Russia will hold a two-day cease-fire in its war in Ukraine from May 8 to 9 to commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe — as Kyiv announced its own cease-fire for two days earlier.
President Vladimir Putin declared the ceasefire plans Monday and said the Kremlin would launch a massive strike on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv if the temporary truce was broken.
“Despite the capabilities at our disposal, Russia has previously refrained from such actions on humanitarian grounds,” the Russian Defense Ministry said, according to Reuters.
“We are warning the civilian population of Kyiv and staff at foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the city in a timely manner,” it added.
The ceasefire falls on the 81st anniversary of Victory in Europe day – May 8, 1945 – when Nazi Germany finally surrendered and ended World War II’s main theater of combat. The war didn’t fully end until months later on Aug. 15, when Japan surrendered to the US.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the ceasefire announcement — which it said had been declared without any communication from Russia – with a declaration of his own cease fire for days earlier, from May 5 to 6.
He suggested that Ukraine would extend the cease-fire so long as Russia kept the peace.
“We will act reciprocally starting from that moment,” he said on social media.
“It is time for Russian leaders to take real steps to end their war, especially since Russia’s Defense Ministry believes it cannot hold a parade in Moscow without Ukraine’s goodwill.”
