Russia Announces 72-Hour Ceasefire: On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed a unilateral ceasefire lasting 72 hours in Ukraine for the upcoming Victory Day, which commemorates the end of World War II.
This move comes as the United States pushes for a resolution to the ongoing three-year conflict. Ukraine, however, has called for a longer and immediate ceasefire.
The Kremlin stated that this ceasefire, initiated on “humanitarian grounds,” will commence at the beginning of May 8 and extend until the end of May 10, coinciding with Russia’s celebration of its victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, a major secular holiday in the country. The ceasefire will begin at 2100 GMT (5 p.m. EDT) on May 7 and conclude at the same time on May 10.
Ukraine has previously accepted a proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump for a full 30-day ceasefire but has characterized Putin’s announcement as mere posturing.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated, “If Russia genuinely seeks peace, it must cease fire immediately.” He reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to engage in a “lasting, reliable, and complete ceasefire” for a minimum of 30 days.
“Why wait until May 8? We could halt hostilities starting now for 30 days — to ensure it is authentic, not just a pretext for a parade,” he remarked, without clarifying whether Ukraine would accept the ceasefire proposed by Moscow.
The Kremlin urged Ukraine to reciprocate the ceasefire initiative, asserting that “the Ukrainian side should follow this example,” and warned that any violations by Ukraine would provoke a strong and effective response from Russian forces.
Putin had previously declared a unilateral 30-hour ceasefire for Easter, to which Ukraine expressed readiness to respond positively, yet reported continued Russian assaults. Conversely, Moscow accused Ukraine of failing to cease its attacks.
Both nations had earlier committed to a 30-day cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure, a measure facilitated by the Trump administration, but mutual accusations of significant violations arose until the agreement lapsed.
These attempts at a ceasefire highlight the substantial difficulties in monitoring any potential cessation of hostilities along the extensive 1,000-kilometer (over 600-mile) contact line.
To date, Putin has rebuffed proposals for a complete and unconditional ceasefire, linking it to a stop in Western military supplies to Ukraine and Ukraine’s mobilization efforts.
The Kremlin reiterated its readiness for peace talks without preconditions, aimed at addressing the underlying causes of the Ukrainian crisis and fostering constructive collaboration with international partners.
In Kyiv, many expressed skepticism regarding Putin’s announcement. Lawyer Nazar Lutsenko remarked, “Trust in any of Putin’s proposals is lacking.” He emphasized that Ukraine desires an end to the war on terms favorable to them.
A soldier from the 156th Brigade, who only identified himself as Kostiantyn, dismissed the ceasefire as “ridiculous,” suggesting that while there may be a reduction in heavy shelling, hostilities would continue in some form.
Student Oleksandra Serpilova interpreted the declaration as “another attempt to engage America, to provide Trump with hope for possible negotiations.”
Prior to the ceasefire announcement, both Ukraine and Russia exchanged long-range strikes. Russia’s drone attack early Monday caused damage to infrastructure in Cherkasy, central Ukraine, interrupting gas services to residents, as reported by Mayor Anatolii Bondarenko.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its forces shot down 119 Ukrainian drones overnight, primarily over the Bryansk border region. Air raid sirens were activated across Ukraine on Monday morning, although there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The outcome of Trump’s administration’s efforts to quickly end the conflict, which has resulted in numerous casualties, remains uncertain, complicated by conflicting narratives and skepticism regarding the willingness of either side to compromise amid significant hostility and mistrust.
Time is running out for Washington’s involvement in efforts to resolve what has become Europe’s largest conflict since World War II.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Sunday that the upcoming week would be “very critical,” noting that the U.S. must “decide whether this is an endeavour we wish to continue.”
American military support has been vital for Ukraine’s defense efforts, and additional assistance could be jeopardized if the Trump administration withdraws from attempts to conclude the conflict.
Over the weekend, Trump expressed doubts about Putin’s genuine commitment to reaching a deal, as Russian forces continued to target civilian areas in Ukraine with cruise and ballistic missiles during negotiations.
However, Trump also indicated on Friday that a negotiated settlement to the conflict was “close.”
Western European officials have accused the Kremlin of stalling peace discussions to allow Russian forces, which maintain momentum on the battlefield, to capture more Ukrainian territory.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the conflict in a phone conversation with Rubio on Sunday, focusing on “consolidating emerging prerequisites for initiating negotiations,” according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, though details were not provided.
Russia has effectively turned down a U.S. proposal for an immediate and comprehensive 30-day cessation of hostilities by imposing extensive conditions, which Ukraine has accepted, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
A French diplomatic official reported over the weekend that Trump, Zelenskyy, and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to “continue working towards convergence” in the coming days to achieve “a solid ceasefire.”
The official stated that a ceasefire is a “precondition for a peace negotiation that respects the interests of Ukraine and Europe,” but was not authorized to speak publicly according to French presidential policy.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has resisted the idea of ceding territory to Russia in exchange for peace, a condition Washington has suggested might be necessary.
A significant leverage point for Ukraine could be an agreement with Washington to access its critical mineral resources. Progress has been made on a mineral agreement, with both parties agreeing that the American aid provided to Kyiv thus far will not count against the terms of the deal, as stated by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Sunday.
“We have made good progress,” he said following discussions with U.S. Treasury Under Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington.
“The key point is that we have clearly defined our red lines: The agreement must align with Ukraine’s Constitution, legislation, and European commitments, and must receive ratification from Parliament,” Shmyhal added.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, initiated in February 2022, has introduced a significant international dimension, complicating negotiations further.
On Monday, Putin expressed gratitude to North Korea for reportedly sending thousands of troops to assist in the campaign against Ukraine, along with alleged supplies of artillery ammunition.
Iran has also supported Russia in the conflict by providing Shahed drones, while China has supplied machinery and microelectronics that Moscow can utilize for weapon production, according to Western officials.
The U.S. and Europe have emerged as the principal supporters of Ukraine.
