President Vladimir Putin announced a two-day unilateral ceasefire in Russia’s campaign against Ukraine, to take effect May 8 and May 9 — dates marking Nazi Germany’s surrender and the end of World War II in Europe in 1945.
Russia’s Defense Ministry publicized the offer and said it expected Kyiv to reciprocate. The ministry warned that if Ukraine refused and launched attacks targeting May 9 commemorations in Moscow later in the week, Russia would reply with a “massive missile attack” on “the center” of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. It added that, despite having the means, Russia had so far refrained from such strikes on humanitarian grounds, and urged Kyiv residents and staff at foreign diplomatic missions to leave the city in time.
May 8 and May 9 carry historical significance: Nazi Germany formally capitulated at 11:01 p.m. Berlin time on May 8, 1945, ending the war in Europe. Because clocks had already passed midnight in Moscow, the Soviet Union — and now Russia — marks Victory Day on May 9, commemorating the “Great Patriotic War.” Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, Ukraine has shifted its remembrance to May 8 to align with Western Europe and the United States. As part of the Soviet Union during the conflict between Berlin and Moscow, Ukraine endured enormous losses in World War II; estimates place Ukrainian casualties second only to ethnic Russians among Soviet wartime deaths.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had received “no official appeal” from Russia and offered a ceasefire beginning earlier than Moscow’s proposal. “We believe that human life is incomparably more valuable than the ‘celebration’ of any anniversary. In this regard, we are announcing a ceasefire regime, starting from 00:00 on the night of 5 to 6 May,” he wrote on social media, adding that Ukraine would implement the pause from that moment. The English-language post left unclear whether Zelenskyy intended the offer to be open-ended or limited to the May 8–9 period.
Putin first raised the idea of a truce last week during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said; Ukraine said it would seek further details from Washington about the proposal. Speaking at a European Political Community summit in Yerevan, Armenia, Zelenskyy suggested Moscow’s more muted May 9 plans signaled weakness. He noted Russia had announced a parade without military equipment and said, “They cannot afford military equipment — and they fear drones may buzz over Red Square. This is telling. It shows they are not strong now.”
Edited by: Alex Berry