“As of today, there has been no official approach to Ukraine about modalities for stopping hostilities that are being reported on Russian social networks,” Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post.
“We regard human life as incomparably more valuable than the ‘celebration’ of any anniversary.”
Zelenskyy said the pause will start at midnight on May 6 and that it is realistic to ensure a halt in fighting by that time.
“We will act in kind starting then; it is time for Russia’s leaders to take real steps to end their war if Russia’s Defense Ministry believes it cannot hold a parade in Moscow without Ukraine’s goodwill,” he added.
Earlier the same day, Russia’s Defense Ministry said a ceasefire would be observed on May 8 and 9 and threatened massive strikes on central Kyiv if Ukraine tried to disrupt Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations. The ministry claimed it had earlier refrained from striking central Kyiv “for humanitarian reasons.”
Moscow’s May 9 parade on Red Square will for the first time
since 2022 proceed without military hardware on display and with a smaller
audience, only a few hundred guests instead of the usual thousands, with the
event lasting less than an hour, Russian officials say.