Russia has ordered a two-day ceasefire in the war against Ukraine to coincide with Victory Day, which commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that this will be implemented on May 8 and 9, following an order by President Vladimir Putin, adding that Moscow expects the Ukrainian side to comply with the suspension.
“If the Kyiv government tries to carry out its criminal plans to disrupt the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian Armed Forces will launch a retaliatory, massive missile attack on the center of Kyiv,” the defense ministry said in a statement on the Kremlin-backed MAX messaging service.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will consider its agreement with Russia on May 5 and 6.
Zelensky previously told reporters that Kyiv has not received any official proposals for a possible ceasefire during that period.
Putin and US President Donald Trump had discussed a possible ceasefire during the holiday during a phone call in late April, according to both sides.
