Zelenskiy accuses Russia of spurning ceasefire proposed by Kyiv
Ukraine and Russia Clash Over Ceasefire Proposals
By Dan Peleschuk and Anna Pruchnicka
Ceasefire Proposals and Violations
KYIV, May 6 (Reuters) - Ukraine accused Russia of flouting a Kyiv-proposed ceasefire on Wednesday by carrying out dozens of battlefield assaults, air strikes and drone attacks in what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described as Moscow's "obvious spurning" of peace.
Zelenskiy had floated the cessation, starting on May 6, in response to Russian leader Vladimir Putin's own proposed ceasefire from May 8 to 9 to coincide with its World War Two victory commemorations.
In a statement, Zelenskiy said Russia - which did not confirm its adherence to Ukraine's proposal - had committed 1,820 violations by late morning on Wednesday.
"Russia's choice is an obvious spurning of a ceasefire and of saving lives," he said.
Zelenskiy's Response to Russian Actions
Speaking later in his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said Russia "has responded to the proposal only with new strikes and new attacks" and Ukraine would determine "our entirely justified responses".
He said Ukraine was ready to work for peace but that "if the one person in Moscow who cannot live without war is interested only in a parade and nothing else, that is another matter".
"Russia has fought to the point where even their main parade now depends on us."
Russian Perspective and Security Measures
Russia, citing an increased threat of Ukrainian attacks, says it will hold a slimmed-down version of its annual Victory Day parade in Moscow this week without military hardware.
In Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia had warned diplomatic missions to evacuate staff promptly from Kyiv in the event of a mass strike by Moscow in response to any attempt by Ukraine to disrupt Victory Day commemorations.
Zakharova, in a video posted on Telegram, said her ministry "strongly urges the authorities of your country ... to treat this statement with the utmost responsibility".
On Monday, Russia's defence ministry had warned that it would respond to Ukrainian attacks during victory celebrations with a "massive missile attack" on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Monday that a Ukrainian drone had struck a building in Russia's capital overnight, but had caused no casualties.
Escalation of Attacks and Civilian Impact
Drone Strikes and Casualties
TWO KILLED IN DRONE STRIKES
Officials in the northeastern region of Sumy said four people had been killed, including two female workers at a kindergarten hit by a drone, though children were not present.
Another person was killed when a house was struck by a drone and a man was killed by a mine thought to have been dropped by Russian forces.
Damage in Major Cities
In major cities such as Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia - where an attack on Tuesday killed 12 people - private buildings, infrastructure and industrial sites were damaged in air attacks after midnight, officials said.
Ukrainian Government's Reaction
"This shows that Russia rejects peace and its fake calls for a ceasefire on May 9th have nothing to do with diplomacy," said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on X.
"Putin only cares about military parades, not human lives."
Broader Context and Ongoing Conflict
The rival overtures come amid stalled U.S.-backed peace talks to end the more than four-year war, and as Russia presses an offensive to capture the rest of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
Ukrainian Military Strategy
In his remarks, Zelenskiy also said, citing Ukrainian intelligence, that Russia was concentrating its air defences around Moscow, a fact which "creates additional opportunities" for long-range attacks by Ukraine elsewhere.
Kyiv's forces have stepped up attacks in recent months on military-industrial and energy sites across Russia, particularly oil infrastructure, in a bid to weaken the Kremlin's war machine.
Public Sentiment in Ukraine
Some Ukrainians said any unilateral efforts by their military to maintain a ceasefire with Russia would likely prove fruitless while cities and frontline troops remain under attack.
"Maybe we should act the same way Russia does. That is, not to stay silent, not to observe the truce," said 52-year-old Nataliia Fomenko in Kyiv. "We have no other choice."
(Additional reporting by Yurii Kovalenko; Editing by Alison Williams, Ron Popeski, Alistair Bell and Stephen Coates)
