Zelenskyy Seeks Clarification from Trump on Putin's May 9 Ceasefire Proposal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed his representatives to contact the team of US President Donald Trump to clarify the details of Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for a ceasefire on May 9, while dismissing the offer as a "theatrical performance" and reiterating Ukraine's demand for a 30-day unconditional truce.

Putin's ceasefire proposal came during a 90-minute phone call with Trump on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin initiated the call and that Trump "actively supported this initiative." Trump later noted in the Oval Office that the two had not spoken for some time and asked, "Did he already announce it?"

"I have instructed our representatives to contact the team of the President of the United States and clarify the details of the Russian proposal for a short-term silence," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. "Let's find out what exactly is at stake: a few hours of security for the parade in Moscow or something more." He added that Ukraine's position is a long-term ceasefire that would guarantee real security for civilians and lasting peace. "Ukraine is ready to work for this in any decent and effective format," he said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Russia does not require Ukraine's agreement for the ceasefire, calling it a unilateral decision by Putin. "The decision has been made by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief," Peskov told reporters, adding that the temporary halt "will be implemented" regardless of Kyiv's response and that "a response is not, in fact, required."

Zelenskyy dismissed the proposal as "manipulative" and a "theatrical performance." "We value human lives, not parades," he said, adding that Kyiv would not accept a temporary pause that merely allows Russian forces to regroup.

Ukraine demands an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a first step toward lasting peace. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X: "Why not now? Why wait until May 8? If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately. Ukraine is ready to support a full ceasefire and calls on Russia to declare it immediately for 30 days, rather than just 'for a parade.'"

Russia's Victory Day parade in Red Square will proceed without heavy military equipment for the first time since 2008. The Russian Defense Ministry cited the "current operational situation," though analysts link the move to equipment shortages and security concerns amid ongoing Ukrainian long-range drone strikes. Western intelligence estimates Russian casualties have exceeded 1.2 million.

In 2025, Moscow promoted the attendance of 29 foreign leaders including Xi Jinping and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; as of April 30, 2026, the Kremlin has not announced foreign guests for this year's parade.

During Putin's 32-hour Orthodox Easter truce earlier in April 2026, Sybiha said Russia violated the ceasefire at least 734 times between midnight and noon on May 8, citing Ukraine's military command. According to him, Russian forces carried out 63 assault operations, 176 drone strikes, and 10 air strikes using guided bombs during that period.