Kremlin Dismisses Claim Putin to Formally Declare War on Ukraine on May 9

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (front) and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attend a session of the Council of Heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Sochi, Russia, on Oct. 11, 2017. Maxim Shemetov/AFP/Getty Images

The Kremlin on May 4 dismissed claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin would issue an official declaration of war against Ukraine on May 9, following reports making the claim.

Since the start of the conflict in February, Putin and other Russian officials have described the conflict as a “special military operation.” However, reports this week speculated that a formal war decree—which could entail a greater mobilization of Russian forces—could be announced on May 9, which is “Victory Day,” the day that Russia celebrates the surrender of Nazi forces at the end of World War II.

“This is nonsense,” chief Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He said people shouldn’t listen to speculation that there could be a decision on a national mobilization.

Putin has used previous Victory Day speeches to needle the West and showcase the firepower of Russia’s post-Soviet armed forces.

Meanwhile, the European Union on May 4 proposed its harshest sanctions yet against Russia, including a phased oil embargo. The European Commission announced that it would be phasing out supplies of Russian crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year.

A resident whose apartment was destroyed by a missile strike on a residential building looks at the work of a rescue team in Odesa, Ukraine, on April 25, 2022. Anastasia Vlasova/Getty Images

If the plan is agreed upon by European Union governments, it may be the most devastating economic blow to Moscow, which relies heavily on oil and gas exports.

In a series of Twitter posts, Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen wrote: “Finally, we now propose a ban on Russian oil. Let’s be clear: it will not be easy. But we simply have to work on it. We will make sure that we phase out Russian oil in an orderly fashion. To maximize pressure on Russia, while minimizing the impact on our economies.

“We want Ukraine to win this war. Yet so much has to be rebuilt. That is why I am proposing to start working on an ambitious recovery package for our Ukrainian friends. This package should bring massive investment to meet the needs and the necessary reforms.”

Putin has said that its “special military operation” in Ukraine is necessary because the United States was using Ukraine to threaten Russia. He’s also said the operation is needed to stop the persecution of Russian-speaking people in Ukraine. But Ukraine has said that it’s fighting against Russian imperialism and that Putin’s claims about genocide are untrue.

Reuters contributed to this report.