Vladimir Putin holds a video conference with Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov near Moscow, 26 April 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE/ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN

Vladimir Putin has declared a 72-hour truce to run from 8 May to 10 May while Russia marks the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II, the Kremlin announced on Monday.

“Based on humanitarian considerations, … the Russian side will declare a truce on the days of the 80th anniversary of victory. … All hostilities will stop during the period,” the Kremlin said.

The statement also said that if the Ukrainian side violated the truce, Russian forces would “give an adequate and effective response”. It reiterated Russia’s willingness to engage in peace talks to settle what it referred to as the “Ukrainian crisis” and said it expected Ukraine to declare a truce of its own.

Reacting to the announcement of the truce, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Russia should “cease fire immediately … not just for a parade”. Writing on X, he said Ukraine was “ready to support a lasting, durable, and full ceasefire. And this is what we are constantly proposing, for at least 30 days”.

Putin also announced a 30-hour Easter truce between Russia and Ukraine on 19 April, to run from 18:00 that day, Easter Saturday, to 00:00 on 20 April. On that occasion, too, Putin was guided by “humanitarian considerations”. However, both sides accused each other of violating the agreement.

Kyiv was scathing in its comments on the Easter truce, which it saw as a cynical ploy by Moscow to placate US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed exasperation at the slow progress in establishing a ceasefire between the two warring sides.