Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky slams Putin’s ‘twisted logic’ as Victory Day ceasefire comes into effect

Extra security measures are being put in place for Russian president Vladimir Putin in case of a Ukrainian attack on 9 May during celebrations marking the anniversary of victory in the Second World War.

“You know that on the eve of major holidays, and, of course, perhaps most importantly, Victory Day in our country, additional security measures are always taken by the relevant special services,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Peskov said such measures were especially necessary this year because of what he called the “terrorist threat” from Ukraine.

Asked whether Putin’s own security was being tightened for the same reason, Peskov replied: “Of course.”

Speaking to the BBC, Russian officials have defended the decision to carry out this year’s 9 May Victory Day parade in a slimmed-down form, without the usual display of weaponry such as tanks and missiles.

Officials said they need their war tanks to be on the battlefield, signalling that the Kremlin does not have enough weaponry to spare even for an hour’s display.

“Our tanks are busy right now,” Russian MP Yevgeny Popov told BBC.

“They are fighting. We need them more on the battlefield than on Red Square.”

On being asked if the parade is being scaled back, he said: “What other choice do we have?”

“Nato countries, Ukraine and Great Britain’s weapons, your king and your prime minister, are threatening us,” Popov told BBC’s Steve Rosenberg.

In recent years, Putin has used the occasion to rally Russians behind the war in Ukraine, portraying his modern-day soldiers as heroes following in the footsteps of those who defended the country in the Second World War.

Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine “doesn’t recommend” that foreign representatives attend the parade in Moscow after Russia threatened retaliation if its unilateral ceasefire was violated.

“They want permission from Ukraine to hold their parade, so they can safely march onto the square for one hour once a year, and then go back to killing our people and waging war again,” Zelensky said in his evening address.

Ukraine’s purchase of Saab-made Gripen fighter jets could be signed within months, the country’s defence minister said yesterday as he visited his Swedish counterpart in Stockholm.

The ⁠countries last year signed a letter of intent that could see Sweden supply up to 150 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine.

With the first deliveries estimated at three years away from any deal being finalised, the planes are seen as a priority for Ukraine’s post-war fighter fleet – but there have been questions about funding.

“We have our plan how to finance it,” Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov ⁠said.

“I think in a few months it will be good news ​for ⁠your country, for our country ‌and bad news for Russians,” he told a joint press conference.

Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson told Reuters after the press conference that negotiations were going well and did not rule out a deal this year for the Gripens, Saab’s fourth generation fighter jet that is seen as a cost effective alternative to Lockheed Martin’s F-35.

Russia’s defence ministry said on Thursday that Moscow had declared a ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine from midnight on 8 May until 10 May to mark the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

“During the celebration of ‌the 81st ‌anniversary of the Soviet people’s victory in the ⁠Great Patriotic War, from midnight on 8 May to 10 May, the Russian side is declaring a ceasefire,” ‌the ministry ​said on Telegram.

Russian ‌president Vladimir ⁠Putin had on ⁠Monday declared a two-day ‌ceasefire ​would be ‌observed.

Two drones entered Nato member Latvia from Russian territory and crashed on Thursday morning, the Latvian army has confirmed.

Latvia’s defence minister Andris Spruds told national broadcaster LSM that the drones were “probably launched by Ukraine against targets in Russia.”

Four empty oil tanks were damaged on Thursday morning at a storage facility in Rezekne, about 40km (25 miles) from the Russian border. Possible debris of a crashed drone was found at the site, police and firefighters said.

The firefighters extinguished a smouldering area of around 30 square metres in one of the tanks.

The Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday it summoned the Armenian ambassador over what it described ⁠as “terrorist threats against Russia” voiced by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Armenia.

A ministry statement said the ambassador was told it was “absolutely inadmissible” to provide the means, during an EU-sponsored gathering on Monday for “the ringleader of the Kyiv Nazi regime, V. Zelensky, to voice terrorist threats against Russia” in connection with Russia’s Victory Day commemorations.

The statement said there was “justified indignation” in Moscow over Zelensky’s “outrageous behaviour” and the absence of ‌ Armenian criticism.

Russia’s Defence Ministry had earlier responded to what it saw as threats by Zelensky by saying Moscow’s military would launch a retaliatory strike against Kyiv if Ukraine disrupted ceremonies marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova doubled down on that statement, telling diplomatic missions to take Moscow’s warnings seriously and evacuate their staff in good ‌time.

In his comments in Armenia, Zelensky noted that Moscow had said its commemorative parade would proceed without displays of military hardware, adding: “It will be the first time in many, many years they cannot afford military equipment and they fear drones may buzz over Red Square. This is telling.”

Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have been on hold since February, when the United States shifted focus to its new war in the Middle East.

Moscow and Kyiv walked away from talks in Geneva no closer to a deal, as Ukraine suggested the US was unfairly demanding Kyiv alone make concessions to end the war.

Volodymyr Zelensky said the last round of direct talks had been “difficult” and accused Russia of deliberately stalling, with the issue of territory still in dispute.

What does either side want?

Russia insists on its demands for Ukrainian territory and the withdrawal of forces from its borders.

Ukraine insists it needs clear security guarantees from allies to stop Russia reopening the conflict and says it cannot and will not give up territory sought by Russia.

The lands in the east include industry heavy regions and Ukraine’s belt of ‘fortress cities’ to protect against invasion.

Volodymyr Zelensky said late in April that he was keen to meet with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart, in an effort to restart negotiations.

While Ukraine claimed a string of wins on the ground, Zelensky warned that US attention on the war with Iran was soaking up resources and leaving Ukraine with critical shortages of air defences.

But the Kremlin said Putin would only meet Zelensky in Moscow for the purpose of finalising agreements on the conflict.

Turkey said it was making efforts to restart talks and bring together the leaders, after hosting delegations in July 2025.

Ukraine’s top negotiator Rustem Umerov arrived in Miami for meetings with US negotiators yesterday on moving toward a peace accord.

Umerov left Ukraine for the US on Wednesday, an official told Politico.

“He will meet representatives of the US president to discuss diplomatic and security issues,” the official said, referring to US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and US president Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Zelensky said that achieving peace in Europe was the best way to honour those who fought against Nazi Germany.

“Just as 81 ⁠years ago, so now America can help peace with a just and strong stance against the aggressor,” he said.

“And it is important that the American people now view Russia precisely in this way – as an aggressor.”