Ukraine “doesn’t recommend” that foreign representatives attend the May 9 parade in Moscow, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, after Russia threatened retaliation if its unilateral ceasefire was violated, writes Kyiv Independent.

“The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed on May 7 President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a unilateral ceasefire from midnight May 8 to May 10. According to the ministry, during this period, “all Russian military units will fully cease combat operations”.

The Russian Defense Ministry warned that any ceasefire violations by Ukraine or attempts to target Russian facilities would be met with “an adequate response”. Russia further threatened to launch a mass attack on the center of Kyiv if Ukraine attempts to disrupt the May 9 parade in Moscow.

Ukraine has consistently called for an unconditional ceasefire with Russia, which Moscow has rejected.

After Putin declared a “Victory Day truce”, Zelensky said on May 4 that Ukraine would implement a ceasefire on May 6. Later, he said that by 10 a.m. local time on the first day, Russia had already violated the ceasefire 1,820 times.

“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 on May 7. According to the Ukrainian president, some Russia-friendly countries reached out to Ukraine about their officials’ plans to attend the May 9 parade in Moscow. “An odd desire… these days. We don’t recommend it”, - he added”.