Putin Announces Three-Day Ceasefire in Ukraine to Mark WWII Anniversary
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a three-day ceasefire in May to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II, even as fighting with Ukraine continues.
The Kremlin announced that the unilateral 72-hour truce would begin around May 9, aligning with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. International leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, are expected to attend the festivities.
“All military operations will be paused during this period. Russia expects Ukraine to reciprocate,” the Kremlin said in a statement, warning that any breach by Ukraine would trigger a “proportional and effective response” from Russian forces.
Ukraine has not yet officially reacted to the announcement. This ceasefire proposal follows a previous 30-hour truce during Orthodox Easter, which both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of violating.
The gesture seems intended to show openness to negotiations, especially toward U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently voiced doubts about Moscow’s sincerity in pursuing peace after a fatal Russian missile strike on Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who briefly met Trump at Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome on Saturday, reiterated that Ukraine would only consider talks once a genuine ceasefire was enforced.
Before Putin’s announcement, Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, accused Russia of continuing attacks despite publicly expressing interest in peace efforts.
“At this very moment, Russia is not observing any ceasefire and is attacking Ukraine with Shahed drones,” Yermak posted on Telegram, referencing the Iranian-made drones used by Russian forces.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin reaffirmed its willingness to engage in peace talks “without preconditions,” insisting that the “root causes” of the conflict must be addressed.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that dialogue could only begin if Ukraine rescinds its 2022 decree, which banned negotiations with Putin following Russia’s claims over four Ukrainian regions.
Kyiv has previously accused Russia of using ceasefire calls to strengthen its battlefield positions, while Moscow claims that Ukraine demands terms that are unacceptable to Russia.
As May 9 approaches, both sides are bracing for heightened tensions, with little indication of a broader resolution to the conflict.
