Zelenskyy says Kyiv is no longer bound by Russia's truce
Updated
Updated · POLITICO Europe · May 6
Zelenskyy says Kyiv is no longer bound by Russia's truce
5 articles · Updated · POLITICO Europe · May 6
In Kyiv on Wednesday, he said Russia had violated Ukraine's Tuesday ceasefire and that further Ukrainian action would be decided later in the evening.
The Kremlin had announced its own unilateral truce ahead of Saturday's Victory Day parade in Moscow, but Zelenskyy said Moscow had derailed the ceasefire regime.
Earlier this week, both sides declared separate ceasefires and warned they would retaliate for violations, underscoring the fragility of any pause in fighting.
With ceasefires shattered and Russia threatening Kyiv, what will happen on Victory Day this Saturday?
Is Moscow's scaled-down parade a sign of weakness, or is its hypersonic missile threat a dangerous bluff?
Ukraine's Failed 24-Hour Ceasefire and Russia's 108 Drone Strikes: Escalation Ahead of Victory Day 2026
Overview
In early May 2026, Ukraine announced a unilateral 24-hour ceasefire in response to Russia's proposed Victory Day truce. However, Russia rejected this offer and launched a massive wave of drone and missile attacks across multiple Ukrainian regions, severely damaging critical energy infrastructure and causing numerous casualties, including a deadly strike on a kindergarten in Sumy. These attacks intensified the conflict, leading Western allies to develop a security guarantees framework featuring military hubs and a multinational force to support Ukraine. Despite these efforts, peace talks remain stalled due to Russia's ongoing aggression and refusal to negotiate, while international sanctions face implementation challenges, leaving the path to peace uncertain.