Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order for a three-day truce with Ukraine took effect on Thursday, May 8th, a move the Kremlin said would test Kyiv’s readiness for peace but that Ukraine has slammed as a farce.
It was not clear whether either side was observing the ceasefire, even with world leaders—including China’s Xi Jinping, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić—in Moscow for commemorations of the end of World War II.
Xi is already in Moscow, having arrived yesterday as the guest of honour of the Russian president.
It appeared relatively quiet overnight, though Ukraine’s military said early Thursday that Russian forces had launched air strikes in the eastern Sumy region. Kyiv did not report any damage or casualties.
Putin unilaterally ordered the temporary truce to coincide with Moscow’s Victory Day parade on Friday.
Ukraine never agreed to the proposal, has dismissed it as theatrics and called instead for a 30-day ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to end Moscow’s three-year military assault on Ukraine since his inauguration in January, but has failed to ease hostilities between the enemies.
