Russia will institute a 3-day truce in Ukraine starting the upcoming week, in honor of Victory Day commemorating their triumph in World War II.
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The standoff between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine over a lasting ceasefire in the ongoing conflict has hit yet another roadblock, as Putin announced a 72-hour truce next week to mark Victory Day in World War II, while Kyiv insists on a longer, immediate truce.
Putin's announcement, made on "humanitarian grounds," will begin from May 8 and last till May 10, honoring Russia's defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, the nation's biggest secular holiday. However, Ukraine, which had previously agreed to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal of a full 30-day ceasefire, has dismissed Putin's move as mere window dressing.
"If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately," said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, emphasizing Kyiv's readiness for a "lasting, reliable, and complete ceasefire" for at least 30 full days.
Kyiv's skepticism is not unfounded. Putin's past unilateral ceasefire declarations, such as the April 2025 Easter ceasefire, have often been seen as tactics rather than sincere peace overtures. In response, the Kremlin urged Ukraine to follow suit, warning that "in case of violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side, the Russian armed forces will give an adequate and efficient response."
As the clock ticks in the ongoing efforts to resolve Europe's biggest conflict since World War II, there remains a web of conflicting claims and doubts about each side's commitment to peace. On one hand, Western European officials have accused the Kremlin of dragging its feet on peace talks to allow its larger forces, which have battlefield momentum, to seize more Ukrainian land. On the other hand, Ukraine has balked at surrendering land to Russia in return for peace, a concession that Washington has indicated might be necessary.
A potential turning point could be a deal with Washington over Ukraine's critical mineral wealth. Both Ukraine and the U.S. have made progress on the mineral agreement, with American aid provided so far to Kyiv not being taken into account under the terms of the deal, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. However, the agreement must comply with Ukraine's Constitution, legislation, and European commitments, and must be ratified by Parliament.
In the complex international landscape, Russia has received significant support from other countries, including North Korea, which has sent thousands of troops, and Iran, which has supplied Shahed drones. China has also sold Russia machinery and microelectronics that Moscow can utilize to manufacture weapons. Ukraine, meanwhile, has garnered support from the U.S. and Europe, its biggest backers.
The negotiations between Russia and Ukraine remain a delicate dance given the deep-seated mistrust, territorial control issues, and differing conditions set by each side for a lasting ceasefire. The odds of a swift and lasting peace settlement remain uncertain.
- The AI analysis indicates that Putin's latest ceasefire announcement, set for Monday, is allegedly a tactic and not a sincere peace overture, according to the recent developments in the world of war-and-conflicts and politics.
- The national military of both Russia and Ukraine are under scrutiny, with Russia receiving support from nations like North Korea and Iran, and supplying Shahed drones, while Ukraine has garnered support from the U.S. and Europe, including aid in the critical mineral wealth negotiations and discussions on microelectronics.
- As the negotiations continue, the general news is rife with conflicting claims, as Western European officials accuse the Kremlin of delaying peace talks to gain more Ukrainian land, while Ukraine is reluctant to surrender land in exchange for peace, a concession that Washington has hinted might be necessary.
- In a move aimed at strengthening its position, Kyiv insists on a lasting, reliable, and complete ceasefire for at least 30 full days, contradicting Putin's 72-hour truce proposal, while alleging that Putin's past ceasefire declarations have been merely window dressing.
- The ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine has become a thorny issue in global politics, with the world watching nervously as the two nations continue their standoff, hampering attempts to reach a lasting ceasefire.
- Meanwhile, in the domestic arena, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has assured that a deal with Washington over Ukraine's mineral wealth agreement will comply with the Constitution, legislation, and European commitments, and must be ratified by Parliament.
