Proposed Russia-Ukraine ceasefire fails to materialize

Russia did not follow through with its proposal for a three-day ceasefire, Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha said Thursday. Russian leader Vladimir Putin had called for the ceasefire to mark V-E Day, the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender to the Allies, one of Russia’s biggest secular holidays. The Ukranian diplomat claimed that Russian forces attacked Ukrainians over 700 times from the proposed ceasefire start time at midnight to midday Thursday. Ukraine still offered a 30-day ceasefire, he said.

Sybiha’s social media statements were posted after Ukrainian long-range drone attacks restricted flights into Moscow for three consecutive days. Russia had prepared to receive foreign leaders at the city for its V-E Day parade. The strikes caused the delay or cancellation of at least 350 flights, the Associated Press reported. The Russian air defense downed numerous drones in the Moscow area Wednesday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his Telegram channel. Ukraine also reportedly struck a Russian airbase that houses planes used for V-E Day aerobatic performances.

What did Russia say about the ceasefire? The Russian Ministry of Defense on Thursday said it had launched 132 airstrikes and a wide range of frontline assaults, but specified that they took place before the ceasefire period. China’s Xi Jinping arrived at the Kremlin for talks with Putin on Thursday, and is expected to be the guest of honor at Friday’s military parade, Russian state news reported.

What else happened in Ukraine on Thursday? The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, ratified the country’s mineral deal with the United States, the parliament’s chairman said. More than 300 out of 400 members of the governing body voted to ratify the deal, which leaders of both countries signed April 30. 

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s previous report on preparations for the ceasefire and parade.