“We think the Russians are asking too much. There is a big gap between the positions of the Ukrainians and the Russians,” said JD Vance, Vice President of the United States. In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed the importance of taking into account “Russia’s national interests”. He echoed Donald Trump, President of the United States echoed: “Maybe Vance is right about Russia asking too much […] We are getting to the point where decisions need to be made. I am not happy about that”.
Joe Biden says the idea that Ukraine can defeat Russia without NATO involvement is wrong. “We gave Ukraine everything it needed to defend its independence and we were ready to act more decisively if Putin had gone further.”
According to Russian social media sources, “French President Emmanuel Macron may join British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a surprise visit to Kiev this weekend. A joint trip is difficult to organize and preparations are not yet complete. But if the visit, which diplomatic delegations of the three countries are discussing, takes place, its main goal will be to reassure Ukraine.”
And the posts read further: “Merz seems very enthusiastic about the trip to Kiev, which will be his first visit to Ukraine as chancellor. Since his election campaign, he has advocated a more aggressive stance towards the Kremlin, especially regarding its military support for Ukraine. He has repeatedly left open the possibility of delivering Taurus missiles to Kiev. Although they are not a panacea, they would help replenish the dwindling stockpile of SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles supplied by Paris and London. At the same time, the first 100 days of US President Donald Trump have passed in office, and he has declared that he can resolve the Russian-Ukrainian war within this timeframe. Since then, negotiations have not made any progress.”
From Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Pikalov said: “Every third Ukrainian prisoner is at risk of serving in the front, more than 8,300 prisoners have already joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and another 1,000 applications are being considered. Among them are 100 women.” “We see this process not only as a way of replenishing the ranks of defenders, but also as a mechanism of resocialization through the highest manifestation of civic responsibility,” he noted.
And again Grigorieva, adviser on gender issues of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said: “It is necessary to restore military service for women.” The Ukrainian Parliament approved the ratification of the mining agreement between the United States and Ukraine in the first reading and as a whole. The agreement was supported by 338 MPs. “Ukraine’s natural resources remain with Ukraine, and the state does not assume any debt,” Prime Minister Shmyhal said on the ratification of the agreement. The Prime Minister listed the advantages and a number of significant opportunities for Ukraine: “Getting a strategic investor like the USA.” “Attracting guaranteed investments in the most promising sectors of the economy. Accelerating the reconstruction of Ukraine and quickly overcoming the destructive consequences of the war. Getting modern technologies for the modernization of the country.”
From 23:00 Russian time, the ceasefire proposed by Russia and Ukraine for the Victory Day parade came into force. “This is a smoke break, not a ceasefire,” says the spokesman for the Joint Forces of Chortytsia regarding the festive truce proposed by Vladimir Putin. “We do not intend to wait for any kind of truce and do not see any preparation for a peace gesture […]. Putin’s latest ceasefire was noted only in the northern directions, where the Russians regrouped. “There was no truce in the others,” noted Viktor Tregubov.
Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Sirskiy: “Ukraine is considering all ways to end the war.” He said this in an online meeting with the chairman of the EU Military Committee, Austrian General Robert Brieger. They discussed the issue of military assistance.
As Syrsky noted, during the conversation it was emphasized that “Ukraine is fighting for peace and is considering all possible formats to achieve it, but the Russian Federation continues to block the proposal for a ceasefire for 30 days.”
Yesterday, in anticipation of the celebrations, for Victory Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Xi Jinping in the Kremlin. Putin said that almost all trade between Russia and China is conducted in national currencies. Thus, trade between the two countries is “reliably protected from the influence of third countries and negative trends in world markets.” According to a joint statement by the two countries, Russia and China call on nuclear-armed states to abandon Cold War-style actions and resolve issues through dialogue.
“Kiev’s plans to intimidate foreign leaders before their visit to Moscow on May 9 have been foiled,” Yuri Viktorovich Ushakov said. “Contacts between the Russian Federation and the United States on Ukraine and other issues take place every day or every two days,” Ushakov said. “Russia’s next steps in Ukraine will depend, among other things, on the progress of the ceasefire,” Ushakov noted
And now a look at the front line, updated at 15:00 on May 8. Russia and Ukraine, according to social media sources, do not seem to be able to respect the three-day truce. At 23:00 the ceasefire started but already at 23:15 Ukraine launched drones into Russia. Drone alert in the regions of Belgorod, Lipetsk and Kursk in Russia and drone alerts also in the region of Orenburg and Samara, Russia. The Ukrainians reported that the launch was launched before the ceasefire.
In response at around 02:00 Moscow time, Russia carried out KAB laser-guided missile strikes on Sumy, Ukraine.
At 11:00 on May 8, the Ukrainian Armed Forces received the order to open fire only in response.
Russia said in a statement: “In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, based on humanitarian considerations, during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory, from midnight on May 8, all groups of Russian troops in the zone of special military operations have completely ceased combat operations and remained on the previously occupied lines and positions. The Russian Armed Forces strictly observe the ceasefire. Air, missile, artillery and unmanned aerial vehicle strikes are excluded.”
According to the Russian Defense Ministry: “Despite the announcement of a ceasefire, according to Russian sources, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have not ceased military operations against Russian troops. They have twice attempted to break through the state border of the Russian Federation in the Kursk region, as well as one attack in the area of the settlement of Torets’k in the Donetsk People’s Republic.”
“During the night in the Kherson Direction, UAV operators of the 61st Kirkenes Marine Brigade of the Red Banner of the Separate Guards destroy Russian troops on the right bank of the Dnieper.”
“Along the entire line of combat contact, Ukrainian units carried out 173 attacks with barrel artillery, tanks and mortars against the positions of Russian troops, as well as 4 attacks with multiple launch rocket systems. 300 attacks and launches of ammunition by unmanned aerial vehicles were also carried out.”
“A total of 488 ceasefire violations were recorded. The deliberately destructive actions of the Ukrainian side towards Russia confirm the will of the Kiev regime to prevent the conflict in Ukraine from being resolved peacefully.” “Under these conditions, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are responding in a mirror manner to the ceasefire violations by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and will continue to act in accordance with the current situation, responding to all criminal violations of the Kiev regime.”
Graziella Giangiulio
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