On Monday, the Kremlin said it would declare a unilateral three-day ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Russia’s Victory Day holiday. The message urged Kyiv to “follow this example” but warned of retaliation if the truce is broken. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the announcement as a political maneuver, accusing Vladimir Putin of seeking quiet “for his parade” rather than an end to the fighting. Instead, Zelensky proposed an immediate ceasefire, saying there is “no reason to wait.” Now, both sides are accusing each other of “manipulation.”
On Monday, the Kremlin announced that Russia will declare a ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8 through May 10. “The Ukrainian side should follow this example,” the Kremlin wrote. The announcement also included a warning: if Ukraine violates the ceasefire, Russian forces will deliver an “appropriate and effective response.”
Ukrainian officials dismissed the offer as disingenuous. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that if Russia “really wants peace,” it could stop firing immediately. “We value human lives, not parades,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “That’s why we believe — and the world believes — that there is no reason to wait until May 8.”
Zelensky also accused Vladimir Putin of making “another attempt at manipulation,” saying the Russian leader wasn’t seeking peace, only “silence for his parade.” He called for an immediate, unconditional 30-day ceasefire — but did not clarify whether Ukrainian forces would observe Putin’s proposed truce if Moscow declined to commit to a longer halt in fighting.
Meduza has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the very start, and we are committed to reporting objectively on a war we firmly oppose. Join Meduza in its mission to challenge the Kremlin’s censorship with the truth. Donate today.
In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of avoiding a direct answer and claimed it was Kyiv — not Moscow — blocking peace efforts. “Manipulation is refusing to give a direct answer to President Putin’s initiative. It’s more than just manipulation,” he said. “We haven’t heard a response from European capitals either. It’s becoming clear who truly wants peace.”
Peskov added that a 30-day ceasefire was “possible” but would depend on “the very nuances President Putin spoke about.” Back in March, after Kyiv endorsed the idea of a 30-day ceasefire proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, Putin signaled conditional agreement, pointing to several so-called “nuances.” Among them, he questioned how the truce would be enforced and claimed Ukraine would use the pause to regroup. Since then, despite ongoing talks involving the U.S. and European governments, there has been no public sign of progress.
