Zelensky Says Russia Threatens Kyiv After May 9 Ceasefire Terms
Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 7, 2026 that Russia answered Ukraine’s May 5 to 6 unilateral ceasefire with additional strikes and new threats. The Russian Ministry of Defense then announced terms for its own unilateral Victory Day ceasefire, set to begin at midnight local time on May 8 and end at midnight on the morning of May 10.
Zelensky said Russia “wants Ukraine’s permission” to “safely take to Red Square for one hour once a year” for the Victory Day parade before returning to its war against Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense said Russian forces will completely cease hostilities during the window, including on the ground, frontline drone and artillery strikes, and long-range drone and missile strikes.
Russia’s May 8 to May 10 window
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the ceasefire terms on May 7, 2026 and called on Ukraine to “follow this example.” The ministry said the halt would run from midnight local time on May 8 until midnight on the morning of May 10, covering the May 9 Victory Day celebrations.
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Russia would take “appropriate steps” if Ukraine conducted strikes against Russia to “disrupt” the May 9 celebrations. Zakharova said those steps could include strikes against decision-making centers in Kyiv City.
Russian State Duma deputies went further, saying Russian forces may use Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles in retaliatory strikes against Kyiv City. The deputies called their comments Russia’s “last warning to Brussels.”
Zelensky on Red Square
Zelensky framed Moscow’s ceasefire announcement as part of a larger pattern of pressure around the holiday. His comments tied the ceasefire window to the Victory Day parade in Red Square, where Russian officials want to stage the annual ceremony while warning Ukraine against actions they say could interrupt it.
The friction point is visible in the timing. Russia has set a short, fixed ceasefire window, but Russian officials have paired that announcement with escalation threats against Kyiv City if Ukraine does not comply on the battlefield or in strikes against Russian and occupied regions.
EU presence in Kyiv City
European Commission spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Anouar El-Anouni said on May 7, 2026 that the EU will not change its presence in Kyiv City. El-Anouni said Russian strikes have already damaged several diplomatic missions in Kyiv City, including the EU’s mission to Ukraine.
That warning followed the Russian Ministry of Defense’s May 4 call for Ukrainian civilians and personnel of foreign diplomatic missions to leave Kyiv City immediately. Maria Zakharova and the Russian Ministry of Defense reiterated that warning on May 7, saying the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sent it to all foreign diplomatic missions and international organization representative offices because of the possibility of a Russian retaliatory strike against Kyiv City.
The next fixed point is the opening of Russia’s ceasefire window at midnight local time on May 8. Until then, the immediate question is whether Russia keeps its pledge to stop strikes during the May 9 period or follows through on the threats its officials have already made.
