May 5, 2026 10:17 AM
Putin, Zelenskiy proclaim rival ceasefires around Russia’s Victory day commemorations
President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a two-day ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine on May 8-9 to mark Russia’s World War Two victory, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy countered with his own proposed pause in fighting starting earlier, on the night of May 5‑6. Putin had first spoken of a possible ceasefire coinciding with commemorations of the 81st anniversary of the victory in a phone conversation last week with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ukraine had been wary of the...