Putin Orders Three-Day Truce with Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a three-day truce with Ukraine, which took effect on Thursday, as the Kremlin positioned the move as a test of Ukraine’s willingness for peace. However, Ukraine quickly rejected the truce, calling it a mere political stunt, and argued that it was insufficient, proposing instead a 30-day ceasefire to allow for meaningful diplomacy. The truce was scheduled to coincide with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, marking the end of World War II, but the true impact of the ceasefire remained unclear, as both sides engaged in military activity just hours before the ceasefire began. The situation also coincided with the arrival of global leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić, who attended the Victory Day parade in Moscow.
Despite the announcement of the ceasefire, hostilities continued, as Russia and Ukraine carried out aerial strikes that led to the closure of airports in Russia and resulted in casualties in Ukraine. These exchanges prompted concerns about the potential effectiveness of the ceasefire, as both sides appeared to be preparing for further conflict rather than de-escalation. Putin’s order was explicitly linked to the holiday and was meant to demonstrate Russia’s willingness to respect the ceasefire during the Victory Day celebrations. However, Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, dismissed the truce as inadequate and reiterated their call for a more extended and unconditional ceasefire to facilitate peace talks. Zelensky highlighted the lack of any meaningful response from Russia, emphasizing that the truce was unlikely to bring about any real change on the ground.
This development occurred against the backdrop of a broader international diplomatic effort to bring an end to the ongoing war, including pressure from the United States. President Donald Trump has sought to mediate a resolution since taking office, though his efforts have not led to any significant breakthroughs. The US administration, now led by Vice President JD Vance, has increasingly called for direct negotiations between the warring parties, recognizing that external mediation alone may not suffice. However, Russia’s rejection of past ceasefire proposals, including a joint US-Ukrainian offer earlier this year, has fueled skepticism about Moscow’s commitment to peace.
In the days leading up to the ceasefire, Moscow launched a series of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, resulting in casualties and widespread damage. Ukrainian forces, in turn, launched their own series of strikes, including drone attacks on Russian airports, which forced major disruptions in air travel across the country. Moscow reported that more than 60,000 passengers had their flights affected, as airports in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and other cities were disrupted by Ukraine’s drone strikes.
Despite the tense situation, the Kremlin maintained that its forces would honor the truce for the duration of the holiday but warned that any Ukrainian attacks would be met with an immediate response. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the authorities had taken all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the Victory Day celebrations, including jamming internet connections and imposing security restrictions throughout Moscow. The Russian leadership remained confident that the city’s safety could be assured during the public festivities, even as the war with Ukraine continued to escalate.
While ordinary Russians in Moscow appeared relatively unconcerned by the heightened security measures, the tension at airports highlighted the deepening divisions between the two nations. Ukraine’s airspace remained closed to civilian flights due to ongoing hostilities, and the nation’s ongoing military operations suggested that a resolution was far from imminent.
