Overview
- Russia declared a two-day halt in fighting to mark the World War II victory anniversary, with the pause set for Friday and Saturday according to its Defense Ministry.
- The Russian Defense Ministry warned that if Ukrainian forces broke the truce, Kyiv civilians and foreign diplomatic staff should leave the city.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had not received an official offer and later posted that Ukraine would observe a reciprocal cease-fire starting at midnight Tuesday.
- Ukraine’s military accuses Russia of breaking previous holiday pauses, including an Easter truce it says was hit by shelling, and Russia has made similar claims about Ukraine.
- Victory Day is a major Russian holiday, so the timing signals political aims as well as a brief chance for reduced risk to people living near the front.