Deceiving the West
As the Kremlin continues to deceptively present itself as open to negotiations, April experienced the highest number of civilian casualties from Russian shelling since September 2024, with at least 209 civilians killed and another 1,146 injured, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
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Nearly all civilian casualties occurred in Ukraine-controlled territories, with almost half of them the result of missile strikes and shelling. In particular, cities like Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv and Kharkiv were systematically targeted by the Kremlin last month.
This disconnect between the Kremlin’s “openness” to peace and its actual behavior is unsurprising. It points to the deliberate Kremlin strategy of manipulating Western perceptions and undermining military and other aid to Ukraine.
Continued escalation after each ceasefire declaration
The Kremlin’s approach toward Ukraine remains consistent. After increased attacks in April, the first days of May have brought renewed attacks across the country, particularly on Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Dnipro. These attacks caused further deaths and injuries among civilians and heavily damaged residential and critical infrastructure.
The Kremlin’s behavior follows the same pattern each time in 2025. After each unilateral ceasefire declaration, the Kremlin steps up its attacks against Ukraine. In March, Russia pledged to halt attacks on energy infrastructure for a month, yet continued bombing Ukraine. During the so-called Easter “truce,” there were over 2,000 violations on the first day alone. All of these actions underscore the point that these unilateral ceasefires are tactical moves used to confuse the West and step up attacks against Ukraine.
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Putin’s recent announcement of a unilateral truce declaration for the Victory Day between 8 and 10 May is likely to follow the same pattern of violation and escalation of strikes and attacks against Ukraine.
Western leaders should not be deceived
Western leaders should not assess the Kremlin’s behavior based on its declarations. Instead, they should meticulously evaluate its actual deeds in Ukraine, such as the continued, increased high-casualty attacks against civilian and critical infrastructure.
Any calls for potential negotiations with the Kremlin are misplaced in light of the above actions. The Kremlin’s statements do not indicate that it is willing to pursue peace. Rather, they point to its strategy of deliberately undermining Western support for Ukraine and are aimed at prolonging the war on its terms.
Hence, it is paramount to acknowledge that the Kremlin’s peace narrative is part of its war strategy to avoid concessions and ensure that Western aid to Ukraine remains steady and calibrated to the realities on the ground.
The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.
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