Russia Declares Ceasefire but Threatens to Strike Kyiv
Russia declared a ceasefire in Ukraine for May 8 and 9. These dates mark Victory Day which honors the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Russia also threatened a large strike on central Kyiv if the ceasefire was broken. Ukraine's President Zelensky proposed his own truce starting a couple of days earlier.
Ukraine said it had not received any official ceasefire message from Russia. Before the ceasefire began a Ukrainian drone hit a Moscow high-rise building.
Russia's Victory Day parade was scaled back with no military vehicles shown. Russia feared Ukrainian drone attacks during the event.
Zelensky said this showed Russian weakness. A similar Easter truce was declared recently. Both sides accused each other of hundreds of violations during that truce.
Key Terms 3
- Victory Day Russian holiday marking defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two
- ceasefire A temporary stop to fighting agreed by both sides
- unilateral A decision made by one side only without agreement from the other