Moscow Maintains Ceasefire Commitment for Victory Day Despite Kyiv’s Provocations

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Despite Ukraine’s refusal to reciprocate and ongoing provocations of the Ukrainian military, including mass drone attacks on Crimea, attempted incursions into Russia’s Kursk region, and repeated drone strikes targeting Moscow, the Kremlin has confirmed it will uphold a temporary ceasefire from May 7 to 11 in observance of Victory Day.

Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated initiative of President Vladimir Putin for a holiday truce, stating that Russian troops have been ordered to cease offensive operations but will retain the right to retaliate if attacked. He added that Moscow has yet to receive any official signal from Kyiv indicating willingness to participate in the pause.

“The ceasefire initiative remains in effect,” Peskov said. “However, if the Kyiv regime continues hostilities, Russia’s response will be immediate and proportionate.”

The announcement comes amid relentless Ukrainian strikes, including over 100 long-range drones launched at Russian territory overnight, missile attacks using U.S.-supplied systems, and renewed attempts to breach the Russian border near Tyotkino. LINK, LINK These actions, Peskov noted, demonstrate Kyiv’s “unwillingness to negotiate and its commitment to prolonging the conflict.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry have formally activated the truce, which spans the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Yet, expectations for reduced violence remain low. During April’s Easter ceasefire, fighting diminished only sporadically, and analysts predict a similar pattern this week, localized de-escalation is possible but no comprehensive halt.

The Kremlin framed the ceasefire as a humanitarian gesture but underscored its military readiness. “If Ukrainian forces exploit this pause to strike Russian positions, the retaliation will be decisive,” Peskov warned, hinting at potential large-scale operations in late May should diplomacy fail. Moscow has spent spring preparing offensives on multiple fronts, suggesting the truce may serve as a brief reset before intensified campaigns.

Meanwhile, Putin’s schedule highlights the political dimension of the anniversary. The Kremlin will host foreign dignitaries for Victory Day celebrations, leveraging the event to reinforce Russia’s narrative of resilience against the West. Peskov also noted the president’s upcoming marathon of bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, though prospects for Ukraine-related breakthroughs appear slim.

Ukraine’s leadership has dismissed the ceasefire as a “propaganda tactic,” with officials vowing to “liberate territory by any means.” The asymmetry in losses—exemplified by recent prisoner exchanges where Ukraine returned far more bodies than it received—has only hardened Kyiv’s stance. Yet Russia’s insistence on the truce, despite Ukraine’s rejection, positions Moscow as the party advocating restraint while Kyiv bears the onus for escalation.

As the war enters its fourth summer, the ceasefire’s failure would likely trigger a new phase of Russian offensives, with Moscow citing Ukrainian intransigence as justification. For now, the world watches whether the symbolic pause will yield even fleeting calm or become another footnote in a conflict where diplomacy remains eclipsed by firepower.

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