Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has referred to the security measures surrounding foreign dignitaries attending a parade in Red Square next week marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Days after he was accused of threatening to disrupt the Victory Day parade event in Moscow, Zelensky told reporters Kyiv “cannot be responsible” for what happens on Russian territory during the commemorations which will be attended by China’s president Xi Jinping and other leaders.

Zelensky mentioned no names and offered no further details but his comments follow his earlier remarks that Russia was worried about what might happen during the event and a warning by the European Union urging its leaders not to attend.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian and Chinese foreign ministries for comment.

Why it matters

Under Vladimir Putin‘s presidency, the May 9 event marking the defeat of Nazi Germany has become an annual demonstration of Russian patriotism which has gathered resonance following his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Leaders of former Soviet countries and allies such as China typically attend, and for this year’s 80th anniversary, Putin called for a three-day ceasefire which Zelensky has rejected. Zelensky’s latest comments add to speculation over what Ukraine might do during the period.

What to know

Zelensky said last week the Kremlin was worried that the parade was in danger, prompting Moscow to accuse Ukraine of planning an attack to coincide with the event.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down Zelensky’s remarks and said that Russians would watch the televised event with pride.

But the Ukrainian leader returned to the topic, telling journalists that unnamed countries had asked Kyiv about the safety of going to Moscow for the event but that Ukraine cannot be responsible for what happens on Russian territory.

He referred to how arson and explosions could be blamed on Ukraine, but Kyiv would not be responsible for what might happen.

Zelensky also dismissed Putin’s offer of a three-day ceasefire, reiterating Kyiv’s calls for a 30-day pause as proposed by the U.S.

His remarks follow a warning by the European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas for European leaders not to participate in the celebrations and show solidarity with Ukraine instead, according to Politico.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said in a Telegram post on Saturday that no one was asking for Zelensky’s guarantees, but if his “provocations” are realized “nobody will guarantee the dawn of May 10 in Kyiv.”

Who is attending?

As well as Xi, the leaders of more than 20 countries are expected to attend, including Putin’s allies, Alexander Lukashenko, and Nicolas Maduro, the leaders of Belarus and Venezuela respectively.

Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, whose country is bidding for EU membership, has also been invited. The only EU leader accepting an invitation was Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico.

The Kremlin confirmed this week that India’s prime minister Narendra Modi, whose country has increased economic ties over the last three years, would not attend.

Russian state media had reported that a high-level U.S. official would attend, naming Secretary of State Marco Rubio although the U.S. State Department told Newsweek on Thursday there were no travel plans in place.

What people are saying

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, per Ukrainian media, according to a translation: “We cannot be responsible for what is happening on the territory of the Russian Federation. They provide you with safety and so we will not give you any guarantees.”

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council on Telegram: “Who is looking for his guarantees? Just a verbal provocation. Nothing more … in the event of a real provocation on Victory Day, no one will guarantee that May 10 will come in Kyiv.”

What happens next

As Moscow gears up for the May 9 parade where Russian military hardware will be on show, Ukraine has asked EU officials to come to Kyiv on the same day to display diplomatic force of its allies.