Russia’s 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire ends in Ukraine

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - A 72-hour unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine, declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, ended at midnight Moscow time.

The ceasefire had come into effect May 8 and was announced by Putin on April 28 “for humanitarian reasons,” covering Victory Day commemorations.

Ukraine rejected the temporary truce, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling for a 30-day comprehensive ceasefire.

During a summit in Kyiv on May 10, the leaders of France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and Ukraine issued a statement urging an “immediate, full, and unconditional” ceasefire to begin May 12.

The Ukrainian president insisted that the shorter Russian initiative was insufficient, pressing for a longer pause to open space for diplomatic negotiations.