(SeaPRwire) – President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized Russia following Moscow’s deadly overnight strikes across Ukraine, less than a day after announcing plans for an upcoming cease-fire.
Multiple regions across Ukraine were targeted, which Zelensky said on Tuesday were aimed at “energy infrastructure facilities” in Kharkiv, where one person was killed, and separately in the Pavlohrad, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhiam and Kyiv regions.
Additional strikes hit Poltova in central Ukraine, killing four people including two emergency responders. Dozens were also injured in the attacks, according to Zelensky.
The Ukrainian president later stated that Kyiv had carried out its own series of missile strikes against “several” targets in Russia overnight, including a military-industrial facility in Cheboksary, located over 350 miles east of Moscow.
The overnight exchanges followed Russia’s announcement on Monday that it would observe a two-day cease-fire on Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9, coinciding with the annual World War II ‘Victory Day’ anniversary celebrations in Red Square.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the cease-fire ordered by President Vladimir Putin “in honor of the celebration of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War.”
The commemorations, marked by a large military parade in Moscow, honor the Soviet Union’s victory in liberating much of eastern and central Europe from Nazi forces. The Russian Defense Ministry stated it “expects” Ukraine to reciprocate and observe the pause in hostilities.
Speaking at the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia on Monday, Zelensky remarked that the parade in Moscow would proceed without displaying military equipment. “They cannot afford to showcase military hardware – and they are afraid drones might fly over Red Square,” he said. “This is telling. It shows they are not strong now.”
Moscow warned it would “launch a retaliatory, massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv” if Ukraine conducted strikes within Moscow on May 9, a threat it claimed Zelensky had made in his speech. “We urge the civilian population of Kyiv and staff of foreign diplomatic missions to leave the city promptly,” the ministry added.
Later on Monday, Zelensky noted that there had been no formal request from Russia regarding the proposed brief cease-fire. The Ukrainian leader announced Kyiv’s own cease-fire, set to take effect at midnight local time (5 p.m. Eastern) on Wednesday.
“We will respond in kind starting from that moment,” Zelensky said, adding that Moscow must “take concrete steps to end their war, particularly since Russia’s Defense Ministry believes it cannot hold a parade in Moscow without Ukraine’s cooperation.”
Trump calls Zelensky a ‘tricky guy’ as the U.K. plans to join Ukraine loan
Amid the cease-fire proposals, President Donald Trump said he “wants to get a settlement” between Russia and Ukraine while discussing recent drone deals between Kyiv and Gulf nations, including the UAE, following Iranian strikes on infrastructure in the region that have continued since then.
“He’s a tricky guy,” Trump said on Monday when asked whether he “feels better” about the Ukrainian President. “They [Ukraine] are losing territory, but it’s at a significant cost to both Russia and themselves.”
The President continued: “I like Zelensky. I’ve always sort of gotten along with him, except for one instance in the White House, which I thought was somewhat aggressive on his part,” referencing their public argument with J.D. Vance in the Oval Office in February 2025.
In November, Trump presented a peace proposal for Ukraine and Russia, which Zelensky met with skepticism, stating that accepting the deal would mean Ukraine risks losing its dignity.
Across the Atlantic, longstanding ties between Kyiv and its European allies strengthened as the United Kingdom reaffirmed its intention to participate in a multi-billion euro European Union loan to Ukraine.
“This would represent a major advancement in the UK-EU defense industrial partnership,” stated Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a joint statement.
The €90 billion ($105 billion) loan to Ukraine was approved on April 23, with disbursements scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
The loan will finance “the most urgent budgetary and defense industrial capacity requirements” in Ukraine, subject to strict conditions for Kyiv, including measures to combat corruption within the country, according to the European Commission.
The loan is set to be repaid by Russian reparations
Finnish President Alexander Stubb also renewed his calls for Ukraine’s membership in both the EU and NATO on Monday.
“We must ask ourselves: how can Ukraine assist us?” Stubb said following a meeting in the Czech Republic.
“There isn’t a single military force in Europe or the United States capable of conducting modern warfare as effectively as Ukraine currently does,” he continued, highlighting Kyiv’s support for Gulf countries and their drone capabilities.
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