“Parade of Fear” Instead of “Victory”: Why the Kremlin is Offering a Truce on May 9
1 May 11:21
may 9 is a sacred date for Putin’s Russia, when instead of the real memory of the victory over Nazism, they demonstrate a propaganda mirage of “greatness” and “invincibility.” This year, however, Moscow wants silence, not fireworks. The Kremlin has suddenly started talking about a truce, ostensibly a humanitarian one, but with a real subtext: to give Putin a quiet parade against the backdrop of shattered illusions. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy responds bluntly: as long as the war continues, there will be no holiday. And Europe is not hiding its skepticism: the Kremlin wants to use the temporary ceasefire to win a big geopolitical game again. Why is the Russian truce proposal not a gesture of peace but an attempt at political rebranding? How Putin is reacting to the failure of the information special operation called “holiday lull” and why European leaders are avoiding Kyiv on this particular day – all this in the
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Russia’s plans to hold the annual May 9 parade in Moscow and hinted that this day could be a nerve-wracking one for the Kremlin and its guests on Red Square. Also, according to the President of Ukraine, Russians are more concerned about the external image than about the war itself.
“Now they are worried that their parade is in question, and rightly so. But they should be worried that this war is still going on. They must end the war,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The proposal of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to call a truce with Ukraine on May 9 is absurd. A ceasefire is necessary for at least 30 days. This was stated by US Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg.
“The idea of a three-day ceasefire is absurd. The President (Donald Trump – ed.) wants a permanent comprehensive ceasefire – on land, in the air, at sea, including infrastructure – for at least 30 days, with the possibility of extension,” Kellogg emphasized.
“Trump’s pill is slowly dissolving”
May 8-10 ceasefire announcement causes cognitive dissonance, says commentator
“After the shelling of Ukraine, after the deaths, after the Easter truce, Putin announces: “Let’s have another truce,” says Yahodzinsky.
According to Yahodzinsky, Moscow’s initiative is primarily symbolic for Putin himself. And the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II evokes respect for the victims who fought against Nazism for many people in Ukraine, but not for Putin.
“We understand that for Putin, this is an ideological component and a holiday that he has long turned into a form of propaganda, including dangerous propaganda against Ukraine,” added Serhiy Yahodzinsky.
The professor also draws attention to the contradictory nature of the Kremlin’s statements regarding the truce. Lavrov voiced the thesis that this alleged truce should be the start of negotiations without any conditions. But just a few days earlier, the same Lavrov had read out conditions that caused another cognitive dissonance. Denazification again, demilitarization again. It seems that he was given old messages from February 2022, says Yahodzinsky
The professor also draws attention to the foreign policy context and the role of the United States, in particular Donald Trump’s statements.
“It is possible that the announcement of this truce for May 8-10 is a consequence of these changes in Trump’s mood. I call it: Trump’s pill is slowly dissolving,” concludes Serhiy Yahodzinsky.
“Zhiguli instead of Armata: how the Russian army is preparing for the main parade of the year
Putin, in turn, is disappointed with the May 9 truce. At least that’s what the Russian media are reporting.
Putin feels deceived by his advisors who proposed a truce to mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory, a proposal that did not receive worldwide enthusiasm. The Kremlin says that it will not roll back the decision, but hopes that such advice will no longer be given.
“According to an interlocutor in the Defense Ministry, before the ceasefire was announced, the military received a request to see if our air defense system was ready to defend Moscow on Victory Day. “We answered that we were 100% ready. But some advisors told Vladimir Vladimirovich that this was not true. At the same time, he frankly admitted that he would be happy if the truce broke down. “Too many of us have already prepared for the fact that the ceasefire will end soon and have relaxed. I would like to see their illusions shattered,” the Kremlin Snuffbox source said.
Against the backdrop of the protracted war in Ukraine and the shortage of modern military equipment, Russian propagandists are increasingly changing their tone from demonstrations of force to attempts to portray a “people’s army” with improvised means. One of these voices suggested that the usual demonstration of Armata and Boomerang at the May 9 parade in Moscow, which, in his words, “no one has ever seen at the front,” should be abandoned.
“On May 9, I would like to see parade formations made of remodeled and sawn into buggies Nivs, Zhiguli, Moskvichs, and other rare cars. There are also homemade “sheds” on old armored personnel carriers, which assault groups use to launch attacks. And cross-country motorcycles – multicolored!” writes the pro-Kremlin commentator.
In his opinion, this is the kind of equipment that is actually used at the front, which should be the basis of the festive parade on Red Square. Because, in his opinion, it reflects “the real picture of the war.
“Not Armata and Boomerang, which no one has ever seen at the front. Then everything would be fair,” the propagandist adds.
Such rhetoric demonstrates a shift in the Kremlin’s information strategy: the image of an all-powerful army is gradually giving way to attempts to legitimize the use of outdated or handmade equipment as a manifestation of “heroism of the common people.” This may also indicate deeper problems in Russia’s defense complex that can no longer be hidden – even during the main military holiday.
“Fear of blows”: are European leaders avoiding visits to Kyiv?
While the Kremlin is preparing for another vanity parade, Ukraine is challenging the world by inviting European leaders to Kyiv for a symbolic summit. But not all partners are ready to make this choice now. Politico reports that not all EU officials intend to arrive in the Ukrainian capital on this particular day.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will instead travel to France to sign a security treaty. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to attend the Oslo Defense Summit. And the newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to sources, does not want to go to Kyiv without the support of his colleagues from other countries.
Nevertheless, the EU is considering a collective visit to Kyiv in mid-May. Officials are trying to agree on a convenient date in the first or second week of the new German chancellor’s work, who is to officially take office next week.
It is also possible that EU foreign ministers will arrive in Lviv on May 9. This could happen after an informal meeting of European foreign ministers scheduled for May 8 in Warsaw.
European leaders cancel or postpone visits to Ukraine from time to time, and the reason for this is not a lack of solidarity, but a matter of personal security. This opinion was expressed by Russian opposition politician and human rights activist Mark Feygin in an interview with the News Factory.
“I think the reason is trivial – they are just afraid. Their special services may be advising them not to go. Yes, Kyiv is relatively calm, but after the attacks on Sumy, where is the guarantee that something will not fly into the center of Kyiv?” Feigin said.
According to Feigin, even a hypothetical threat of a Russian missile strike on the capital could be enough to cancel high-level visits.
“This is a security issue. I understand that there is solidarity, but I think European leaders are aware that even Putin can act deliberately to create an atmosphere of threat,” explains Mark Feygin.
He also suggested that these considerations may be the basis for the refusal of some politicians to participate in the celebrations on May 8, the Day of Victory over Nazism, which is officially celebrated in Ukraine.
