Russia's 'test' with Ukraine, Kiev declares shooting down military aircraft in Crimea
The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire proposed by Russia on the occasion of the anniversary of the victory over Nazism in World War II (May 9) was a test to see whether Ukraine really wanted to resolve the conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on April 28 that a 72-hour ceasefire would begin on May 8 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazism in World War II (May 9). Moscow said the initiative could serve as an opportunity to “start direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions.” However, Ukraine viewed it as “another attempt at manipulation” by Russia.
According to RT news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on May 3 explained that the ceasefire proposal is aimed at assessing whether Ukraine is ready to engage in serious efforts to end the conflict.
“The reaction of the Ukrainian authorities is a test of Ukraine’s readiness for peace. We are waiting not for vague statements but for clear ones, and most importantly, for actions aimed at de-escalating the conflict during the anniversary,” Peskov said.
Instead of agreeing to Putin’s proposal for a 72-hour ceasefire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Russia to join the ceasefire immediately within 30 days. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Zelensky of trying to buy time so Ukraine could regroup.
Responding to President Zelensky's statement on May 3 that Kiev could not guarantee the safety of world leaders attending Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described it as a "direct threat".
Ukraine claims to have shot down a military plane in Crimea
According to Kyiv Independent, President Zelensky said on May 3 that the Ukrainian military had destroyed the second Russian military plane within 24 hours, after attacking an airport in the Crimean peninsula.
The attack came after a Russian Su-30 fighter jet, worth about $50 million each, was shot down by a Ukrainian unmanned surface vehicle (USV) in the Black Sea early on May 3. The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Service (HUR) stressed that the attack marked "the first time in the world that a USV destroyed a fighter jet."
"I thank those who are strengthening Ukraine's long-range capabilities both in the air and at sea. The USV's shooting down of a Russian military aircraft is a great proof of Ukraine's capabilities," Mr. Zelensky emphasized in his speech on the evening of May 3.
However, the Ukrainian leader did not provide further information about the second Russian plane shot down in 24 hours. He only said that military depots were also destroyed in the attack. In addition, the Ukrainian military has not released details about the incident.
Russia has not yet commented on the above information.
Earlier, Ukraine launched a series of drone attacks on the Crimean peninsula on May 3. The Russian Air Force announced that it had intercepted 89 Ukrainian UAVs in Crimea, and 23 others over the Black Sea.
