Putin declares 3-day ceasefire in Ukraine for Victory Day celebrations
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Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 72-hour ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, scheduled to coincide with the 80th anniversary of Victory Day celebrations. The ceasefire will be in effect from midnight on May 7 to midnight on May 10, allowing for humanitarian reasons during the commemoration of Russia's victory in the Great Patriotic War. The Kremlin issued a statement confirming the temporary suspension of all military actions, with Russia urging Ukraine to adhere to the ceasefire as well. In the event of violations by the Ukrainian side, Russia warned it would respond with adequate and effective measures.
Putin also reiterated Russia’s readiness to engage in peace negotiations without preconditions, aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the ceasefire aligns with Russia’s ongoing push for constructive interaction with international partners.
In parallel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov engaged in a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasizing the importance of laying the groundwork for peace talks to resolve the Ukraine crisis. The discussion followed a previous call between President Putin and US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff. The two sides expressed mutual interest in advancing political dialogue between Russia and the US, which has gained momentum recently.
As Victory Day approaches, the Kremlin is preparing for grand celebrations in Moscow's Red Square to commemorate the anniversary. Russia has invited foreign leaders to participate, with reports suggesting that Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh may attend. The Ministry of External Affairs in India confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had received an invitation for the event. However, the participation of Indian officials will be announced at an appropriate time.
Furthermore, the Russian government confirmed that President Putin is expected to visit India in early 2025 following an invitation from Prime Minister Modi, marking a continuation of their annual summit meetings. The last visit by the Russian President to India took place in December 2021 during the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi held two high-profile visits to Russia last year, attending the 22nd Russia-India Summit in July and later taking part in the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October.
With IANS inputs