Putin declares three-day Ukraine ceasefire in May to commemorate World War 2

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced a three-day ceasefire in May to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War Two, amid continued hostilities with Ukraine.

The Kremlin said the unilateral 72-hour ceasefire would take effect around May 9, coinciding with Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, where Putin is set to host international leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“All military actions are suspended for this period. Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example,” the Kremlin said in a statement, adding that any violations by Ukraine would provoke an “adequate and effective response” from Russian forces.

Ukraine has yet to respond officially to the announcement. It follows a previous 30-hour ceasefire during Orthodox Easter that both sides accused each other of violating.

The move appeared aimed at signalling Russia’s willingness for dialogue, particularly to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has grown increasingly critical of Moscow’s actions.

Over the weekend, Trump expressed concern that Putin was “just tapping me along” without genuine commitment to peace, following a deadly Russian strike on Kyiv last week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who met Trump during Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome on Saturday, has maintained that Kyiv would engage in talks only once a ceasefire is in place.

Ahead of the ceasefire announcement, Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, accused Russia of continuing attacks despite claims of seeking peace.

“Russia is not ceasing fire at the front and is attacking Ukraine with Shaheds right now,” Yermak said on Telegram, referring to Iranian-made drones deployed by Russian forces.

The Kremlin reiterated on Monday that it was ready for peace talks “without preconditions,” stressing the need to eliminate the “root causes of the Ukrainian crisis.”

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that negotiations could only begin if Kyiv reversed a 2022 decree banning talks with Putin following Russia’s annexation claims over four Ukrainian regions.

Ukraine has accused Russia of using calls for ceasefires to buy time to consolidate territorial gains, while Moscow accuses Kyiv of demanding terms unacceptable to Russia.

Tensions remain high as both sides prepare for the symbolic date of May 9, with little sign of a lasting resolution to the conflict.