Thursday, May 21Thursday, May 21Russia declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine from 00:00 May 8 to 00:00 May 10 to mark Victory Day, commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. The Russian Ministry of Defense framed the truce as a gesture tied to the holiday, though it warned that any Ukrainian attempt to disrupt Moscow’s May 9 parade would trigger a "massive missile strike" on Kyiv. Russian authorities urged civilians and diplomatic staff to evacuate the Ukrainian capital, though Ukraine and Western nations dismissed the threats as escalatory .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia’s ceasefire as hypocritical, accusing Moscow of seeking a "permit" to temporarily halt hostilities for its parade before resuming attacks. He warned Russia’s allies against attending the Victory Day events, calling it "strange" given the ongoing war, and noted that some nations close to Russia had informed Ukraine of their plans to send representatives to Moscow. Zelensky also criticized Russia’s threats to strike Kyiv, labeling them "inappropriate" and part of a pattern of intimidation .
Despite Russia’s ceasefire announcement, Ukraine reported continued strikes and drone attacks. Russian air defenses claimed to have intercepted over 50 drones headed toward Moscow in the 15 hours preceding the truce, while Ukraine destroyed nearly 100 Russian drones in the same period. Zelensky accused Russia of violating its own ceasefire, stating that Ukraine had only received "new Russian strikes and threats" .
Ukraine demonstrated its long-range strike capabilities by targeting a Russian Karakurt-class missile ship in the Caspian Sea, over 1,500 km from Kyiv, near the port of Kaspiysk. The ship, capable of firing Kalibr cruise missiles used against Ukrainian civilian targets, was damaged in the attack. Zelensky celebrated the strike as part of Ukraine’s "long-range sanctions" strategy, vowing to continue such operations in response to Russian aggression. Additionally, Ukraine conducted a second strike in eight days on a Lukoil-owned refinery in Perm, near the Ural Mountains .
Western nations and the European Union rejected Russia’s warnings to evacuate diplomatic missions in Kyiv. The EU confirmed it would maintain its presence in the city, calling Moscow’s threats "escalation tactics" and emphasizing that attacks on Kyiv were already a daily reality. Germany and the UK similarly dismissed the warnings as "unwarranted" and "irresponsible," with the British Foreign Office stating that any attack on diplomatic sites would mark a further escalation. Zelensky remained in Kyiv over the weekend, despite the threats .
Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow was notably scaled back, with no military hardware displayed for the first time in nearly two decades—a decision analysts linked to the war’s strain on Russian resources. The Kremlin’s aggressive rhetoric ahead of the event, including threats against Kyiv, was interpreted by Kyiv Post as a sign of weakness rather than strength, reflecting growing concerns over the security of Moscow and its leadership .
Ukraine’s defense cooperation with Sweden advanced, with Kyiv’s defense minister announcing that a deal to acquire Saab Gripen fighter jets could be finalized within months. Sweden had previously signed a letter of intent to supply up to 150 Gripens, though initial deliveries would likely take three years. Discussions also progressed on transferring older-model Gripens more quickly, either through loans, sales, or donations .
Russia criticized Armenia for hosting Zelensky at a summit of the European Political Community, a bloc established after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed disappointment, calling Armenia a "fraternal country," while Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reiterated that Armenia was "not an ally of Russia" on the Ukraine issue .
Ukraine’s top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, met with U.S. officials in Miami to discuss advancing a peace accord. Zelensky framed the talks as a way to honor the legacy of those who fought Nazi Germany, urging the U.S. to maintain a "just and strong stance against the aggressor" .
> Background: **Russia Declares Ceasefire for Victory Day Amid Threats to Kyiv** — *10 hours ago*
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![Ukraine war briefing: Distant strike on Russian missile ship in Caspian Sea Defence ministers of Ukraine and Sweden talk Gripen fighter jet deal; verbal exchanges escalate over Victory Day parade. What we know on day 1,535Ukraines military has struck a Russian Karakurt-class small missile carrier on the Caspian Sea off Russias distant Dagestan region, the Ukrainian general staff said on Thursday. The port of Kaspiysk where the ship was reportedly located is more than 1,500km from Kyiv – and closer to Tehran, the Iranian capital. The extent of the damage was being assessed, the Ukrainian general staff posted online. Among its armaments, the Karakurt class can fire Kalibr cruise missiles which Moscow has used to hit civilian targets in Ukraine.Voldoymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, expressed satisfaction at the long-range attack and the second assault in eight days on a Lukoil-owned refinery in Perm, near the Ural Mountains. In a mirror response to Russian strikes, we will continue our long-range sanctions. And in response to Russias willingness to move toward diplomacy, we will proceed along the path of diplomacy, Zelenskyy said.Ukraines purchase of Saab-made Gripen fighter jets could be signed within months, Kyivs defence minister said on Thursday as he visited his Swedish counterpart in Stockholm. The countries last year signed a letter of intent that could see Sweden supply up to 150 Gripens. The first deliveries are estimated at three years away from any deal being finalised. We have our plan how to finance it, said Mykhailo Fedorov, the Ukrainian defence minister. The Swedish minister, Pal Jonson, said a deal to loan, sell or gift existing Gripens of an older model, to be delivered much faster, was progressing well.Moscow has issued increasingly shrill protests and threats as its Victory Day parade on Saturday approaches. Foreign ambassadors have meanwhile rebuffed Russian warnings to evacuate their staff from Kyiv in case Moscow decides to attack. Ukraine has never directly targeted Victory Day commemorations, which this year will not even feature military equipment. Russian authorities have demanded a ceasefire and threatened direct strikes on Kyiv if the parade is attacked.Britains Foreign Office said Moscows threats toward diplomats in Kyiv were unwarranted, irresponsible and completely unjustified, adding that any attack on a diplomatic mission would be a further escalation in the war. The German foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, told Bloomberg TV earlier that Berlin would not pull its embassy staff out Kyiv. Zelenskyy would stay in Kyiv over the weekend, a senior source close to the Ukrainian president told Agence France-Presse.Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that Moscow wanted a permit from Ukraine to hold their parade, to go out on to the square safely for an hour once a year, and then continue killing, killing our people and waging war … The Russians are already talking about strikes after May 9. Strange and certainly inappropriate of the Russian leadership. We have also received messages from some states close to Russia, saying that their representatives plan to be in Moscow, said Zelenskyy. A strange desire … in these days. We do not recommend it.Throughout the war, Ukrainian drones have regularly harassed the regions around Moscow and cause shutdowns of its airports. On Thursday morning the Moscow mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said Russian air defence units intercepted more than 50 drones headed for Moscow over a period of about 15 hours. There was no way to confirm the claim. Zelenskyy said Russia had continued to flout a ceasefire starting from the night of 5-6 May that he had proposed in response to the self-declared Russian ceasefire for Victory Day. Ukraine, he said, had received only new Russian strikes and new Russian threats.Russia complained to Armenia for hosting Zelenskyy this week at a summit of the European Political Community, which was set up after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Maria Zakharova, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, said Russians were accustomed to considering [Armenia] a friendly, fraternal country. The Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, told reporters on Thursday: Back in 2022-2023 I already stated that, on the issue of Ukraine, we are not an ally of Russia.Ukraines top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, arrived in Miami for meetings with US negotiators on moving toward a peace accord, Zelenskyy said. Achieving peace in Europe was the best way to honour those who fought against Nazi Germany, said Ukraines president. Just as 81 years ago, so now America can help peace with a just and strong stance against the aggressor, he said. And it is important that the American people now view Russia precisely in this way – as an aggressor. Continue reading...](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7959d3fd673771aac3ef7a0e556b59078327b6eb/0_445_4027_3222/master/4027.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=33e0b6e7d23c06212e483aaba1988906)
Ukraine war briefing: Distant strike on Russian missile ship in Caspian Sea Defence ministers of Ukraine and Sweden talk Gripen fighter jet deal; verbal exchanges escalate over Victory Day parade. What we know on day 1,535Ukraines military has struck a Russian Karakurt-class small missile carrier on the Caspian Sea off Russias distant Dagestan region, the Ukrainian general staff said on Thursday. The port of Kaspiysk where the ship was reportedly located is more than 1,500km from Kyiv – and closer to Tehran, the Iranian capital. The extent of the damage was being assessed, the Ukrainian general staff posted online. Among its armaments, the Karakurt class can fire Kalibr cruise missiles which Moscow has used to hit civilian targets in Ukraine.Voldoymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, expressed satisfaction at the long-range attack and the second assault in eight days on a Lukoil-owned refinery in Perm, near the Ural Mountains. In a mirror response to Russian strikes, we will continue our long-range sanctions. And in response to Russias willingness to move toward diplomacy, we will proceed along the path of diplomacy, Zelenskyy said.Ukraines purchase of Saab-made Gripen fighter jets could be signed within months, Kyivs defence minister said on Thursday as he visited his Swedish counterpart in Stockholm. The countries last year signed a letter of intent that could see Sweden supply up to 150 Gripens. The first deliveries are estimated at three years away from any deal being finalised. We have our plan how to finance it, said Mykhailo Fedorov, the Ukrainian defence minister. The Swedish minister, Pal Jonson, said a deal to loan, sell or gift existing Gripens of an older model, to be delivered much faster, was progressing well.Moscow has issued increasingly shrill protests and threats as its Victory Day parade on Saturday approaches. Foreign ambassadors have meanwhile rebuffed Russian warnings to evacuate their staff from Kyiv in case Moscow decides to attack. Ukraine has never directly targeted Victory Day commemorations, which this year will not even feature military equipment. Russian authorities have demanded a ceasefire and threatened direct strikes on Kyiv if the parade is attacked.Britains Foreign Office said Moscows threats toward diplomats in Kyiv were unwarranted, irresponsible and completely unjustified, adding that any attack on a diplomatic mission would be a further escalation in the war. The German foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, told Bloomberg TV earlier that Berlin would not pull its embassy staff out Kyiv. Zelenskyy would stay in Kyiv over the weekend, a senior source close to the Ukrainian president told Agence France-Presse.Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that Moscow wanted a permit from Ukraine to hold their parade, to go out on to the square safely for an hour once a year, and then continue killing, killing our people and waging war … The Russians are already talking about strikes after May 9. Strange and certainly inappropriate of the Russian leadership. We have also received messages from some states close to Russia, saying that their representatives plan to be in Moscow, said Zelenskyy. A strange desire … in these days. We do not recommend it.Throughout the war, Ukrainian drones have regularly harassed the regions around Moscow and cause shutdowns of its airports. On Thursday morning the Moscow mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said Russian air defence units intercepted more than 50 drones headed for Moscow over a period of about 15 hours. There was no way to confirm the claim. Zelenskyy said Russia had continued to flout a ceasefire starting from the night of 5-6 May that he had proposed in response to the self-declared Russian ceasefire for Victory Day. Ukraine, he said, had received only new Russian strikes and new Russian threats.Russia complained to Armenia for hosting Zelenskyy this week at a summit of the European Political Community, which was set up after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Maria Zakharova, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, said Russians were accustomed to considering [Armenia] a friendly, fraternal country. The Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, told reporters on Thursday: Back in 2022-2023 I already stated that, on the issue of Ukraine, we are not an ally of Russia.Ukraines top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, arrived in Miami for meetings with US negotiators on moving toward a peace accord, Zelenskyy said. Achieving peace in Europe was the best way to honour those who fought against Nazi Germany, said Ukraines president. Just as 81 years ago, so now America can help peace with a just and strong stance against the aggressor, he said. And it is important that the American people now view Russia precisely in this way – as an aggressor. Continue reading...
theguardian · 13 days ago
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theguardian · 13 days ago
🇷🇺🇺🇦 — Russian Ministry of Defense announces a ceasefire in Ukraine from 00:00 May 8 to 00:00 May 10 in order to celebrate Victory Day; the victory of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the Second World War, of which both Russia and Ukraine were a part of. Russia has also warned that if Ukraine attempts to disrupt the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9, Russia will launch a massive missile strike on Kyiv and has warned civilians and diplomatic staff to leave the city.
telegram bot · 13 days ago
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bbc · 13 days ago
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mastodon bot · 13 days ago
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aljazeera · 14 days ago
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bbc · 15 days ago
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wsj · 15 days ago
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euronews · 15 days ago
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mastodon bot · 15 days ago
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wsj · 4 months ago
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theguardian · 4 months ago
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france24 · 4 months ago
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theguardian · 4 months ago
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france24 · 4 months ago
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