Vladimir Putin has declared a ceasefire for the War in Ukraine between May 8 and 10, as Europe marks the eightieth anniversary of the top of the Second World War.
The announcement could also be viewed with scepticism by Ukraine, after an Easter ceasefire earlier this month was reportedly broken 1000’s of times.
In response to the Kremlin, the truce will begin at midnight local time on May 8 – 9pm on May 7 in UK time – and last until May 10.
President Putin ordered the total cessation of hostilities on ‘humanitarian grounds’, the Russian government said.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey told MPs last week the Russian leader’s promise of a 30-hour pause in fighting was broken.
He said Defence Intelligence had found ‘no indication that a ceasefire on the frontline was observed over the Easter period’.
In Russia, May 9 is known as Victory Day and is usually celebrated with grand shows of military might.
It marks the top of what Russians call the Great Patriotic War, and centres on the numerous role played by the Soviet Union in securing the downfall of the Nazi regime.
Large-scale commemorations can even happen across Europe, including the UK, 80 years after the top of the war in Europe.
In his speech to the House of Commons, Healey accused Putin of attempting to ‘play for time in negotiations’.
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He said: ‘I can confirm Russian military progress is slowing.
‘Putin gained less territory in March then he did in February and fewer territory in February than he did in January.
‘Ukrainian towns which Russia have been targeting since before Christmas have still not been captured.’
US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held impromptu talks in St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis.
Zelensky described the meeting as ‘productive’, and Trump said soon afterwards he was beginning to think Putin ‘doesn’t need to stop the war’.
Nonetheless, Trump also suggested on Sunday he thinks Zelensky could also be willing to cede control of Crimea within the south of Ukraine.
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