President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have announced competing ceasefires tied to Russia’s World War Two Victory Day commemorations, highlighting continued distrust between the two sides.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that Putin had declared a two-day ceasefire covering May 8–9, coinciding with events marking the 81st anniversary of what Russia calls the Great Patriotic War victory over Nazi Germany.
The ministry said it expected Ukraine to follow suit and added that Russian forces would take measures to ensure the safety of Victory Day commemorations. However, it warned that any disruption by Ukraine would be met with a “retaliatory, massive missile attack on the center of Kyiv.”
It also said Russia had previously refrained from such action on “humanitarian grounds” and urged civilians in Kyiv, along with foreign diplomatic staff, to leave the city in advance.
In a statement on Telegram after attending a European Political Community summit in Armenia, Zelenskiy said Ukraine would instead observe its own ceasefire beginning at midnight on the night of May 5–6.
He said Russia had not responded to Kyiv’s repeated calls for a longer-term ceasefire, adding that Ukraine’s decision was based on the principle that “human life is incomparably more valuable than the ‘celebration’ of any anniversary.”
“In this regard, we announce a regime of silence starting from 00.00 on the night of May 5 to May 6,” Zelenskiy said, adding that Ukraine would “act symmetrically from the specified moment.”
Zelenskiy dismissed Russia’s proposed ceasefire as “not serious,” though details of the Russian plan had not been fully clarified at the time.
Russia previously announced a brief ceasefire during Orthodox Easter last month, but both sides accused each other of violating it.
The Victory Day holiday on May 9 is one of Russia’s most important national commemorations, marking the 1945 surrender of Nazi Germany. The Kremlin has traditionally held large military parades, though officials said this year’s event would not include the usual display of military hardware due to concerns over Ukrainian attacks.
Ukraine has recently increased long-range drone strikes on targets inside Russia, including those linked to the oil sector. On Monday, a drone reportedly struck a building in Moscow, with Mayor Sergei Sobyanin saying 14 additional drones were intercepted over a 14-hour period.
Zelenskiy also commented that if Russia proceeds with a pared-back parade without military equipment, it would reflect concerns over Ukrainian drone activity over the capital.
