Ukraine rejects Putin’s ‘Victory Day ceasefire’ as cynical stunt

Ukraine has dismissed Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin’s unilateral proposal for a Victory Day ceasefire as a cynical and insincere move, aimed at propaganda rather than genuine peace. 

Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha made clear that while Ukraine remains open to peace talks, any negotiations must be grounded in genuine intent – not temporary, performative gestures timed to coincide with symbolic Russian holidays. 

“Russia must stop talking about its readiness for peace and start acting by agreeing unconditionally to a real and durable ceasefire,” Sybiha said in a statement. 

He added that the Kremlin could prove its sincerity by agreeing to a full ceasefire for at least 30 days. If Russia is willing to extend it to 60 or 90 days, Ukraine would also be ready.

“When the guns are silent, talks can begin—in any format that will bring peace,” Sybiha said.

Russia’s use of the Victory Day parade also glosses over its role in starting World War II when the USSR collaborated with Nazi Germany in 1939 to forcibly invade what is modern-day Belarus, western Ukrainian territories and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. 

This isn’t the first time Moscow has declared a symbolic “truce”. 

Putin previously announced an “Easter ceasefire,” which Russian forces quickly violated by continuing to shell both Ukrainian military positions and civilian areas.

Then, Ukraine’s Khartiia (Charter) 13th National Guard Brigade said Russian troops used that so-called Easter truce to amass forces along the Kharkiv axis.