Zelensky initially junked Putin's request as 'not serious' and refused to offer security for parade in Moscow
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.
Zelensky says Russian strikes after ceasefire proposal show Putin's 'utter cynicism'
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised Russia for asking for a two-day ceasefire while launching major attacks on Ukraine.
“Last night, the Russians attacked energy infrastructure in the Poltava region.
And they struck again in an especially vile way with a missile when State Emergency Service workers were already at the scene, extinguishing the fire.
As of now, dozens of people are reported injured.
Unfortunately, four people were killed, including two first responders,” he said on X this morning.
He said one person was killed in an attack on Kharkiv, while in Dnipro and other areas people were injured and others were left without electricity.
“It is utter cynicism to ask for a ceasefire in order to hold propaganda celebrations while carrying out such missile and drone strikes every single day leading up to it,” he said.
Zelensky said Russia “could cease fire at any moment, and this would stop the war and our responses”, repeating his more than four-year-old plea that Moscow should stop attacks on Ukraine.
He has also accused Putin of being opportunistic and seeking a ceasefire only when he needs to protect Moscow.
“Peace is needed, and real steps are needed to achieve it.
Ukraine will act in kind,” Zelensky said.
Ukraine and Russia both announce ceasefires – on their own terms
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed an open-ended ceasefire starting on Wednesday 6 May after Russia requested a two-day truce.
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.
The Russian defence ministry said it would observe a unilateral ceasefire on Friday and Saturday, during which a military parade will be held in Red Square, but threatened it would strike back at Kyiv if the Victory Day festivities were disrupted.
Zelensky initially said Moscow's request was "not serious" and refused to offer security for a parade in Moscow.
But he has now said Ukraine will observe a truce beginning at 12am on Wednesday and respond in kind to Russia's actions from that moment on.
Keeping it open-ended, Zelensky did not announce when the temporary truce would end.
UK eyes joining EU's €90bn Ukraine loan to tap defence orders
Britain is in talks to join the European Union's €90bn (£77.7bn) loan to Ukraine to qualify for Kyiv's defence orders that the loan finances, but will have to cover some interest payments on the borrowing to be eligible, the European Commission said.
"Today marks the first high-level discussion on the UK’s potential participation in the 90 billion euro Ukraine Support Loan, following technical exchanges between the UK Government and the Commission," a Commission spokesperson told reporters.
The discussions between European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and prime minister Keir Starmer at a European Political Community summit in Armenia, are a further sign of deepening European defence ties under rising US pressure.
The loan, approved by the EU last month, is set to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years, with the bulk of that amount earmarked for military spending as Kyiv defends itself against Russia's four-year war.
Ukraine's Naftogaz facility hit in overnight Russian attacks
Russian drones and missiles have hit Ukraine’s Naftogaz gas production facility in Poltava region, officials said this morning.
The attacks in Poltava and Kharkiv regions killed three employees and two rescue workers, the company’s CEO said.
The major attack on Ukrainian region also killed four people and injured 31, the local governor said.
Russia announces bomb shelters list on Black Sea port city Tuapse hit by Ukraine
Russian authorities in Tuapse have announced an official list of bomb shelters for civilians for the first time, mentioning more than 186 shelters residents can turn to in the event of attacks.
The Black Sea port of Tuapse was attacked by Ukraine on Friday for the fourth time in 16 days as authorities struggled to cope with a mounting environmental disaster from toxic black smoke clouds and oil leaking into the sea.
The strikes are a part of what president Volodymyr Zelensky says is a Ukrainian strategy to disrupt Russia's huge energy industry and knock key sites out of operation for as long as possible.
Tuapse municipality on Monday published a spreadsheet list on its website notifying locals of 186 shelters, most of them situated in the basement of apartment buildings.
Officials said the shelters have a total capacity of about 38,600 in a town of 61,000, reported The Kyiv Independent.
It added that only one out of the total 186 of the listed shelters is accessible to people with disabilities, according to the spreadsheet.
Residents of Tuapse have been warned to stay inside, keep their windows closed, and drink only bottled water as authorities try to foster a sense of solidarity.
The Tuapse refinery has an annual production capacity of about 12 million metric tons, or 240,000 barrels per day, turning out naphtha, diesel, fuel oil and vacuum gasoil.
Four killed in Ukraine after Russian drones and missiles hit Poltava region
A Russian overnight drone and missile attack killed four people and wounded 31 in Ukraine's central region of Poltava, while snapping gas supply to thousands, the local governor said this morning.
Direct hits and falling debris were reported at two sites in the Poltava district, Vitalii Diakivnych said on his Telegram channel.
An industrial enterprise was damaged, he said, cutting of gas supply to nearly 3,500 customers.
Railway infrastructure has also been damaged.
In photos: Putin's forces gear up for Victory Day parade celebrations in Moscow
Moscow threatens 'massive missile strike' if Ukraine disrupts Putin's parade
The Russian defence ministry has threatened Ukraine with a major attack if Moscow is attacked amid its Victory Day celebrations this week.
Moscow will mark the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War on Friday and Saturday, but it threatened to strike back at Kyiv if it tries to disrupt the Victory Day festivities.
The defence ministry said if Ukraine attempts to disrupt Saturday's celebrations, Russia will carry out a “massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv”.
It warned the civilian population there and employees of foreign diplomatic missions of "the need to leave the city promptly”.
Moscow blocks cellphone internet to stop Ukraine drone attacks on parade
Russian authorities have started blocking the internet and messaging services on cellphones in Moscow as part of its preparations to hold a secure Victory Day parade this week.
“Just got this text from my Moscow mobile operator: ‘During preparations for and the holding of holiday events from 5-9 May temporary restrictions to mobile internet and text messaging are possible in Moscow and Moscow region.
This may cause difficulties with cashless payments, use of ATMs and GPS services.’,” said Steve Rosenberg, a journalist and BBC editor for Russia, based in Moscow.
The notice is similar to the last year’s preparations of military parade by the Russian authorities.
Vladimir Putin had declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire starting 7 May, 2025, and authorities blocked cellphone internet in Moscow for several days to avert Ukrainian drone attacks.
Last year’s parade on the 80th anniversary drew the most global leaders to Moscow in a decade, including high-profile guests like Chinese president Xi Jinping, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico.
Watch: Zelensky mocks Russia’s equipment-free 9 May parade
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