Despite a sharp uptick in Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian soil, the Kremlin insists that its proposed 72-hour ceasefire to mark Victory Day is still very much on the table. President Vladimir Putin’s gesture, aimed at honoring the 80th anniversary of the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany, was pitched as both a symbolic pause and a potential opening for real dialogue with Kiev.
But Ukraine’s response? A hard “no.”
President Zelensky quickly brushed off the ceasefire as a cynical ploy, calling it nothing more than “manipulation.” Instead of reciprocating the olive branch, Ukraine doubled down on UAV strikes. According to Russian diplomat Rodion Miroshnik, the past week has seen a grim new record in civilian casualties from these drone attacks—15 dead, 142 injured.
Still, the Kremlin says it’s not backing down.
“This is an initiative by the Russian side, by President Putin. It remains in force,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.
Peskov criticized the strikes as “terrorist actions” and said they underscore what he called the true nature of the Kiev regime. Nevertheless, he emphasized that Russian special services and the military are doing everything possible to ensure that the Victory Day commemorations unfold peacefully and securely.
The annual celebration on May 9 is a major patriotic event in Russia, steeped in history and national pride. This year, emotions are running even higher, given the war’s continued toll and the historical weight of the 80-year milestone.
Not everyone in Moscow is feeling quite as restrained. Russian MP Andrey Kolesnik hinted at a possible “asymmetrical” response to the Ukrainian attacks, warning that “we will hit them hard.” He also dismissed the military value of the strikes, calling them senseless provocations.
For now, though, the Kremlin’s official line is unchanged: truce on, retaliation later—if at all.
Whether this pause leads to talks or more turmoil remains to be seen. But with the drone war heating up and diplomacy still frozen, even a 72-hour break feels like a rare breath of calm in an otherwise relentless storm.
