RTMon, 28 Apr 2025 19:44 UTC
Ukraine Leader Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukraine's leader has branded the truce a "manipulation" attempt, calling for at least 30-days instead
Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky has apparently dismissed a 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on Monday, branding it a "manipulation attempt."In a statement posted on social media, Zelensky demanded an immediate 30-day ceasefire instead, accusing Moscow of "constantly rejecting" what he said was an effort to "establish peace and guarantee security" by Kiev and its supporters.
"There's another attempt at manipulation: for some reason everyone should wait for May 8 and only then cease fire to provide Putin with silence during the parade.
We value human lives, not parades," Zelensky asserted, while saying he wanted an "immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire."Zelensky's comment echoed remarks made earlier in the day by his chief of administration, Andrey Yermak, and Ukraine's top diplomat Andrey Sibiga. The two officials also claimed the proposed truce was intended "just for a parade" and demanded an immediate ceasefire instead.
Earlier on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 72-hour ceasefire from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11. It follows a similar unilaterally-announced pause during the Easter weekend earlier this month.
According to the Russian military, the Easter ceasefire was only partially successful. While a certain lull in fighting was observed,
the military recorded approximately 4,900 violations during the period. Short-range kamikaze drone strikes accounted for the vast majority of the Ukrainian violations, with over 3,300 such incidents logged.
Comment: See also:
Putin announces 72-hour Victory day ceasefire
From the same source:
28 Apr, 2025 14:48
UK plans for Ukraine troop deployment revealed - Telegraph
MOD chief John Healey has said UK forces would help rebuild Kiev's army, according to a letter cited by the newspaper
British troops would help "rebuild" the Ukrainian armed forces under a potential deployment to the country following a ceasefire with Russia, UK Defense Secretary John Healey has said, according to The Telegraph.
The UK and France have led discussions in recent weeks among several European NATO member states about sending military personnel to Ukraine as part of a so-called "coalition of the willing," once Kiev and Moscow have agreed a ceasefire. Russia has strongly objected to Western troops being deployed to Ukraine under any pretext.
In an article on Sunday, The Telegraph cited a letter reportedly sent last week by Healey to Shadow Defense Secretary James Cartlidge. In it, the British defense chief is said to have written that "we expect those objectives to focus on rebuilding a modern and capable armed forces of Ukraine, rather than delivering combat operations."
According to the newspaper, Healey defined the potential British contingent's goal as helping Kiev "regenerate an armed forces capable of deterring future Russian aggression." UK military personnel would likely be stationed in Western Ukraine, away from the front line, The Telegraph claimed.
In addition, the British Royal Air Force and Navy would reportedly be on standby to cover Ukraine's air space and territorial waters, if necessary.
The Telegraph cited Healey as claiming that the coalition's actions would be in line with US President Donald Trump's effort to establish a "just and lasting peace" between Ukraine and Russia.
Last Thursday, The Times, citing anonymous sources, reported that the UK had ditched plans to deploy a military contingent to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire as the "risks are too high and the forces inadequate" for such an undertaking.
The newspaper claimed that in a marked departure from the previous vision, involving coalition forces guarding key Ukrainian cities, ports, and nuclear power plants, the Western grouping now favored a training mission that would "'reassure' by being there but aren't a deterrence or protection force."
In an interview with TASS published last Thursday, Sergey Shoigu, secretary of Russia's National Security Council, warned that the presence of Western troops in Ukraine could lead to a direct confrontation between Moscow and NATO, potentially escalating into a third world war. Shoigu, who previously served as Russia's defense minister, emphasized that Moscow could use nuclear weapons "in the event of aggression," conventional or otherwise.
Regarding the UK, there was also:
UK could stage provocation against Russia - Moscow's spy chief.
Given that the UK, France and other of their allies wish Ukraine to fight for what they perceive as their interests, it is not surprising that:
28 Apr, 2025 12:08
Ukraine shows no sign it is ready to talk - Kremlin
Kiev has yet to lift its ban on negotiations with Moscow, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has emphasized
Ukraine is failing to take the necessary steps to initiate direct negotiations with Russia, while Moscow remains ready to engage at any time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
Vladimir Zelensky prohibited direct bilateral talks in October 2022 for as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin remans in office, asserting that the moratorium was necessary to "stop separatism" purportedly stemming from backchannel communications with Moscow not controlled by his administration.
"At the very least, Kiev needs to act, given its judicial ban" on talks, Peskov reminded journalists during a briefing on Monday.
Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia is prepared to commence negotiations with Ukraine "without any preconditions, aiming to pave the way for peace," the official added.
Indirect contacts between Kiev and Moscow have continued on some issues, such as prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of fallen soldiers.
US President Donald Trump has criticized Zelensky for undermining his mediation efforts by publicly opposing ideas, reportedly included in a Washington-proposed peace plan. The two leaders had a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral in the Vatican on Saturday.
"He told me that he needs more weapons, but he has been saying that for three years," Trump said, recounting the engagement. "I want them to stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal."
While Moscow has questioned Zelensky's legitimacy since the conclusion of his presidential term last year, it does not view his removal from power as a goal in the conflict.
However, Russia has concerns that "if an agreement were signed with Zelensky today, people could come forward later in Ukraine and legally challenge," Peskov told the French media last week. Zelensky claims presidential powers, citing martial law that he first imposed in 2022.
Once a hole is dug it is not always easy to fill it:
Elon Musk: Few people remember that US overthrew Ukrainian govt
It seems the latter is much more likely to happen.