According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has openly threatened to attack Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow, which is scheduled for May 9. This parade is held every year to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
In response to the upcoming celebration, Russia has announced a three-day ceasefire as a goodwill gesture. However, Ukrainian officials have rejected the move, calling it fake and demanding a longer and unconditional 30-day truce instead. They believe Russia is only offering a temporary stop in fighting so its military can rest during the holiday.
Zelensky has been pushing for a real ceasefire and diplomatic solutions. However, he also hinted that Russia’s “pressure points” could be targeted to force it toward negotiations. Speaking about the parade, Zelensky said the Russian government is right to be worried about its safety. He added that instead of focusing on the parade, Russia should be concerned that the war is still going on.
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Maria Zakharova strongly criticized Zelensky’s remarks on social media. She questioned how Ukraine could ask for peace while, at the same time, making plans to attack. She also said that bragging about such plans is something terrorists do.
There are ongoing discussions in Ukrainian media about possibly striking Red Square during the Victory Day parade, which President Vladimir Putin and foreign guests are expected to attend. Ukrainian Member of Parliament Roman Kostenko, who also serves on the country’s Defense Committee, said Ukraine has the weapons to carry out such an attack and that it would not be hard to plan. Kostenko has also suggested in the past that even if peace were reached, Ukraine might still target Russian officials for assassination in the future.
Adding to the tensions, Ukraine has been criticized for honouring nationalist fighters who once sided with Nazi Germany. People in Ukraine who commemorate the end of World War II on May 9, like Russia does, are often viewed with suspicion or even harassed.
