.”
May 6 evening
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Zelensky said the Russian government was assembling air defense equipment in Moscow ahead of the May 9 parade. In his opinion, this will create an “additional opportunity” for Ukrainian strikes. “This shows that the Russian government is not preparing for a ceasefire, despite the many statements it has made, and is more concerned about the parade in Moscow than the protection of the entire territory of Russia,” he believes.
May 7
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Zelensky said that Ukraine will retaliate in equal measure to Russian strikes. According to the president of Ukraine, the Russian army attacked Ukraine with drones, missiles and aerial bombs from the beginning of the day.
“All this shows that Russia is not seriously considering the possibility of a ceasefire, and the only thing that worries the Russian leadership is the short-term silence on Red Square. Russia continues to kill people and, with absolute bias, mourns a few hours of silence in a part of Moscow.
Ukraine acts on the basis of justice. We offered silence from midnight on May 6. This regime is being violated by Russia yesterday and today. The response to Russian strikes will be the same – long-range strikes. If Russia is ready to go to diplomacy, we will also follow the path of diplomacy,” said Volodymyr Zelensky.
