Russia views Zelensky’s remarks about May 9 drone plot as threat of terror act — diplomat

Lead

MOSCOW. Russia has warned that it will launch a massive retaliatory strike against central Kiev if Ukraine attacks Moscow on May 9 during Victory Day celebrations. The warning was issued by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who described Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's threats as an intention to stage a terrorist act.

Coverage Comparison

According to reports by TASS, the Russian state news agency, Zakharova made these statements in interviews and remarks timed for the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union's Victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War. The coverage emphasizes Russia's view of Zelensky's actions as aggressive and escalatory.

TASS reports that the Russian Defense Ministry declared a ceasefire for May 8-9 in honor of the anniversary, and that Russia expects Ukraine to follow suit. However, the ministry warned that if the Kiev regime attempts to attack Moscow on May 9 to disrupt the celebrations, Russian troops will launch a massive retaliatory strike against central Kiev.

Zakharova said that Russia's warning was sent to all states and international organizations through diplomatic channels. She stressed that the warning was intended to make the collective West recognize the seriousness of the situation and stop supporting what she called Zelensky's "misanthropic" and "extremist" threats.

In separate remarks, Zakharova said that the Kiev regime sought to use foreign instigators, mostly from the Ukrainian World Congress, to disrupt Victory Day celebrations in Russia and other countries. She accused the regime of using propaganda cliches to claim that Moscow had monopolized the Victory and was waging an "aggression."

Key Claims

• Russia declared a ceasefire for May 8-9 to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, and expects Ukraine to follow suit.
• Russia warned that it will launch a massive retaliatory strike against central Kiev if Ukraine attacks Moscow on May 9 to disrupt the celebrations.
• Maria Zakharova said Russia views Zelensky's threat to stage a drone attack on Moscow during Victory Day as an intention to stage a terrorist act.
• Zakharova said the Kiev regime sought to use foreign instigators, mostly from the Ukrainian World Congress, to disrupt Victory Day celebrations in Russia and other countries.
• Zakharova said Western countries tried to downplay and bury Kiev's terrorist threats, and that Western leaders preferred to stay silent when Zelensky voiced threats to strike the Victory Day parade.
• Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said there were attempts to disrupt and cancel the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9, but that ultimately Zelensky issued a decree "allowing" the parade to be held, which she called "absurd."
• Dutch political scientist Kees van der Pijl said the dismissive attitude of many Western countries toward Victory Day and attempts to downplay the Soviet Union's role in the fight against Nazism are hindering a return to full-fledged dialogue with Russia.
• Maria Zakharova said the Russian people is united in countering threats by the head of the Kiev regime, and that rejecting threats and the inadmissibility of rewriting history is the most shared emotion of the entire country.

Perspectives

Russian Government Perspective

The Russian government, represented by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova and Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, characterizes Zelensky's threats as terrorist acts and attempts to disrupt Victory Day celebrations. They emphasize Russia's determination to protect its national holiday and history, and they criticize Western countries for ignoring Ukrainian threats and downplaying the Soviet Union's role in defeating Nazism.

Western Countries' Perspective (as described)

The material does not include any direct statement from a Western government or official. However, Zakharova and van der Pijl describe Western countries as having a dismissive attitude toward Victory Day and as demonstrating hostility, including by banning Soviet symbols in Berlin and ignoring the historical significance of May 9 in favor of "Europe Day." These descriptions are presented by Russian sources and are not independently corroborated.