Ukraine announces a wide-ranging ceasefire with Russia: will the Kremlin agree to a ceasefire?

Russia has proposed a ceasefire on 8–9 May to allow for the parade in Moscow, but Ukraine has set out its own conditions. Kyiv has announced that a ceasefire will come into effect as early as 6 May. However, Russia is once again issuing threats. Find out whether we should expect a genuine ceasefire

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Russia has proposed a ceasefire on 8 and 9 May to allow a parade to take place in Moscow. In response, Ukraine has refused to play by someone else’s rules and has put forward its own conditions: the ceasefire must begin earlier — on the night of 6 May. Now the key question is: will the Kremlin agree to a genuine ceasefire, or will these statements remain nothing more than an attempt to safeguard the Russian holiday?

Ceasefire on 9 May 2026: what did Putin propose and what does Trump have to do with it?

The first reports of Moscow’s willingness to suspend hostilities emerged following a telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. The American leader later publicly emphasised that it was he who had initiated the short-term ceasefire. The Russian Ministry of Defence announced the official position of the Russian Federation, declaring a ceasefire for 8 and 9 May.

The Kremlin’s position, as stated by Dmitry Peskov, was that the decision had been taken unilaterally by the President of the Russian Federation and that Kyiv’s formal consent was allegedly not required. Moscow had expected Ukraine to simply ‘follow suit’, creating the necessary conditions for the holding of commemorative events on Red Square.

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Zelenskyy’s response: Ukraine is introducing a ceasefire from 6 May

The Ukrainian side did not act in accordance with the scenario proposed by Moscow. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he had not yet received any official communication from the Russian Federation regarding the terms of the ceasefire. Emphasising that human life is more important than any anniversaries or parades, Kyiv announced its own ceasefire.

The Ukrainian plan envisages the start of the ceasefire much earlier — from 00:00 on the night of 5 to 6 May. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is ready to respond in kind, but on its own terms. This decision effectively presents the Kremlin with a choice: either accept the Ukrainian timetable, or admit that Moscow’s initiative was merely an attempt to ensure the safety of its ‘Victory Day parade’ without any real commitments.

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The Kremlin’s threats and a possible strike on Kyiv: what to expect on 9 May?

Despite statements about peace, the rhetoric of the Russian Ministry of Defence remains extremely aggressive. Fearing the appearance of Ukrainian drones in the skies over Moscow during the parade, the ministry has threatened a massive missile strike on the centre of Kyiv in the event of any incidents.

The cynicism of the situation is underscored by the fact that the Russian authorities have officially advised residents of the Ukrainian capital and foreign diplomats to ‘leave the city in good time’.

Online, Ukrainian military and analytical outlets are expressing admiration for how Ukraine has seized the initiative on the issue of a ceasefire. Military and political experts agree that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has managed to “turn the tables”.

By proposing an extended ceasefire with clear dates, Ukraine has seized the initiative. Moscow now finds itself in a situation where it must either agree to Kyiv’s terms (a ceasefire lasting at least three days instead of one) or openly sabotage its own peace plan.

Military officials stress that the current situation on the battlefield does not allow Putin to unilaterally dictate the terms of a ceasefire. If Russia ignores Ukraine’s proposal to begin a ceasefire on 6 May, it will demonstrate to the whole world, including the Trump administration, that it has no interest in genuine peace. Thus, Ukraine has not merely responded to the challenge, but has created a zugzwang for the Kremlin, crafting a situation in which any action by the Russian Federation will serve to expose the Kremlin’s true objectives.

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