Ukrainians see the Russian lull as a side show

Russia is expected to start a self -proclaimed three -day pause in the fight against Ukraine on Wednesday night, during many Ukrainians, and the president of the Boarding Zelensky is a little more than a “theatrical show”.

Russian Vladimir Putin suggested that a three-day ceasefire coincide with the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe-state holiday in Russia on Friday, known as Victory Day.

However, Putin rejected a much more significant proposal of the Trump administration for a 30-day ceasefire and the proposal of Ukraine.

Zelensky, in turn, rejected a one -sided three -day ceasefire and stated that Ukraine does not guarantee the safety of the festive military parade on the Red Square of Moscow on May 9.

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

“I do not believe that there will be a ceasefire,” said Tetiana Kondotenko, 42 years old, Khotin village in Sami, a heavily bombed region about six miles (10 km) from the Russian border.

“Recently, the shelling has only intensified, and today we have heard a boom after the boom,” said Ms. Kondrannko in a telephone interview.

Zelensky was right to reject the proposal, “because you know how they work as what happened on Easter,” she added, citing the Russians.

“They announced the ceasefire and then used it to bring more equipment and started attacking again. What is the ceasefire?”

Last month, around Easter, Russia proposed a similar 30-hour ceasefire, but later Ukraine was accused of violating its proposed truce almost 3000 times.

On this occasion, and not rejecting the proposal immediately, Ukraine stated that it reflects Russia’s actions.

The senior Ukrainian military officer told the BBC at the time that the front units were ordered to stop firing in Russian positions, but to record evidence of Russian violations and, if necessary, return the fire.

By Wednesday, Ukrainian officials did not categorically say whether they would adjust their hostilities over a three -day period. Asked if the Ukrainian forces are planned to continue hostilities, the source at the Presidential Bureau said the BBC: “We will see.”

From the village of Novosofivka, in a very severely affected region of the Zaparichi region, 35 -year -old Antonina Sinin, stated that any cessation of the fire with which the “solid guarantees” for the security and sovereignty of Ukraine – not what goes into the Putin plan for the next three days should be agreed.

But Mrs. Ziein had ambiguous feelings. Her parents were killed in a Russian strike, her brother was injured and her village was killed, so “it was not properly refused” for a three -day proposal, she added.

“Because, frankly, we would be happy even in one day without explosions. Just pick up the children where -you, the shopping center, on the playground, to some sights,” she said.

“We dream that the war is over, or at least a temporary ceasefire because my kids are exhausted. Nerves, medicines, sleepless nights. It’s too much.”

Residents of the Ukrainian capital of Kiev were raised in the early o’clock in the morning by Russian drone and missile strikes in the city. The ballistic missile was successfully shot down by air defense systems, but the drone hit the apartment block, killed by the mother and her son and injured at least six, including the child.

The mayor of Moscow said on Wednesday that the Russian airborne has reduced 14 Ukrainian drones over the night. The Kremlin said the drone attacks were not relevant to their plans to stop fighting for three days.

For the most part, the pause is not taken seriously in Ukraine. Instead, it was met as more propaganda exercises. Pavel Klimkin, former Foreign Minister of Ukraine, said the BBC that this is just another Russian show.

“It is about Russia to draw up the agenda on its own terms,” ​​Klimkin said. “It has nothing to do with the true ceasefire. It’s all about messages – messages in the United States, messages to Europe to say that we, Russia, control.”

Negotiations aimed at a significant ceasefire process began in February, when US President Donald Trump sent officials to negotiations with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. Since then, Ukraine has agreed with the US proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, Russia has no.

Months have since been a deadly period in the war. Russia is intensively aimed at Ukrainian cities with drones and rockets, killed by 19 people, including nine children last month during a strike on a blood playground and 35 people a week after the Easter blow to Sumi.

According to the UN, at least 848 civilians died between April 1 and 24 – 46% in the same period last year.

The level of civilians’ deaths meant that any ceasefire should be accepted, even on Russian conditions, said Kamchati, 38 years old, a scientist who lives in Kiev.

“It’s about salvation,” Mr. Kamchaty said. “I come from Donbas, from Pokrovsk. I managed to evacuate my mother, but my father stayed there. I had no contacts with him on March 9.”

However, Mr. Kamchatni supported the temporary ceasefire, he said, “Even if it means to give up the territory.”

The Ukrainian elections believe that the majority of the public will accept the idea to refuse control over the territory confiscated by Russians during a full -scale invasion, albeit the exemption of official sovereignty over the ground, Anton Hrushetsky, director of the International Institute of Sociology of Kiev reports.

“There is definitely a lot of fatigue here, and there is a lot of desire to have a stable peace in Ukraine,” Mr. Grushetsky said.

But, based on previous polls, most Ukrainians are likely to consider the proposed three -day ceasefire as “either a trap, or just enrolled to avoid attacks on Moscow during the holiday,” he added.

Many in Ukraine also have suspicions that the ceasefire is just a Russian factory to move its strength to strategic places on the battlefield, to reinforce it where it is necessary, and prepare for offensive funds.

Ukraine has already made it clear that it is ready for a complete, unconditional ceasefire, and is not obliged to participate in the Russian agenda, said Mikhail Samus, Ukrainian military analyst and director of the new research network of geopolitics.

“Why are we playing Putin’s game? We are ready for a real ceasefire,” Mr. Samus said. “If he wants to organize a parade to show that he is a wonderful leader, it’s his business.”

Darius Mitiuk contributed to this report.