Faith Nyasuguta
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s latest ceasefire offer as a deceptive gesture, calling it a “manipulation” designed more for show than for saving lives. The Russian leader had announced a unilateral 72-hour truce to begin on May 8 and end on May 10, marking Victory Day, the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.
According to the Kremlin, the short truce was ordered on “humanitarian grounds” to honour one of Russia’s most important national holidays. Moscow urged Ukraine to join in the ceasefire, stating: “Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example.” It also warned, “In case of violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side, the Russian armed forces will give an adequate and efficient response.”
But Kyiv has flatly rejected the offer, saying the gesture lacks sincerity. “If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said. He added that Kyiv was prepared for a “lasting, reliable, and complete ceasefire” that would stretch for at least 30 full days,not just three.
President Zelenskyy went further, accusing the Kremlin of using the truce to polish its global image. “Now there’s a new attempt at manipulation. For some reason, everyone is supposed to wait for May 8 and only then have a ceasefire to ensure calm for Putin during the parade,” Zelenskyy said. “We value people’s lives and not parades.”
He argued that if Russia were serious about ending the war, it would not tie a ceasefire to symbolic dates. “We believe that the world believes there is no reason to wait for May 8. The ceasefire should be not for a few days only to resume the killing afterward.”
Ordinary Ukrainians also doubted Moscow’s motives. “There is no trust in any of Putin’s proposals,” said Nazar Lutsenko, a lawyer in Kyiv. “We absolutely want the war to end, on terms that are favourable to us, on fair terms.”
Ukrainian officials have also recalled that Russia declared a ceasefire during the recent Easter period, only to break it. That precedent fuels concerns that Putin’s new proposal is simply a propaganda tactic.
This proposed truce, tied to the 80th anniversary of Soviet victory in World War II, would mark the first full pause in fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion began over three years ago, if respected. But Kyiv insists peace should not be symbolic.
“Peace is not a parade,” Zelenskyy said. “It must be real, and it must start now.”
RELATED:
