President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine will observe its own ceasefire with Russia beginning at midnight on the night of May 5 to May 6, initiating a unilateral “regime of silence” amid dueling truce proposals tied to World War II commemorations. Zelensky said the move proceeds from the belief that “human life is incomparably more valuable than the ‘celebration’ of any anniversary,” noting that Russia had not responded to Kyiv’s earlier calls for a ceasefire.
He added that Ukraine would “act symmetrically from the specified moment,” meaning it will maintain the truce as long as Russia keeps the peace, potentially opening the door to a longer halt in fighting. The Ukrainian announcement comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a separate two-day ceasefire from May 8 to May 9 to mark the 81st anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, warning of a “massive missile strike” on Kyiv if the truce is broken. Kyiv rejected Moscow’s short, unilateral truce, reiterating its longstanding offer of a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire instead. Ukrainian officials said they will seek clarity from the United States on details of Russia’s proposal, with Zelensky emphasizing that Ukraine’s position remains focused on a long-term, reliable cessation of hostilities rather than symbolic pauses tied to parade dates.
