Putin announces three-day Russian ceasefire in Ukraine from 8 May 17 hours ago Share Save Thomas Mackintosh BBC News, London Vitaliy Shevchenko Russia editor, BBC Monitoring Share Save Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire for the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin said the ceasefire would run from the morning of 8 May until 11 May – which coincides with victory celebrations to mark the end of World War Two. In response, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for an immediate ceasefire lasting "at least 30 days".
While US President Donald Trump, who has been attempting to broker a truce between the two sides, said he wants to see a permanent ceasefire, the White House said. The Kremlin announced a similar, 30-hour truce over Easter, but while both sides reported a dip in fighting, they accused each other of hundreds of violations. Ceasefires have been attempted more than 20 times in Ukraine – all of them failed eventually, and some within minutes of going into effect.
The most recent one, over Easter, was very limited in scope and only resulted in a slight reduction in fighting, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce. In a statement on Monday, the Kremlin said Putin declared the ceasefire "based on humanitarian considerations". A translation of the statement said: "Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example.
"In the event of violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will give an adequate and effective response. "The Russian side once again declares its readiness for peace talks without preconditions, aimed at eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis, and constructive interaction with international partners." Following its release, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha said: "If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately."
"Why wait until May 8th?" he wrote on X. "If the fire can be ceased now and since any date for 30 days—so it is real, not just for a parade."
He said Ukraine is ready to support a "lasting, durable, and full ceasefire. And this is what we are constantly proposing, for at least 30 days". White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was growing "increasingly frustrated with leaders of both countries".
"He wants to see a permanent ceasefire. "I understand Vladimir Putin this morning offered a temporary ceasefire. The president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire first to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed."
Reuters An explosion of a drone is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike on 24 April
