Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Saturday, the Kremlin expressed its desire for what it termed a “definitive” reply from Ukraine regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire in line with the upcoming World War Two victory commemorations this month.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy seems to have rejected the notion of a ceasefire unless it is guaranteed to last for at least 30 days. He noted that this idea requires significant effort to be realized, as acknowledged by Putin.
Why does Putin propose a three-day ceasefire now?
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, informed reporters that Putin’s three-day proposal aimed to evaluate Kyiv’s willingness to pursue a peaceful resolution to conclude the war. On Monday, Putin announced a three-day ceasefire to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union and its allies’ victory in World War Two.
Putin announced his statement following a discussion between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday. The White House indicated that Trump sought a lasting ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
What significance does May 9 hold for Russia?
The Kremlin announced that the 72-hour ceasefire will occur from May 8 to May 10. This includes May 9, when Putin will host international dignitaries, such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, for celebrations marking the victory over Nazi Germany. Peskov also addressed media reports about Ukrainian soldiers participating in World War Two commemorations in Britain, labelling the action as “sacrilege.”
What is Ukraine’s condition for accepting a ceasefire?
In a statement from his presidential office, Zelenskiy mentioned that he and the U.S. president concurred that a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow represents a correct first step towards resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Kyiv is calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire of at least 30 days.
In reaction to Moscow’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire around May 9, the date when Russia commemorates its World War Two victory over Nazi Germany, Zelenskiy expressed he was ready as long as the ceasefire lasts for 30 days. He stated that Ukraine, due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, could not assure the safety of any foreign dignitaries visiting Moscow for the traditional May 9 victory parade.
