Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelensky, who posted Monday, said Ukraine will observe a cease-fire starting at midnight May 5–6 and left any extension to Moscow.
- Russia announced a unilateral pause for May 8–9 tied to Victory Day events in Moscow and warned it would launch a mass missile strike on central Kyiv if celebrations are disrupted.
- Deadly attacks continued Monday in Ukraine, with officials reporting at least nine civilians killed, including seven in the town of Merefa near Kharkiv.
- Cross-border drone strikes added pressure, as Moscow’s mayor confirmed a Ukrainian drone hit a high‑rise about 10 kilometers from the Kremlin and authorities reported one death in Russia’s Belgorod region.
- The proposals reflect broader maneuvering, after Vladimir Putin raised the idea in a call with President Donald Trump, while Ukraine continues to press for a 30‑day nationwide cease-fire that Russia rejects.