Ukraine Has No Time for Illusions and Manipulations: Zelensky sharply Responds to Russia’s Proposal for a “Ceasefire” from May 8 to 10
At a critical moment for Ukraine’s security and future sovereignty, President Volodymyr Zelensky openly criticized the recent announcement by Russian leadership regarding their intention to declare a so-called "ceasefire" from May 8 to 10. This was a response to a statement by Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who earlier confirmed the possibility of a temporary truce to allow a military parade in Moscow in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory — a historic date that holds special symbolic significance for Russians. Source: Zelensky’s evening address From the Ukrainian president’s speech, a clear conclusion can be drawn: Ukraine will not fall for the games and manipulations of the Russian side, especially when it comes to potential temporary "ceasefires" that are essentially just cover for Moscow’s long-term plans. Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Kyiv is ready for constructive cooperation and dialogue with all international partners to achieve genuine, lasting, and secure peace. At the same time, the Ukrainian leader underlined that Russia’s recent initiatives for a ceasefire are merely an imitation. Moscow consistently rejects proposals that envisage a real and unconditional peace and seeks to manipulate the international community, particularly the United States, for its own purposes. "Currently, this is another attempt at manipulation," Zelensky said. "Why May 8? Because the Russians want to gain quiet on this day to hold a parade in Moscow, while the lives of people in our country continue to be under threat. We value human lives above all else and do not agree to wait for any dates or grounds to cease fire. What matters to us is not a short-term lull, but a true, complete, and unconditional ceasefire that should last at least 30 days, to provide a real and reliable starting point for diplomacy. This is the number one requirement for creating conditions for a full and trust-based dialogue, rather than illusions that will be shattered again and again." Prerequisites and Retrospective: Russia Ignores Previous Agreements and Cynically Uses Symbolic Dates Zelensky’s address appeared amid unexpected statements from the Kremlin about a unilateral "ceasefire" declaration coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War — a significant ideological and historical event for Moscow. Such dates, according to Russian leadership, are meant for orchestrating displays of strength and Russia’s historical superiority, despite the ongoing war on Ukrainian soil. Earlier, Putin announced a so-called "Easter ceasefire," which was supposed to last from the evening of April 19 until midnight on April 21. However, Ukrainian military personnel and monitoring experts confirmed that fighting did not actually cease, and according to the DeepState project, there was no significant reduction in enemy activity on most key fronts during this "break." This demonstrates the cynicism and bad faith of Russia in conducting the war and its attempts to use any pretext to create an illusion of peace. With the support of international diplomacy and the global community, Ukraine’s leadership emphasizes: the sound of bells and symbolic dates do not matter if the lives of its citizens are not secure. The idea of short-term "ceasefires" with Russia should become a thing of the past; instead, Ukraine needs a real, large-scale, and unconditional ceasefire lasting at least a month. This is the only condition to initiate long-term diplomatic processes and truly start negotiations aimed at preserving independence and territorial integrity. In conclusion, Zelensky’s response is clear and unequivocal: Ukraine doesn’t need illusions — the time for games is over. The world must understand: the war continues, and every day of delay in achieving genuine peace costs human lives. Challenges remain for the international community — to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and to prevent Russia’s cynical maneuvers, which could deliberately undermine any prospects for real peace.