Russia and Ukraine Declare Competing Ukraine Ceasefire Truces
Russia and Ukraine have declared competing ukraine ceasefire plans around Victory Day, with Russia's Defense Ministry announcing a unilateral pause for Friday and Saturday and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying Ukraine would begin its own truce at 12 a.m. on Wednesday. The timing sets up several days of overlapping claims before Moscow's May 9 parade.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine would observe a truce beginning at 12 a.m. on Wednesday and respond in kind to Russia's actions. Russia said its ceasefire would mark the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Russia's Victory Day deadline
Russia's Defense Ministry said the pause would cover Friday and Saturday, the period of the Victory Day commemorations. The ministry also warned the civilian population in Kyiv and employees of foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the city promptly, after threatening a massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv if Ukraine tried to disrupt Saturday's celebrations.
That warning came as Russian authorities said they were concerned about possible Ukrainian attacks on Moscow's Red Square parade. The parade will take place without tanks, missiles and other military equipment for the first time in nearly two decades.
Zelenskyy's Wednesday truce
Zelenskyy said Ukraine would observe a truce beginning at 12 a.m. on Wednesday, but he did not put an end date on the pause. He also said it is realistic to ensure there is enough time left until midnight on Wednesday for Russia to take real steps to end their war.
At a summit with European leaders in Armenia on Monday, Zelenskyy said Russia's officials fear drones may buzz over Red Square on May 9. He added, "This is telling. It shows they are not strong now, so we must keep up the pressure through sanctions on them."
Putin's earlier ceasefire move
The new announcements follow Putin's unilateral 72-hour ceasefire starting May 7, 2025, and his idea last week in a phone conversation with Donald Trump that there should be a ceasefire for Victory Day this year. Previous attempts to secure ceasefires, most recently around Orthodox Easter, had little to no impact.
For people tracking the war's next move, the immediate question is whether either side's pause survives the holiday window long enough to reduce pressure around Moscow on May 9. If that does not hold, the May 9 parade and the hours around it become the next point where Russia, Ukraine and their supporters will measure whether either truce has any practical effect.
