Western governments and US Congress back Ukraine's immediate ceasefire as Russia resumes strikes

A coalition of Western foreign ministries and the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus on Tuesday rallied behind President Volodymyr Zelensky's call for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire starting on the night of May 5–6, pressing Moscow to accept Kyiv's offer rather than wait for its own self-declared May 8–9 truce around Victory Day. The Ukrainian Air Force reported on the morning of May 6 that Russia had resumed airstrikes from the very first hours of the day. Zelensky said Ukraine had received no official signal from Russia despite Moscow's social-media statements, and that Kyiv was declaring its own ceasefire from May 6 and urging Russia to "move from rhetoric to real steps."

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Zelensky had "once again demonstrated" Ukraine's readiness for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations, calling on Russia to accept the proposal and begin the truce "already tonight." Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said Sweden "fully supports" Zelensky's proposal starting at midnight and called on Russia to "show that it is serious about ending the war." Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said via X that "there is nothing to wait for. Russia can at any point end this war by ceasing to attack Ukraine and its civilians."

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said Ukraine was choosing peace "not for two days, not for a parade," but as a genuine offer to stop the killing, and dismissed Russia's limited May 8–9 truce as "a PR exercise." "Now it's Russia's turn," he said. Finland's Elina Valtonen, Spain's José Manuel Albares and Malta's Ian Borg all backed the proposal; Albares said the announcement reflected "a genuine commitment to peace."

The Baltic ministers were sharpest. Latvia's Baiba Braže accused Russia of launching missiles and drones at Ukraine while "pretending" to offer a ceasefire for a propaganda event, saying "actions, not words, matter." Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said Russia's latest missile and drone strikes showed why Kyiv's call had to be backed: "A ceasefire cannot be dictated by the calendar of Russia's war-glorifying parade – a spectacle built on aggression and propaganda." Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Moscow wanted a pause for a parade while continuing attacks on Ukraine, and that Russia now had to show it was serious about peace and not symbolism. OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons and Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President Petra Bayr also endorsed Zelensky's appeal.

In Washington, the Congressional Ukraine Caucus co-chairs — Marcy Kaptur, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Quigley and Joe Wilson — backed the proposal in a joint statement, calling Ukraine's offer "an olive branch" and accusing Russia of continuing to strike Ukrainian cities, energy infrastructure and civilians while claiming to seek peace. "A ceasefire cannot be selective, conditional, or timed for political convenience. It must be real, verifiable, and honored in good faith," the lawmakers said. They called on Vladimir Putin to accept the truce starting Tuesday night, framed the choice for the Kremlin as "continuing a devastating war or taking a meaningful step toward peace," and stressed that Democrats and Republicans remained united in support of Ukraine's sovereignty. "The path to peace is open. The responsibility to take it rests with the Kremlin," the statement said. "America stands with the people of Ukraine."

Russia's May 8–9 truce was announced by its Defence Ministry on May 4 as a pause "in honour of the celebration of Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War." Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is expected in Moscow on May 9 to meet Putin, although he has said he will not attend the Victory Day military parade. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha cast Moscow's stance bluntly: Putin, he said, "cares about parades, not human lives."