Why wait until May 8? Ukraine's MFA reacts to Putin's new ceasefire proposal
Photo: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybyha (Getty Images)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, commented on the proposal of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, regarding a ceasefire for the Victory Day, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
According to Sybiha, there is no need to wait for any specific date to announce a ceasefire if Russia truly wants it.
"If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately. Why wait until May 8th? If the fire can be ceased now and since any date for 30 days—so it is real, not just for a parade," stated the Foreign Minister.
He added that Ukraine is ready to support a long-term, reliable, and complete ceasefire, not just for a few days, as proposed by the Kremlin.
"And we continually offer this (ceasefire) — at least for 30 days," emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Putin's new ceasefire
Today, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, announced a so-called temporary ceasefire in the war on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, "for humanitarian reasons."
According to the Kremlin, this so-called ceasefire is supposed to last from midnight on May 7 to midnight on May 10. During this period, the Russian side promises to "halt all combat activities."
Russia has called on the Ukrainian side to "follow suit" and threatened to "respond" in case of any violations of the ceasefire.
The Center for Counteracting Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (CCD) called Vladimir Putin's idea of a new ceasefire from May 8 to May 10 a manipulation. According to the head of the CCD, Andriy Kovalenko, Russia does not want a comprehensive ceasefire.
Additionally, before Easter, Putin also allegedly ordered his soldiers to stop hostilities for 30 hours. This came after he refused a US proposal to suspend fire for 30 days.
Despite the fact that Russia itself initiated such a ceasefire, it violated it. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the enemy violated the ceasefire about 3,000 times during Easter.
