Russia has accused Volodymyr Zelensky of making a “direct threat” to its World War II commemorations on May 9, after the Ukrainian president said Kyiv would not “take responsibility” for ensuring safety on the day.
On Monday, Putin declared a three-day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.
The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8, May 9 – when Putin will host international leaders, including Chinese president Xi Jinping – and May 10.
But Mr Zelensky on Friday dismissed the truce as “theatrics” and said Ukraine won’t be “playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putin’s exit from isolation on 9 May”.
“This is more of a theatrical performance on his part. Because in two or three days, it is impossible to develop a plan for the next steps to end the war,” Mr Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president added that “we cannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They are responsible for your security, and therefore, we will not give you any guarantees.”
Russia responded by calling his statement a “direct threat”.
“He is threatening the physical safety of veterans who will come to parades and celebrations on the holy day,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
Leaders of around 20 countries have accepted invitations to join this year’s celebration, according to the Kremlin. Russian officials have promised grand celebrations for the occasion, during which Putin will seek to rally support for his troops fighting in Ukraine.
The Kremlin spokesperson said that Russia wanted a “definitive” response from Kyiv regarding the ceasefire, and that Putin’s three-day offer was a test to assess Kyiv’s “readiness” for long-term peace.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s security council and a former Russian president, also weighed in, calling Mr Zelensky’s statement a “verbal provocation”.
“(Mr Zelensky) understands that in the event of a real provocation on Victory Day, nobody will be able to guarantee that Kyiv will live to see May 10,” Mr Medvedev said.
The Kremlin rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by Kyiv and Washington in March, and has since made only slim contributions to US president Donald Trump’s efforts to broker an end to the three-year Russian invasion.
The United States has warned it could abandon efforts to broker a ceasefire if it does not see progress towards an end to the war.
Washington is seeking “a complete, durable ceasefire and an end to the conflict”, rather than a “three-day moment so you can celebrate something else”, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said this week.
In a meeting with journalists, Mr Zelensky said that Mr Trump had started looking at things “a little differently” following their one-to-one Vatican meeting.
He added that the brief 15-minute meeting, which took place on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral, was the best that the two men have had together.
“I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a little differently. We’ll see. That’s his vision, his choice in any case,” the Ukrainian president told journalists.
Mr Zelensky said that he and Mr Trump agreed that a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow was the correct first step towards peace in the war in Ukraine.
He also said he raised the topic of sanctions, and that the response of the US president to this question was “very strong”.
Russia and Ukraine continued tit-for-tat exchanges on Friday night and Saturday. A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, wounded 47 people and damaged residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and vehicles, officials said.
Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry said its air defences shot down 170 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry said eight cruise missiles and three guided missiles were also intercepted.
In southern Russia, five people, including two children, were injured in a drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to mayor Andrey Kravchenko.
On Saturday, Kyiv destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile fired from a seaborne drone, Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency announced on Saturday, in what it said was the world’s first downing of a combat plane by a maritime drone.
Its statement on social media said the fighter had been shot down by a military intelligence unit called Group 13 on Friday over waters near Novorossiisk, a major Russian port city on the Black Sea.
Outmanned and outgunned by its larger, wealthier Russian adversary, Ukraine has turned to drone warfare in the air and at sea as a way to fight back throughout more than three years of full-scale war.
Ukraine’s seaborne drones, which are much cheaper and smaller than conventional ships, have wrought havoc on Russia’s Black Sea fleet.
Ukraine has previously said it shot down a Russian military helicopter in December 2024 using a missile fired from the same type of seaborne drone.
The Russian defence ministry did not comment on the Ukrainian claim, but an authoritative Russian blogger believed to be close to the ministry said the jet had been shot down.
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Victory Day is one of Russia’s most important public holidays. For Vladimir Putin, it is an opportunity to project to his people an image of Russia as a powerful nation of winners, standing on the right side of history in defeating fascism.
Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender came into force at 11:01 pm on May 8, 1945, marked as “Victory in Europe Day” by France, Britain and the United States.
In Moscow it was already May 9, which became the Soviet Union’s “Victory Day”.
Soviet leader Josef Stalin decreed a holiday, and the first victory parade on Red Square, featuring captured German insignia, was held on June 24, 1945.
Under Putin, Victory Day increasingly became a muscular display not only of marching battalions but also of Russia’s latest weaponry, including warplanes, tanks, and nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese on his election win on Saturday, saying he hoped to further strengthen ties between Kyiv and Canberra.
“Ukraine sincerely values Australia’s unwavering support and its principled stance on ending Russia’s war and securing a dignified and lasting peace. We look forward to further strengthening our productive partnership,” Mr Zelensky said in a post on X.
Ukraine destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile fired from a seaborne drone, Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency said on Saturday, in what it said was the world’s first downing of a combat plane by a maritime drone.
Its statement on social media said the fighter had been shot down by a military intelligence unit called Group 13 on Friday over waters near Novorossiysk, a major Russian port city on the Black Sea.
Outmanned and outgunned by its larger, wealthier Russian adversary, Ukraine has turned to drone warfare in the air and at sea as a way to fight back throughout the three years of full-scale war.
Ukraine’s seaborne drones, which are much cheaper and smaller than conventional ships, have wrought havoc on Russia’s Black Sea fleet.
Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Donald Trump has started looking at things “a little differently” following their one-to-one Vatican meeting.
“I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a little differently. We’ll see. That’s his vision, his choice in any case,” the Ukrainian president told journalists.
He added that the brief 15-minute meeting, which took place on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral, was the best that the two men have had together.
Mr Zelensky said that he and Mr Trump agreed that a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow was the correct first step towards peace in the war in Ukraine. He also said he raised the topic of sanctions, and that the response of the US president to this question was “very strong”.
The White House had earlier described the meeting as “very productive”.
It was the pair’s first face-to-face encounter since February’s disastrous Oval Office showdown. During that meeting, Mr Trump had told Mr Zelensky, “you don’t have the cards”, and that he was not winning against Russia.
On Friday, the United States also said it would no longer mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia after Vladimir Putin refused to sign up to a ceasefire.
The State Department said it was changing “the methodology of how we contribute” to the talks and will no longer “fly around the world at the drop of a hat” for meetings.
The Kremlin has said it wanted a “definitive” response from Ukraine to Russian president Vladimir Putin’s offer of a three-day ceasefire to coincide with World War Two victory commemorations this month.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky already appears to have ruled out such a ceasefire, saying he is only ready to agree if the ceasefire will last at least 30 days, an idea Putin has said needs a lot of work before it can become a reality.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin’s three-day offer was a test to assess Kyiv’s readiness to search for a peaceful settlement to end the war.
Putin on Monday declared the three-day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.
The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8, May 9 – when Putin will host international leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping – and May 10.
Russia on Saturday accused Volodymyr Zelensky of threatening the security of its World War II commemorations on May 9, after the Ukrainian president said Kyiv would not “take responsibility” for ensuring safety on the day.
“He is threatening the physical safety of veterans who will come to parades and celebrations on the holy day,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Telegram. “His statement … is, of course, a direct threat.”
Earlier we reported that Volodymyr Zelensky had dismissed a three-day truce ordered by Russian leader Vladimir Putin as theatrics but said Kyiv was ready for a full ceasefire.
In new comments published online, Mr Zelensky also reportedly said: “This is more of a theatrical performance on his part. Because in two or three days, it is impossible to develop a plan for the next steps to end the war.”
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s security council, said nobody could guarantee that Kyiv would survive to see May 10 if Ukraine attacked Moscow during World War Two victory celebrations on May 9.
Russian president Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a three-day ceasefire in May to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.
The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8, May 9 – when Putin will host international leaders including Chinese president Xi Jinping – and May 10.
Responding to Moscow’s offer of the three-day ceasefire, Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready as long as the ceasefire would be 30 days in length, something Putin had already ruled out in the near term.
Mr Zelensky said Ukraine, given the continued war with Russia, could not guarantee the safety of any foreign dignitaries who came to Moscow for the traditional May 9 victory parade.
“We cannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They are responsible for your security, and therefore we will not give you any guarantees,” he said.
Mr Medvedev, a former Russian president who has emerged as one of Moscow’s most outspoken anti-Western hawks since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine, called Mr Zelensky’s statement a “verbal provocation” and said nobody had asked for Kyiv’s security guarantees for the May 9 events.
”(Zelensky) understands that in the event of a real provocation on Victory Day, nobody will be able to guarantee that Kyiv will live to see May 10,” Mr Medvedev said.
Video footage shared on social media Saturday captured the moment of a Ukrainian drone attack on a building in the Russian port city of Novorossiysk.
Reuters was able to confirm the location by the building structures and road layout seen in the video which matched file and satellite imagery. Reuters was not able to independently verify the date of the video however the incident was confirmed by statements from local authorities and corroborating aftermath videos from the location.
Andrei Kravchenko, the mayor of Novorossiysk, declared a state of emergency on Saturday after he said the attack had damaged residential buildings and injured at least five people, including two children.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine, whose air force said Russia had attacked Ukraine overnight with 183 drones and two ballistic missiles.
Russia’s defence ministry said it shot down 170 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry said eight cruise missiles and three guided missiles were also intercepted.
In southern Russia, five people, including two children, were injured in a drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to mayor Andrey Kravchenko.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed a three-day truce ordered by Russian leader Vladimir Putin coinciding with Moscow’s World War II commemorations, but said Kyiv was ready for a full ceasefire.
Ukraine won’t be “playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putin’s exit from isolation on 9 May” when some international leaders are expected in Moscow, he said.
The US Department of State has approved a possible deal to provide training and equipment for F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine.
It includes the potential sale of F-16 training and sustainment, along with related equipment, to Ukraine for $310 million, the Pentagon said on Friday.
The sale could include aircraft modifications and upgrades, flight training, maintenance, and sustainment support; spare parts, repair, ground handling equipment, classified software, classified publications and support.
The United States will no longer mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia after Vladimir Putin refused to sign up to a ceasefire.
The State Department said it is changing “the methodology of how we contribute” to the talks and will no longer “fly around the world at the drop of a hat” for meetings.
“We will continue to help, but we will no longer fly around the world as mediators in meetings,” said Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson.
She added that Kyiv and Moscow must now present “concrete” proposals for ending the war and should meet directly to resolve the conflict.
Washington withdrawing from peace talks came soon after the US signed a minerals deal with Ukraine on more favourable terms for Kyiv, while Donald Trump green-lit his administration’s first round of weapons deliveries to the war-torn country.
In recent days, Mr Trump has softened his stance towards Kyiv amid his growing frustrations towards Vladimir Putin for dragging his feet over attempts to secure a ceasefire.
The Kremlin has expressed a willingness for talks with Kyiv, but this week rejected a US peace proposal because it did not grant international recognition of the territory its forces seized in Ukraine.
Ukraine has repeatedly rejected any formal recognition of Russia’s annexation of its territory, saying that Putin should not be rewarded for his aggression. Moscow’s forces control roughly one fifth of Ukraine, which includes its resource-rich industrial heartlands to the east.
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A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, wounded 47 people, local officials said.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said drones hit 12 locations in the city late Friday. Residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and vehicles were damaged in the assault, according to Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.
Following the attack on Kharkiv, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky urged stronger, more decisive support from the country’s allies.
“While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives. Ukraine needs strengthened air defence. Strong and real decisions are needed from our partners — the United States, Europe, all our partners who seek peace,” he wrote on social media.
The Ukrainian Air Force said Saturday that Russia fired 183 exploding drones and decoys overnight. Of those, 77 were intercepted by Ukrainian defences, while a further 73 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. The Air Force also reported that Russia launched two ballistic missiles.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has said that president Donald Trump’s assertion that the US had done more than any other country to win World War Two was “pretentious nonsense”.
Mr Trump posted on social network Truth Social late on Thursday that “nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance” in both world wars, and that “we did more than any other country, by far, in producing a victorious result in World War II.”
Mr Medvedev, a former Russian president who has emerged as one of Moscow’s most outspoken anti-Western hawks since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine, made his own statement.
“Trump recently announced that the US made the biggest contribution to victory in World War Two and that he will introduce a special holiday on May 8. A holiday is not a bad thing, but his first statement is pretentious nonsense,” Mr Medvedev said.
“Our people sacrificed 27 million lives of their sons and daughters in the name of destroying accursed fascism. Therefore, Victory Day is ours and it is May 9! So it was, so it is, so it will always be!” wrote Mr Medvedev.
Good morning and welcome to our Ukraine-Russia live blog.
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Russia accuses Zelensky of making ‘direct threat’ to Victory Day celebrations – The Telegraph
