Vladimir Putin is heading Russia’s Victory Day commemorations, which feature a parade in Red Square and heightened security measures following days of Ukrainian strikes targeting the capital. Over 20 international leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, are in Moscow to take part in the celebrations. Russia has declared a unilateral three-day ceasefire to coincide with the event, which Ukraine has described as a “theatrical show” intended to protect the parade. Despite the ceasefire, Ukraine’s military reports thousands of attacks since its enforcement on May 8. Moscow insists the ceasefire is being upheld and accuses Ukraine of numerous violations.
In the days leading up to the proposed truce, Moscow and Kyiv exchanged a series of strikes. Ukrainian drone attacks led to the cancellation of flights at airports across Russia, leaving around 60,000 passengers stranded. Heavy restrictions are now in place in central Moscow as Russia marks the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be among the guests, along with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is the only EU leader to attend the event in Moscow. The presence of China’s Xi on Victory Day is seen as a significant achievement for Putin, with the two men holding talks before the parade and discussing the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that he could not guarantee the safety of attendees and urged heads of state not to travel to Moscow. Mykhailo Samus, a Ukrainian military analyst, believes that Ukraine is unlikely to attack the parade due to the presence of foreign leaders. But should they decide to, it could be seen as a legitimate military target. Zelensky proposed a full ceasefire “starting right now” and called on Russia to support it, saying that “no missile or drone strikes, no hundreds of assaults on the front” should occur. Ukraine accuses Russia of violating its own truce thousands of times since its inception.
On the second day of the truce, Ukraine reported nearly 200 clashes along the front line, eighteen Russian air strikes, and almost four thousand instances of Russian shelling. In a village in the Zaporizhzhia region, a woman was reportedly killed after a Russian drone struck her car. Russia’s defense ministry claims that all groups of Russian forces in Ukraine “completely ceased combat operations” and “remained on the previously occupied lines and positions.” Responding in a “mirror-like manner” to Ukrainian violations, they accuse Ukraine of multiple violations.
Zelensky has consistently dismissed Putin’s proposal as a “game” and calls for a longer truce of at least 30 days, which is supported by Ukraine’s allies in Europe and the US. He claims to have spoken with US President Donald Trump to emphasize his readiness for a “long and lasting peace” and talks “in any format.” Trump reiterated the call for an unconditional ceasefire and warned of further sanctions for any party failing to adhere to it.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly3807exyno
