Russian President Putin declares temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Victory Day

New Delhi, Apr 28: Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine, to run from 8 May to 11 May, aligning with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations. The Kremlin said the truce was declared “based on humanitarian considerations” and urged Ukraine to observe it, warning that any violations would be met with an “adequate and effective response.”

Ukraine has not yet responded, international media reported.

Moscow reiterated its readiness for “peace talks without preconditions,” though previous ceasefires, including a brief Easter truce, saw widespread accusations of violations from both sides. The announcement comes amid what U.S. officials have called a “very critical” week for Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations. Washington has threatened to pull back its mediation efforts if talks stall.

The Russia-Ukraine war started in February 2022 and has left hundreds of thousands dead or wounded and led to Moscow’s control of about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.