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By Brendan Cole and Shane Croucher
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The Kremlin has dismissed comments by Ukrainian President Zelensky that Russia should be concerned about its forthcoming "Victory Day" parade in Moscow, which will mark 80 years since the end of World War II.
Zelensky makes many different statements and "for the most part they are unsuccessful," said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
Peskov was responding to Zelensky's comments on Tuesday that Moscow is "worried that their parade is in jeopardy, and rightly so."
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Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian foreign ministry for comment.
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Why it matters
For Putin, the parade in Moscow's Red Square on May 9 is an important marker of patriotism marking the defeat of Nazi Germany and the event has has taken on extra resonance since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian president announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine between May 8 and May 11 to coincide with the celebrations but Zelensky's comments have prompted Russian media to speculate Kyiv is threatening to disrupt the event.
What to know
Peskov was responding to Zelensky's nightly address on Tuesday when he said Moscow was concerned that the parade was in danger.
Zelensky gave no further details but Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Zelensky of "literally planning terrorist attacks on air."
Peskov said on Wednesday that the parade would go ahead which Russians would proudly watch, according to state news agency Tass.
Putin's spokesman also said that any peace deal must be concluded with Ukraine not the U.S. but expressed gratitude to the Trump administration for its role in talks.
Peskov added that Russia is ready for direct negotiations with Ukraine, but there is no response from Kyiv yet. However, Zelensky had said Tuesday that Moscow must take clear steps to end the war and an unconditional and full ceasefire must be the first step towards that.
What people are saying
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday: "(Russia are) worried about whether they can hold their military parade—and rightly so. But what they really should be worried about is that this war is still ongoing. They must end the war."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday, per Tass: "Zelensky makes many different statements, most of them unsuccessful. There will be a parade, and you and I will proudly watch this parade."
What happens next
The parade is likely to go ahead amid concern about the lack of progress on negotiations to end the war. Among world leaders attending will be China's president Xi Jinping, President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
The Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico has resisted criticism from Brussels, to be the only leader from the European Union to say he will attend.
One notable absence will be Indian prime minister Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to the Kremlin. His country has emerged as one of the biggest purchasers of Russian oil since the start of the Ukraine war.
Update 04/30/25, 8 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with further information.
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