Putin Declares 72-Hour Ceasefire in Ukraine For WW2 Victory Day Celebrations
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine, set to run from May 8th to May 11th, to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War Two. The Kremlin said the pause was declared "based on humanitarian considerations" and called on Ukraine to join the truce, warning that "in the event of violations by the Ukrainian side, Russia’s armed forces will give an adequate and effective response." This move follows an earlier 30-hour Easter ceasefire, which both sides accused each other of violating.
Ukraine has not officially responded to the announcement, but skepticism remains high. Before the ceasefire was declared, President Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, wrote on Telegram that "all the Russians’ statements about peace without ceasing fire are just plain lies." Despite the Kremlin’s repeated claims that it is ready for peace talks "without preconditions," Ukrainian officials and their European allies suspect Moscow is only trying to buy time to seize more territory, especially after Russian forces reported gains in Kharkiv and attacks on Ukrainian villages.
The ceasefire announcement also comes amid rising pressure from the United States, with President Donald Trump warning Putin to "stop shooting" and threatening to pull U.S. support for peace talks if progress isn't made soon. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the coming days "critical," while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted "the ball is not in our court," blaming Ukraine's refusal to negotiate without concessions. Meanwhile, air raid sirens continue to sound across Ukraine as both countries trade strikes despite the ceasefire plans.
