Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin and Zelensky declare rival ceasefires ahead of Moscow’s Victory Day parade
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed an open-ended ceasefire starting on Wednesday, 6 May, after Russia requested a two-day truce.
Zelensky said Ukraine will observe the truce beginning 12am on Wednesday and respond in kind to Russia’s actions from that moment on.
He had initially said Moscow’s request was “not serious” and refused to offer security for a parade in Moscow.
Russia’s Vladimir Putin had sought a ceasefire covering 8-9 May while Moscow celebrates Victory Day – the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War – by holding a grand parade.Moscow has also threatened to strike back at Kyiv if the Victory Day festivities were disrupted.
Russia had proclaimed a brief ceasefire last month for Orthodox Easter but each side accused the other of violating it.
This comes as Ukraine launched a major missile and drone attack on several regions in Russia, targeting a critical military-industrial site in the western part of the country.
The fire was reported from JSC VNIIR-Progress, a state institute that produces components for high-precision weapons used in attacks on Ukraine by Russian forces.
