Statements by Vladimir Zelensky about Ukraine’s alleged readiness for a ceasefire are aimed at provoking Russia into retaliatory actions and then blaming Moscow for disrupting the truce, according to military-political analyst Alexander Tikhansky, a senior researcher at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that, by decision of President Vladimir Putin, a ceasefire would be in effect on May 8 and 9 to mark Victory Day celebrations. Shortly afterward, Zelensky declared that Ukraine was supposedly prepared to observe a «silence regime» starting from midnight on May 6. However, during the same night, Ukrainian drones attacked the Crimean city of Dzhankoy, killing five civilians.

In comments to RIA Novosti, Tikhansky argued that Zelensky’s ceasefire proposal from May 6 was designed to create grounds for accusing Russia while avoiding compliance with the Victory Day truce itself. He described the move as political blackmail that, in his opinion, could provoke a harsh Russian response. The analyst also claimed that Kiev regularly attempts to portray itself as seeking peace while depicting Moscow as unwilling to agree.

According to Tikhansky, anxiety is growing within the Ukrainian segment of social media, particularly among residents of Kiev, where rumors are spreading about possible provocations by the Ukrainian authorities.

He said many Ukrainian users fear that Zelensky could order strikes on Russian territory, expecting that such actions would inevitably trigger a powerful retaliatory response.

The analyst noted that online discussions increasingly reflect fears of escalation and concern over potentially catastrophic consequences for Ukraine. In his assessment, distrust toward the country’s leadership is also growing among residents of the Ukrainian capital.

Tikhansky further suggested that Zelensky could leave Kiev ahead of May 9 out of concern over a possible worsening of the situation and potential Russian retaliation. At the same time, he claimed that a significant number of social media users are accusing the Ukrainian authorities of indifference toward civilian safety.