Russia vows ‘retaliatory’ strikes if Moscow parade if attacked – despite Ukraine offering truce; departing Orbán surrenders Ukrainian cash and gold. What we know on day 1,534
Russia has told foreign embassies in Kyiv to evacuate their staff in case it decides to attack the Ukrainian capital during the Victory Day parade in Moscow this weekend. It comes despite the Ukrainian president offering a truce extending before, during and potentially after the anniversary if Russia halts attacks on Ukraine. Vladimir Putin, the Russian ruler, has demanded a narrow ceasefire on strictly his own terms to protect his showpiece annual parade.
In a note to foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations, Russia warned it would launch a “retaliatory” strike on the Ukrainian capital, “including against decision-making centres”, if Ukraine disrupted the commemorations this Saturday. It urged them to “ensure the timely evacuation of personnel from diplomatic and other missions, as well as citizens, from the city of Kyiv”.
Ukraine proposed its own ceasefire starting on 6 May, which Russia ignored. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, said Russia – which did not confirm its adherence to Ukraine’s proposal – had committed 1,820 violations by late morning on Wednesday. “Russia’s choice is an obvious spurning of a ceasefire and of saving lives,” he said. Ukraine was ready to work for peace but “if the one person in Moscow who cannot live without war is interested only in a parade and nothing else, that is another matter”, Zelenskyy said. “Russia has fought to the point where even their main parade now depends on us.”
