Putin announces 3-day ceasefire in May to mark 80 years since WW2 victory

MOSCOW, Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has unilaterally announced a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine starting next week. It will mark the 80th anniversary of the former Soviet Union's victory in World War Two.

The truce will begin at midnight local time on May 8. The Kremlin said all hostilities will be suspended if Ukraine also stops fighting. But it warned that Russia will respond if there is a violation.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed his skepticism on social media, saying: "If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately. Why wait until May 8th?"

He says Ukraine supports a "lasting, durable, and full ceasefire" for at least 30 days.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said U.S. President Donald Trump is also calling for a lasting truce. She said: "I understand Vladimir Putin this morning, offered a temporary ceasefire. The president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire first to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed."

She stressed that Russian and Ukrainian leaders need to come to the table to negotiate their way out of this.

Putin had declared a temporary truce earlier this month for Easter. But the fighting continued and the ceasefire did not hold up.