Vladimir Putin is afraid of Ukraine because Russia wants to use the military parade on May 9 to show its power to the world, but this day could become a national disgrace for the federation.
This was stated to Oboz.ua by the director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, Dmytro Zhmaylo.
A few days ago, Putin announced a 3-day truce around the date sacred to him, May 9, in order to avoid any risks of Ukrainian forces attacking Red Square. Zhmaylo, however, points out that Kiev is not obliged to accept these conditions, especially if it does not receive anything in return.
“We definitely have the opportunity to reach Red Square. Yes, we may not hit it, because there is a lot of air defense there. But it will be noisy and the sirens will wail. And all celebrations will have to be held in bunkers and bomb shelters,” Zhmaylo pointed out.
Russia does not seek peace, but intends to freeze the war in order to continue aggression in the future, the head of the Ukrainian President’s office Andriy Yermak wrote a few days ago in an editorial for the Guardian newspaper, quoted by Ukrinform.
"Today, Putin is betting on the fatigue of the West. He wants to freeze the war - not end it. And therefore, any "truce" without guarantees and justice will only open the door to new aggression. Easing sanctions, concessions or negotiations on the Kremlin’s terms are a trap. "You cannot simultaneously talk about peace and arm yourself for a new attack," Yermak said, quoted by BTA.
He stressed that Putin is not seeking peace, but a reprieve. According to Yermak, calls for a ceasefire are now extremely beneficial to the Kremlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's spokesman stressed that the only path to peace is to defeat Russia's imperial ambitions, and not to legitimize them through another "temporary truce".
A few days earlier, Putin announced a ceasefire for the period from May 8 to 10, when Russia will celebrate the Soviet Union's victory in World War II. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that there was no need to wait for May 8 to end hostilities, as this could happen immediately. White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt said that US President Donald Trump wants a permanent ceasefire in Ukraine to stop the bloodshed, Ukrinform recalls.