Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Victory Day next week, as international pressure mounts for a broader peace deal to end the three-year war. The Kremlin said the ceasefire, framed as a humanitarian gesture, would begin at 5 p.m. EDT on May 7 and run through May 10, coinciding with Russia’s celebrations of the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.
Ukraine immediately dismissed the proposal as insufficient. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for an immediate and complete 30-day ceasefire, saying Kyiv is ready for a genuine truce that goes beyond “parades and propaganda.” Ukraine, which has previously agreed to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for a month-long ceasefire, insists that halting the fighting now is essential to saving lives.
The Kremlin urged Ukraine to reciprocate but warned that Russian forces would respond “adequately and efficiently” to any violations. Past ceasefires, including one declared over Easter, quickly collapsed amid mutual accusations of continued attacks, raising doubts about the enforceability of any temporary truce along the more than 600-mile front line.
Meanwhile, tensions remained high. Both sides launched long-range attacks ahead of the ceasefire announcement, with Russia claiming to down 119 Ukrainian drones and Ukraine reporting infrastructure damage in the Cherkasy region.
Trump Administration Pushes for End to War
The ceasefire proposal comes amid renewed efforts by the Trump administration to negotiate a broader settlement. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Sunday that this week will be “very critical” in determining whether American diplomatic engagement continues. Trump, while expressing doubt about Putin’s sincerity, said over the weekend that a peace deal was “close.”
U.S. and European officials have accused Russia of using talks to buy time while attempting to gain more territory. Despite this, Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to work toward a coordinated ceasefire as a precondition for formal peace negotiations.
Ukraine Holds Firm on Sovereignty
Ukraine remains unwilling to cede any territory to Russia in exchange for peace. Recent talks between Ukraine and the United States have made progress on a separate agreement granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical mineral resources — a potential source of economic leverage for Kyiv in future negotiations.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized that any agreement would comply with Ukraine’s constitution and European Union commitments, and must be ratified by Ukraine’s Parliament.
Wider International Involvement
Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022, has evolved into a broader conflict with major international stakes. Putin recently thanked North Korea for sending troops to support Russia’s military effort and acknowledged continued support from Iran and China. Meanwhile, the U.S. and European nations have been Ukraine’s primary military and economic backers.
As preparations for the proposed Victory Day ceasefire unfold, uncertainty remains over whether it will hold — or whether it will simply be another short-lived pause in a conflict that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives.
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