Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced a three-day cease-fire in Ukraine, starting on May 8.
It said the truce would last from midnight Moscow time on May 8 to midnight on May 11.
“Any military operations will be ceased during this period,” it added.
“Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example.
“In the event of any violations of the cease-fire by the Ukrainian side, the armed forces of the Russian Federation will give a proportionate and efficient response.
“The Russian side reiterates its willingness to enter peace talks without preconditions, with a view to eliminating the root causes behind the Ukraine crisis and establishing constructive interaction with international partners.”
Previously, Putin had refused to agree to a cease-fire unless Ukraine agreed to a condition that it pause arms supplies from the West.
Ukraine responded negatively to the Kremlin’s announcement.
“If the fire can be ceased now and since any date for 30 days—so it is real, not just for a parade. Ukraine is ready to support a lasting, durable, and full ceasefire. And this is what we are constantly proposing, for at least 30 days.”
The White House and U.S. State Department have not yet commented on the three-day truce offered by Moscow, and there has been no response from any of the main European leaders.
A few hours before the Kremlin’s announcement, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had shot down 119 Ukrainian drones overnight, while air raid sirens rang out across Ukraine, without reports of casualties.
The Epoch Times is unable to verify the claims of either combatant.
On April 27, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Putin to halt attacks on Ukraine and accept a cease-fire agreement.
On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the coming week would be “very critical” in determining whether the United States would continue in its efforts to broker a deal.
“I think they’re closer in general than they’ve been any time in the last three years but it’s still not there,” he said.
“We cannot continue, as I said, to dedicate time and resources to this effort if it’s not going to come to fruition.”
The war in Ukraine has been ongoing since Putin sent thousands of troops for a full invasion in February 2022. Putin declared an “Easter truce” on April 19, directing his forces to halt all military operations until midnight on April 20.
Both sides later accused each other of violating the truce. The Russian military said on April 21 that it had resumed the “special military operation” after the truce ended.
Victory Day—known in the United States and western Europe as Victory in Europe (VE) Day—falls on May 8, the anniversary of the day in which Admiral Karl Doenitz signed the surrender document on behalf of Nazi Germany.
It is marked in Russia—and previously in the Soviet Union—by a military parade in Moscow, which includes veterans of what is known by Russians as the Great Patriotic War.
