On Monday, the Kremlin announced that President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine scheduled for next month. This marks the second time in two weeks that the Russian leader has promised a temporary pause in hostilities amid growing impatience from U.S. leadership over the ongoing conflict.
The Kremlin specified that Russian forces would halt combat operations starting May 8 for 72 hours to observe May 9, the celebration of the Soviet victory in World War II—a significant holiday in Russia.
"All hostilities will cease during this period," the statement declared. "Russia expects the Ukrainian side to reciprocate."
Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitri S. Peskov, described the announcement as reflecting Russia’s willingness to pursue a peaceful resolution.
However, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha responded skeptically, asserting that "if Russia truly desires peace, it should immediately cease fire." He emphasized Ukraine’s continued readiness for a 30-day truce, a proposal Putin has so far rejected.
Questioning the delay until May 8, Sybiha wrote on social media, "Why wait? Ukraine is prepared to support a lasting and comprehensive ceasefire now."
The Kremlin’s statement came shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Putin on social media to "STOP" bombing Ukraine, during U.S.-backed attempts to negotiate a truce. Following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, Trump expressed doubt about Putin’s genuine commitment to peace.
Trump suggested that Putin might be stalling and that alternative approaches might be necessary to end the conflict.
Russia has declined to agree to Ukraine’s earlier proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which was encouraged by the U.S. government. A one-day Easter truce announced by Putin failed to hold fully, though both sides reported reduced fighting during that time.
Monday’s announcement appears to be Putin’s latest effort to appease the U.S. demand for a halt in fighting, while seeking a deal that aligns with his conditions.
When asked about the Kremlin’s announcement, a spokesperson for Trump said the former president "has made it clear he desires a permanent ceasefire," adding that while optimistic about a deal, "both leaders must sit down to negotiate a resolution."
The ceasefire declaration also stated that Russia was prepared to engage in peace talks "without preconditions," but insisted these discussions must aim to address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis—a likely reference to Putin’s broad demands for changes favoring Russia’s influence over Ukraine and Europe.
Analysts and Kremlin insiders suggest Putin believes that halting the conflict without securing significant concessions would weaken his negotiating power. His conditions extend beyond territorial claims, including restrictions on Ukraine’s future military capabilities and a ban on its NATO membership.
The U.S. administration has largely echoed Putin’s narrative by considering lifting sanctions on Russia while blaming Ukraine for the war that Russia initiated in 2022. It has pressured Ukraine to accept a peace plan that would require abandoning NATO ambitions, offer vague security guarantees, and recognize Crimea as Russian territory—terms Ukraine has rejected, despite the U.S. describing the offer as final.
Putin appears to be holding out for more favorable terms. Meanwhile, his reluctance to reach a swift agreement, alongside recent Russian missile strikes on civilian targets, has increasingly frustrated U.S. officials.
On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Washington would decide this week whether to continue pursuing a negotiated settlement.
"We need to determine if we want to remain engaged in this effort or if it’s time to focus on other issues that may be equally or more important," Rubio said on NBC’s Meet the Press.
