Kathmandu: Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a three-day temporary ceasefire in Ukraine, set to begin on May 8, in an effort to ease hostilities. The ceasefire coincides with the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union and its allies' victory in World War II.

The Kremlin stated that the move is intended to demonstrate Russia’s continued interest in peace — a claim Ukraine and its European allies have strongly contested. Observers suggest the announcement comes at a time when the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump is showing signs of frustration over the lack of meaningful progress toward ending the conflict.

In response to Moscow’s announcement, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called for a more extended ceasefire of at least 30 days, according to a report by the BBC.

Meanwhile, President Trump, who has been attempting to mediate between the two sides, reiterated his call for a permanent ceasefire to bring lasting peace to the region.

This is not the first ceasefire attempt in the conflict. Russia had previously announced a 30-hour truce during the Easter holiday. However, past efforts — numbering over 20 — have largely failed to hold, raising skepticism about the success of the latest initiative.