In a surprising move aimed at projecting Russia’s willingness to seek peace, President Vladimir Putin announced on April 28 a three-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine. Scheduled for May 8–10, the ceasefire is intended to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II-a date of immense historical significance in Russia.

The Kremlin confirmed the ceasefire would cover May 8, May 9-the day Russia holds its annual Victory Day parade-and May 10. It emphasized that “all military actions are suspended for this period” and encouraged Ukraine to reciprocate. In a statement, Moscow declared, “Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example. In the event of violations by the Ukrainian side, Russia’s armed forces will give an adequate and effective response.”

The announcement comes just days before President Putin is set to host major celebrations in Moscow, attended by international leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Against the backdrop of growing impatience from Washington and European capitals over the stalled conflict, Putin’s ceasefire offer appears designed to signal continued openness to peace efforts-a narrative that Kyiv and its Western allies view with deep skepticism.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha quickly dismissed the Kremlin’s gesture, suggesting it was more about optics than genuine de-escalation. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Sybiha remarked, “If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately. Why wait until May 8th?” He insisted any ceasefire should be “real, not just for a parade.”

Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of exploiting temporary truces to regroup and reposition forces rather than........

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