Ukraine’s leader has branded the truce a “manipulation” attempt, calling for at least 30-days instead
© Getty Images / Anadolu / Danylo Antoniuk
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has apparently dismissed a 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on Monday, branding it a “manipulation attempt.”
In a statement posted on social media, Zelensky demanded an immediate 30-day ceasefire instead, accusing Moscow of “constantly rejecting” what he said was an effort to “establish peace and guarantee security” by Kiev and its supporters.
“There’s another attempt at manipulation: for some reason everyone should wait for May 8 and only then cease fire to provide Putin with silence during the parade. We value human lives, not parades,” Zelensky asserted, while saying he wanted an “immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire.”
Zelensky’s comment echoed remarks made earlier in the day by his chief of administration, Andrey Yermak, and Ukraine’s top diplomat Andrey Sibiga. The two officials also claimed the proposed truce was intended “just for a parade” and demanded an immediate ceasefire instead.
Earlier on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 72-hour ceasefire from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11. It follows a similar unilaterally-announced pause during the Easter weekend earlier this month.
According to the Russian military, the Easter ceasefire was only partially successful. While a certain lull in fighting was observed, the military recorded approximately 4,900 violations during the period. Short-range kamikaze drone strikes accounted for the vast majority of the Ukrainian violations, with over 3,300 such incidents logged.