Undoubtedly, this is important. The informational aspect is also important — that is a fact.
From what I see, not only is Russia holding a rehearsal for the parade, but Ukraine is doing the same. We are demonstrating what it might look like, and that the parade might not happen, and this must be understood.
It is fundamentally important for us... This can be taken as a joke, but in every joke, there is a fraction of a joke, and the rest is true. After all, we clearly show that it depends on us whether something will happen on Red Square on May 9, or perhaps nothing will happen at all.
Because the capability is precisely in our hands right now, in particular, to prevent this parade from taking place, and thus, effectively, to disrupt that coven of victory frenzy that [Russian dictator Vladimir] Putin will try to stage. To disrupt what [Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry] Peskov says — claiming that Putin's speech is awaited almost all over the world.
This is a very serious demonstration of our capabilities and capacities.
This is a demonstration, in particular, of our superiority. Because someone is saying that Ukraine is allegedly losing some sort of advantage. In reality, no, we are showing that this is not the case, that we have this advantage, at least in the air, for sure. And also on the front line, where we are stabilizing the situation.
And therefore, it depends on us whether the parade will take place or not.
In addition, from the point of view of negotiations, including what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said while in Yerevan at a meeting with the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, we are ready for trilateral negotiations, but we are forming a corresponding position.
That is, we are forming a position of strength, where we have fairly serious arguments with which we can counter any of Putin's whims and demands. And [we can] say that we have a rather serious toolkit that will only gain momentum. This is already obvious, in terms of our strikes both on Russian territory and on the occupied territories. And we have the ability right now to conduct negotiations, truly, from a position of strength.
And when we talk about a possible ceasefire, in particular on May 9, we should not just talk about some unilateral action, that the Kremlin wanted it and everyone accepted it for execution. No. We are saying that there is a Ukrainian position, proposed by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the President of Ukraine, the day prior, which is that we want to reach a sustainable ceasefire, at least an energy truce.
And "sustainable and lasting" means that it is not some 12-hour, 24-hour, or 48-hour event. It is at least a month of no shelling. And if Russia agrees to this regime, agrees to ceasefire monitoring, and is ready to sign the relevant agreements on stopping the shelling, then we can consider it. Then it is a story that can work.
If not, and this is needed only for Putin to hold a parade, to somehow maintain his constantly fading image... His reputation is falling right now, by the way, and the events in Yerevan clearly demonstrate this. Then, of course, we will not agree. And we have the capabilities to disrupt this victory frenzy on Red Square.
I would say that we will soon learn more details [about the drone hitting the high-rise building]. Still, we should focus on the fact that there are targets, many military targets on the territory of Moscow. Nothing can be ruled out, including strikes on places where the top brass of Russian military ministries, departments, and intelligence agencies might be deployed. Undoubtedly, these are equally legitimate targets for us.
But I think we will find out the details later. The fundamentally important fact for us is that we see there is panic in Moscow. And this is a demonstration of our capabilities, effectively at a time when parade rehearsals, preparatory events, and so on will be taking place.