Russia Declares Victory Day Ceasefire for May 8-9; Ukraine Responds with Earlier Truce Offer
Reflecto News | Russia-Ukraine War | Breaking News
MOSCOW/KYIV — The Russian Defense Ministry announced Monday that it will observe a unilateral ceasefire on May 8-9 in honor of Victory Day commemorations, marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II .
The two-day truce, ordered by President Vladimir Putin, comes as Russia prepares for its annual military parade on Red Square. The ministry stated it expects Ukraine to follow suit and observe the same ceasefire window .
Russia’s Terms: Truce With a Warning
The Russian announcement carries both a humanitarian overture and a stark threat. The Defense Ministry said Russian forces will take “all necessary measures to ensure security” during the commemorative events .
However, the ministry also issued a direct warning: any Ukrainian attempt to disrupt the Victory Day celebrations would trigger a “retaliatory, massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv” . Russian authorities urged civilians in the Ukrainian capital and foreign diplomatic staff to leave the city “in a timely manner” .
“Despite the capabilities at our disposal, Russia has previously refrained from such actions on humanitarian grounds,” the ministry said in a statement .
The ceasefire proposal was first discussed during a 90-minute phone call between Putin and US President Donald Trump on April 29, 2026 . Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed Putin informed Trump of the possibility of declaring a truce during the holiday period, with Trump reportedly supporting the idea .
Ukraine’s Counter-Proposal: An Earlier Ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the Russian announcement by declaring a separate ceasefire window, set to begin at midnight on May 5-6 . In a post on X, Zelensky stated:
“We are announcing a ceasefire regime starting at 00:00 on the night of May 5-6. In the time left until that moment, it is realistic to ensure that silence takes effect. We will act reciprocally starting from that moment” .
Zelensky also noted that Ukraine had received “no official appeal” from Russia regarding the modality of the proposed cessation of hostilities . He expressed skepticism about the timing of the Russian offer, noting:
“It is time for Russian leaders to take real steps to end their war, especially since Russia’s Defense Ministry believes it cannot hold a parade in Moscow without Ukraine’s goodwill” .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described Ukraine’s ceasefire offer as “a serious proposal” to end the crisis and turn to diplomacy. “If Moscow is prepared to end hostilities, it can do so already tomorrow night. Ukraine is ready: at midnight from May 5th to May 6th,” Sybiha wrote on X .
Divergent Timelines and Motives
The two sides have proposed significantly different ceasefire windows:
| Aspect | Russia | Ukraine |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | May 8-9 | Begins May 5-6 |
| Duration | 2 days | Open-ended (at least through May 6) |
| Motivation | Protect Victory Day parade | Demonstrate willingness for peace |
| Coordination | Unilateral, expects Ukraine to follow | Reciprocal action from specified start |
Ukraine’s earlier ceasefire window would overlap with Russia’s proposed truce if extended. However, Kyiv’s proposal appears designed to test Moscow’s genuine commitment to a cessation of hostilities while avoiding any appearance of coordinating with Russian commemorations.
Zelenksy emphasized the ongoing nature of Russian attacks, telling journalists: “Today it was Merefa, yesterday Dnipro — there are dead and wounded, adults and children” . He added that Russia may want to mark the holiday, “but the morning after May 9, they will resume killing us” .
The divergence in dates and the lack of direct communication highlight the continued distrust between the two capitals. Ukraine has not yet indicated whether it will extend its ceasefire through the May 8-9 window.
Historic Precedent
May 9 holds profound symbolic significance for Russia as Victory Day, commemorating the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany. Nazi Germany formally capitulated on May 8, 1945, Berlin time — though the event fell on May 9 in Moscow . Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has moved its day of commemoration from May 9 to May 8, aligning with Western Europe and the United States .
Ukrainians, as a constituent component of the Soviet Union situated between Berlin and Moscow, suffered immense losses in World War II. Estimates vary, but they concur that Ukrainians were second only to ethnic Russians in total Soviet deaths in the war .
This is not the first time Russia has proposed a holiday-linked truce. In April 2025, Putin announced a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire from May 8-10 to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day . Ukraine at the time called for an immediate and longer ceasefire while accusing Russia of violating the temporary pause .
What Comes Next
The coming days will reveal whether either ceasefire proposal translates into a meaningful reduction in hostilities. The disconnect between the two announcements — Russia’s two-day window and Ukraine’s earlier start — highlights the ongoing challenges in establishing even temporary pauses in the 38-month war.
International partners, particularly the United States, appear caught in the middle. Trump, who discussed the possibility of a “little bit of a ceasefire” with Putin during their April 29 call, has not yet publicly responded to the competing announcements .
As of Monday evening, Ukrainian authorities had not issued a formal response to Russia’s May 8-9 ceasefire proposal, though Foreign Minister Sybiha described Ukraine’s own offer as a step toward “ending the crisis and turning to diplomacy” .
The situation remains fluid. Neither side has committed to a mutually agreed ceasefire framework, and the threat of Russian “massive missile strikes” on Kyiv hangs over the diplomatic exchanges.
Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Russian Ceasefire | May 8-9 (2 days), announced by Defense Ministry |
| Russian Warning | Any disruption of Victory Day celebrations will trigger “massive missile strike” on central Kyiv |
| Ukrainian Ceasefire | Begins midnight May 5-6, open-ended |
| Ukraine’s Position | No official contact from Russia on proposal; expressed willingness for mutual ceasefire |
| Duration of Ukrainian Offer | Reciprocal action from specified start; unclear if extended through May 8-9 |
| Background | Proposal first discussed during Putin-Trump call on April 29 |
| Symbolic Significance | May 9 marks Soviet victory in WWII; Ukraine commemorates on May 8 |
| Prior Precedent | Similar holiday truce proposals in 2025 were violated |
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