Zelensky condemns Russian 'utter cynicism' as it strikes ahead of truce

Zelensky condemns Russian 'utter cynicism' as it strikes ahead of truce7 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLaura GozziDSNS UkraineOvernight combined missile and drone strikes killed five and injured dozens across UkraineUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned Russia's "cynicism" for continuing to launch deadly attacks despite seeking a pause in hostilities.Russia, which is preparing to hold celebrations to mark victory in World War Two this weekend, said it would hold a ceasefire on 8 and 9 May and threatened a "massive missile strike" on central Kyiv if Ukraine violated the truce.But Kyiv said it would observe an open-ended ceasefire from midnight on 6 May, and that Ukraine would act "symmetrically" from that point on. As the warring sides were announcing the moves, five people were killed and dozens injured in combined missile and drone strikes across Ukraine overnight. "It's utter cynicism to ask for silence to hold propaganda celebrations and to launch such missile-drone attacks every day beforehand," Zelensky said.As the two ceasefires appear to be unilateral - meaning the two sides have not agreed on their terms, length or monitoring. "We have made our proposal," Zelensky said, urging Russia to lay down arms "and move to real diplomacy". Ukraine's earlier, open-ended truce is likely a way for Zelensky to show that his country is willing to start an immediate and lasting ceasefire and that any violations will be pinned on Russia. "We believe that human life is of incomparably greater value than the 'celebration' of any anniversary," he wrote on Telegram. Ahead of its own midnight ceasefire, Ukraine also launched a series of aerial attacks on Russia, hitting an industrial area in Kirishi in the Leningrad region and a factory that produces military components in Cheboksary, in Russia's Chuvash Republic. Zelensky said domestic...