By Ghazali Ibrahim
Russia and Ukraine have announced separate, short-term ceasefires on Monday, highlighting ongoing mistrust between both sides as the war continues with no clear path to peace.
Moscow said its ceasefire would run from May 8 to May 9, coinciding with its annual Victory Day celebrations marking the Soviet Union’s role in World War II.
The Russian Ministry of Defence said the pause in hostilities was declared on the orders of President Vladimir Putin and expressed hope that Ukraine would follow suit.
However, Kyiv responded by announcing its own ceasefire, set to begin earlier, at midnight on May 5–6. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his government had not received any formal communication from Russia regarding the proposed May 8–9 truce.
“As of today, there has been no official appeal to Ukraine outlining how the claimed ceasefire would be implemented,” Zelenskyy said in a social media post, adding that Ukraine’s decision was aimed at creating an immediate window for de-escalation.
He stressed that saving lives should take priority over symbolic events, noting that “human life is incomparably more valuable than the celebration of any anniversary,” while urging Moscow to take concrete steps toward ending the war.
The Russian defence ministry, meanwhile, said it would take all necessary measures to secure its Victory Day parade in Moscow and warned Ukraine against any attacks during the period.
It issued a strong threat, saying any attempt to disrupt the celebrations would trigger a “massive missile strike” on central Kyiv, and advised civilians and foreign diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital.
Russia described its ceasefire as a precaution against potential Ukrainian strikes during the anniversary events.
The proposal for a temporary truce was first raised by Putin during a recent phone call with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Ukraine had earlier indicated it would seek further clarification through Washington, while maintaining that it supports a lasting ceasefire tied to firm security guarantees.
Speaking at a meeting of European leaders in Yerevan, Zelenskyy suggested Russia’s decision to scale back the display of military equipment at this year’s parade reflected concerns about Ukrainian drone attacks and what he described as weakening military capacity.
“If this is the case, it would be the first time in many years,” he said. “It shows they are not strong now.”
A previous 32-hour ceasefire declared by Russia during Orthodox Easter in April briefly paused fighting, but both sides later accused each other of violations once hostilities resumed.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the conflict has become the deadliest in Europe since World War II, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties and displacing millions.
