Putin declares unexpected Ukraine ceasefire from May 8-10

MOSCOW: The Kremlin said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a three-day ceasefire from May 8 to 10, to coincide with World War II Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.

Moscow said it expected Kiev to issue a similar order, and that it was ready to respond to any potential violation of the ceasefire.

Putin gave a similar order to halt fighting over Easter – a ceasefire that both sides have accused each other of violating hundreds of times, but which has led to a temporary reduction in fighting.

“The Russian side is declaring a ceasefire from the intervening night of May 7-8 to the intervening night of May 10-11, during the 80th anniversary of Victory Day. All combat operations will be suspended during this period,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

“Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow suit. In the event of a ceasefire violation by Ukraine, the Russian armed forces will respond appropriately and effectively.”

Putin last month rejected a US proposal for a 30-day complete and unconditional ceasefire, which Ukraine had accepted.

Kiev and its European backers accused Putin of announcing the 30-hour Easter ceasefire as a PR exercise and said he did not want peace.

Since launching operations against Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has seized and claimed large parts of four Ukrainian regions, in addition to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.