Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of breaking proposed ceasefires ahead of Victory Day parade in Moscow – Europe live
From 8m agoMorning opening: Ceasefire that wasn'tJakub KrupaRussia and Ukraine are trading accusations of breaking their two very different versions of proposed ceasefire this morning as we get closer to the...
From
8m agoMorning opening: Ceasefire that wasn't
Jakub Krupa
Russia and Ukraine are trading accusations of breaking their two very different versions of proposed ceasefire this morning as we get closer to the Victory Day parade in Moscow, with the Kremlin reportedly worrying about a potential Ukrainian strike.
Ukraine suggested an indefinite ceasefire earlier this week, which was repeatedly violated by Russia. After another round of attacks over night, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said:
“All of this clearly shows that, on the Russian side, there was not even a token attempt to cease fire on the front. As we did over the past 24 hours, Ukraine will respond in kind today as well. We will defend our positions and people’s lives.”
Russia, which wanted a shorter artificial ceasefire to protect the parade to which Kyiv never agreed, said it would be responding to any Ukrainian attacks “symmetrically.”
As my colleague Pjotr Sauer noted earlier this week, Victory Day has been central to Vladimir Putin’s vision of Russian identity throughout his more than 25 years in power. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has intensified its use of the annual celebration, with Putin deploying the occasion to frame and justify the current war.
Let’s see how the next few hours shape up as we get closer to the celebration. I will also bring you more on the (very short) guest list for the event.
Elsewhere, we will follow US secretary of state Marco Rubio’s meeting with Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni, track the preparations for Péter Magyar’s inauguration in Hungary tomorrow, and see how are things on board of the hantavirus-hit cruise.
It’s Friday, 8 May 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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AFP noted that Kyiv said Moscow ignored a Ukrainian call to halt fighting earlier this week that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy cast as a test of whether the Kremlin was serious about providing a brief respite in the four-year war.
Russia has threatened a massive strike on the heart of Kyiv if Ukraine disrupts the Victory Day parade on Saturday, repeatedly urging foreign diplomats to evacuate the Ukrainian capital ahead of time.
Morning opening: Ceasefire that wasn't
Jakub Krupa
Russia and Ukraine are trading accusations of breaking their two very different versions of proposed ceasefire this morning as we get closer to the Victory Day parade in Moscow, with the Kremlin reportedly worrying about a potential Ukrainian strike.
Ukraine suggested an indefinite ceasefire earlier this week, which was repeatedly violated by Russia. After another round of attacks over night, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said:
“All of this clearly shows that, on the Russian side, there was not even a token attempt to cease fire on the front. As we did over the past 24 hours, Ukraine will respond in kind today as well. We will defend our positions and people’s lives.”
Russia, which wanted a shorter artificial ceasefire to protect the parade to which Kyiv never agreed, said it would be responding to any Ukrainian attacks “symmetrically.”
As my colleague Pjotr Sauer noted earlier this week, Victory Day has been central to Vladimir Putin’s vision of Russian identity throughout his more than 25 years in power. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has intensified its use of the annual celebration, with Putin deploying the occasion to frame and justify the current war.
Let’s see how the next few hours shape up as we get closer to the celebration. I will also bring you more on the (very short) guest list for the event.
Elsewhere, we will follow US secretary of state Marco Rubio’s meeting with Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni, track the preparations for Péter Magyar’s inauguration in Hungary tomorrow, and see how are things on board of the hantavirus-hit cruise.
It’s Friday, 8 May 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
