Kremlin Claims Intensive Contact With Washington Led to May 9 Ceasefire

Speaking to reporters on May 9, Kremlin presidential aide Yuri Ushakov shed light on some of the circumstances surrounding the May 9-11 ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. “Taking into account, in particular, our warnings addressed to Kiev, our contacts with the Americans intensified, during which we agreed on a ceasefire,” Ushakov said, referring to Kiev’s threats to strike the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow and Russia’s threat to launch devastating strikes in response. “Everyone saw their [Kiev’s] reaction” to the situation, Ushakov continued. “We quite clearly stated what could follow criminal terrorist actions by Kiev, so I think this was understood in most capitals.” As a result, there were no strikes on Red Square, and “naturally, there was also no massive retaliatory missile strike on Kiev.”