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Ukraine Truce: Did Putin Break His Word? - Militaristic Standstill in Ukraine: Does Putin Disregard His Vow?
The smoke from Putin's cannon-blasting grin in Moscow had barely settled when the Ukrainian-Russian standoff returned with a bang. You'd think a three-day truce—promise, not a demand—would've been enough for both sides to catch their breath and celebrate the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazis. Not so! After midnight on Putin's mandated ceasefire, it was the Ukrainian Air Force reporting guided bomb launches by Russian aircraft over Sumy. But wait, there's more! Nighttime attacks in the Russian city of Lipetsk caught Governor Igor Artamonov's eye (or ear) on Telegram, but we couldn't verify the claims.
Déjà vu, anyone? Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945, in Reims, but there was another signing the next night in Berlin-Karlshorst at the Soviet's behest. So, while many celebrate the end of WWII on May 8, Russia rolls out the red carpet for Victory Day on May 9.
But, let's get back to the action, shall we? Ukraine doesn't seem to trust Putin's truce, and for good reason. They rejected the idea and cited safety concerns for guests attending the Moscow military parade. It's like inviting a raging bull to a tea party and giving it a punching bag.
Ukraine Wants a 30-Day Party Pause
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that their truce proposal of 30 days isn't going anywhere—a chance to let diplomacy do its dance. Zelenskyy made this clear during his Wednesday evening video address. He's a busy guy in Ukraine, keeping those drones at bay. Yes, those pesky drones grounded dozens of planes around Moscow for almost two days, messing with over 60,000 passengers. Talk about a travel nightmare!
Sadly, the truce brought no respite for these travelers, and the military clamor didn't subside either. Russian attacks with rockets and drones rained down on Ukraine throughout Wednesday, and nightfall didn't make things better. Fires popped up in Kyiv, claiming two lives. Other areas, like Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk, saw guided bomb attacks, leaving the status of the ground fighting in limbo.
Xi Jinping's Visit Amid Swirling Dust
Chinese President Xi Jinping is joining the party in Moscow. Their scheduled bilateral talks on Thursday might bring some long-planned agreements to fruition, like the construction of a gas pipeline. But, arriving guests have already witnessed the war's spectacle—not the celebratory kind.
Putin's Admirers, Despite the West's Absence
Putin expects a grand total of 29 foreign delegations for his Victory Day, even though the West is giving him a cold shoulder. Most guests will hail from former Soviet republics or Russia's pals. High-profile attendees include Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, Cuba's Miguel Díaz-Canel, Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Kremlin is Unimpressed by US Peace Push
The US isn't too thrilled with Putin's shoes dragging peace efforts. They say the Kremlin's demands are too much, and direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv are the answer. The US Vice President, JD Vance, expressed this at a Munich Security Conference event. Meanwhile, President Trump was less subtle: "I'm not happy with it."
Ukraine's Parliament Prepares to Dance with the US
Ukraine's parliament is looking to jive with the US through a recently signed resource agreement. The plan is to set up a joint investment fund to revamp Ukraine post-war, with the US tapping into Ukrainian mineral resources.
The EU Spins a 17th Sanctions Web
The EU is preparing a 17th package of sanctions against Russia, with possible penalties for companies from Russia, Turkey, and China involved in bypassing current sanctions or supporting Russia's defense industry.
A Final Dance with the EU and the Future
After two days of discussions on the EU stage in Warsaw, EU-US relationships under the new administration, as well as the admission of aspiring members, will get their special waltz. Consider it a warm-up for the more challenging dance with Putin as we try to make sense of his ceasefire capers.
Guest Stars:
- Vladimir Putin
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Ceasefire
- Diplomacy
- Xi Jinping
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Military Attacks
- Foreign Guests
- Sanctions
- Turkey
- China
- EU
- Germany
- The European Union and its Member States have announced they are preparing a 17th package of sanctions against Russia, potentially imposing penalties on companies from Turkey, China, and Russia itself for bypassing current sanctions or supporting Russia's defense industry.
- The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has insisted on a 30-day truce between his country and Russia, hoping it would create a space for diplomacy to make progress amidst ongoing military attacks in both nations that have claimed lives and disrupted travel.
- While the West is cold-shouldering Putin amidst Putin's Ceasefire Chaos, several foreign delegations, including those from Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil, and Palestine, have expressed their support and attended Putin's Victory Day celebrations.
- President Xi Jinping of China is in Moscow for scheduled bilateral talks with Putin, amidst the escalating war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, potentially leading to long-planned agreements such as the construction of a gas pipeline.
- General news reports indicate ongoing political and policy-and-legislation discussions among Ukraine, the EU, and the US regarding future cooperation, military action, and sanctions against Russia, attempting to resolve conflicts in the context of the complex politics of war-and-conflicts.
