London – The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has announced a high temporary fire to enter into force during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of V Day, which celebrates the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in 1945.
The Alto El Fuego will enter into force on May 8 and will end on May 10, the Kremlin announced in a statement published in its official Telegram channel on Monday.
“Based on humanitarian considerations, the Russian side declares a truce during the 80th anniversary of Victory Day,” said the statement, attributing Putin’s decision. “For this period, all hostilities stop,” he added.
“Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example,” the statement continued. “In case of rapes of the truce by the Ukrainian side, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will give an adequate and effective response.”
In this photograph of the pool distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, attends a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces through videoconference in the state residence Novo-Aagatovo outside Moscow on April 26, 2025.
Alexander Kazakov/Pool/AFP through Getty Images
“Once again, the Russian side reiterates its preparation for peace conversations without previous conditions aimed at eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and for constructive cooperation with international partners,” the Kremlin wrote.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine believes that “there is no reason to wait” until May 8 for a high fire.
“Russia has constantly rejected everything and continues to manipulate the world, trying to deceive the United States. Now, once again, another attempt to manipulate: for some reason, everyone is supposed to wait until May 8 before leaving fire, just to provide silence to Putin for their parade,” he said in a statement in social networks.
Zelenskyy also asked for a longest fire.
“The high fire should not be just for a few days, just to kill later again,” he said. “It must be immediate, complete and unconditional, for at least 30 days to ensure that it is safe and guaranteed. This is the basis that could lead to real diplomacy.”
On Sunday, Zelenskyy had again suggested that Moscow was pretending to prefer to negotiate a negotiated agreement in the United States to end his 3 -year Ukraine invasion.
“We maintain our strong positions to have all the opportunities for adequate diplomacy,” Zelenskyy wrote in a message for Telegram.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the left, speaks with the president of Ukraine, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, before a bilateral meeting in Rome, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
Andrew Medichini/AP, Pool
“The Russians talk a lot about their alleged willingness to accept US proposals, but so far, there have been no signs that the Russian army prepares for real silence,” he added. “On the contrary, from Easter, the occupant has resumed his usual assault activity, of course, at the expense of significant losses, the Russians are trying to move forward.”
“Every day of such battles in the front show that Russia is really trying to deceive the world, deceive the United States and others, and further prolong this war,” said the president. “And that is why we need pressure. The pressure is indispensable for Russians to take all the steps, what is necessary to stop war.”
Guy Davies and Tanya Stukalova of ABC News contributed to this report.
