Putin declares May 8-11 ceasefire in Ukraine, Kyiv calls for ‘lasting, durable, and full’ halt
Diplomats lay flowers near a destroyed residential building following a Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 25, 2025. (AFP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine as Moscow prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin ordered a cessation of all military actions in Ukraine from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11.
“Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example,” the statement said, warning that Moscow would deliver “an adequate and effective response” if Ukraine violates the ceasefire.
“The Russian side once again declares its readiness for peace talks without preconditions, aimed at eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis, and constructive interaction with international partners,” it added.
Russia must stop hostilities, says Kyiv
Following Putin’s announcement, Kyiv said Monday that Moscow must stop hostilities in Ukraine “immediately” if it truly seeks peace.
“If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately. Why wait until May 8? If the fire can be ceased now and for any date for 30 days — so it is real, not just for a parade,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.
He added that Ukraine is ready to support a “lasting, durable, and full” ceasefire, saying, “This is what we are constantly proposing, for at least 30 days.”
Victory Day, celebrated on May 9 in Russia and several former Soviet countries, commemorates Nazi Germany’s surrender during World War II, which Russia officially refers to as the Great Patriotic War.
If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately.
Why wait until May 8th? 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…
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) April 28, 2025
Trump wants to see permanent ceasefire
Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump wants to see a permanent ceasefire to end the war in Ukraine, the White House said Monday in response to Russia’s three-day pause.
“I understand Vladimir Putin this morning offered a temporary ceasefire. The (US) president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire, first, to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed, and while he remains optimistic he can strike a deal, he’s also being realistic as well,” spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
“Both leaders need to come to the table to negotiate their way out of this. And I do think that the president meeting with President Zelensky shows that he is exuding a lot of effort and time into this because he wants to be a peacemaker president,” she said, referring to Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral over the weekend.
