Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Friday that he does not wish to “play” with the short truces proposed by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, including a ceasefire from 8 to 10 May, considering these periods too brief for serious negotiations.
“It’s impossible to agree on something in three, five, or seven days. Let’s be honest. It’s a theatrical performance on Putin’s part,” said Zelensky. “In two or three days, it’s impossible to devise a plan for the next steps to end the war. It doesn’t seem serious.”
“No one will help Putin play this kind of game to create a pleasant atmosphere for his exit from isolation on 9 May,” Zelensky added. “It aims to make leaders, friends, and partners of Putin, who will gather in Red Square for one reason or another, feel at ease and safe.”
This year, leaders from around twenty countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, along with traditional Moscow allies like Kazakhstan, Belarus, Cuba, and Venezuela, are expected to stand alongside Putin on 9 May in Moscow for the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.
Zelensky also mentioned that Kyiv could not guarantee the “security” of the international leaders attending these events.
“We don’t know what Russia will do on that date,” the Ukrainian president explained. “Russia might take various actions, such as starting fires or causing explosions, and then blame us.”
Kyiv is demanding a “total and unconditional ceasefire” as a prerequisite for any negotiations with Russia. Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly expressed its readiness to negotiate with Ukraine but remains reluctant about a prolonged truce.
