Live – Ukraine: With its short truces, the Kremlin wants to “test the arrangement” from kyiv to peace

Volodymyr Zelensky regrets that the Kremlin only offers truces of a few days, which according to him constitutes a proposal to cease-fire which is not credible. “It is impossible to agree on something in three, five or seven days. Let’s be honest,” he said.

“It is a theatrical performance on his part. In two or three days, it is impossible to find a plan to establish the next steps to finish the war. It does not seem serious,” said the Ukrainian president, according to words from journalists, including those of AFP.

For his 25th anniversary of his reign, Vladimir Putin unveils a documentary. Images that must “impose the idea on the Russians that under him, everything goes well,” said LCI Vera Grantsva, specialist in Russia.

The three-day truce, from May 8 to 10, announced by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, aims to “test the disposition” of Ukraine to peace, while kyiv judged a cease-fire too short to negotiate. “The objective of the Easter truce proposed by Russia (in April, editor’s note), as well as the current initiative to declare a truce during the celebrations of May 8, 9 and 10, is to test the disposition of kyiv to find a path for long-term lasting peace,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov.

Russia accused Ukrainian President, Voludymyr Zelensky on Saturday, of uttering a “direct threat” against the security of the May 9 celebrations, which commemorate the victory against Nazi Germany. The Ukrainian leader said kyiv could not guarantee the “security” of international leaders who would attend. “He threatens the physical security of the veterans who will come to the parades and celebrations of this sacred day,” castigated the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, on Telegram. “His statement (…) is of course, a direct threat”.

The Ukrainian army claimed on Saturday that it had shot down a Russian fighter plane, a Sukhoi Su-30, with an R-73 anti-aircraft missile from a Naval Magura drone in the Black Sea. “The historic strike was carried out by the warriors of the special unity of group 13 of HUR using an R-73 missile launched from the unmanned naval platform Magura (…) The very first destruction of a fighting plane by a naval drone”, welcomed the Ukrainian Minister of Defense on her social networks.

“The successful strike took place in the waters near the port of Novorossiysk, where Russian forces try to hide the remains of their Black Sea fleet,” the Ukrainian authorities said.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Friday that his meeting with his American counterpart Donald Trump at the Vatican, April 26, had allowed the latter to “a little differently” the conflict in Ukraine. “I am confident that after our meeting at the Vatican, President Trump began to see things a little differently,” he told a group of journalists.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said kyiv could not guarantee “the security” of international leaders who will be present in Moscow on May 9, during the 80th anniversary celebrations against Nazi Germany. “We do not know what Russia will do on this date. It could take different measures, such as fires, explosions, and then accuse us,” he said, while the Chinese leaders Xi Jinping and Brazilian Luiz Lula Da Silva, as well as those of traditional allies of Russia such as Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Cuba or Venez On site.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, assured Friday that he did not want to “play” with the short trucers proposed by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in reference to the ceasefire from May 8 to 10, estimating these deadlines too short to lead serious talks. “It is impossible to agree on something in three, five or seven days. (…) It is impossible to find a plan to establish the next steps to finish the war. It does not seem serious,” he told a small group of journalists, including those of AFP, by calling once again to an unconditional truce of 30 days.

“There was no military target, and there could not have been some,” lambasted Ukrainian President on Saturday, Volodymyr Zelensky, after the Russian strikes on Kharkiv during last night. “Russia strikes residential areas at the very moment when Ukrainians are at home, when they sleep their children. Only demons can give such orders and execute them.”

“While the world hesitates to make decisions, almost every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives. Ukraine needs a strengthened air defense,” he asked. “Strong and concrete decisions are necessary on the part of our partners – the United States, Europe, all our partners who aspire to peace. Only strength and sanctions will force Russia to stop.”

Drones launched by Russia injured 47 civilians in Kharkiv, the second city in Ukraine. “Hostile attacks on Kharkiv had the consequence of injuring 47 civilians,” wrote local Ukrainian police on his Telegram account, on the night of Friday to Saturday, after the regional governor, Oleg Synegoubov, had spoken of around fifty people affected, including an 11 -year -old child.

The British government announced on Saturday that Ukrainian soldiers will join the military parade organized on Monday in London on Monday, on the occasion of the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The presence of this contingent symbolizes “global support for their struggle for freedom against the illegal and not caused invasion of Russia”, wrote the Ministry of Defense in a press release.

“The participation of Ukrainian military personnel in the parade in London symbolizes our strength, our courage and our resilience,” said Major Pavlo. “It is the recognition of the fact that Ukraine and its heroes are at the forefront of the struggle for freedom and peace in the world”. The United Kingdom and other Allied nations have formed more than 54,000 Ukrainians in combat techniques since the Russian invasion in 2022.

The Trump administration announced on Friday to have approved the sale in Ukraine for spare parts and training equipment for F-16s, combat aircraft whose delivery had been approved by Joe Biden. The State Department indicated in a press release that it has notified the congress of this sale worth $ 310.5 million and which includes “training of personnel related to the operation and maintenance” F-16 aircraft, spare parts and ground handling equipment and others.

This transaction between Washington and kyiv will in particular ensure the training of pilots and “increase interoperability” of the Ukrainian armed forces with those of the United States, writes the US State Department. This sale, which will be paid by kyiv, comes two days after signing the agreement between the United States and Ukraine for the exploitation of the Ukrainian subsoil and the reconstruction of the country.

Drones launched by the Russians made “nearly 50” injured on Friday in Kharkiv, the second city of Ukraine and located near the Russian border. This raid occurred a few hours after Russian bombings on Zaporijia, southern city, in which more than 20 people were injured.

“Nearly 50 people were injured because of the massive invader attack. Among them is an 11 -year -old child,” said Kharkiv governor, Oleg Synegoubov, on Telegram. Quatre districts of the city (Slobidsky, Saltivsky, Kyivsky and Osnoviansky) were affected by strikes. “Fires have declared themselves. Residential buildings, civil infrastructure and cars have been damaged.”

Hello everyone. Welcome to TF1info to follow the latest news around the war in Ukraine, started on February 24, 2022 with the Russian invasion ordered by Vladimir Putin.