Russia's Defense Ministry has declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for Friday and Saturday to mark the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, but it threatened to strike back at Kyiv if it tries to disrupt the Victory Day festivities.
Ceasefire Announcement and Conditions
The Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday that it hoped Ukraine “will follow suit” on the ceasefire for Russia’s most important secular holiday. There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian authorities. Authorities last week decided to pare down the traditional military parade on Moscow's Red Square, citing concerns over possible Ukrainian attacks. Ukraine has been launching drone attacks deep inside Russia to counter its more than 4-year-old invasion.
The Defense Ministry warned that if Ukraine attempts to disrupt Saturday's celebrations, Russia will carry out a “massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv.” It urged the civilian population there and employees of foreign diplomatic missions to leave the city promptly.
Background and Context
Russian President Vladimir Putin last week floated the idea of a ceasefire for Victory Day in a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. For years, the Kremlin has used the pomp-filled Victory Day parade to showcase its military might and global clout, serving as a source of patriotic pride. However, this year's parade in Moscow will take place without tanks, missiles, and other military equipment for the first time in nearly two decades. Some smaller parades across the country have also been pared down or canceled due to security concerns.
World War II remains a rare point of consensus in Russia's divisive history under Communist rule. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what it called the Great Patriotic War in 1941-45, an enormous sacrifice that left a deep scar on the national psyche. Putin, who has ruled Russia for over 25 years, has turned Victory Day into a key pillar of his tenure and has used it to justify the war in Ukraine.
Last year’s parade on the 80th anniversary drew the most global leaders to Moscow in a decade, including high-profile guests such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico. In 2025, Putin declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire starting May 7, and authorities blocked cellphone internet in Moscow for several days to avert Ukrainian drone attacks.
