Russia has declared a unilateral two-day ceasefire for May 8–9, 2026, timed to coincide with its annual Victory Day commemorations marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s World War II victory.
The Russian Defence Ministry announced the halt in fighting, expressing hope that “the Ukrainian side will follow suit,” while simultaneously threatening a “massive missile strike” on Kyiv if Ukraine attempted to disrupt the celebrations.
Putin had first floated the idea during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, with his aide confirming the proposal was tied to the May 9 holiday.
The announcement came even as Russian strikes continued to pound Ukrainian cities killing civilians in Merefa in the Kharkiv region and in the village of Vilnyansk in Zaporizhzhia on May 4.
Ukraine responded with deep skepticism. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had received no official ceasefire proposals, contrasting Russia’s announced truce with the ongoing attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Zelenskyy questioned whether the Russian proposal amounted to little more than “a few hours of security for a parade in Moscow,” and reiterated Ukraine’s push for a longer, unconditional ceasefire an offer the Kremlin has repeatedly rejected.
Kyiv pointed to a damning precedent: Ukraine recorded over 400 violations by Russian forces during an earlier ceasefire Russia declared on Orthodox Easter.
Despite the mutual announcements, the two sides remain far apart on what any truce would actually mean. Russia framed its ceasefire as an act of honor for the wartime victory celebration, while also warning it would take “all necessary” measures to protect the festivities, citing Zelenskyy’s statements as containing threats to strike Moscow on May 9.
The dueling declarations underscore the widening gap between a Kremlin seeking symbolic pauses and a Kyiv demanding a genuine, lasting end to hostilities with U.S. mediators caught between both positions as the war grinds on.
