Ukrainian military dismisses Putin's ceasefire: Smoke break, not truce
Photo: The Armed Forces of Ukraine called Putin's truce a smoke break"(Getty Images)
Ukrainian troops do not believe in the ceasefire declared for May 9 by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a comment to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Viktor Trehubov, Spokesperson for the Khortytsia Operational-Strategic Group, recalled that during the so-called Easter truce, there were hardly any changes on the frontlines.
"The last ceasefire - we didn't notice it on half the fronts at all. On the northern fronts, we noticed it a little, but even there, the Russians initially wanted to carry out some kind of regrouping, in the Kupiansk direction, in particular. So, if the intensity dropped for a couple of days - that's what we noticed," the spokesperson said.
According to the Ukrainian military, on other fronts, combat actions didn't stop. Trehubov referred to the Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Kramatorsk, and Novopavlivka directions.
"A ceasefire declared in a couple of areas is not a truce, it's a smoke break. So we have no intention of expecting any kind of truce, and we don't see any preparations for a peaceful gesture," the spokesperson added.
In Trehubov's opinion, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin simply wants to secure the ceremonies on May 9 or later shift the blame for breaking the ceasefire onto Ukraine.
"We didn't feel any Easter truce, and we won't see a May one either," the Ukrainian military believes.
Putin's May 9 ceasefire
On Easter, April 20, Russia announced a so-called ceasefire, but failed to observe it itself. Enemy attacks were recorded at the front, and in some areas, Russian forces carried out regroupings during this period of time.
Later, Putin announced a three-day ceasefire for May 9. On that day, a large parade is scheduled to take place in Moscow, with the Kremlin having invited several world leaders.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is ready for a ceasefire, but for 30 days, not just three.
