Polish PM Tusk calls Russian one-day ceasefire proposal for May 9 parade 'absurd'

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Sunday dismissed Russia's proposal for a one-day ceasefire on May 9 to allow a parade in Moscow as "absurd," saying he would not persuade Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept it.

Speaking in Warsaw before departing for the European Political Community summit, Tusk said the signal from Moscow so far concerns a one-day ceasefire solely to allow a parade to take place. "But that is absurd. I will in no way persuade President Zelensky to agree to this type of proposal," Tusk said. "If there were a possibility of a ceasefire and an end to the bloodshed not just for a few dozen hours—merely because it suits Putin—but as a prelude to serious peace talks, then, of course, Poland would support it with all its might."

Tusk noted that a major conference on Ukraine's reconstruction in Gdańsk is coming up. He also said that during his visit to Yerevan, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Zelensky.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Thursday that Russia intends to cease fire on May 9, regardless of whether Ukraine accepts or rejects a temporary ceasefire. The President of Ukraine stated that the Russian side may propose to the West that sanctions against certain Russian companies be lifted in exchange for a ceasefire with Ukraine.

At the Road to URC – Security and Defense Dimension conference, held on April 27 in Rzeszów, Tusk said Poland would build a "drone fleet" based on Ukraine's experience and technology. "In Rzeszów, I spoke about what is particularly important to me: To discuss not only the reconstruction of Ukraine, which is literally also in Poland's interest, but also how to strengthen Poland's security through military cooperation with Ukraine as well," Tusk said.