Ukraine Condemns Russian 'Cynicism' Amid Separate Ceasefire Announcements
Kyiv accuses Russia of hypocrisy for seeking a truce to stage its May 9 Victory Day parade while launching deadly attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized Russia for what he calls 'utter cynicism' in seeking a ceasefire to hold celebrations, while continuing with military strikes.
The accusations come after several people were killed in overnight attacks following separate ceasefire announcements by both sides this week.
Moscow declared a truce during World War II commemorations on May 9, while Kyiv said it would halt fire on May 6.
Zelensky's statement asserts that Russia's request for a ceasefire to stage 'propaganda celebrations' while launching daily strikes is manipulative and deceitful.
He added that Russia can cease fire at any time, which would end the war and Ukraine's retaliatory measures.
The Russian Victory Day parade, typically showcasing military might with links to Soviet victories over Nazi Germany, has been scaled down this year due to concerns it could be targeted by Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Kyiv has intensified its long-range strikes recently, targeting Russian oil facilities and a high-rise building in Moscow, which it claims is justified retaliation for Russia's nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The attack that killed four people in the Poltava region, including two first responders, sparked outrage in Kyiv.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga called it a 'vile double-tap strike.' One person was also killed in the Kharkiv region amid Russia's firing of 11 ballistic missiles and 164 drones nationwide, according to authorities.
Despite temporary ceasefires being common with both sides halting long-range attacks for Orthodox Easter last month, there has been little progress towards resolving the conflict through negotiations.
Moscow demands Kyiv fully withdraw its troops from the Donbas region and renounce Western military support, terms seen as capitulation in Kyiv, which has refused them.
Russia's military advances have stalled, with its army losing more territory than it captured in April for the first time since summer 2023, according to an analysis by AFP using data from the Institute for the Study of War.
The war has become the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives and displacing millions.
The accusations come after several people were killed in overnight attacks following separate ceasefire announcements by both sides this week.
Moscow declared a truce during World War II commemorations on May 9, while Kyiv said it would halt fire on May 6.
Zelensky's statement asserts that Russia's request for a ceasefire to stage 'propaganda celebrations' while launching daily strikes is manipulative and deceitful.
He added that Russia can cease fire at any time, which would end the war and Ukraine's retaliatory measures.
The Russian Victory Day parade, typically showcasing military might with links to Soviet victories over Nazi Germany, has been scaled down this year due to concerns it could be targeted by Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Kyiv has intensified its long-range strikes recently, targeting Russian oil facilities and a high-rise building in Moscow, which it claims is justified retaliation for Russia's nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The attack that killed four people in the Poltava region, including two first responders, sparked outrage in Kyiv.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga called it a 'vile double-tap strike.' One person was also killed in the Kharkiv region amid Russia's firing of 11 ballistic missiles and 164 drones nationwide, according to authorities.
Despite temporary ceasefires being common with both sides halting long-range attacks for Orthodox Easter last month, there has been little progress towards resolving the conflict through negotiations.
Moscow demands Kyiv fully withdraw its troops from the Donbas region and renounce Western military support, terms seen as capitulation in Kyiv, which has refused them.
Russia's military advances have stalled, with its army losing more territory than it captured in April for the first time since summer 2023, according to an analysis by AFP using data from the Institute for the Study of War.
The war has become the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives and displacing millions.
