Russia declared a ceasefire from May 7th to 10th, coinciding with their Victory Day celebrations on May 9th. The Kremlin claims this is for humanitarian reasons, but observers suspect it's due to security concerns, particularly given past Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory.
Ukraine's President Zelensky warned foreign guests attending the Moscow parade of the lack of safety guarantees and the possibility of Russian provocations. Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, issued threats against Ukraine in response.
In a separate interview, Vladimir Putin stated that Russia possesses the resources to achieve victory in Ukraine and that the use of nuclear weapons has not yet been necessary.
While Russia declares a brief ceasefire, Ukraine insists on a longer-term truce of at least 30 days, aligning with similar demands from Donald Trump. The conflicting responses highlight the tense situation surrounding the upcoming military parade in Moscow.