• Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine, starting on May 8 and ending on May 10, coinciding with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations.
• The ceasefire follows intense pressure from U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who has called for a cessation of hostilities. Trump and Ukrainian officials are skeptical of Putin’s intentions, viewing the ceasefire as a potential stalling tactic.
• Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky and his chief of staff, have responded with caution and criticism, emphasizing the need for a “permanent, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire” and expressing concerns about Russia’s previous violations of truces.
• Trump has expressed frustration over the stalled peace negotiations, urging Putin to “stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal” and reiterating his desire for a permanent ceasefire and peaceful resolution to the conflict.
• Despite the ceasefire announcement, the situation remains precarious, with ongoing violence and a lack of concrete progress in peace talks. The international community hopes this pause might lead to meaningful dialogue and a resolution to the conflict, which has caused significant loss of life and displacement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a unilateral three-day ceasefire in Ukraine, set to begin on May 8 and last through May 10.

The Kremlin’s statement, issued on Monday, April 28, asserted that “all military actions are suspended for this period.” The ceasefire is timed to coincide with Russia’s annual Victory Day celebrations, which traditionally feature a grand parade in Moscow’s Red Square. This year’s event holds special importance as it marks the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The decision follows intense international pressure, particularly from U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who has been vocal in his calls for a cessation of hostilities. In a recent post on his Truth Social platform, Trump urged Putin to “STOP!” the bombardment, emphasizing the staggering loss of life, with “5,000 soldiers a week” reportedly dying.

Trump has expressed skepticism about Putin’s intentions, questioning whether the Russian leader is genuinely committed to peace or merely attempting to stall for time. In discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump openly speculated about Putin’s motives, suggesting that the Russian leader might be “tapping me along” and that a different approach, such as “banking” or “secondary sanctions,” might be necessary.

Despite the ceasefire announcement, Trump reiterated his call for a “permanent ceasefire” and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. U.S. National Security Council Spokesman Brian Hughes echoed this sentiment, stating that while Trump welcomes the pause, his ultimate goal is a lasting peace.

Ukraine views Putin’s ceasefire announcement as a potential manipulation tactic

Ukrainian officials have responded with skepticism, viewing the ceasefire as a potential manipulation tactic. Zelensky, in a post on X, called the move an “attempt at manipulation,” pointing out that Putin has not accepted the U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine has already agreed to.

Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, thanked Trump for his support of a full ceasefire, emphasizing that only a “permanent, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire” can end the war. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed this view, stating that “if Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately.”

The announcement comes just over a week after the Kremlin declared a 30-hour Easter ceasefire, which Kyiv cautiously agreed to. However, Ukraine’s military accused Russia of violating the truce with more than 2,900 attacks along the frontlines. The Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, noted that Russian forces used the Easter ceasefire to prepare for future assaults, suggesting that the Victory Day ceasefire might be used for similar purposes.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an interview on NBC‘s “Meet the Press,” struck a somber tone, stating that a peace deal is “still not there.” He emphasized that the “last couple steps” of the peace process would be the hardest and that the coming weeks would be critical in determining the U.S. commitment to mediating the conflict.

Rubio’s remarks followed a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which Moscow described as a “productive exchange of views.” However, the lack of concrete progress has fueled doubts about the likelihood of a breakthrough.

Trump’s frustration and calls for action

Trump has voiced increasing frustration over the stalled peace negotiations, lamenting the lack of progress within his self-imposed 100-day target. In a series of pointed comments, Trump urged Putin to “stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal,” expressing a desire to “just go back to life.”

Trump’s remarks came after he met with Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican, a meeting both sides described as productive. The encounter underscored the high-stakes diplomacy at play as the world watches for any signs of a resolution.

Since the Easter ceasefire, Russian attacks have killed at least 62 civilians and injured another 290 in Ukraine, according to a CNN tally of figures from local authorities and emergency services. The ongoing violence has left a devastating impact on the civilian population, further fueling calls for a lasting peace. (Related: Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of VIOLATING Easter ceasefire.)

As the world awaits the outcome of this latest ceasefire, the situation remains precarious. The announcement offers a glimmer of hope for a temporary reprieve, but the path to a lasting peace remains fraught with challenges. The international community watches closely, hoping that this pause in hostilities might pave the way for meaningful dialogue and a resolution to the conflict that has claimed countless lives and displaced millions.

Watch the video below that talks about how Trump is maintaining “maximum pressure” on Russia.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Putin and Trump agree to PARTIAL CEASEFIRE in Ukraine, but path to lasting peace remains uncertain.

Ukraine violates partial ceasefire agreement with Russia, attacks energy infrastructure as peace talks collapse.

Tensions persist as Russia and Ukraine remain at odds over ceasefire prospects.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

FoxNews.com

Edition.CNN.com

Brighteon.com