Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire for the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin said the ceasefire would run from the morning of 8 May until 11 May – which coincides with victory celebrations to mark the end of World War Two.
In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for an immediate ceasefire lasting “at least 30 days”.
While US President Donald Trump, who has been attempting to broker a truce between the two sides, said he wants to see a permanent ceasefire, the White House said.
Putin’s announcement – which was met with renewed urging from the White House for a “permanent ceasefire” – comes as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Moscow and Kyiv to agree to a deal to end the war.
On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week would be “very critical” in determining whether the US would persist with its efforts to broker peace.
“While President Trump welcomes Vladimir Putin’s willingness to pause the conflict, the president has been very clear he wants a permanent ceasefire and to bring this conflict to a peaceful resolution,” US National Security Council Spokesman Brian Hughes said on Monday.
Later on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the ceasefire declaration an “attempt at manipulation,” pointing out that, despite the Kremlin leader saying he wants peace, he has not accepted the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire that Kyiv has agreed to.
“Russia has consistently rejected everything and continues to manipulate the world, trying to deceive the United States. Now, yet again, another attempt at manipulation: for some reason everyone is supposed to wait until May 8 before ceasing fire – just to provide Putin with silence for his parade,” Zelensky said in a post on X.