Hosting Victory Day celebrations, Putin instigates a three-day truce in Ukraine, initiating the cessation of hostilities.
In the midst of global leaders gathering in Moscow for World War II commemorations—Xi Jinping from China, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from Brazil, and Aleksandar Vucic from Serbia among them—the status of a ceasefire in Ukraine remained unclear. Despite Putin's unilateral call for a temporary truce to coincide with Moscow's Victory Day parade, the proposal was never agreed upon by Ukraine.
Kyiv reported that Russian forces launched air strikes in the eastern Sumy region early Thursday, although no damage or casualties were reported. Putin's ceasefire order had initially been met with aerial attacks by both sides, causing airport closures in Russia and taking the lives of two individuals in Ukraine.
Russian forces claimed they would honor the ceasefire during the holiday period, but vowed to respond immediately if attacked. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his call for a 30-day ceasefire in a Wednesday evening address, expressing disappointment at Russia's lack of response to the proposal.
Putin announced the ceasefire last month, presenting it as a "humanitarian" gesture following pressure from the United States to halt Russia's military assault on Ukraine. However, Putin had previously rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional ceasefire in March. Ukraine has expressed skepticism about Russia's commitment to the ceasefire and has accused Moscow of hundreds of violations during a previous truce.
Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, fired over 100 drones and multiple ballistic missiles at its neighbor between late Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her son in Ukraine[1]. The White House has expressed growing frustration regarding the lack of progress towards a peace deal, despite efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance called for direct talks between the two warring parties.
Russia commemorates Victory Day with a grand military parade on Red Square and an address from Putin. The parade, which took place on May 9, was expected to be attended by over 20 world leaders. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that measures were taken to ensure the celebration was calm, stable, and peaceful. Authorities also jammed internet connections ahead of the parade, citing the threat from Ukraine.
Visitors from outside Moscow to the heavily-policed capital appeared unfazed, with one student from Rostov-on-Don saying, "We are from Rostov-on-Don. Nothing scares us." However, scenes at Moscow and other city airports were more chaotic on Wednesday, as drone attacks by Ukraine forced airports to halt traffic[2]. Kyiv's drone attacks disrupted around 350 flights Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Russia's Association of Tour Operators[1].
Throughout the conflict, Ukraine's airspace has remained closed due to Russia's offensive, which started in February 2022.
[1] CNN, "Russia marks Victory Day with parade as it confronts Ukraine anew", May 9, 2022[2] BBC, "Russian Victory Day marked with military parade and tension over Ukraine", May 9, 2022[3] Reuters, "Update 1-Ukraine says Russia's 3-day ceasefire already breached hundreds of times", May 8, 2022
- The international community, gathered in Moscow for World War II commemorations, has been witness to the ongoing uncertainty regarding the ceasefire in Ukraine.
- Despite Putin's call for a temporary truce in Ukraine, coinciding with Moscow's Victory Day parade, it was never agreed upon by Ukraine.
- The unilateral ceasefire order by Putin was initially met with aerial attacks by both sides, causing airport closures in Russia and casualties in Ukraine.
- Russian forces launched air strikes in Ukraine's eastern Sumy region early Thursday, even though no damage or casualties were reported.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for a 30-day ceasefire, expressing his disappointment at Russia's lack of response to the proposal.
- Putin's ceasefire announcement last month was presented as a "humanitarian" gesture, following pressure from the United States to halt Russia's military assault on Ukraine.
- Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022, resulted in the deaths of a mother and her son in Ukraine, after firing over 100 drones and multiple ballistic missiles at its neighbor.
- Amidst the chaos of Ukraine's drone attacks disrupting around 350 flights, visitors from outside Moscow remained unfazed, expressing their bravery as being from Rostov-on-Don.
- Throughout the conflict, Ukraine's airspace has remained closed due to Russia's offensive, which started in February 2022, and the incident had been marked by numerous violations of the truce by Russia, according to Ukraine.
