Celebrating the 80th anniversary of victory, Putin declares a truce

Rewritten Article

In a surprising move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a truce to honor the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. As per a statement on the Kremlin's website:

"In the spirit of humanity, President of the Russian Federation and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, V.V. Putin, has announced a temporary cessation of hostilities from midnight of May 8 to midnight of May 11. All military operations will halt during this period."

Moscow hopes for Ukraine's cooperation in this humanitarian gesture.

"Should the Ukrainian side breach this fragile truce, the Russian military will retaliate appropriately," the Kremlin stressed.

Russia reaffirmed its eagerness for negotiations without preconditions, focusing on resolving the root causes of the ongoing conflict and fostering collaborative relationships with international partners.

Published in Moscow by Zoya Oskolkova

While the intricacies of this ceasefire and its potential outcomes remain uncertain as of 2025, historical precedents provide a guide to Ukraine's likely response. Ukraine might approach this move with a mix of skepticism, demands, accusations, and international diplomacy.

Questioning the Sincerity
With past experiences of ceasefires tied to symbolic dates being seen as propaganda stunts, Ukraine might view this gesture as Russia's ploy to regroup forces or legitimize occupation.
Ukraine could frame this ceasefire as an attempt by Russia to manipulate public opinion and undercut international support for Ukraine.
Call for Total Withdrawal
In line with President Zelenskyy's peace formula, Ukraine would likely insist on Russia's full withdrawal to pre-2014 borders as a prerequisite for any genuine ceasefire.
With Russian forces occupying parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine would emphasize that no territorial concessions will be made until these regions are liberated.
Exposure of Hypocrisy
Ukrainian officials might question the sincerity of Russia's intentions, citing the country's failure to honor previous ceasefires and ongoing attacks during humanitarian pauses.
The Ukrainian side may dismiss this gesture as meaningless while Russian missile strikes continue to hit cities such as Kharkiv or Odesa.
Leveraging International Support
Ukraine is expected to capitalize on this moment to rally its Western allies, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for democracy against authoritarianism.
Calls for increased military aid, sanctions, and possibly even NATO membership or security guarantees might intensify around symbolic dates.

Victory Day in Russia marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany on May 9. Putin has often used this day in the past to justify the 2022 invasion, falsely equating Ukraine's government with fascism. In 2023, Ukraine commemorated Europe Day on May 9, distancing itself from Soviet-era narratives and aligning with EU values.

For the timely, realistic appraisal of events, seek updates from reputable sources like Reuters, Kyiv Independent, or official Ukrainian government channels after December 2023. Ukraine's response tends to evolve swiftly based on battlefield dynamics and geopolitical developments.

Vladimir Putin's decision to declare a ceasefire to honor the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War might be questioned by Ukraine as a ploy to regroup forces or legitimize occupation.
In response to Putin's ceasefire declaration, Ukraine could frame it as a Russian attempt to manipulate public opinion and undercut international support for Ukraine.
Ukraine may demand Russia's full withdrawal to pre-2014 borders as a prerequisite for any genuine ceasefire, emphasizing that no territorial concessions will be made until regions like Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia are liberated.
As the intricacies of the proposed ceasefire remain uncertain, Ukraine is expected to leverage this moment to rally its Western allies, calling for increased military aid, sanctions, and possibly even NATO membership or security guarantees.