Kremlin affirms Putin’s three-day Victory Day ceasefire suggestion still stands

(MENAFN)
Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for a 72-hour unilateral ceasefire during Victory Day remains valid, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Tuesday. He emphasized that Russian forces have been instructed to suspend military activities, but warned that any Ukrainian attempts to target Russian positions would provoke an immediate and "adequate response."

Putin introduced the ceasefire proposal last week, declaring that Russian forces would pause all offensive actions from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11. The Kremlin has framed this three-day halt as a humanitarian gesture to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Additionally, the ceasefire is seen as an opportunity for direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions, and as a test of Ukraine’s willingness to engage in de-escalation.

However, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky rejected the offer, describing it as a Russian manipulation attempt. He instead called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which Moscow has criticized as a tactic to buy time for Ukrainian forces to withdraw. Zelensky also suggested that the ceasefire was aimed at securing calm for Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9, while asserting that Kiev could not guarantee the safety of foreign leaders attending the event. Ukrainian MP Yury Pavlenko even proposed an attack on Moscow’s Red Square during the parade.

In response, Moscow condemned Zelensky's statements, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova labeling them a "direct threat" and further evidence of Ukraine's "terrorist" behavior.

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