Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a surprise three-day ceasefire from May 8-10, coinciding with Moscow’s World War II Victory Day commemorations, the Kremlin said on Monday, April 28th.
Moscow said it expected Kyiv to issue a similar order, and that it stood ready to respond to any violations of the possible halt in fighting.
Putin made a similar order to stop combat over Easter—a truce that both sides accused the other of violating hundreds of times, but did lead to a temporary reduction in fighting.
Putin last month rejected a U.S. proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire that had been accepted by Ukraine.
After a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump questioned whether the Russian leader was serious about 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 had said on Truth Social.
Trump launched a diplomatic offensive to stop the fighting after taking office in January.
Russia had earlier on Monday said it was ready to negotiate directly with Ukraine, but that recognition of its claims over five Ukrainian regions including Crimea were “imperative” to resolving the conflict.
