MOSCOW — Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, warned Saturday that Kyiv may not “live to see May 10” if Ukraine stages attacks during Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9, labelling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s remarks a “verbal provocation.”
The warning came as Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a three-day ceasefire — from May 8 to May 10 — to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, with commemorative events expected to include foreign dignitaries like Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Zelenskiy responded that Ukraine was open to a ceasefire, but only one lasting 30 days. He added that Ukraine could not ensure the safety of visiting foreign leaders attending events in Moscow, given ongoing hostilities.
Medvedev, a former president and staunch critic of the West, dismissed the need for Ukrainian security assurances and issued a stark threat: “Nobody will be able to guarantee that Kyiv will live to see May 10” in case of provocation.
The Kremlin has said it seeks a long-term resolution to the conflict, not a temporary pause, while Ukraine maintains that security conditions remain too unstable for symbolic gestures.