Russia is warning both diplomats and civilians in Kiev to leave the city due to looming retaliatory strikes. Zelensky, on the other hand, discourages leaders from participating in pompous celebrations in Moscow.
The Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday again called on foreign diplomats and civilians in Kyiv to leave the city immediately in case Ukraine disrupts the May 9 Victory Day celebrations. In such a case, Russia warns against retaliatory strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi warned representatives of the countries not to participate in the celebrations in Moscow. TASR writes about it according to TASS and AFP agencies.
- The Russian Ministry of Defense called on civilians and diplomats in Kyiv to leave immediately.
- Moscow has threatened retaliatory strikes if Ukraine disrupts the Victory Day celebrations.
- Russia unilaterally declared a ceasefire on May 8 and 9 during the celebrations.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that Russia responded to the ceasefire with new attacks.
- Zelenskyy did not recommend foreign leaders to participate in the celebrations in Moscow.
“We once again remind the civilian population of Kyiv and the employees of foreign diplomatic missions that it is necessary to leave the city in time,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement, vowing to respond with a retaliatory strike in the event of a Ukrainian attack. A similar message was sent by the spokeswoman of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marija Zakharova, on Wednesday evening.
Calls for a ceasefire
On the occasion of the Victory over Fascism Day celebrations, Russia unilaterally declared a ceasefire on May 8 and 9. Ukraine responded with its own proposal for a ceasefire from midnight on Wednesday and called on Moscow to join.
However, Zelenskyi said on Wednesday that Russia responded to the ceasefire with new attacks. “Ukraine will respond in the same way. Depending on how the situation develops tonight and tomorrow, we will determine how we will legitimately respond,” he wrote on the X Network on Wednesday evening.
Warnings before participation
In a statement on Thursday, the Ukrainian president warned the representatives of the countries that plan to participate in the celebrations. “We have also received reports from some states close to Russia that their representatives are planning to be in Moscow. A strange desire … these days. We do not recommend it,” he said in an evening speech.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is also planning to participate in the celebrations in Moscow. In addition to him, the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, the King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim, the President of Abkhazia Badra Gunba, the President of South Ossetia Alan Gaglojev and the President of the Bosnian Republika Srpska Siniša Karan will also be present.
