While fighting significantly reduced and drone and missile strikes ceased following the ceasefire, which began early Thursday, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized the initiative. He labeled it a political maneuver timed to coincide with Russia’s annual May 9 military parade commemorating the end of World War II.

“Predictably, Putin’s so-called ‘parade ceasefire’ is a sham,” Sybiha wrote on social media, alleging Russian forces had carried out hundreds of violations and dozens of assaults in just the first half-day. He stated that Ukraine had reported the violations to the U.S. and European partners.

Russian defense officials, in turn, accused Ukraine of launching hundreds of attacks and attempting border incursions in the Kursk region. Neither side offered direct confirmation of the other’s claims.

Ukraine has refused to recognize the ceasefire, viewing it as a propaganda effort by Moscow to appear conciliatory while continuing hostilities. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has been skeptical of such gestures.

A Ukrainian military representative reported ongoing Russian attacks in several eastern areas, while local prosecutors confirmed casualties, including a woman killed in the northern Sumy region.

On the ground in eastern Ukraine, limited artillery fire and minor skirmishes were still reported, though overall combat activity was described as lower than usual.

According to Ukrainian air defense forces, no Russian missiles or drones were detected in Ukrainian airspace as of Thursday morning following the ceasefire’s start.

The timing of the truce aligns with Russia’s preparations for the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, an occasion being marked in Moscow with visits from foreign leaders and a military parade. Ukraine and most Western countries observe the anniversary on May 8 instead.

In Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the date by walking through the city center to honor fallen Ukrainian soldiers. In a video he posted, Zelensky criticized the upcoming Russian celebration, calling it a “parade of cynicism” and accusing Moscow of distorting history for political gain.

This week, Ukraine carried out a series of drone strikes targeting sites in and around Moscow, which led to airport disruptions and flight delays in the Russian capital.

Kyiv Pushes for Extended Ceasefire

Zelensky reiterated his country’s willingness to agree to a 30-day ceasefire to allow diplomatic efforts to proceed, noting that Moscow had not yet responded to the proposal.

“This clearly shows who is obstructing peace,” Zelensky said in a televised address.

One of Zelensky’s senior aides mentioned that Ukraine had been in talks with officials from the U.S., France, the UK, and Germany about how to apply pressure on Russia to accept the longer ceasefire. No specific details were given on the timing of the talks.

Zelensky also acknowledged that Russian cities were now feeling the effects of the war through drone attacks, describing it as a fitting reflection of the conflict’s consequences.

The idea of a month-long truce was initially suggested by the U.S. in March and supported by Ukraine. Russia has stated it would consider the idea only if proper enforcement mechanisms were agreed upon.

Tensions continue as both countries face mounting international pressure to end a conflict that has become the largest in Europe since World War II.

A spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry criticized recent remarks from a U.S. official suggesting President Putin was blocking a broader ceasefire. The spokesperson argued that Kyiv was the one refusing serious negotiations and violating agreements.

With the war in Ukraine now in its fourth year, both sides are under increasing pressure to show progress towards ending the conflict, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump recently threatened to withdraw efforts to mediate a peace deal. Zelensky had expressed Ukraine’s readiness to engage in discussions aimed at ending attacks on civilian infrastructure, emphasizing that Ukraine seeks a commitment not to target such facilities.

Zelensky’s comments came on Monday, with him reiterating Ukraine’s stance and calling for a clear response from Moscow. “We are ready for any conversation about how to achieve this,” he stated.

In response, Peskov explained that the matter should be addressed in light of recent events, such as a 30-hour Easter ceasefire declared by Putin. He did not elaborate on the link between the ceasefire and the current proposal, but both sides had accused each other of violating the truce, as well as a prior U.S.-brokered moratorium on attacking energy infrastructure like power grids and oil refineries.

Peskov further noted that discussions about civilian infrastructure need to consider specific circumstances where these facilities could be deemed military targets. Quoting Putin, he said that a civilian location might become a legitimate target if enemy military personnel were meeting there. These “nuances,” Peskov added, would need to be addressed in any talks.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant civilian casualties, particularly in Ukraine, where a Russian missile strike on April 13 killed at least 35 people in the city of Sumy. Ukraine labeled the attack as a deliberate assault on civilians, while Russia maintained it had struck a meeting of Ukrainian military officers.

Zelensky also emphasized that the main objective of upcoming talks in London with U.S. and European leaders would be to push for an unconditional ceasefire. While Ukraine had agreed to the concept of a 30-day ceasefire last month, Putin responded with a series of conditions. Russia has previously expressed its willingness to negotiate but pointed out that a 2022 decree by Zelensky barring talks with Putin has created legal obstacles to direct discussions. Peskov suggested that if Ukraine seeks dialogue, it must first address these legal barriers.