Russia’s Putin Orders Cease-Fire in Ukraine for May 8-10, Kremlin Says

The Kremlin said on Monday that President Vladimir V. Putin had ordered a three-day cease-fire in Ukraine next month, the second time in two weeks that Russia’s leader has promised a temporary pause in the fighting as President Trump shows growing impatience with his refusal to stop the war.

The Kremlin said that Russian forces would stop fighting on May 8 for 72 hours to mark the May 9 celebration of Soviet victory in World War II, a major holiday in Russia.

“During this period, all hostilities will cease,” it said in a statement. “Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example.”

Andriy Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister, responded that “if Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately.” He added that Ukraine remained ready for a 30-day halt in the fighting, something that Mr. Putin has thus far rejected.

“Why wait until May 8th?” Mr. Sybiha wrote on X. “Ukraine is ready to support a lasting, durable, and full ceasefire.”

The Kremlin’s announcement came just days after Mr. Trump urged Mr. Putin, in a social media post, to “STOP!” bombarding Ukraine amid U.S.-backed efforts to broker a truce. After meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Saturday, Mr. Trump said that he questioned whether Mr. Putin truly wanted peace.