Ukraine plans to press the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump for specifics on a Russian suggestion for a brief ceasefire next week, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday. The proposal emerged following a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which Trump told reporters they had discussed the idea of "a little bit of a ceasefire."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday the proposed truce would encompass May 9, the date Russia marks as the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two, but that exact timing remained to be determined. May 9 is observed as a major public holiday in Russia and is typically marked by a military parade on Moscow's Red Square.
President Putin has used the May 9 anniversary since launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to marshal public support for the war, presenting modern Russian forces as continuing the legacy of those who fought Adolf Hitler. In response to the Kremlin's announcement, Zelenskiy said Ukraine would seek clarity from U.S. officials about what the proposal actually entails - whether it is "a few hours of security for a parade in Moscow, or something more."
"Our proposal is a long-term ceasefire, reliable and guaranteed security for people, and a lasting peace. Ukraine is ready to work toward this in any dignified and effective format," he posted on X.
Last year, Putin declared a 72-hour ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe in World War Two. Kyiv did not agree to that truce, calling it a ruse and accusing Russia of violating its own ceasefire hundreds of times.
Peskov said Putin had already decided on the latest proposed ceasefire and indicated it would go forward, although he added that some kind of response from Kyiv was expected. The statement left open the scope and duration of the proposed pause, and Kyiv has signaled that it will demand fuller information before assessing the offer.
The Soviet Union, of which both Russia and Ukraine were once a part, suffered an estimated 27 million deaths in World War Two - a toll cited in discussions of the significance of May 9. For this year's Red Square parade, Russia has said the event will be smaller than in prior years and will not include the usual display of weaponry. The Kremlin has attributed the scaled-back format to what it calls a terrorist threat from Ukraine.
The announcement comes as Ukrainian forces have intensified strikes deep inside Russia in recent weeks, while Russian forces have made only incremental progress on the battlefield. Those developments were referenced by Kremlin officials in explaining both security concerns and the altered parade plans.
Key points
- Ukraine will ask the U.S. administration for precise details on a Russian suggestion for a short ceasefire that may coincide with May 9.
- The Kremlin says the truce would cover May 9 and that President Putin has decided it will go ahead, while Kyiv calls for a long-term, reliable ceasefire.
- Last years 72-hour ceasefire was not agreed by Kyiv, which alleged Russia violated its own ceasefire many times; Moscow says this year's Red Square parade will be smaller and without weaponry.
Risks and uncertainties
- The exact timing, length and scope of the proposed ceasefire remain unclear - this uncertainty affects any assessment of whether it is a tactical pause or a substantive pause in hostilities.
- Kyiv's demand for a long-term, guaranteed ceasefire could clash with Moscow's apparent proposal for a limited truce tied to May 9 - outcomes remain uncertain until further details are provided.
- Past breaches of ceasefires, including Kyiv's accusation that Russia violated the previous anniversary truce hundreds of times, raise the risk that any short-term arrangement may not be upheld.