Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said on Saturday that no one can guarantee that the Ukrainian capital Kyiv will survive May 10th if Ukraine attacks Moscow during the celebration of victory in World War II on May 9th.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a three-day truce in the war with Ukraine on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War II.
The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8th, May 9th – when Putin will host international leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the celebration of the victory over Nazi Germany – and on May 10th.
Responding to Moscow’s offer of a three-day truce, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready as long as the truce lasts 30 days, something Putin has already ruled out in the near future, saying he wants a long-term solution, not a short pause.
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine, given the ongoing war with Russia, cannot guarantee the safety of any foreign dignitary who comes to Moscow for the traditional Victory Day parade on May 9th.
“We cannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They are responsible for your security and therefore we will not give you any guarantees,” he said.
Medvedev, former Russian president who since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine has emerged as one of Moscow’s loudest anti-Western hawks, called Zelenskyy’s statement a “verbal provocation” and said that no one asked for security guarantees from Kyiv for the events of May 9th.
“(Zelenskyy) understands that in the case of a real provocation on Victory Day, no one will be able to guarantee that Kyiv will see May 10th,” Medvedev said on his official Telegram channel.
