In a surprise announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day ceasefire from May 8 to May 10 to coincide with Moscow’s annual Victory Day commemorations, the Kremlin confirmed on Monday.
The move, marking the 80th anniversary of Russia’s triumph in World War II, signals a temporary pause in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
According to the Kremlin statement, all Russian combat operations will be suspended from midnight on May 7-8 until midnight on May 10-11. Moscow urged Kyiv to follow suit and declared that any violations from the Ukrainian side would be met with a swift and effective military response.
This announcement follows a similar gesture made during Easter, when Putin called for a temporary ceasefire. However, both sides accused each other of numerous violations during that brief truce, although it did lead to a noticeable but short-lived reduction in hostilities.
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Despite the history of mistrust, Russia insists this Victory Day ceasefire is a sincere effort. “Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example,” the Kremlin emphasized.
Notably, Putin had rejected a US-backed proposal last month for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire—an offer that Ukraine had already accepted.
Western powers, including Kyiv’s European allies, have often accused Moscow of using these limited ceasefires as public relations maneuvers rather than genuine steps toward ending the conflict.
Since launching its military offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has seized significant territory across four Ukrainian regions, alongside its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
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The timing of Putin’s ceasefire announcement is also critical. The United States has indicated that the coming week could be pivotal in determining how long Washington will continue to push for a negotiated peace.
US President Donald Trump, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday, expressed doubts about Putin’s intentions.
“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 stated on Truth Social.
Recent weeks have seen devastating missile strikes across Ukraine, including deadly attacks in Kryvyi Rih—Zelensky’s hometown—as well as in the northeastern city of Sumy and the capital Kyiv, resulting in dozens of civilian casualties.
As Victory Day celebrations approach, the world will be watching closely to see whether this ceasefire holds—or becomes yet another brief pause overshadowed by ongoing violence. With tensions running high and skepticism widespread, the coming days could offer critical insight into the future direction of the Russia-Ukraine war.
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