Putin proposes a one-day ceasefire – but the date suggests it is to help himself

According to the news outlet NV, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 29.

The conversation lasted more than 90 minutes and covered international relations and the invasion of Ukraine.

During this exchange, Putin floated a specific idea regarding the upcoming Russian holiday on May 9.

Pausing the fight

NV reported that the Russian leader suggested a “truce for the period of Victory Day.”

Russian officials indicated that the American president backed this temporary ceasefire concept.

While a pause sounds appealing, observers note the strategic timing of the holiday.

May 9 has historically been a moment for Moscow to project its military capabilities to the world.

Parade scaled back

Russia celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany every year on May 9 with military parades all over the country. The parade in Moscow is usually used by Putin to showcase the power of the Russian military forces.

But the traditional display on Red Square will look markedly different this year.

Yesterday, the BBC reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed significant reductions to the upcoming event.

According to the ministry, the celebration was reduced “due to the current operational situation.”

The military leadership stated that “servicemen from higher military educational institutions of all branches and individual branches of the armed forces will participate in the parade as part of the foot column.”

Missing the hardware

Absent from the march will be the heavy armor that usually dominates the broadcast.

The defense ministry clarified that the “military vehicle column” has been cut from the schedule.

They reiterated that this decision was made “due to the current operational situation.”

Younger cadets from the Suvorov and Nakhimov schools will also not march.

Looking to the sky

This marks the first time since the 2022 invasion began that ground equipment will be absent.

Despite the missing tanks, spectators will still see a limited aerial show.

A defense ministry statement noted that “during the airborne portion of the parade, aircraft from Russian aerobatic teams will fly over Red Square, and at the end of the parade, Su-25 attack aircraft pilots will paint the Moscow sky in the colors of the Russian flag.”

Past flyovers have featured far more aircraft than the 2026 plan.

Zelenskyy: How long?

In a post on X, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he had instructed his representatives to clarify, what Putin actually has in mind with the truce.

“We will clarify what exactly this is about – a few hours of security for a parade in Moscow, or something more,” Zelenskyy writes.

Article continues below.

Ukraine’s strike-range increases

Yesterday, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine announced that Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities had increased by more than 150% since the beginning of the war.

In 2022, hitting a target 630 kilometers away was considered a major milestone, but Ukraine is now reportedly able to hit targets as far as 1,750 kilometers away.

The distance from Kyiv to Moscow is less than 1,000 kilometers.

Sources: United24Media, NV, BBC, Google Maps, Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, who may have used AI in the preparation