Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a surprise three-day ceasefire from May 8 to May 10 to coincide with Moscow’s World War II Victory Day celebrations, the Kremlin announced on Monday.
The Kremlin expressed hope that Kyiv would reciprocate and said it remained prepared to respond to any violations during the proposed pause in fighting.
This move mirrors a similar truce Putin declared over Easter, which both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating multiple times, although it resulted in a temporary reduction in hostilities.
“The Russian side is declaring a ceasefire during the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11. All combat operations will be suspended during this period,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
“Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example. In the event of violations of the truce by the Ukrainian side, the Russian armed forces will give an adequate and effective response,” it added.
Last month, Putin rejected a U.S. proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine had already accepted. Kyiv and European leaders later criticized the 30-hour Easter ceasefire initiative as a public relations move, accusing Putin of lacking real interest in peace.
Since launching its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has captured large areas of four Ukrainian regions, in addition to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
‘Tapping me along’
Putin’s ceasefire order comes at the start of a week the United States has described as critical for any chance of negotiating a broader truce.
Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday, former U.S. President Donald Trump raised doubts about Putin’s commitment to peace.
“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days. It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Russian missile strikes have caused dozens of civilian deaths in the past month, targeting cities such as Zelensky’s hometown Kryvyi Rig, Sumy in the northeast, and the capital Kyiv.
Earlier on Monday, Russia reiterated its willingness to engage in direct negotiations with Ukraine but stressed that recognition of its territorial claims, including Crimea and four other regions, was “imperative” for resolving the conflict.
Ukraine has consistently denounced Russia’s annexations as illegal and vowed never to recognize them, while European leaders have warned that conceding to Moscow’s demands could set a dangerous precedent for future aggression.
In an interview published Monday by Brazilian newspaper O Globo, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized Moscow’s readiness for talks.
“We remain open to negotiations,” Lavrov said. “But the ball is not in our court. So far, Kyiv has not demonstrated its ability to negotiate,” he added, reaffirming Moscow’s well-known position.
“International recognition of Russia’s ownership of Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions is imperative,” Lavrov insisted, using the Kremlin’s terms for the territories.
Responding to these demands, Zelensky stated last Friday that Ukraine would “not legally recognise any temporarily occupied territories” and had earlier described Russia’s demilitarisation demands as “incomprehensible.”
Kursk retaken
Since assuming office in January, Trump — who once claimed he could end the conflict within “24 hours” — has embarked on a diplomatic mission to halt the fighting. However, the White House has voiced frustration with both Kyiv and Moscow as the war continues to devastate eastern Ukraine and claim thousands of lives.
Direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia have not taken place since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Ukrainian prosecutors reported that a Russian attack on a village near Pokrovsk killed a married couple and another resident.
Over the weekend, Russia announced it had regained full control of its Kursk region with assistance from North Korean troops, following more than eight months of Ukrainian cross-border attacks.
Putin on Monday expressed gratitude to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for supporting the operation, which strengthens Moscow’s position in any future negotiations.
Additionally, Russia’s army said it had captured the village of Kamianka in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, marking another battlefield gain.
