Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a three-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War Two. The Kremlin said the ceasefire will run from May 8 to May 10, covering Victory Day on May 9 when Putin will host Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders for celebrations commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany.
“All military actions are suspended for this period. Russia believes Ukraine should follow this example,” the Kremlin said, warning that violations by Ukraine would invite a swift response. It marks Putin’s second ceasefire announcement in recent weeks, following a brief Easter truce that both sides accused each other of violating. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticised the move, saying, “If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately. Why wait until May 8th?” He stressed that a ceasefire should be “real, not just for a parade.”
The White House also weighed in, with President Donald Trump urging a permanent end to the conflict rather than temporary pauses. Trump recently criticised Putin for a deadly attack on Kyiv and warned that Russia’s moves might be attempts to stall peace efforts, Reuters reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, after meeting Trump in Rome during Pope Francis’ funeral, reiterated Kyiv’s readiness to negotiate once a full ceasefire is achieved. Ukraine has repeatedly pushed for a 30-day ceasefire, while Russia insists on a complete settlement rather than what it calls a temporary pause.
The Kremlin said it remains open to “peace talks without preconditions” aimed at addressing the “root causes” of the conflict, though it blamed Ukraine’s legal ban on negotiations with Putin — issued after Russia illegally annexed four Ukrainian regions in 2022 — for stalled talks.
Ukraine, meanwhile, accuses Russia of using ceasefire announcements to consolidate gains and delay real peace. Trump, on Sunday, also suggested Ukraine might consider ceding Crimea to Russia, a proposal Kyiv has not officially commented on but has consistently rejected in the past.
