Putin Announces Ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine War

Russia has suddenly announced a ceasefire in its war with Ukraine, effective from 8-9 May. The announcement was first made by Russian President Vladimir Putin last week during a telephone call with US President Donald Trump. In an official decision released on Monday, Russia stated that the ceasefire is to commemorate “Victory Day in World War II”, while threatening to launch a “massive missile attack” on Kyiv if Ukraine violates it. “In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, Vladimir Putin, a ceasefire has been announced from 8-9 May 2026… We hope that the Ukrainian side will comply,” said the Russian Ministry of Defence in a post on the state-supported messaging app MAX, as reported by AFP on Tuesday (5/5/2026). “If the Kyiv regime attempts to carry out its criminal plan to disrupt the 81st anniversary celebrations of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian Armed Forces will launch a massive retaliatory missile strike on the centre of Kyiv,” it emphasised. “We warn the civilian population of Kyiv and employees of foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the city immediately,” it added. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, described the ceasefire as “unfair”. He claimed that “no one has officially suggested anything” to Kyiv and that “Moscow has only discussed a potential ceasefire with the US”. Citing RT, Russia has repeatedly declared pauses during various holidays throughout the Ukraine conflict. Last year, Russia also suspended its offensive operations in early May to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. In 2023, Russia announced a ceasefire during Orthodox Christmas in January and over the Easter weekend in April at the initiative of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 2025, the Easter ceasefire was announced again.