Ukraine gains confidence in defensive war against Russia

In Russia and Ukraine on 9 May 2026, Putin attended a scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow, held without tanks, amid a ceasefire announcement. Putin said the war in Ukraine is heading to an end despite ceasefire violations, and that a meeting with Zelensky is possible. Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine was not honouring the Victory Day ceasefire.

Bloomberg reported that Putin said the ceasefire was prompted by Kyiv's security warnings. Kyiv Post reported on a Ukrainian “no-strike zone” for Red Square. Handelsblatt reported that the ceasefire was used for troop rotation, and Sky News noted that Putin said the war is likely to end soon despite Ukrainian battlefield gains. Tagesschau reported that Ukraine is gaining confidence in its defensive war.