Russia allegedly attackers civilians anew in Ukraine, a claim disputed by Kyiv as they labels Putin's trio-day truce proposal as hollow.
Rewritten Article:
Ukraine braced itself for another round of attacks as Russia unleashed a barrage of drones on civilian areas, leading to fatalities and injuries, officials announced on Tuesday. The unprovoked assault, which targeted the Dnipropetrovsk region, took the life of a 12-year-old girl and left three others, including a six-year-old, injured.
The Russian aggression came a day after their President, Vladimir Putin, declared a 72-hour truce, starting May 8, as a symbolic gesture to commemorate Victory Day—the anniversary of Russia's victory over Nazi Germany. However, Ukrainian officials remain skeptical, labeling Putin's peace bid a ploy to deceive the West.
In addition to the attacked in Dnipropetrovsk, Russia carried out a series of attacks against the second-largest Ukrainian city, Kharkiv, launching 20 drones and 31 powerful guided bombs. The debris from an intercepted drone sparked a fire in a neighborhood of the capital, Kyiv.
Although Putin's proclamation of a temporary ceasefire offered a glimmer of hope, the details of its implementation have yet to be laid out. Considering the absence of specifics on monitoring mechanisms, Ukrainian officials remain wary. Accusations of treachery and manipulation have been lobbed against the Kremlin, with Ukraine eager to secure crucial U.S. military aid as doubts linger over Europe's ability to compensate for American withdrawal.
U.S. President Trump has shown a deliberate interest in brokering peace, but has expressed his reservations regarding Putin's motivations. Simultaneously, Ukrainian officials have ridiculed Putin's ceasefire announcement, arguing that Russia continues to make inroads along the front line and unleash long-range attacks on civilian settlements.
Given the persistent round of violence, Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraine's presidential office, asserted that Putin's troops could halt fire if they so choose. However, he questions Putin's intent, pointing out that the Russian president appears to be manufacturing a deception to mislead the world.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed Yermak's sentiments, accusing Putin of deliberately stringing along the U.S. and manipulating the global community. Zelensky reiterated his demand for an immediate, all-encompassing, and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to provide the requisite stability and assurances for security.
Russian spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, responded to Kyiv's criticism by accusing Ukrainian officials of connivance, implying that their silence on Putin's ceasefire declaration amounts to a deliberate ploy.
The Institute for the Study of War posits that Putin's primary objective may be to avoid the embarrassment of enduring Ukrainian strikes during Victory Day celebrations, when foreign dignitaries will be present in Moscow to mark the occasion. The think tank further suggests that the ceasefire offers a respite for Russian forces, although it claims Moscow continues to use ceasefire negotiations as a bargaining chip to extract further concessions from Ukraine and the U.S.
Previously, Putin had announced a 30-hour Easter ceasefire, to which Ukraine expressed willingness to respond with a reciprocal truce. However, both sides accused each other of continued attacks, underscoring the profound mistrust and hostility that persists between Russia and Ukraine.
Novikov, serving with the Associated Press, authored this report.
Further Reading:
Russian bombardment of Kyiv kills more than a dozen people, marking the deadliest assault in the city since last summer.
Over 140 drones attack Ukraine as Trump confesses doubts over Putin's desire for peace
Russia proposes a three-day truce in Ukraine to honor Victory Day in World War II
- Amidst the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, California-based policymakers have closely followed the recent events, including the unprovoked attacks on civilian areas like Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv, where drones have caused fatalities and injuries.
- With the escalating tensions, the general news has been dominated by the political implications of the ceasefire proposals, particularly Putin's 72-hour truce announcement for May 8, which Ukrainian officials label as a ploy to deceive the West.
- In contrast to the announced 31-day ceasefire demanded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Russian Federation is reportedly only committing to a three-day truce to honor Victory Day in World War II.
- Despite the destruction caused by drone attacks in Kyiv, resulting in the death of a 12-year-old girl and injuries to several others, some political analysts suggest that Putin's primary objective may be to avoid embarrassment during Victory Day celebrations, where foreign dignitaries will be present in Moscow.
