Russia announces a temporary 72-hour ceasefire in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, set to begin on May 8 and conclude at the end of May 10. President Vladimir Putin declares the pause in fighting to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II, a significant national holiday in Russia. The Kremlin urges Ukraine to reciprocate the gesture, stating that Russia will deliver an “adequate and effective response” to any violations by Ukrainian forces during the truce. This marks the second temporary ceasefire announced by Moscow in recent weeks, following a 30-hour Easter Sunday truce that Kyiv and its European allies accused Russia of breaching.
The announcement comes at a critical juncture in the war, now in its fourth year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, displaced millions, and caused widespread destruction across Ukraine. Recent diplomatic efforts, spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump, have intensified as both sides grapple with the prospect of a negotiated peace. However, deep divisions remain over the terms of any potential agreement.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, responds to the ceasefire announcement with skepticism in a post on X, questioning Russia’s intentions. “If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately. Why wait until May 8th?” Sybiha writes, reflecting Kyiv’s broader frustration with Moscow’s approach to negotiations. Ukraine has consistently called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire as a prerequisite for any meaningful peace talks, a position echoed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in recent statements.
In Washington, D.C., White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addresses the situation during a briefing this morning, emphasizing President Trump’s desire for a lasting resolution. “President Trump has made it clear he wants a permanent ceasefire—to stop the killing and bloodshed,” Leavitt says, noting Trump’s growing frustration with both Putin and Zelenskyy. The White House’s stance aligns with Trump’s broader diplomatic push, which has seen him repeatedly urge both leaders to come to the negotiating table.
Trump’s frustration with Russia stems from a series of recent events that have cast doubt on Moscow’s commitment to peace. Just last week, Russia launched its deadliest attack on Kyiv in nearly a year, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 70 in a barrage of missile and drone strikes. The assault, which targeted civilian areas, prompted Trump to lash out at Putin on social media, writing, “Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” Speaking with reporters yesterday, Trump expresses disappointment with Russia, urging Putin to “stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal” to end the war once and for all.
The conflict’s history is rooted in long-standing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, particularly following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 after a controversial referendum. The current war began in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion, claiming to “protect” Russian-speaking populations in eastern Ukraine and to prevent Ukraine’s integration into NATO. Ukraine, supported by Western allies, has resisted fiercely, reclaiming some territories but suffering immense losses. The war has seen multiple failed ceasefire attempts, including a brief truce on energy infrastructure last month, which both sides accused each other of violating.
Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have gained momentum since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. Trump, who promised during his campaign to end the war within 24 hours, has made securing a peace deal a priority of his second term. His administration has proposed a framework that includes freezing the current frontlines, recognizing Russia’s control over Crimea, and excluding Ukraine from NATO membership—terms that have drawn criticism from Ukraine and its European allies as overly favorable to Moscow. On April 25, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow, a meeting Trump described as productive, calling for a high-level summit between Kyiv and Moscow to finalize a deal.
However, significant hurdles remain. Zelenskyy has rejected any deal that involves ceding Ukrainian territory, particularly Crimea, which he insists belongs to Ukraine under international law. “Only the Ukrainian people have the right to decide which territories are Ukrainian,” Zelenskyy stated on April 23, responding to Trump’s assertion in a Time magazine interview that “Crimea will stay with Russia.” Ukraine’s position is supported by European leaders, who argue that any peace deal must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and provide robust security guarantees, potentially through a UK and French-led coalition.
Tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy have also flared in recent days. Trump has accused Zelenskyy of obstructing peace efforts by refusing to accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea, while Zelenskyy has countered that a full ceasefire must precede any territorial discussions. On April 24, Trump publicly criticized Zelenskyy, saying, “He can have peace, or he can fight for another three years before losing the whole country.” The U.S. has threatened to walk away from peace talks if progress stalls, with Vice President JD Vance warning on April 23 that both sides must compromise or Washington will end its mediation efforts.
The war’s toll continues to mount. On April 27, Russian airstrikes in Donetsk killed three people, and a drone attack in Dnipro left one dead, according to local sources. These attacks, coupled with the Kremlin’s claim on April 26 that it had expelled Ukrainian troops from Russia’s Kursk region—a claim disputed by Kyiv—have further eroded trust in Moscow’s willingness to negotiate in good faith. Putin, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, has signaled openness to bilateral talks but has rejected Ukraine’s calls for an unconditional ceasefire.
As the May ceasefire approaches, the international community watches closely. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has sought to mediate the conflict, recently praised Zelenskyy for agreeing to an unconditional ceasefire as a step toward peace talks. However, European leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron have accused Putin of “lying” about wanting peace while continuing to strike Ukraine. The coming days will be pivotal in determining whether this temporary truce can pave the way for a lasting resolution or if it will become another broken promise in a conflict that has defied resolution for over three years.
Sources:
- The Independent: www.independent.co.uk
- Bloomberg: www.bloomberg.com
- The Guardian: www.theguardian.com
- PBS News: www.pbs.org
- NBC News: www.nbcnews.com
- BBC: www.bbc.com
- CNBC: www.cnbc.com
- CNN: www.cnn.com
- NPR: www.npr.org
- The New York Times: www.nytimes.com
- Reuters: www.reuters.com
- Al Jazeera: www.aljazeera.com
- CBS News: www.cbsnews.com
- Posts on X
