Ceasefire Under Strain as Fighting Persists
On the 1,169th day of the Russia-Ukraine war, a three-day ceasefire declared by Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany officially began at midnight local time (21:00 GMT, Wednesday). However, Ukraine has proposed a 30-day ceasefire instead and has not committed to Russia’s shorter truce.
Despite the declared ceasefire, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russian aircraft launched guided bombs in the northern Sumy region early Thursday morning. No casualties or damage were immediately reported. Apart from this incident, there were no additional reports of attacks on Ukrainian cities.
In Moscow, Russian officials claimed to have intercepted 12 Ukrainian drones approaching the capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed the interceptions, while the country’s aviation authority temporarily shut down Zhukovsky Airport and the main airport in Kaluga as a precaution.
Diplomatic Tensions and Ceasefire Proposals
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow has “never opposed” a ceasefire in Ukraine, responding to claims from U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg that President Vladimir Putin may be blocking peace talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his nightly address, reiterated his support for a 30-day truce, saying, “We are not withdrawing this proposal, which could give diplomacy a chance.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, criticized Russia’s initial peace demands as excessive, stating, “Russia is asking for too much.”
Economic Realignment in Ukraine
On the economic front, Ukraine is considering a shift away from the US dollar as its reference currency. In an interview with Reuters, Central Bank Governor Andriy Pyshnyy cited Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union and concerns over global trade fragmentation as key reasons for possibly moving toward the euro as the new standard for the hryvnia.