On April 28, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in the conflict zone in Ukraine in connection with the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. According to the Kremlin press service, from 00:00 on May 7-8 to 00:00 on May 10-11, 2025, Russian armed forces will completely cease hostilities. Moscow expressed hope that Kyiv would follow suit, but warned that in the event of violations by Ukraine, Russian troops would give an “adequate and effective response.”

Putin's statement came amid ongoing talks to resolve the conflict, initiated by the administration of US President Donald Trump. According to The Washington Post, the ceasefire is timed to coincide with Victory Day on May 9, which is one of the main national holidays in Russia, symbolizing the victory over Nazism. The Kremlin stressed that the decision was made "based on humanitarian considerations" and called on Ukraine to join the initiative to ensure the safety of civilians and military personnel.

The context for the ceasefire announcement is linked to recent diplomatic efforts. On April 25, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin for three hours to discuss the possibility of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, Bloomberg reported. U.S. President Donald Trump, expressing frustration with Russia’s continued attacks, has pushed for a full ceasefire, while Putin previously declared a temporary ceasefire over Easter that Kyiv says has been violated about 3000 times.

The Ukrainian side has not yet given an official response to the proposal. According to The Independent, Kyiv is sceptical about such initiatives, especially after the alleged violations of previous ceasefires.