MOSCOW: A Ukrainian drone barrage forced Russia to close a dozen airports deep behind the frontline on Tuesday, just days before foreign leaders gather in Moscow for a major Victory Day parade.

Some 29 `foreign leaders` will be in Moscow for the celebration, marking 80 years since the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to use the event to justify his three-year-long offensive on Ukraine, which has killed tens of thousands of people and seen Moscow`s army capture swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine.

The Kremlin also said that it still plans to stick to a three-day truce it proposed to coincide with the parade which Ukraine has dismissed as nothing more than an attempt by Moscow to secure the event`s safety. Ukraine has instead called for a month-long ceasefire.

`President (Vladimir) Putin`s initiative for a temporary ceasefire during the holidays is relevant,` Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

But he added that `an adequate response will be given immediately` if Ukraine does not also halt fire.

Kyiv has denounced the proposal as `theatrical` and a `manipulation` instead demanding a longer, immediate ceasefire as a step towards end-ing three years of conflict, which began with the launch of Russia`s fullscale offensive in 2022.

Speculation has swirled over the safety of Moscow`s May 9 parade which Russia has said will be its grandest ever marking the anniversary of the end of World War II.

It will take place in the shadow of the Ukraine conflict and with the United States pushing for both sides to end the fighting, so far to no avail.

The Kremlin said 29 `foreign leaders` are expected to attend the Red Square parade.

Hundreds of drones On the eve of Xi`s arrival, Moscow saidUkraine had launched over 100 drones overnight, including on the Russian capital. Kyiv, meanwhile, said Russia attacked with 136 drones.

The Moscow mayor said air defences shot down 19 drones around the Russian capital.

Flight restrictions were introduced at more than a dozen airports, including four in Moscow, Russian news agencies reported, citing the Federal Air Transport Agency though traffic at the city`s main Sheremetyevo airport remained largely unaffected.

Airports were also affected in other cities, including Volgograd in the southwest and NizhnyNovgorod in the west.

Putin-Xi meeting Putin and Xi are all set to discuss the Ukraine conflict and US-Russia relations in Moscow talks on Thursday (tomorrow), the Kremlin said.

Moscow and Beijing have deepened ties amid Russia`s military offensive on Ukraine, launched in February 2022.

`The most important issues will be discussed in a one-on-one meeting, the Ukrainian topic and Russian-US relations, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

Prisoner exchange On the other hand, Russia and Ukraine eachreleased 205 captured soldiers, both sides said on Tuesday, in the fifth prisoner-of-war (POW) exchange since the beginning of the year.

The exchange was brokered by the UAE, Moscow said.

`Today, Ukraine has returned 205 soldiers.

Young boys and men from almost all types and branches of the armed forces, the Ukrainian president said. The Russian army said, `As a result of negotiations, 205 Russian servicemen were returned. In exchange, 205 prisoners of war of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were handed over.

Russian gas imports Separately, the European Union unveiled a long-promised plan to phase out its remaining gas imports from Russia by the end of 2027, a challenge given Europe`s continued dependence on Russian fossil fuels.

`Today the European Union sends a very clear message to Russia: no more, no more, will we permit Russia to weaponise energy against us,` EU energy chief Dan Jorgensen said.

The European Commission`s plan would put an end to new contracts and existing short-term spot contracts with Russian suppliers by the year end.

Remaining imports would be banned by the end of 2027.-Agencies