Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8-11. President Putin said that Russian forces will halt fighting from midnight on May 8 to midnight on May 10.
The Kremlin said that the ceasefire decision was based on "humanitarian considerations" and that "all military actions" would be suspended from May 8. May 8 coincides with World War II Victory Day commemorations in Russia marking the defeat of Nazi Germany.
The unilateral ceasefire comes amid rising pressure from the US for Russia to agree to a full ceasefire in the Ukraine War. US President Donald Trump on Sunday urged Russia to stop its attacks in Ukraine and suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was ready to give up Crimea as the price of a peace deal with Russia.
Trump said he was disappointed that Russia has continued to attack Ukraine, and said his one-on-one meeting with Zelensky at the Vatican on Saturday had gone well.
Russia has earlier rejected a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the conflict that was agreed to by Ukraine.