Russia apparently does not adhere to fire break in Ukraine

The fire break announced by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin before the World War II in Moscow seems to have been disregarded by the Russian and Ukrainian side on the night. According to Putin’s announcement from midnight local time (11:00 p.m. CEST on Wednesday), the weapons should be silent. But even after that, the Ukrainian Air Force reported further steering bombing of Russian aircraft over the Sumy region. Conversely, there were drone alarm and night attacks in the West Russian Lipezk, said Governor Igor Artamonov on Telegonow. The information on both sides could not be checked independently.

Putin wanted to protect the celebrations to commemorate the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War 80 years ago with the three-day fire break until Saturday. The highlight of the festivities will be a large military parade in Moscow in front of foreign guests on Friday. However, Ukraine had rejected the Kremlin chief’s advance and explained that it could not guarantee the safety of visitors at the parade.

The German surrender was signed in Reims on May 7, 1945 and came into force on May 8th. But the night followed a second signing in Berlin-Karlshorst at the Soviet wish, which is why Russia celebrates May 9th as the day of the victory.

In Kiev – like in Washington – Putin’s offer of a short fire break is not regarded as a serious entry into a possible peace regulation. Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj confirmed the further proposal of a ceasefire of 30 days. “We do not withdraw this proposal, which could give diplomacy a chance”he said in his video message on Wednesday evening.

The Ukrainian army had recently paralyzed civil air traffic around the Russian capital Moscow for almost two days. For safety reasons, dozens of aircraft could not start or land or had to switch to other airports. According to media reports, around 60,000 passengers were affected. There were also restrictions on Thursday night: the airport in the city of Nischni Novgorod was temporarily blocked for starting and landing, as the Rosawiazija aviation authority announced.

Russia had attacked Ukraine all Wednesday with rockets and drones. A fire broke out in the capital Kyiv that cost two people. According to the Air Force, there was also lubricant attacks above the Donetsk, Saporischschja and Dnipropetrovsk areas. It was unclear at night whether the fights on the ground may be left behind.

While the final preparations for the large military parade on Red Square in Moscow are already running with foreign guests who have traveled to the celebrations. On Thursday, bilateral talks with the Chinese head of state Xi Jinping, the most important guest.

The conclusion of several contracts between Russia and China, which see each other as a strategic partner, is expected. According to Kremlin, it should be about building a long planned second line for gas exports to China. Energy Minister Sergei Ziwiljow, however, dampened expectations that there could already be an agreement. Other topics are the war in Ukraine and the resumption of discussions between Russia and the USA.

Russia expects 29 foreign delegations on the day of victory according to Kremlin count. The former western Allies are not represented because of Putin’s war of attack against Ukraine; Most guests come from former Soviet republics or are the alliance partners of Russia. These include head of state Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela, Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Brazilian head of state Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.

The US government expressed itself dissatisfied about a lack of progress in its peace efforts and considers Russian preconditions to be exaggerated. “The Russians are currently making a number of demands”Vice President JD Vance said at an event at the Munich Security Conference in the US capital Washington. “We think they ask too much.” He joined Moscow and Kyiv for direct conversations. “We come to a point where some decisions have to be made. I am not satisfied with it”said President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, Trump’s Ukraine -Sondered Kellogg reported alleged suggestions on the Ukrainian side for an armistice – this includes a demilitarized zone along the front. Ukraine is ready to freeze the fights in the current positions and set up a 30 km wide buffer zone, the ex-general told Foxnews.

Another proposal is that European countries such as France, Great Britain and Germany should monitor airspace west of the Dnipro river. There was no confirmation from Ukraine for this information. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow said that Russia had not belonged to such a Ukrainian proposal from the Americans.

In Kyiv, the parliament is to vote on the recently signed raw material agreement with the United States. The partners plan a joint investment fund that is intended to generate money for the reconstruction of the war -destroyed country. For this, the United States has access to soil treasures in Ukraine.

Selenskyj called on the MPs to agree to the long controversial contract. “America’s strategic vision is to form new economic partnerships”he said. “This will benefit the defense of Ukraine and our defense cooperation.”

In the EU, a 17th package with sanctions against Russia is being prepared in the EU. According to dpa information, representatives of the 27 Member States have been discussing new proposals from the European Commission since the middle of this week, which provide for further tightening the procedure against the so-called Russian shadow fleet for the transport of oil and oil products. It is also planned to punish dozens of other companies that are involved in the bypass of existing sanctions or support the Russian armaments industry. In addition to Russian, including Turkish and Chinese companies are among them.

Initial talks about the sanctions proposals at the top political level could already be found at an informal EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting in the Polish capital, Warsaw, to which the new Federal Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul (CDU) has also traveled. Ideally, the new sanctions will be decided in a regular EU Foreign Ministers in just under two weeks. The last EU with Russia sanctions so far was decided in February.

At the end of the two-day Foreign Minister meeting in Warsaw, in addition to the war, there should also be a new US government and work with representatives from countries that are EU accession candidates. In addition to the Western Balkans, this also includes Ukraine, its western neighbor Moldova and Turkey.