"Theatrical Performance": Ukrainians Ridiculed The "ceasefire" Proposed By The Kremlin
- 8.05.2025, 7:34
Ukraine will not guarantee the safety of the parade in Moscow.
A three-day pause in fighting against Ukraine proposed by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has been ridiculed by many Ukrainians and described by President Vladimir Zelensky as nothing more than a "theatrical performance."
As BBC writes, Putin proposed the three-day ceasefire to celebrate 80 years of victory in World War II. But, the publication noted, before that he rejected the Trump administration's much more substantial proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.
Zelensky rejected the Kremlin dictator's proposed ceasefire and said Ukraine would not guarantee the safety of a military parade on Red Square in Moscow on May 9.
"The Russian proposal was met with widespread cynicism in Ukraine, where polls consistently show that some 95 percent of the population does not trust Russia," the publication wrote.
"I do not believe there will be any ceasefire. The shelling has only intensified recently, today half a day we heard explosion after explosion," said 42-year-old Tatiana Kondratenko, a store owner in Khotyn, Sumy region, who is subjected to heavy enemy strikes.
The woman said Zelensky was right to reject the offer "because you know how they act, as it was on Easter."
"They announced a ceasefire, then used it to pull up more equipment and started attacking again. What kind of ceasefire is that?" she argued.
A senior Ukrainian army officer told the BBC that units on the front line had been ordered to stop shelling enemy positions, but to record evidence of violations by the Russians and return fire if necessary.
In Ukraine, the pause is largely not being taken seriously, instead being seen as more of a propaganda exercise. Former Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin told the publication that it was just another Russian show of force.
"The fact is that Russia is formulating an agenda on its own terms. It has nothing to do with a real ceasefire. It's all about messages - messages within the country, messages to the United States, messages to Europe, to say that we, Russia, are in control of the situation," the former minister opined.
Ukraine has already made it clear that it is ready for a full, unconditional ceasefire and is not obliged to take part in Russia's agenda, said Mikhail Samus, a Ukrainian military analyst and director of the New Geopolitics Research Network.
"Why should we play Putin's game? We are ready for a real ceasefire. If he wants to organize a parade to show that he is a great leader, that's his business," he said.