Russia and Ukraine are now fighting over ceasefire dates. Here’s why
Russia and Ukraine are currently engaged in a unique rival-ceasefire declarations amid Russian Victory Day celebrations on May 9. A steam armoured train arrives at the station during a historical reenactment depicting the arrival of trains after the end of the war as a part of celebrations ahead of the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. (Photo for representation) (AP) While, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a two-day ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine on May 8-9 to mark Russia’s World War Two victory, his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky counter-proposed his own pause in fighting starting earlier, on the night of May 5‑6. But Moscow on Thursday bluntly ignored Kyiv ceasefire proposal that would start earlier. It even warned foreign diplomats in Kyiv that if Russia’s May 9 events are targeted, Ukrainian capital of Kyiv might get hit in retaliatory attacks. “Yes, we are talking about the 8th and 9th of May,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a question by the AFP. …
