Putin orders ceasefire for Victory Day Period

Moscow

Russia has begun a 72-hour ceasefire starting Thursday, as declared by President Vladimir Putin to mark the 80th Victory Day celebrations. The ceasefire was announced on April 28 and applies to all combat operations in Ukraine during this period.

The Kremlin confirmed there are no changes to Russia’s ceasefire plan. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia remains committed but will respond strongly if attacked. Early Wednesday, Ukrainian drones targeted Russian cities, but Russian air defenses shot them down. Nine drones were intercepted near Moscow, according to Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.

Despite the declared pause in fighting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the ceasefire. He demanded a longer break and reportedly threatened the Victory Day events. Russia responded by warning of retaliation if its forces or areas are attacked during the truce.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called Zelensky’s rejection of the ceasefire a threat to the many foreign leaders attending the Victory Day parade today (May 9). So far, 29 world leaders are expected to join the celebrations in Moscow.

The Russian military confirmed that hostilities would stop from midnight May 7 to midnight May 11. The Kremlin said this decision was made for humanitarian reasons and called on Ukraine to do the same. Russia added it remains open to peace talks with no preconditions, aiming to resolve the conflict’s core issues.

The ceasefire comes at a critical time in the ongoing war, offering a short window of calm. But tension remains high, and future attacks may quickly end the temporary pause. Russia’s message to Ukraine is clear—peace is preferred, but strength will be shown if necessary.