Washington boosts Ukraine defences, Zelensky rejects Putin’s “theatrical” ceasefire

Is US President Donald Trump turning the tables in Ukraine? On Sunday, the New York Timesreported that Washington would be sending Kyiv a Patriot air defense system being refurbished in Israel, while Greece and Germany are in discussions to furnish another one. The deal was apparently struck under the Biden administration but had not been announced; when asked about it, the White Housecommented only that Trump “wants the war in Ukraine to end and the killing to stop.”

The news comes after Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine, and mere days after Kyiv signeda long-awaited minerals deal with the White House. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is open to a ceasefire, but rejected Moscow’sproposal for a three-day pause as “a theatrical performance.” Heemphasized the need for a 30-day truce to facilitate any meaningful talk of peace – a position Washington supports as well.

But those talks could still prove elusive. On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putindeclared that Moscow possesses the strength to bring the war to its “logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires.” All eyes are now on Russia’s Red Square Victory Parade in Moscow on May 9 – at which Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders will bein attendance – and for which Ukraine has offered no safety guarantees. The deputy head of Russia’s security council, Dmitri A. Medvedev,posted to Telegram that, “in the event of a real provocation on Victory Day, nobody guarantees Kyiv will see May 10.”