Russia was desperate for a ceasefire for their May 9 Parade to go ahead without the prospect of a Ukrainian missile or drone strike. So Vladimir Putin requested a ceasefire with Volodymyr Zelensky offering Vladimir Putin permission to hold their May 9 parade without disruption. This was a fantastic trolling, Zelensky granted permission for Russia to parade around Red Square.

There were no tanks rolling through Red Square, the military parade is all about weapons, there were no truck mounted missiles either, this is projecting Russian power. Russian anti-drone units were stationed just outside Red Square; they were still concerned. Even more ironic, Ukraine war veterans are marching in the parade, the Ukraine war has lasted longer than the Soviet involvement in World War II. The laughs keep coming, Ukrainians make up 25% of the Soviet force, they fought with distinction.

What Zelensky did was brilliant, he gave an assurance that Ukrainian Commanders would not target Red Square on May 9 after numerous requests and negotiations from the Americans, Zelensky decree he would allow the parade to go ahead. Even funnier, he then gave the coordinates for Red Square in the letter. Putin has increased security, he is concerned, he is coming across as a paranoid dictator who is losing control. The Russian people are seeing all this play out, the hits on Russian oil infrastructure are taking its toll, the smoke and the black rain are getting sighted.