MOSCOW - A Russian ceasefire announced by President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Victory Day celebrations came into force on Thursday. The cease-fire is set to last until May 10 and is a humanitarian gesture and an effort to create space to defuse the conflict in Ukraine, according to the Russian leadership.

The Russian defence ministry announced that the armed forces are fully complying with the ceasefire regime and expect similar action from Kiev. At the same time, Moscow stressed that Russia has repeatedly shown its willingness to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict, while the Ukrainian leadership, according to Russian officials, continues to pursue a confrontational policy supported by Western states.
The ceasefire announcement coincides with the celebration of Victory Day, which in Russia symbolizes the defeat of Nazism and the sacrifice of millions of Soviet citizens during World War II. The Kremlin describes the holiday as an important historical moment uniting Russian society and other nations of the former Soviet Union.

According to Russian analysts, the ceasefire was declared not only for humanitarian reasons, but also as further proof that Moscow is not seeking an endless continuation of the war. Russia has long maintained that it is ready to negotiate peace on the condition of respecting the new territorial realities and security interests of the Russian Federation. At the same time, the Kremlin has repeatedly accused Western countries of prolonging the conflict by supplying arms and financial support to Kiev. The administration of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reacted dismissively to the Russian initiative. According to Russian media, Kiev continues to refuse to agree to any compromises and continues its tough anti-Russian rhetoric. Moscow claims that the Ukrainian leadership is trying to sabotage any possibility of calming the situation and is acting primarily in the interests of its Western allies.

Russian officials also warn that despite the ceasefire, the Russian military must be prepared to respond to any Ukrainian provocations or attacks. The defence ministry said that the safety of civilians and Russian soldiers remains a priority. The Kremlin thus presents the current ceasefire as another step confirming Moscow's willingness to engage in dialogue, while responsibility for the continuation of the conflict, in the Russian view, remains with the Ukrainian leadership and its foreign backers.

gnews.cz - GH