Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a three-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine next month, to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War II.
The Kremlin announced that the 72-hour ceasefire will last from May 8 to May 10.
"All military activities are suspended during this period. Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should also follow this example," the statement said.
"In the event of a violation by Ukraine, the Russian Armed Forces will provide an adequate and effective response," they said, according to Reuters.
This is the second unilateral ceasefire announcement in a short space of time by Putin, following the 30-hour Easter ceasefire, during which both sides accused each other of numerous violations.
Amid growing discontent in the United States, both measures appear to be an attempt by Kremlin leaders to send a signal to U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia is still interested in peace, Reuters reports. Ukraine and its European allies say they do not believe that.
The latest announcement came after Trump criticized Putin over Russia's deadly attack on Kiev last week and expressed concern over the weekend that Putin was "just dragging him along."
Washington has repeatedly threatened to abandon peace efforts if there is no real progress.
Ukraine, which had previously agreed to US President Donald Trump's proposal for a complete 30-day ceasefire, dismissed Putin's move as an attempt to create the appearance that it wanted peace.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha said that "Russia, if it really wants peace, must immediately cease fire," adding that Kiev is ready for a "permanent and complete ceasefire" lasting at least 30 full days, Beta news agency reports.
"Why wait for May 8? If we can now have a ceasefire from any date and for 30 days — so that it is real, not just for a parade," Sibiha said, without specifying whether Ukraine would be ready to accept the ceasefire proposed by Moscow.
The Kremlin called on Ukraine to respect the ceasefire from May 8 to 10.
"Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example," the Kremlin said, warning that "the Russian armed forces will give an adequate and effective response in the event of a ceasefire violation by the Ukrainian side."
Putin had earlier announced a unilateral 30-hour ceasefire over Easter, and Ukraine had expressed its readiness to respect any genuine ceasefire during that period. However, Kiev accused Russia of continuing its attacks, while Moscow accused Ukraine of failing to halt its attacks.
Russia and Ukraine have also previously pledged to respect a 30-day ceasefire in energy infrastructure strikes, brokered by the Trump administration, but have repeatedly accused each other of massive violations of that agreement.
Putin has so far refused to accept a complete unconditional ceasefire, for which he has demanded a halt to Western arms deliveries to Ukraine and Ukrainian troop mobilization.
Just before Putin announced a May 8-10 ceasefire, both Ukraine and Russia launched attacks on the other side.
Cherkasy Mayor Anatoly Bondarenko said that an infrastructure facility was damaged in this morning's Russian drone attack on the city in central Ukraine, disrupting the supply of gas to households.
Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 119 Ukrainian drones overnight, most of them over the border region of Bryansk. In Ukraine, air raid sirens sounded across the country this morning, but there were no reports of casualties or damage.
Bonus video:
