Mr. Zelensky accused Russia of ‘rejecting peace’

“Russia’s choice is clearly to reject the ceasefire as well as efforts to save people’s lives,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social networks on May 6.

Mr. Zelensky previously proposed a pause in fighting starting at midnight on May 6, in response to the ceasefire proposal that Russian President Vladimir Putin made for May 8-9, when Moscow commemorates Victory Day in World War II, and hoped Kiev would do the same. However, the Russian side did not comment or declare that it would comply with Kiev’s call for a ceasefire.

“While there is war and people suffer casualties every day, it is not the time to celebrate,” Mr. Zelensky said, describing Moscow’s move as a “rejection of peace.”

Kiev said today that Russia last night launched more than 100 drones to attack eastern and southern Ukraine, a day after Russian bombardments killed nearly 30 people. The President of Ukraine accused the Russian side of violating Ukraine’s unilateral ceasefire 1,820 times as of noon on May 6.

Kyiv Independent Quoting an unnamed senior Ukrainian official, Kiev has no reason to comply with Russia’s unilateral ceasefire proposal on May 8-9.

An unnamed Ukrainian commander on the front line told AFP that the intensity of Russia’s military operations “remains at the same level”, despite Kiev’s ceasefire proposal. He said his unit is also trying to respond.

The Russian Ministry of Defense today said its forces shot down 53 Ukrainian drones overnight. However, the agency did not say whether Ukrainian drones attacked Russia after Ukraine’s proposed ceasefire took effect.