- On 28 April 2025, Russia’s President Putin unilaterally announced a full ceasefire in the Ukraine war, to cover the full 72-hour period of 8, 9 and 10 May. This coincides with Victory Day on 9 May, Russia’s commemoration of victory in the ‘Great Patriotic War’ (Second World War). Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy called for an immediate, full, and unconditional’ ceasefire lasting at least 30 days’ in response.
- As with Putin’s unilateral 30-hour Easter ceasefire, this announcement is almost certainly intended to demonstrate a constructive approach in ongoing talks, without incurring significant costs to Russia’s battlefield position. Putin also likely seeks to reduce the potential for Ukrainian strikes to affect Victory Day commemorations. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Victory Day parades have been cancelled in multiple Russian cities, primarily those cities in regions that border Ukraine.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 29 April 2025.
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) April 29, 2025
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/9b8aIJ6350#StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/KJD3Fth0gI
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