- May 1, 2026
- 4:50 pm
- Ukraine
A brief truce or a political pause for Moscow
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted to the statement about a possible short-term truce on May 9, which was discussed after a phone conversation between Putin and US President Donald Trump. Kyiv did not immediately take the Russian wording at face value and instructed to find out from the American side what exactly was meant.
The essence of the issue is not in the word ‘truce’ itself, but in its content.
Ukraine wants to understand whether it is about a real ceasefire, which could be a step towards long-term security, or just a few hours of silence for the Moscow parade on May 9.
What Zelensky said
Zelensky reported that he instructed Ukrainian representatives to contact the US President’s team and clarify the details of the Russian proposal for a short-term ceasefire. According to him, Ukraine is striving for peace and is conducting the necessary diplomatic work for a real end to the war.
The main phrase of Zelensky in this story sounds tough and precise: it is necessary to find out whether it is ‘a few hours of safety for the parade in Moscow or something more.’
The Ukrainian position remains the same: not a symbolic pause, not a Kremlin picture for one day, but a long-term ceasefire, reliable security for people, and real peace.
How the idea of a truce on May 9 appeared
According to the assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Yuri Ushakov, the conversation between Putin and Trump took place at the Russian initiative and lasted about one and a half hours. During this conversation, as the Russian side claimed, Putin stated his readiness to declare a truce during the celebration of Victory Day in Moscow, and Trump allegedly supported this idea.
Later, an important detail emerged: Trump himself, speaking to journalists at the White House, said that he proposed to Putin ‘a small truce.’ Thus, a diplomatic discrepancy arose: Moscow presented the initiative as a signal from Putin, and Washington as a proposal from Trump.
For Kyiv, such a difference is not a trifle.
If the proposal comes from Moscow, Ukraine must understand what obligations Russia takes on and whether it is ready to fulfill them on the front. If it was Trump’s idea, then it is important whether Washington can achieve from the Kremlin not a television gesture, but a verifiable ceasefire regime.
Why Kyiv is not in a hurry to agree
Ukraine has already faced short-term Russian ‘truces,’ which looked more like informational pauses than a real willingness to stop the war. Reuters reminded that last year Russia already declared a 72-hour ceasefire on a similar date, but Ukraine rejected this format and reported violations by Russian troops.
That is why Zelensky speaks not about a festive pause, but about a long-term ceasefire.
For the Israeli audience, the logic is well understood here: temporary silence without control mechanisms does not equal security. In Israel, it is too well known that a short lull can be used not for peace, but for regrouping, propaganda, and preparing the next strike.
What this means for Ukraine, the USA, and Israel
This story shows that the war in Ukraine is once again becoming part of a big diplomatic game between Washington and Moscow. But Kyiv is trying not to let other capitals discuss its security as a decoration for someone else’s political dates.
NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency sees this as an important signal for Israel: when an aggressor offers a ‘truce’ under its own holiday, the question is always one — does it protect people or just create a convenient picture for the regime.
Especially since, against the backdrop of talks about a truce, the war has not stopped. The Associated Press reported new Russian strikes on Ukraine, including a drone attack that resulted in casualties and injuries, as well as ongoing strikes on infrastructure.
The Kremlin wants to keep the decision to itself
A separate statement by Dmitry Peskov is indicative: according to him, Ukraine’s reaction to a possible Russian declaration of a truce is allegedly not needed, and the decision will be made by Putin.
This explains a lot.
A real truce requires agreed conditions, control, and responsibility of the parties. A unilateral declaration, especially tied to a parade, looks more like a political gesture than a sustainable path to peace.
In this situation, Ukraine responds not by rejecting peace, but by demanding specifics. How long does the ceasefire last? Where does it apply? Who records violations? What will happen after May 9? Who guarantees that Russia will not use the pause only for its own propaganda?
The main conclusion
Zelensky’s response to the truce proposal shows Kyiv’s cautious but understandable line: Ukraine is ready to discuss a ceasefire if it leads to the protection of people and long-term peace.
But Kyiv does not want to become a participant in a spectacle where guns fall silent for a few hours so that a parade can peacefully take place in Moscow, and then the war continues with the same brutality.
For Ukraine, Israel, and the entire region, where the price of security is well understood, this is a fundamental difference.
A truce for the sake of a picture is not peace.
A truce with guarantees, control, and long-term logic is already a subject of serious negotiations.