Zelenskyy on "silence" on May 9: it depends on what we hear today
Regarding the ceasefire on May 9, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the Ukrainian side will respond in kind, depending on how the russian side acts today. Zelenskyy made this statement in his regular video address, according to the Ukrainian News agency.
"There are many new threats from Russia right now. Although we have presented a position that is entirely logical and understandable to them — we will respond in exactly the same way. Today they began the day with shelling on the front lines; there was assault activity. Drones are being used. Yesterday they carried out even more airstrikes. We responded in kind. What happens tomorrow depends on what we hear today," he said.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on the morning of May 8, Zelenskyy stated that the russian side had not even made a token attempt to cease fire on the front lines, and Ukraine would respond in kind.
On May 6, Zelenskyy stated that the russian side had violated the ceasefire declared by Ukraine, which was supposed to begin on the night of May 5–6.
On April 29, russian dictator vladimir putin held a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump. The kremlin stated that putin proposed declaring a short-term ceasefire for May 9, and Trump allegedly supported this initiative.
Zelenskyy stated that russia, the aggressor country, had not discussed the implementation of a short-term ceasefire on May 9 with Ukraine; no one had contacted Kyiv on this matter, nor had any official proposals been sent.
On May 5, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiha emphasized that the world should not adjust to russia’s schedule of “holidays” or “parades.”