Zelensky Accuses Putin of ‘Utter Cynicism’ After Russia Hits Energy Plants After Cease-Fire Claims
· Time
President Volodymyr Zelensky has hit out at Russia after Moscow launched deadly overnight strikes across Ukraine, just 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.
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Further strikes targeted Poltova, in central Ukraine, killing four people including two emergency responders. Dozens were also injured in the strikes, according to Zelensky.
Read more: The Iran War Created Demand for Cheap Drone Interceptors. Now Zelensky Holds the Cards
The Ukrainian president added later that Kyiv had launched its own series of missile strikes against “several” targets in Russia overnight, including a military-industrial facility in Cheboksary, over 350 miles east of Moscow.
The overnight exchanges come after Russia said on Monday that it would be observing a two-day cease-fire on Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9, marking 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 celebrations, marked by a large military procession in Moscow, commemorate the Soviet Union’s victory in liberating much of eastern and central Europe from the Nazis. Moscow’s Ministry of Defense said it “expects” Ukraine to also observe the pause in hostilities.
Addressing the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia on Monday, Zelensky claimed that the parade in Moscow would go ahead without military equipment. “They cannot afford military equipment – and they fear drones may buzz over Red Square,” said Zelensky. “This is telling. It shows they are not strong now.”
Moscow threatened to “launch a retaliatory, massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv” should Ukraine launch its own strikes on Moscow on May 9, which it said Zelensky threatened to do in his address. “We warn the civilian population of Kyiv and the staff of foreign diplomatic missions to leave the city in a timely manner,” the ministry said.
Later on Monday, Zelensky said that there had been no official appeal to Ukraine regarding the brief cease-fire proposal. The Ukrainian leader announced Kyiv’s own cease-fire, set to come into effect at midnight local time (5 p.m. Eastern) on Wednesday.
“We will act reciprocally starting from that moment,” said Zelensky, adding that Moscow needs to “take real steps to end their war, especially since Russia’s Defense Ministry believes it cannot hold a parade in Moscow without Ukraine’s goodwill.”
Trump calls Zelensky a ‘tricky guy’ as the U.K. plans to join Ukraine loan
Amid the cease-fire proposals, President Donald Trump said that he “wants to get a settlement” between Russia and Ukraine, while discussing Kyiv’s recent drone deals with Gulf countries, including the U.A.E, following Iranian strikes on infrastructure in the region that have since continued.
“He’s a tricky guy,” said Trump on Monday when asked if he “feels better” about the Ukrainian President. “They [Ukraine] are losing territory, but it’s at a big cost to Russia and to them.”
The President continued: “I like Zelensky. I’ve always sort of gotten along with him, other than the one moment in the White House, which I thought was a little aggressive on his behalf,” in reference to the public argument between the two and J.D. Vance in the Oval Office in February 2025.
In November, Trump put forward a peace proposal for Ukraine and Russia that Zelensky met with skepticism, saying that Ukraine would face losing its dignity by accepting the deal.
Across the Atlantic, already strong relations between Kyiv and its European allies were bolstered as the United Kingdom reaffirmed plans to participate in a multi-billion euro European Union loan to Ukraine.
“It would be a major step forward in the UK- EU defence industrial relationship,” read a joint statement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The €90 billion ($105 billion) loan to Ukraine was approved on April 23, with payments set to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
The loan will fund the “most urgent budgetary and defense industrial capacity needs” in Ukraine, and is subject to strict conditions for Kyiv, including the fight against the country’s corruption, according to the European Commission.
The loan is set to be repaid by Russian reparations
Finnish President Alexander Stubb also reiterated his calls for Ukrainian membership in both the E.U. and NATO on Monday.
“We have to ask ourselves the question: how can Ukraine help us?” said Stubb following a meeting in the Czech Republic.
“There's not one military in Europe or the United States, for that matter, that is capable to conduct modern warfare in the way in which Ukraine is doing now,” he continued, pointing towards Kyiv’s assistance for Gulf countries and their drone capabilities.