On May 9th, Russia will hold a grand parade in Moscow to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War. This was supposed to be a solemn look back at history and a high tribute to the victory, but under the shadow of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, it has triggered a series of intense diplomatic and public opinion confrontations between both sides, focusing the attention of the whole world on this event.
On April 28th, Russian President Putin announced that, out of humanitarian considerations, a ceasefire would be implemented from midnight on May 8th to midnight on May 11th, during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War. The Russian army would cease all combat operations, and he called on the Ukrainian side to take similar measures. If Ukraine violates the ceasefire agreement, the Russian army will respond with timely and adequate measures. This move, which was originally meant to demonstrate goodwill and promote peace, was strongly opposed by Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelensky was the first to speak out, and his words were full of hostility. In an interview with Agence France-Presse, Zelensky said that "we do not know what Russia will do on May 9th? Will they set fires or fire shells, then blame us?" He also stated that "this is Putin's self-staged farce. No one will play this game with him."
Zelensky emphasized that given that the Ukraine-Russia conflict is still ongoing, Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of any foreign dignitaries attending the traditional May 9th Victory Parade in Moscow. Additionally, he clearly rejected Putin's proposal for a 72-hour ceasefire, insisting that Ukraine demands a "comprehensive unconditional ceasefire," which should be at least 30 days long, as a few days of ceasefire would not be enough to reach any agreements. Zelensky even claimed that the Ukrainian government is looking for Russia's vulnerabilities, implying that actions against the parade are not ruled out. This statement caused an international stir.
Behind Zelensky's remarks may lie multiple considerations. On one hand, he tried to show Ukraine's firm stance in the conflict through a tough attitude, demonstrating to domestic citizens and Western allies that he would not show weakness in front of Russia, seeking more support and assistance; on the other hand, in diplomatic negotiations, he expected to give Russia greater pressure in this way, to achieve Ukraine's required "comprehensive unconditional ceasefire" and other negotiation benchmarks.
In response to Zelensky's various statements, the Russian side quickly reacted. Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Medvedev described Zelensky's statements as "verbal provocation," and stated that no one requested Kiev to provide security guarantees for the events on May 9th. He also harshly criticized Zelensky, stating that if Kiev takes any actions threatening Moscow, Kiev will face serious consequences.
Medvedev directly said that if Zelensky dares to attack the parade, he will not see the sun on May 10th, using very strong language. A spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry also accused Zelensky of "threatening the safety of veterans participating in the march and celebrations of this sacred day," believing that Ukraine is undermining efforts to resolve conflicts peacefully.
The deep-seated grievances between Russia and Ukraine! During the three years of ongoing conflict, Ukraine has repeatedly used drones or loitering munitions and other long-range strike weapons to attack Moscow. Just at the end of April, a deputy director of the General Staff Operations Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces was assassinated, which undoubtedly exacerbated the distrust and tension between both sides. Now, Russia has unilaterally declared a ceasefire, but Ukraine refuses to cooperate, leaving many uncertainties surrounding the Victory Day parade on May 9th.
If Ukraine really takes action during the parade and attacks Moscow, it will not only destroy this significant historical celebration but could also lead to further escalation of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, causing unpredictable consequences. After all, this parade invited numerous state leaders from many countries, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, Slovakia, Serbia, India, Brazil, Vietnam, Burkina Faso, etc. Any incident would have a huge impact on international relations, and Ukraine would inevitably face severe diplomatic and military pressure.
In the context of widespread calls for peace in the international community, the standoff between Russia and Ukraine over the Victory Day parade has made people worry about the prospects of resolving the Ukraine conflict peacefully. Although the United States claims to seek permanent cessation of hostilities, it is also considering imposing another round of economic sanctions on Russia, showing an ambiguous attitude. Most European countries remain silent and have not responded positively to Putin's ceasefire initiative.
How will this conflict develop? Can the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9th proceed smoothly? Will it be remembered in a peaceful atmosphere or spent in tense confrontation or conflict? The whole world is watching with bated breath, hoping that the dawn of peace will soon dispel the shadow of war and restore tranquility to the Ukraine region.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7500361000055505423/
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