Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a temporary ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, scheduled to run from May 8 to May 11, coinciding with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations marking the end of World War II.
The Kremlin emphasized that this ceasefire, which is described as humanitarian, is a gesture aimed at reducing hostilities during a key historical period.
In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for a longer ceasefire, urging a halt to the fighting for “at least 30 days” to allow for meaningful peace talks. “If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately,” Sybiha wrote on X, questioning why the truce should wait until May 8 and advocating for a genuine, enduring ceasefire.
While the White House acknowledged Putin’s announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been involved in attempting to mediate the conflict, expressed frustration with both parties. Trump reiterated his desire for a permanent ceasefire to end the bloodshed once and for all. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Trump is increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of progress from both Russia and Ukraine.
This temporary ceasefire follows a similar, limited 30-hour truce declared by Russia over Easter. While both sides reported a slight reduction in hostilities, the truce was marred by mutual accusations of violations. Despite more than 20 failed ceasefire attempts throughout the war, the Kremlin remains hopeful that this gesture could pave the way for lasting peace.
In its statement, the Kremlin warned that if Ukraine violates the ceasefire, Russia’s military will respond “adequately and effectively.” Moscow also reiterated its readiness to engage in peace talks without preconditions to address the underlying causes of the ongoing conflict.
The announcement comes at a critical moment for U.S.-Russia peace talks. The Biden administration has been working to broker a deal between the two sides, but with limited success so far. The U.S. has made it clear that without substantial progress, Washington may withdraw its efforts.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the war has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, mostly soldiers on both sides, and left Russia in control of roughly 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.
As both countries brace for the upcoming days, the world watches closely to see if this latest truce will lead to a meaningful reduction in violence or if the cycle of temporary ceasefires will continue.
