President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Tuesday declared an unilateral three-day ceasefire for Ukraine beginning 8 May as part of what the Kremlin described as an act of humanitarianism before Victory Day commemorations.
The Russian Ministry of Defense released a statement announcing a ceasefire from 8-10 May, providing civilians in active conflict zones an opportunity to evacuate and humanitarian aid reaching affected areas. This announcement comes amid heavy fighting across eastern and southern Ukraine with rising civilian casualties and worsening humanitarian conditions.
According to President Vladimir Putin’s directives, Russian forces will observe a ceasefire across all fronts from 00:00 hours on 8 May until 24:00 hours on 10 May,” read a statement issued by Russia’s Ministry of Defence. We urge Ukrainian authorities to reciprocate and allow civilians safe passage and humanitarian deliveries on both sides.
President Putin presented this move as an act of goodwill, recalling the historical significance of Victory Day — celebrated annually to mark Germany’s defeat — and calling for “pauses to reflect upon values such as peace and sacrifice”.
Ukrainian officials responded cautiously. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, warned Kyiv would not be fooled by symbolic gestures from Russia and accused Moscow of using previous ceasefire offers to regroup and replenish its forces. “We welcome any real opportunity to protect civilians; however, history shows us that such offers come with ulterior motives,” Podolyak told local media.
United Nations and International Committee of the Red Cross officials welcomed this development, calling upon both sides to abide by the ceasefire agreement and prioritize noncombatants’ safety during its duration. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for unfettered humanitarian access during this ceasefire window.
Military analysts noted that, although a temporary ceasefire might provide some respite, the conflict has no signs of abating. “This ceasefire may only be tactical,” according to Dmitry Oreshkin, a Moscow-based political analyst. Both sides are likely positioning for what could become another phase of battle; therefore, taking this brief pause serves both strategic and public relations purposes.
Civilians stranded in besieged cities such as Kharkiv and Mariupol expressed cautious optimism, hoping the ceasefire would allow them to flee to safer regions.
As the 8 May deadline nears, the international community will closely follow whether the ceasefire holds and whether this could pave the way for renewed efforts towards building lasting peace in Syria.