Zelensky No Choice But To Accept Putin's Little Ceasefire

2025-04-30 08:20:16

(MENAFN- Asia Times) Russian leader Vladimir Putin has announced a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine to commence on May 8, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in the Second World War. The Kremlin says“all hostilities will be suspended” during this period and has made it clear it expects Ukraine to follow suit.

Ukraine responded by calling for an immediate month-long ceasefire and questioned Russia's commitment to lasting peace. In a post on social media , Ukraine's foreign secretary, Andrii Sybiha, wrote:“If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately ... Why wait until May 8th?”

The ceasefire announcement followed two important developments. On April 18, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that President Donald Trump was growing impatient and was likely to abandon peace efforts within days if there was no progress.

Trump then made a rare rebuke of Putin on social media, writing “Vladimir, STOP” after a Russian air attack on Kyiv on April 24 killed 12 people and injured more than 80 others.

A temporary ceasefire allows Putin to do just enough to keep Trump thinking he is committed to a peace deal, hoping this will lead to eventual sanctions relief. But it also has clear benefits for Russia on the battlefield.

Many aggressors use ceasefires to regroup, rearm and improve their positioning. Analysts have warned that Russia will use the pause to reorganise in order to pursue larger territorial ambitions, particularly in southern and eastern Ukraine.

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