Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared an unexpected 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, calling on Kyiv to reciprocate.
“Based on humanitarian considerations, the Russian side is declaring a truce during the 80th anniversary of Victory Day,” the Kremlin stated on Monday, asserting that “all hostilities” would be halted from May 8 through May 10.
“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,” the statement continued.
A similar 30-hour truce was announced by the Kremlin during Easter, and although both sides noted a reduction in fighting, they accused each other of numerous violations.
The announcement follows a call from U.S. President Donald Trump, who pressed Putin to “stop shooting” and “sign a deal” to resolve the three-year conflict, which the White House is working to end through diplomatic efforts.
The U.S. has been attempting to negotiate a durable ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv but has not secured significant concessions from the Kremlin despite ongoing talks with Russian officials.
On Monday, Trump’s spokeswoman indicated that the President is pushing for a permanent ceasefire in Ukraine and views Putin’s three-day pause as insufficient.
Overnight, Ukraine and Russia exchanged long-range strikes. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its forces shot down 119 Ukrainian drones, primarily over Russia’s Bryansk border region.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli