Ukrainians see the Russian lull as a side show

Russia is expected to launch a self -applauded three -day pause in the fight against Ukraine on Wednesday night, in the course of many Ukrainians and described by President Volodimir Zelenski as a little more than a “theater show.”

Russian Vladimir Putin proposed a three-day cessation of fire to coincide with the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, an official holiday in Russia on Friday, known as Victory Day.

But in this way, Putin rejected a much more significant proposal than the Trump administration for a 30-day termination and negotiations-proposal, which was accepted by Ukraine.

Zelenski, for his part, rejected the unilateral three -day termination of the fire of Russia and said that Ukraine would not guarantee the safety of a festive military parade on Red Square of Moscow on May 9.

The Russian proposal was met with widespread cynicism in Ukraine, where polls consistently suggest that about 95% of the population is distrustful in Russia.

“I do not believe there will be a cessation of fire,” said Tetatana Kondinenko, 42 -year -old, shopkeeper in the village of Hotin in sums, heavily bombed region about six miles (10 km) from the Russian border.

“The firing has only intensified lately, in half a day we heard a boom after the boom,” G -Ja Kondratenko said in a telephone interview.

Zelenski was right to reject the proposal, “because you know how they work, like what happened on Easter,” she added, referring to the Russians.

“They announced the cessation of fire, then used it to bring more equipment and started attacking again. What kind of fire cessation is that?”

Last month around Easter, Russia proposed a similar 30-hour termination of hostilities, but was later accused of Ukraine for breaking its own proposed truce nearly 3000 times.

On this occasion, instead of rejecting the proposal directly, Ukraine said it would reflect Russia's actions.

A senior Ukrainian military officer told the BBC at a time that front units had been ordered to stop shooting in Russian positions, but to record evidence of Russian violations and to return fire if necessary.

By Wednesday, Ukrainian officials had not said strongly whether they would adjust their military action during the three -day period. Asked if the Ukrainian forces plan to continue military operations, a source in the presidential service said to the BBC: “We will see.”

From the village of Novosophilica, in the very poorly affected region of attachment, Antonina Siena, 35 years, said that any termination of the fire is worth agreeing, should come with “solid guarantees” for the safety and sovereignty of Ukraine for the next three days.

But d -Jan Sinin had mixed feelings. Her parents were killed in a Russian blow, her brother was injured, and her village was erected, so “maybe it wasn't right to refuse” the three -day proposal, she added.

“Because honestly, we would only enjoy one day without explosions. Only to take the children somewhere, to a shopping center, to a playground, to some attractions,” she said.

“We dream that the war is over, or at least a temporary cessation of the fire because my children are exhausted. The nerves, the medicines, the sleepless nights. This is too much.”

Residents of the Ukrainian capital Kiev were kept awake in the early hours of Wednesday morning with Russian drones and rocket strikes in the city. The ballistic rocket was successfully removed from the air defense systems, but the drone hit a block of apartments, killing a mother and her son and wounded at least six more, including a child.

The mayor of Moscow said on Wednesday that Russian air defenses had removed 14 Ukrainian drones overnight. The Kremlin said drone attacks were irrelevant to his plans to pause the fight for three days.

The break is not seriously taken in Ukraine for its bigger part. Instead, it is met as more than a propaganda exercise. Pavlo Klimkin, the former foreign minister of Ukraine, told the BBC that this was just another Russian show of force.

“That's all about Russia that creates the agenda under its own conditions,” Klimkin said. “This has nothing to do with the true cessation of fire. Everything is in messages – messages internally, messages in the United States, sending messages to Europe to say that we, Russia, control.”

Conversations aimed at a significant process of ceasing fire began in February, with US President Donald Trump sent employees to negotiate separately with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. Since then, Ukraine has agreed with the US proposal for a 30-day unconditional cessation of fire, Russia has no Russia.

The months have been a deadly period in the war since. Russia has intensively directed Ukrainian cities with drones and rockets, killing 19 people, including nine children last month in a playground strike in Curve Rich and 35 people a week later during Easter.

According to the UN, at least 848 civilians were killed between 1 and 24 April – an increase of 46% in the same period last year.

The level of death of citizens meant that any termination of fire should be accepted, even in a Russian terms, said Olexiy Kamchatni, 38 -year -old, scientist living in Kiev.

“It's about saving life,” said Kamchatnyi. “I am from Donbass, from Pokrovsk. I was able to evacuate my mother, but my father stayed there. I had no contact with him since March 9th.”

However, Kamchatnyi supported the temporary cessation of the fire, he said, “Even if it means to give up the territory.”

Ukrainian studies suggest that most of the public will accept the idea of ​​overcoming any control over the territory seized by the Russians during the full-scale invasion, although it does not transmit official sovereignty above the land, according to Anton Gruushki, Director of the International Institute of Sociology of Kiev.

“There is certainly a lot of fatigue and there is a lot of desire to have a stable peace in Ukraine,” said G -n Grusci.

But on the basis of previous polls, most of the Ukrainians are likely to view the proposed three-day cessation of fire as “or trap, or just a bet to avoid attacks on Moscow during the holiday,” he added.

There is also a suspicion of many in Ukraine that the proposal to terminate the fire is simply a bet of Russia to move its strength to strategic places on the battlefield, to make reinforcements when necessary, and to prepare for offensives.

Ukraine has already made it clear that it is ready for a complete, unconditional cessation of fire and has no obligation to participate in the Russian program, said Mihail Samus, a Ukrainian military analyst and director of New Geopolitics Research Network.

“Why would we play Putin's game? We're ready for a real end of fire,” said G -n Samus. “If he wants to organize a parade to show that he is a great leader, this is his business.”

Daria Mittius contributed to this report.