The Kremlin has once again threatened Ukraine with an “adequate response” in the event of a violation of the so-called “ceasefire,” which was declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin during the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War
This has triggered a new wave of tension and concern regarding the further development of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russian leader's spokesman Dmitry Peskov made a clear statement regarding the situation: if Kyiv continues to strike Russian positions despite the ceasefire it has declared, then Moscow will take decisive measures in response. According to Peskov, the Kremlin has issued an appropriate order — to cease fire, but on the condition that any attempts at attack or violations of the agreements will provoke an immediate and adequate response. In other words, if Ukrainian troops or defense forces do not cease fire, Russia intends to respond symmetrically, without delay and without illusions about reducing tension. The unilateral application of a "ceasefire" by Russian authorities has been the subject of multiple comments and has sparked a wave of political and military discussions. The Kremlin insists that the ceasefire order, announced by President Vladimir Putin, remains in effect, and that Moscow intends to adhere to this initiative in an effort to possibly "reduce tensions" during the holiday period. It is reminded that in the Kremlin, it was announced that from May 8 to 10, the Russian president declared a "ceasefire," purportedly to mark Victory Day — one of Russia's main holidays, which in Russia is called the Day of the Great Victory. However, many Ukrainian politicians and international figures argue that such a "ceasefire" is merely a political move or a tactical pause and does not change the overall picture of the conflict. The Ukrainian authorities have already sharply criticized this initiative. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the Kremlin's and Vladimir Putin's statements about a "ceasefire" "merely a truce," which does not serve the interests of the Ukrainian people. According to him, Ukraine needs not a short-term "calm," which can be used only for so-called "world parades" in Moscow, but an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire for at least 30 days to create real conditions for improving the situation and reducing human losses. International reactions have also not gone unnoticed. U.S. President Donald Trump, commenting on Russia's initiative, noted that the proposal for a "three-day ceasefire" looks too ambitious and is, in fact, "very much" compared to previous efforts by the Kremlin. In his opinion, this indicates that Russia aims to adopt a more active approach in the conflict, even as it proclaims peace. At the same time, experts emphasize that such a "ceasefire" is more of a political gesture than a real sign of a political compromise or a desire to achieve lasting peace. The primary goal of the Kremlin remains to maintain influence and secure as many benefits as possible in the context of a war that has been ongoing for over a year. Military analysts warn that any violations or armed provocations could quickly lead to a new escalation wave, and thus Ukraine remains committed to strong defense and continuing to fight for its independence and territorial integrity. Therefore, the situation remains tense and dynamically evolving. The Kremlin still emphasizes its "ceasefire" and readiness to respond to any violations, while Kyiv and the international community demand an authentic and unconditional ceasefire from Russia — one that could provide a chance for stabilization and the search for long-term solutions to the conflict. Time will tell whether diplomatic efforts and internal political will can overcome military aggression and restore peace and calm to Ukraine.