Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine during the May 9 Victory Day celebrations appeared during Wednesday's 90-minute telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump.
The Ukrainian side reacted immediately. “Why not now? Why wait until May 8?” — wrote the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiha, on the X platform. “If Russia really wants peace, it should cease fire immediately. Ukraine is ready to support a full ceasefire and calls on Russia to immediately announce it for 30 days, and not just “from the parade”
Victory Day without military power
One of the most obvious signals of Russia's changing situation on the front will be visible on Red Square itself. For the first time since 2008 The annual Victory Day parade will be held without heavy military equipmentsuch as tanks, rocket launchers or artillery systems. Officially, the Russian Ministry of Defense explains this by the “current operational situation,” but analysts say the lack of equipment reflects both shortages and security concerns.
After more than four years of intense fighting in Ukraine, Russia is suffering serious losses in armored vehicles and artillery systems. At the same time, it remains vulnerable to attacks by Ukrainian long-range drones. A temporary ceasefire could reduce the risk of strikes targeting the capital during one of the Kremlin's most symbolic national events.
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Russian troops continue to suffer huge losses. According to Western intelligence estimates, the number of Russian victims (killed and wounded) exceeded 1.2 million. A temporary suspension of fighting would give overstretched Russian units time to rotate troops, redeploy ammunition, repair equipment and strengthen defensive positions after months of grueling fighting.
Putin's ceasefire proposal was carefully planned politically. By raising this topic directly with Trump, The Kremlin clearly wants to present Russia as open to negotiationswhile putting diplomatic pressure on Kyiv. If Kiev rejects a short-term truce, the Kremlin may try to portray Ukraine as reluctant to pursue peace, especially to non-European audiences.
Putin reverses the narrative
Victory Day remains the most politically important holiday in contemporary Russia and a central element of Putin's war message. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Kremlin has increasingly linked the war in Ukraine to the history of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, presenting the conflict as part of the historic fight against “Nazism.” But this year, without spectacular successes on the front, the Kremlin may instead present Putin as a world leader negotiating directly with Washington.
The contrast between last year's offensive promoting Victory Day and this year's defensive curtailment of the event highlights how much Russia's position has changed. In 2025, Russian state media widely promoted the presence of 29 foreign leaders, and guests such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were announced weeks before the parade to show that the West had failed to isolate Moscow.
This year, however, the atmosphere around May 9 is completely different. As of April 30, the Kremlin it has still not officially announced which foreign guests will appear at the parade.
Vladimir Putin (center) and foreign guests during Victory Day celebrations. Moscow, May 9, 2025EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV / PAP
Moscow's current call for a temporary ceasefire on May 9 is clearly different from the reaction to a similar proposal by President Volodymyr Zelensky a few weeks ago. At the end of March 2026, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected Zelensky's proposal for an Easter truce, claiming that Moscow is interested in “peace, not a ceasefire”.
Peskov maintained that the Kremlin had not received a “clearly formulated initiative” to suspend fighting over Easter, even though Kiev publicly presented the proposal and discussed it through U.S. mediators.
In early April, a 32-hour truce was announced by Putin on the occasion of Orthodox Easter has been broken thousands of times. Therefore, observers have little confidence in Russia's ceasefire proposals.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
