Putin orders surprise three-day ceasefire in May

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a surprise three-day ceasefire from May 8-10, coinciding with Moscow’s World War II Victory Day commemorations.

Russia said on Monday that it is ready to hold direct talks with Ukraine to end the conflict, but insists that Ukraine must recognize Russia’s control over five regions — Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Russia considers this recognition a necessary condition for any peace deal.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it has taken over large parts of these four regions and already controls Crimea, which it had annexed back in 2014. Ukraine strongly rejects these annexations, calling them illegal, and has repeatedly said it will never recognize Russia’s claims. European leaders have also warned that giving in to Russia’s demands would set a bad example and might encourage further aggression from Moscow in the future.

Russia is willing to start negotiations with Ukraine without any preconditions. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia remains open to discussions but blamed Ukraine for not showing readiness to negotiate. Lavrov emphasized that Russia’s position is clear and that recognition of the territories it claims is a non-negotiable part of any future agreement.

Additionally, the Kremlin warned that if Ukraine violates any ceasefire agreements, Russia would respond strongly and effectively.

Russia has repeatedly set out it demands for a Ukraine settlement, including that it be allowed to keep the five Ukrainian regions it claims as its own, that Ukraine be barred from the NATO military alliance and that the country “demilitarize”.

Zelensky said last Friday that Ukraine would “not legally recognize any temporarily occupied territories” and has previously called the demilitarization demand “incomprehensible”.