Zelensky Says Kyiv ‘Does Not Recommend’ Travel to Moscow for Victory Day

President Zelensky said Russia sought safety for its May 9 parade while continuing attacks on Ukraine and threatening more strikes afterward. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street in central London on March 17, 2026. (Photo by Suzanne Plunkett / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Discover Title:: Zelensky Says Kyiv “Does Not Recommend” Visiting Moscow for Victory Day Events Summary:: President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv “does not recommend” that representatives of countries close to Russia travel to Moscow for May 9 events, arguing that Russia failed to uphold proposed ceasefire efforts while continuing strikes across Ukraine. Zelensky said Moscow sought security guarantees for its Victory Day parade while Russian forces continued attacks on civilian infrastructure and frontline regions. He warned that Ukraine would respond symmetrically to Russian actions and stressed that there would have been no Ukrainian long-range strikes had Russia observed silence. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv “does not recommend” that representatives of countries close to Russia travel to Moscow for May 9 events. He said Russia had been given a chance to observe a ceasefire but failed to do so. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “Ukraine proposed a ceasefire to Russia. And this is far from Ukraine’s first proposal. This time, the proposal was to begin a ceasefire on May 6. Ukraine was ready to ensure complete silence, but in response to this peace proposal there were only new Russian strikes and new threats from Russia,” Zelensky said. The Ukrainian leader said Moscow wanted security for its May 9 parade while continuing to threaten Ukraine afterward. “They want Ukraine’s permission to hold their parade – to safely gather in the square for one hour once a year – and then continue killing our people and waging war afterward. Russian officials are already speaking about strikes after May 9,” he said. Other Topics of Interest This Is Why Putin Won’t Stop the War Zero territory gained. 35,000 casualties in one month. But is Russia “winning?” Well, its Russian billionaires have just doubled their fortunes. While Moscow was seeking guarantees for a ceasefire, representatives of countries close to Russia were asking Ukraine about their planned visits to Moscow, according to Zelensky. “We have also received messages from some states close to Russia saying that their representatives intend to be in Moscow. We do not recommend it,” he said. Zelensky said Russian forces had continued attacks across the front line on Thursday. “Just over the past day, Russians attacked along the perimeter of our entire defensive line – from the Chernihiv region to the Mykolaiv region. Civilian trains were struck; these were ordinary civilian trains with no military purpose whatsoever,” he said. The president also pointed to intensified attacks on civilian infrastructure as Moscow sought guarantees for its so-called ceasefire. “The Russians also repeatedly targeted energy infrastructure and ordinary residential buildings,” Zelensky said. He concluded that Kyiv’s response would be proportional. “Ukraine’s position is absolutely transparent and honest: Ukraine will act symmetrically. If there had been silence, there would have been no Ukrainian long-range strikes,” Zelensky concluded. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.